… begins and ends with communication. And, accommodation. And, great products.
With crazy weather approaching, we wondered “How will Friends and Farms get our weekly items to us?”
We shouldn’t have worried. We got emails this morning, linking us to the updated page about inclement weather. Followed a few hours later with more information.
Do you want to come in tonight to pick up? Extended warehouse hours. Facebook pictures of staff filling extra baskets for those of us who pick up tomorrow.
We got there at 4:15. Lots of people there. Efficient drop off of bags and name taking. Extra staff shuttling baskets out from the warehouse.
Communication that bread wasn’t available as The Breadery delivers the morning of pick up. Do you would to come in over the weekend, or get two loaves next week?
I got home and noticed, in the insulated bag, my quick frozen green beans were missing. Popped off an email.
Got a response back in ten minutes from Tim, one of the founders. Apologies and choices. Did I want to pick up this weekend with the bread, or have it held until next week?
Since I want the bread for Sunday breakfast and for the egg salad I want to make for the weekend, I am popping over to pick up.
What did we get though? A winter “CSA style” basket is definitely regional, and definitely seasonal.
Hydroponic Bibb lettuce. Grown in high tunnels in the winter. Hamlin oranges from Florida. These juicy oranges are perfect for making salads. Like my fennel and orange salad. One humongous cabbage. There will be “blind pigeons” next week. My MIL’s recipe, using some sausage and ground beef mixed, with rice and some of that really flavorful tomato puree we got.
We also got two large red onions. Again, my go-to onion for salads. These are firm and fresh. So much nicer than what I find in the grocery stores.
Grape tomatoes to make a Bibb and tomato salad. Eggs (which I now get weekly instead of milk). My favorite Amish yogurt, which I now get biweekly (substituted this instead of the biweekly eggs others get).
I love the customization flexibility. I really enjoy the variety of the meats.
This week there was a “breakfast” meat. Fresh turkey sausage. The main source for beef, pork, and lamb we have been getting is Wayne Nell and Sons near York PA. We also got two rib eye steaks, perfect for a Valentine Dinner. And, chicken.
This week, boneless/skinless chicken thighs. I am thinking of all sorts of things to make with this chicken. Freebird is just awesome. You can enter your package code and “meat” the farmer who raised this chicken.
Really happy with Friends and Farms, enough to write about them often. We just renewed our subscription for 13 weeks.
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AnnieRie Unplugged 
I have been a F&F customer since last summer. Their customer service is the best! You are guaranteed a response right away. Regina even dropped an item to my home when they made a small mistake!
I am always so excited when I can get someone else signed up – (And not just because of the ice cream I buy with my reward credit!) – But because ANYTHING I can do to keep these folks in business I will – I cannot imagine returning to grocery store food, ever. This company – these friends – make me want to volunteer my services any time they need help – I LOVE THESE GUYS. Thanks for writing about them!