Dear Farm & Fork Society Members,
Welcome to the 2016 season opening on Friday, June 10.
First we want to thank everyone for donating to purchase shares for the local food banks. In addition to our donations, Melissa’s sons created a fundraiser called Generation Zero: Working to Reduce Hunger in NJ. Together we raised over $5,000 and are able to purchase 5 vegetable shares and 5 fruit shares for Interfaith Food Pantry of the Oranges and the Food Pantry at Our Lady of Sorrows.
Now down to the details. Please read in its entirety. It is very important you know all this information.
We are all volunteers. Our goal is to get everything up and running smoothly, and everyone in and out as quickly as possible. To that end, we are asking for your cooperation in following a few simple guidelines:
Pick Up:
OPENING: Pick up is every Friday from 12:30 PM - 3 PM - We have pushed the time back 30 minutes to allow some time in case the farmers hit traffic and are running late). If you arrive at 12 PM we will most likely be ready but please plan accordingly. We will NOT be ready for you before 12:00 PM. If you are in a hurry we suggest not arriving right at opening because there is usually a line.
CLOSING: Do NOT arrive at 3:01 PM expecting to get your share - of course we will accommodate if we can, but we have a very rigid cutoff with the vegetable farmer picking up his equipment. If you are running late, please email us at farmandforksociety@gmail.com and we will do our best to make arrangements for you to get your shares.
SIGN IN: To facilitate check in, member/group are assigned a membership number. At the first pick up, all members will be given a “key tag” for your key ring with your membership number on it. Check in will be by number not by name.
BAGS: We do not provide bags. Please bring your own bags to carry all your produce. You will most likely need more than one bag, especially as the season grows more bountiful. We suggest storing a bunch of bags in your car so you will have them when needed.
PARKING: For the safety of members and others using the parking lot, park in designated parking spots only. Do NOT pull into the lot and block the flow of traffic or stack cars in parking spots. There are additional parking spots in the lot next door or metered spots on the street.
Volunteer Shifts:
ARRIVAL: Please DO try to arrive 5 minutes ahead of your shift when volunteering, so you have some time to settle in and start on time.
NEED TO CHANGE SHIFT: If for some reason you are not able to make your volunteer shift, please do your best to find a replacement, but let us know either way. If you have an emergency, please let us know at your earliest convenience at volunteerffs@gmail.com.
SIGN UP ASAP: If you have not done so, sign up for your volunteer shift. Farm & Fork Society membership rules state all members must volunteer.
If You Cannot Pick Up:
A friend or relative can pick up your share for you, however it is extremely important that they know all the rules and regulations (i.e. parking, pick-up times, check-in procedures) They must know your membership number and all shares you get (e.g. veg, fruit, poultry, egg etc.). They must bring bags.
Communication:
It is extremely important that you subscribe to our website (instructions below). All your weekly share contents will be posted on the site. We do not want to clutter up your inboxes, so you will not receive any other emails from us during the season unless it is a shift confirmation, last minute change or piece of other pressing information. If you follow the site by email, then you will automatically get an email update on the posted information.
If you have not done so yet, please go to our website www.farmandforksociety.com and submit your email address in the space provided on the left hand side of the site; “FOLLOW BY EMAIL.” You will then get a window, which will read “Email Subscription Request.” Follow the instructions on the request. You will receive a verification message in your email. You must respond to the verification message to activate your subscription to the “Farm & Fork Society.”
In addition, please follow the Farm & Fork Society’s Facebook page as updates and important information will be posted there as well, and is often more timely for some folks.
We look forward to a great season! If you have any questions, please let us know.
All the best,
Melissa, Wendy & Nino