In our 2027 CSA for Hutchinson and Chanhassen, Minnesota, we're bringing our new community one of the most-requested features from our waitlist survey: vegetable swaps!
If you love the idea of getting a box of local, organic vegetables to inspire you in the kitchen each week every week and getting a little push to use new vegetables, but figuring out how to cook eggplant and fennel this week just sounds like too much adventure all at once….
then you're going to love swaps.
What are CSA vegetable swaps?
Every week, we choose 2–4 vegetables in your CSA box that are eligible for swapping.
If there's something you don't want that week, you can trade it for another vegetable from our available swap options.
For example, if eggplant is eligible for swapping and you don't want it, you might be able to trade it for garlic, peppers, or broccoli, depending on what's abundant on the farm that week.
Swaps are completely optional. Most of our members make at least one swap each week, but if you love a box of 100% farmers' choice vegetables, you can stick with that, too!
How to swap vegetables in your CSA box
For our CSA members, making swaps is easy, and it all happens through our online platform before we harvest your vegetables.
Here’s how a week looks:
Monday: Preview your box and make swaps
You'll receive an email inviting you to preview the vegetables coming in your box that week.
You can decide everything looks good as-is (chef's kiss, no notes!) or log in to swap any eligible vegetables for something you'd rather have.
Swap options are first-come, first-served, so it's best to make your selections early.
Tuesday: Make your final choices
You have until midnight Tuesday to make changes to your box. After the deadline, your box contents are finalized, and you'll receive an email confirming your order.
Wednesday: We harvest your vegetables
Our crew heads into the fields to harvest based on everyone's finalized orders. That way, we're harvesting what you actually want, and your vegetables arrive super fresh and long-lasting.
Thursday: Pick up your CSA box
We'll pack your vegetables and have your customized box ready at your pickup site in Hutchinson or Chanhassen.
And if you already love everything in your box? You don't have to do a thing. There's no need to log in, approve your order, or make any changes. We'll prepare your box with its original farmers' choice contents.
What can I swap in my CSA box?
Can I swap out everything?
Nope! Our CSA is still a traditional farmers' choice CSA at its core, just with a little flexibility to make your weekly vegetables work better for you.
Most vegetables in your box won't be swappable. Each week, we'll choose a handful of items that you can trade for other available vegetables.
You'll still get the fun of discovering what's growing on the farm, with a little more say in what ends up in your fridge.
Which vegetables are available for swaps?
The vegetables eligible for swapping change throughout the season, depending on what's growing and what our members need.
We've learned a lot from listening to our customers over the years!
For example, last year at our farm back in Iowa, we had lots of gardeners in our program, so we frequently made tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers swappable. Those members often have plenty growing in their own backyards.
In short, we listen to our members before the season starts and do what we can to design CSA boxes that work well for them all season long.
We also tend to make less familiar vegetables, like fennel, eggplant, and arugula, eligible for swaps.
After all, you might love the challenge of trying new vegetables, but that doesn't mean you want too much adventure in the same week!
But what if you're the adventurous eater?
Maybe you're one of the few people who absolutely loves tomatillos or radicchio. While those vegetables aren't everyone's favorites, they might be exactly what you're hoping to find in your box!
We often offer these less common vegetables as swap-in options, too. That means you can trade something familiar for a vegetable you're excited to cook with.
It's one more way we can make the same CSA work for all kinds of home cooks, from the families who love their staples to the adventurous eaters who can't get enough of the unusual stuff.
The vegetables available as replacements will change weekly, depending on what we have in abundance.
Can I add extra vegetables to my box?
Absolutely!
Adding vegetables isn't technically a swap, but it's something many of our members like to do while they're already logged in to customize their weekly box.
Our members-only online store lets you add extras to your order, like another bag of salad mix, the fresh herbs that match your specific meal plan, or bulk tomatoes for preserving.
We'll update the selection weekly based on what's available on the farm.
Extras cost an additional amount and can be purchased online by credit card. Just like swaps, orders for extras are due by Tuesday at midnight.
Why we offer vegetable swaps
We built swaps into our CSA because we love introducing members to new vegetables, but we also know that everyone cooks a little differently.
Some members are feeding picky eaters. Some have gardens full of their own produce. Others are joining a CSA for the first time and want to learn seasonal cooking at their own pace.
And sometimes, you simply have a busy week ahead and don't want to figure out what to do with a vegetable you've never cooked before.
Swaps give you a chance to look at your upcoming menu and choose what works best for your household.
They also help us avoid harvesting, washing, and packing vegetables that you already know you won't use.
It's a little more flexibility for you, and a little less food waste for everyone.
We love that a CSA encourages you to cook with the seasons, discover new favorites, and get creative with what's growing locally.
But that only happens if they’re veggies you can use
Swaps help us find that sweet spot between the staples you count on and the variety that keeps dinner interesting.
Curious what else our CSA has to offer?
