Create a CSA Group

Create a CSA Group

GrownBy has many tools to support CSA groups and subscription sales. Currently, all shares or subscriptions MUST be associated with a CSA group. Before creating subscriptions through shares, please set up a CSA group. A Product can only be associated with a single CSA Group. Some farms might just have one CSA group and others might have one for each region where they have distributions.

Deciding how to Group CSA sites
Each CSA Group will appear separately in your Farm Shop. In order to decide how to set up your CSA groups, consider which CSAs have common policies and might be marketed together. Ask yourself these questions:
  1. Do I want members to be able to switch between these distribution locations?
  2. Do these various CSA sites have the same prices? The same basic policies, like change windows?
Main CSA Groups page
The main CSA groups page includes cards with your CSA groups. Data includes: 
  1. Active customers;
  2. Total shares sold in the last few months (this is a snapshot, but you're best to view this info from Orders or Distributions for the most accurate count)
  3. Preview of share description.
You can also Edit, Delete, Copy, Make Private, or Hide your CSA group from this page. We currently recommend that you start a new CSA group each season, rename the previous season's group with the year in the name, and hide the one from the previous year. This will archive your customers and data for a single season. If you continue to use the same CSA group, your data will be intermingled. 

Adding a CSA group
To add a CSA group, click the "Add CSA Group" button at the top of the page.

Name: This will be the CSA Group name that customers will see on GrownBy in your shop and that you will choose when associating shares and products with this CSA. Choose a CSA name that is short but recognizable to your customers.
Short Description: This appears just above the longer description and should not have the same content as the longer description.
Description: This description can include an overarching picture of the types of shares offered. You should also describe any policies that apply to your CSA. For instance, some CSAs require subscriber-members to volunteer at a distribution during the season. Or maybe you require an additional site fee. Be sure to include this information for your customers.
Change Window: The change window is the number of days before the distribution that someone can make changes to their share, such as claiming vacation or switching between distribution locations. Change windows work similarly to order cutoffs, running in 24-hour increments. A 1-day window would be midnight the day before the distribution.
Only Allow Schedule Changes: Toggling this on allows customers to reschedule shares to another schedule within the same location that week. For example, if you have a Wednesday and a Saturday distribution at a local school, the member could switch from their Saturday to earlier in the week on Wednesday.
Allow both Schedule and Location Changes: Toggling this on allows customers to reschedule to a different Location or Schedule within the same week. 
New Order Message: This message goes out with your share order. You might include a note of thanks, a link to the membership rules, details about the share that could be helpful. Check out notifications here.
Message for Missed Pickup: Include a message for anyone who missed their share. This will be included in push notifications and email reminders to customers on the day of their pick-up. In addition to reminding members what happens if they miss pickup, you can add reminders like what to remember to bring to pickup. 
Check out notifications here.
Photos: Include photos of the CSA - from the different products being offered and/or members picking up their products at locations. You can click Add a Photo and select one from your computer or you can drag and drop a photo. here. You can include up to five. 
Suggested Products: In this space you can suggest up-to three items that will be suggested to a customer when they buy a share. You might suggest an add-on share. 

Other related articles:
  1. Create a Share
  2. Making a Private Shop on GrownBy

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact support@grownby.app or schedule a time to talk with us here!






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