Workflow: Setting up a CSA in VeggieCropper

A subscription to the CSA add-on is required to setup a CSA in VeggieCropper

Here is a step-by-step approach to setting up a CSA with Online Order Form.  With Online Order Form you can email your members a farm update, their share contents and value with includes a balance for their remaining CSA credit, all from VeggieCropper.

VeggieCropper is built for customizable full choice to no choice CSA models and everywhere in-between.

As soon as you send that email, you can have VeggieCropper create your harvests for you and your harvest lists will update in real-time as members customize their shares until the order window closes.

How to set up a CSA in VeggieCropper:

  1. Create CSA share 'credit unit' to sell
  2. Create a CSA Signup form
  3. Get sign-ups and track payment
  4. Group customers
  5. Setting up your share each week

Step 1: Create CSA credit units to sell to members

Create an Online Order form that welcomes members and lets them join your CSA by purchasing a 'share' which is tracked as account credit in VC.

  1. Click on the ... More menu next to your initials and select Units
  2. Select 'CSA Credits'
  3. Select '+ CSA Credit' and complete the details. After saving, you can add a photo to a credit unit. This photo will show on the CSA signup/share purchase Online Order Form.

Credit Unit Fields

  • CSA Credit Name - This is the name of the broad category like 'CSA Share'.
  • Unit Type - This is the sub-category of 'Unit Name' like 'Small' or 'Large'.
  • Price per Unit - This is the price the customer will pay and the amount of credit that will go into their account.
  • Description - The description will show with the unit on the Online Order Form.
  • Add Image - Each credit unit can have one photograph that is shown beside the unit on the form that enlarges when clicked.

Step 2: Create a signup form

  1. From the Orders page, click on Online Order Form in the more menu drop down.
  2. Click '+ Online Order Form'.
    1. You can add pictures, embed video and use rich text in the info box below the title.
    2. Customize the order confirmation text explaining what's next. This text is included in the order confirmation emails members receive after placing or updating their order.
    3. Learn more about the Setting up an Online Order Form page here
    4. Click 'Save'
  3. Now you are on the form Setup Page, select the credit units from the dropdown, and enter an amount available. You can sell multiple shares at the same time.
    1. Learn more about the form setup page here.
  4. Click 'Save' 
  5. Click the eye icon to view the form as a customer and double-check your details.

Step 3: Take signups and track payment 

  1. Send out the link to your form to get signups. Go to the Online Order Forms page (click Orders, click Online Order Form in the more drop down), click the more drop down beside the order you want to send the link to. Click 'Copy form link' and paste this link in the email you will send to prospective members.
  2. Test the form a few times before sending to make sure everything is working.
  3. Send your signup email.
  4. Watch the Orders page as forms come in.
    1. As soon as a member buys credit, the credit is assigned to their account.
    2. If a member hasn't paid for their credit, the credit will still work in their account.
  5. Click on the payment date or amount and track payments as they come in. 
    1. Do not use 'CSA credit' as the payment method for orders to pay for CSA credit purchases.
  6. Click the circle on the left to mark the order complete once payment is accepted.
  7. Use the filters on the Orders List tab (click on the orders icon, to see both paid and unpaid forms.

Step 4: Group customers

Before you send out your first share, you will need to add a group tag to each of your customers. The group tag is used in Online Order Form to e-mail unique links to each group member at once allowing them to view, cancel and edit their orders (if you allow them to).

This is a secure and quick way for customers to update and edit their orders that doesn't require a login.

  1. Click 'Customers' in the ... More menu beside your initials
  2. Select the name of a customer
  3. In the group's field, type in the group you want to assign them to. Customers can belong to multiple groups.
    1. To add a new group, start typing the name and click 'Add...' in the drop-down.
  4. Click Save

This group tag allows you to search customers by group and will show on the customer's page beside their names. Nice work!


Step 5: Setting up your share each week

Check out the Managing a CSA in VeggieCropper help doc to see how to set up and manage your week-to-week harvest and pack flow for CSA models from no-choice to full-choice.


Get Going Faster with 1 on 1 Support

If you haven't booked a phone or video call with Harris yet to check out VeggieCropper's CSA features, book one here and we can cover your questions and see if VeggieCropper's CSA add-on is a good fit for your farm. Or email harris@veggiecropper.com.


When it comes to farming software, there are only good questions.

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