Looks like more needs to be said about this powerhouse in local food! We are in our 3rd year of both summer and winter subscriptions. Just signed up for another summer! Much has staid the same since the previous reviews... great weekly newsletter/ online store / bag process for 22 weeks in the summer... and a kind of wonky but refreshing winter subscription... summer starts in June and runs through october... winter picks right up but is only weekly to Turkey day and then changes to every other week. Shopping the online store is like having a farmer's market at your finger tips! Every week they also bring items to the stops for grab and go purchase... but if you really want milk and eggs... order online! They can sell out at the truck. This winter we tried the new Carnivore subscription... over the season smeveryone gets the same cow / pig / poultry and value add (lard, stock, deli meat, sausage, bones) but there is less flexibility... you need to go to the same stop each week. No dietary substitutions... everyone gets pork for example. The only downside to the omnivore winter subscription is the cabbage... lots and lots of cabbage... sauerkraut... more basketball size cabbages... so the carnivore is a nice change while still having access to the store and avoiding out of state protein. They post the newsletters and photos of the weekly bags online and have an epic treasure troce of recipes! read more

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I'd say an update is due, considering how much I talk about FFM on a daily basis! The Winter Share is off the chain--if you're even considering it, do it. I'm a regular Summer Share member (2yrs running) and it's my favorite. However, last year I didn't do the Winter one and this year I did--holy crap was I missing out. Totally worth the price. You pick up weekly bags in the beginning and then switch to once every other week as the cold months kick in. You get tons of winter veggies, greens and then you'll start getting freshly frozen, long-lasting items that store well. Lots of root veg, cheeses, jars of pickled goodness, grains, dried beans (not like those ones you get at the store, trust), pastas and lots and lots of meat! Oh--and if you haven't tried their Thanksgiving Bags, please do so this year. You won't be disappointed. read more

Love Fresh Fork, and it is all thanks to Yelp! I had used a different CSA in the past, and liked it. My partner and I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to do one, then Fresh Fork landed in our lap. Fresh Fork helped host yelp chicken event, and its' proprietor Trevor answered all of our annoying questions with ease. I love that everything we get in our bag is local. If you're not familiar, here's the deal: you sign up, hand over some money, and once a week pick up a bag filled with food. This year in the summer they offered 4 options: small regular, large regular, vegeterian, and vegan. Even though I typically don't eat red meat or pork, we went for regular. I wanted to broaden my horizons. Plus, summer=cookouts. In the future, we'll go vegeterian as there was more red meat and pork than we would like (however, I have yet to hear this complaint from talking to others - but seriously, we have 2-3 things of meat in our freezer, plus bacon AND i used a container of ground beef recently to make dog treats. Spoiled dogs, much? Nah, I practically HAD to use that meat!). I also feel it is very reasonably priced for what you get, and they had many stops. Some of the "bags" are centered around one item or are set around a meal idea (with obviously lots of leftovers). I remember pizza (contained two things of really tasty chilled pizza dough, fresh mozzarella - BUY EXTRA because it's that good not that you need more, etc) and tacos. I know in the winter you get more frozen stuff (none that I saw this summer) and shelf stable items. This summer we got black beans (HUGE bag), oatmeal (super good and able to buy at their stand), cornmeal, etc. I never recall eating kohlrabi before this and fully admit I had to call my step dad (who is a better cook than most non-pro cooks I know and loves kohlrabi) for help. "So, step-daddy, ... um... do I like, cook this thing?" He told me to try it raw, and then gave many helpful suggestions. Turns out I *do* like kohlrabi (and ate most of it myself - related, also tasty roasted). So, I get to help support a local company (that'd be Fresh Fork), local farmers, good quality food, and a push to eat my fruits and veggies. Next year my big change will be to plan out what to eat. Near the end, when we un-bagged our goodies, we washed and put them away, then listed what we had on a sheet of paper. On the other end of the paper, we wrote suggestions for what to make. That really helped with making sure we made the most of what we got. On the rare occasion that there is an issue with your bag, they are quick to respond to emails and very helpful. The pick up location also sells assorted items (granola, milk, eggs, coffee, etc). read more

There are so many wonderful things to say about Fresh Fork's Community Supported Agriculture program. If you've never done a CSA, it's basically an easy way to support local producers and get to try a variety of locally sourced products without a whole lot of effort (i.e. mapping out farmer's markets every week). If you are the type of person who disdains grocery shopping, doing a weekly CSA would be a perfect option for you. They have at least two dozen pickup locations scattered across Northeast Ohio, you'd be hard pressed to find a location that wouldn't work for you. The other nice thing is that if a pickup time location doesn't work for you that week, you can just switch to another location... no advance notice needed! They overstock their trucks purposefully so you're never at risk of not getting a bag. The other thing I love is how informed they keep their constituents, you get weekly emails about what's coming in your bag, how the produce crops are looking, recipes you can try with the products in your bag that week, and even information about upcoming workshops to bring out your inner chef. I will say that if you aren't the type of person who sees yourself cooking at least a couple times a week, this CSA bag probably won't be much use to you. Most if not all of the items are not value-added/ ready-made, so you'll have to be creative in how you use your CSA. Most people will supplement their bags with other items purchased from traditional grocery stores, but I will say that another convenience factor is their online store, where you can order a plethora of items- they have everything from salsa to fresh dairy to responsibly sourced meat to dry goods. You can order using your Fresh Fork account and pick up along with your weekly bag. If you are used to Giant Eagle hydroponic tomatoes and ammonia-sprayed chicken, Fresh Fork will be a departure for you. Yes, the produce is often imperfect and yes, you are only getting seasonal items (no strawberries in winter!) but I believe this improves mindfulness about where your food comes from and how it is sourced. If you can be a little forgiving, and perhaps even open to getting a few mashed berries or lettuce with a bit of dirt on it, you'll grow to love knowing that it's picked by local farmers from Ohio soil. I believe the program does a great job of always being transparent with buyers so you always know what you're getting, and if there are any changes in the bag that week due to weather or unforeseen circumstances, the staff will always let you know when you pick up the bag. I like to think of it as a nice surprise when that happens! Price-wise, I personally think Fresh Fork is very fair. They have a variety of options- omnivore or vegetarian, large or small, standard or full-access. You can spend anywhere from $25 - $70 a week depending on how big your household is and how much you anticipate using your CSA bag. If you want a deal, it's best to sign up early before the season starts to get a little discount. Because it's a CSA, you do pay a bit up front to help out the local farmers and then you have the option of paying your whole season up front, or paying in installments. Their online account system makes it easy-peasy to manage your bags and extra orders, and their office is also very helpful if you have specific questions. Overall, I have only good things to say about Fresh Fork. If nothing else, give it a try for a season and reap the benefits of eating fresh, local and seasonal goods. read more

Best CSA. There is such a variety of different products from local farms. Plus they give you a weekly newsletter with recipe ideas. You can also buy items directly from them. They are very laid back and all around nice people. Multiple pick up spots and are very accommodating if you need to change pick up locations. Some of the highlights for my CSA thus far: chicken The best chorizo I've ever had chicken sausage. Yummo grass feed beef fresh pasta (to die for) brown eggs milk candied onion spelt berry (who knew what that was) yummy cherries black raspberries brie cheese plus all your typical produce products, lettuses, onions, garlic, zuccini ect.. This week I'm looking forward to some peaches. Can't wait to see what the rest of the summer brings! read more

Fresh Fork Market is the best! I've been a member for years and they have built a great community around good food! There is a lot of planning and collaboration with local producers. Social and educational events are fun and add value. I can't recommend them highly enough. read more

This CSA never lets me down. It's a little tough for the first few weeks since most farms are only churning out leafy greens. After that, it's on! they give a good variety of local produce, meats, cheeses, dairy, and so on. The best pork chops I've had in a long time came through my CSA. I especially love the eggs and the yogurt they offer. The yogurt is really thin, but it's amazing for cooking. I'm certainly getting my money's worth out of this program. read more

I tried the summer share last year and had a good experience. We are so lucky to live in Cleveland where something like this exists. I've never had so much fresh food on a weekly basis like this, ha. Trevor and the team there care about the quality of their work and will listen to any questions or concerns you have. They also do cooking classes to learn how to prepare some of the foods that may be new to you. This is a great service and worth checking out if you like to prepare your own food. In addition to the food, it leaves you feeling good knowing that you are supporting local farmers and their families instead of massive corporate brands. read more

Fresh Fork Market will take you back to the day when your food had flavor, when you had to shake your milk to mix the cream in, when your oatmeal tasted nutty and all your root veggies came with greens. Once you try FFM you'll be hooked. I haven't bought grocery store food since I joined the program. Also, you will never believe the amount of food you $25 will get you. I urge everyone to join Fresh Fork Market!! read more

I honestly don't know what I did before Fresh Fork Market. I mean, what's not to love about receiving fresh local produce once a week? At a super reasonable price, might I add! We signed up for the summer share not knowing what to expect. But our expectations were far exceeded. We pick up our bag every Wednesday, right downtown where my boyfriend can conveniently pick it up after work. Every week we are delighted to receive an abundance of fruits, veggies, and grains. There is always a lot of variety from week to week, so its always exciting to see what the current week's bag will hold. We also regularly receive produce that I wouldn't normally buy at the grocery store, but I love that our bag sometimes forces me to cook outside my comfort zone and try different things. I also love that they offer custom bags based off of dietary restrictions. We chose the vegan bag because we eat a lot of produce, and rarely eat meat/dairy. They also have bags for vegetarians and omnivores! I could not be more pleased with FFM. I talk about it and recommend it to everyone. It has saved us not only a bundle on our groceries, but also the time we used to spend grocery shopping on the weekends. read more

I have officially been a market subscriber for a year now, 4 seasons and embarking on my 2nd summer season. I can't imagine my food life without it. For an extremely reasonable price I can add fresh, local, organic foods to our weekly groceries in one stop. And NOT just veggies...but also meats...dairy....cheeses....and more. Thank you fresh fork! I can cook with the seasons. You have made meal planning better and eating healthier and local easier! read more

Awesome concept! We love our subscription!!Sometimes the fruits/veggies can be on the over-ripe side, but they are always willing to replace or credit account when issues arise. read more

I recommend that EVERYONE sign up with Fresh Fork... I can't imagine that anyone wouldn't be happy with it. I've tried one other Cleveland CSA where the quality and quantity was often subpar -- but Fresh Fork consistently gets it right. It does a fantastic job of sourcing organic produce from the region to bring customers a diverse and high-quality bag of goodies each week, whether it's abundant peaches and berries early in the summer, corn ears late-summer, or broccoli and acorn squash in the fall. And it's not only fresh produce that you have to look forward to -- there's also local eggs, cheese, tofu, humanely-raised meat, oats, black beans, and Ohio City Pasta (depending on whether you're signed up for a regular, vegetarian, or vegan share). The cheese from Mayfield Creamery is absolutely amazing, and you can buy extra if you please (and I usually do). We get a Large Vegetarian share, which has been a good size for two people, though we still supplement with produce from other sources. I generally juice the leafy things -- kale, carrot tops, beet tops -- so nothing ever goes to waste. We pick up our bag each week by leisurely biking a few blocks to the Fairmount-Coventry pickup location, so it really is the next best thing to pulling veggies out of your own backyard (and incomparably better than a car trip to Whole Foods to buy overpriced, non-local produce). The tablet-wielding staff are clearly passionate about what they do and are always efficient and a general pleasure to deal with. Fresh Fork is expanding fast, adding more pickup locations, and it's fantastic to see so many people getting on board. Do yourself a favor and sign up to reduce your reliance on corporatized food; support your local farmers; enjoy a seamless and more sustainable grocery shopping experience; and feast on the best and healthiest food you've ever tasted! read more

So I should have written this review a while ago! I first heard of this CSA 3 years ago but did not sign on until summer of 2012. This then is our second summer with Fresh Fork and we subscribed this past winter and signed on for this winter too! Fresh Fork has literally changed the way we eat and the way we cook. We avoided process foods prior to our signing on with Fresh Fork and tried to eat healthy home cooked meals. Fresh Fork has really allowed us to expand our food repertoire. We receive a bag of food each week - produce, meat, grains, etc. We usually know on Tuesday what will be contained in the bag. I then plan a menu based on the bag contents. The food is always fresh and very flavorful. Our family has tried foods we never thought we would - kohlrabi, chorizo, and mustard green to name a few. Ohio City Pasta made with Fresh Fork produce is often in the bag. The meats are absolutely incredible. Artisan cheeses are delicious. Trevor always manages to surprise us with new bag ingredients. Even my kids wait to see what is in the bags and what the weekly menu will bring! I look forward each week - no one in our house is allowed ot empty the bag - I get to do that! read more

This was my first time joining a CSA and I was not disappointed! I did the summer share and would consider the winter. The vegetables and fruit were almost always incredibly fresh, but I did have a couple of weeks of peppers that were rotting (Note: this is a really minimal complaint considering the sheer amount of vegetables you get). Next year I might opt for the vegetarian over the omnivore, because I'm not a huge meat eater and you can buy the kinds of meat you want as an add on without having to be at the mercy of the share. As an example, three of the weeks we got whole chickens which I get can be versatile, but they are really a lot of trouble to wait to defrost x 2-3 days and a pain to prepare and cook, especially if you're not a huge fan of chicken. The turkey burgers were the best I've ever had, and their fig goat cheese was amazing - it tasted almost like cheesecake. I loved the weeks when we got Pope's fresh salsa and still crave it! It's very convenient that you can grab your bag from any location Wed-Sat and even have vacation weeks. I will definitely be a regular user. For $25/week (prepaid) you can't beat it! read more

Best CSA in the history of CSAs. What did I like about FFM? Everything. What didn't I like? Nothing! Great produce. High quality meat, dairy, and eggs that you can trust were responsibly sourced. Delicious and healthy "value added" items. And really excellent "experiences" available. From classes, to social events. If you're looking for a CSA in the CLE area, check out FFM. Highly recommend! read more