The CSA Comparison Worksheet

Most CSA regret comes from one of four fit mistakes: the box is too big, the substitutions are too rigid, the pickup is at a time that doesn't work, or the cancellation terms are painful. All four are knowable before you sign up, and all four are buried in the fine print.

This is the framework to surface them fast. Print the worksheet below, fill it out for two or three CSAs you're considering, and you'll know within a week which one fits.

The four fit questions

1. Does the box size match what I actually cook?

A half-share that feeds a couple who cook four dinners a week is very different from a full-share that feeds a family of five cooking daily. Over-buying is the #1 reason people quit CSAs in month two.

Rule of thumb:

• 1–2 adults, cook 3–5 nights/week → half-share or small share
• Family of 3–4, cook most nights → full share
• Heavy preservers / canners / large family → full share + add-ons

Don't size up "to be safe." You'll waste food and money and blame the CSA.

2. How strict are substitutions and pickups?

Some CSAs run a set box, no swaps. Others let you swap two items a week, or let you shop an online "store" from the week's harvest. Some require Tuesday 4–6 PM pickup at a single location; others offer 3 locations on 2 days.

Ask directly:

• "Can I swap items I don't eat?"
• "What if I'm out of town — is there a hold week?"
• "What pickup windows exist, and do they change week to week?"

If the answers are rigid and your life isn't, it won't work.

3. What actually happens when a week doesn't work?

A CSA that charges you for a missed week whether you pick up or not is fine — if you know that going in. A CSA that lets you defer, donate, or get a credit is friendlier. Neither is wrong. You just need to know which you're buying.

Ask directly:

• "If I miss a pickup, what happens?"
• "Can I pause for a week while I'm traveling?"
• "Do you donate unclaimed boxes and if so where?"

4. Can I get out cleanly?

Most CSAs are 16–24 weeks with payment upfront. That's the model, and it's how the farm plans their season. But some will refund pro-rated if you move or have a health issue. Some won't. Know before you sign.

Ask directly:

• "What happens if I have to cancel mid-season?"
• "Are partial refunds allowed?"

The worksheet

Score each CSA on the six rows below. Print the gated version (your email unlocks it) or fill in on paper. Circle the one that scores highest across the rows that matter most to you — not all rows weigh equally.

Rate each 1 (bad), 2 (workable), or 3 (great). Sum the rows. The highest score isn't automatically the winner — look at the rows scoring 1. A CSA with one big 1 in a row that matters to you (pickup, for example) will create a breakup within 8 weeks.

What "great" looks like

• You get 4–6 items a week you're genuinely excited to cook.
• The swap/substitution system lets you dodge the one or two things you don't eat.
• The pickup window lines up with your normal week, not a forced detour.
• The cancellation and missed-week policy doesn't punish normal life.
• Price per full box, divided by number of meals you actually make from it, comes in at $5–$10/meal for a family — which is where local + healthy + no planning tax tends to land.

Red flags to watch for

• Vague on farm source — "we source from a network of local farms." Network size, please.
• Slick marketing, thin operational answers.
• No sample box list. A good CSA will show you last year's week 3 and week 10 box contents.
• Required full-season upfront with zero flex. Fine for some. Disqualifying for others.

Find CSAs in your area

Browse CSA options near you →

See the seasonal crop calendar for your state →

CSA beginner's guide on the blog →

Next step — do this today

Pick two CSAs near you. Email or message each with the four "ask directly" lists above. A good CSA will answer inside 48 hours. That response alone tells you a lot.

Fill in the worksheet with what they tell you, and commit to whichever scores highest on the rows you marked important. Don't overthink it past that.