frequently asked questions
GETTING STARTED
Click the "Get Started" button from the main page, or contact our customer service team by calling 805-735-3233.
You may choose to receive your subscription weekly, bi-weekly (every other week), or once per month. You will also have a customer portal through which you can choose to skip weeks as needed.
Your credit card on file will be charged each Tuesday. If the credit card on file is expired or your payment is declined, you’ll be notified by email so you can update your information and still receive a shipment.
Each week we include a fresh mix of seasonal fruits and vegetables. We include a paper newsletter in each box with a list of what produce is included as well as tips and recipes for using some of them. You will also receive an email copy of the newsletter so you may refer to previous recipes you might have enjoyed if you lose the paper copy of the newsletter.
From your customer portal, you can pause your subscription and choose your next renewal date. Be sure you renew your subscription the Tuesday of the week you'd like to receive your next box. If you've already been billed for the week an order has been created, and you'll need to contact us at least one day ahead of shipment to cancel your order for the week.
No, there is no commitment period. After you sign up, you can cancel at any time if you decide that the program does not work for you.
There are three sizes of boxes. The Essentials Box starts at $18.00, the Original Box starts at $30.00, and the Hearty Box starts at $42.00 per week. Add-ons include home/office delivery, baked goods, dairy products, and more.
The Essentials Box comes with 5-6 items and may include leafy greens, salad vegetables, dinner vegetables, and herbs. The Original Box comes with 8-10 items and may include items similar to the Essentials Box, plus fruit! The Hearty Box comes includes 12-15 items and may include items similar to the Original Box, plus edible flowers and other fresh ingredients. Each box will serve a different number of household members depending on your dietary preferences and how many meals are prepared at home.
You can pick your order up on Thursdays from our Farm Stand, or you may choose from one of our Central Coast pick-up locations that may be more convenient to you, free of charge. If you're not able to pick up your box from your selected pick-up location on Thursday, please contact your pick-up location to see if they can hold it for you. Our pick-up locations are only contracted to hold your box the day of delivery, and may not have room to store it for multiple days at a time, or until you can collect it.
You may also choose to have your order delivered to your home or office for just $8.00 per week.
We accept all forms of credit and debit cards. To begin your membership, you must sign up with a credit card. After that, if you would like to make prepayments by cash or check we are able to apply the payment to your account balance so your future orders will draw from your account’s credit balance. Once your account balance has been used, your card on file will be charged.
Yes, we offer a refer-a-friend program. You can find your referral link in the checkout page, at the bottom of each email you receive from us, and in your customer portal on the main page. In order for the referral program to work, the party you refer must sign up using your referral link. The party you refer will receive $10.00 off their first order, and you will receive $10.00 in credit on your account that will be used on your next order.
Yes, you can choose whether you would like to gift the subscription to someone else during the checkout flow. You can do this by toggling the “This is a gift.” toggle on the checkout page. Once you choose to make the subscription a gift, you will be able to choose when your gifting subscription will start, and for how long will it be active. You will also be able to provide a gift message to the recipient by using the gift message field. The gift message must be 200 characters or less.
FARMING PRACTICES
We are a multi-farm CSA, meaning that our boxes are built using the food grown by a collection of local farmers. We share our partnerships proudly in our Farm Box Newsletter, at our farm stand, and in our social media posts. Our partners are all from within 50 miles of Lompoc, and grow their crops GMO-free, pesticide- and herbicide-free.
Our Farm Boxes are not certified organic because not all items in the boxes are certified organic. Though some of the farms in our Farm Box are certified organic, not all the items will be certified and therefore the entire program remains conventional. You are, however, invited to walk around our farm to see our farming practices in action.
You’re always welcome to visit the farm to walk around the perimeter of our garden and see how your vegetables are grown here on our farm. In addition to all the adorable animals you will see cared for humanely, you will also be able to bear witness to our gardening practices. Though our farm is not certified organic, you will notice we have weeds, the passion our farmers show in our fields, the lack of protection they wear because there are no harmful chemicals used, and the variety of crops that are grown for companion planting rather than practicing monocropping which facilitates the use of pesticides and herbicides.
We have experienced boots on the ground at each of our partner farms each week when we pick up the produce, or periodically if the produce is delivered to us. The local farms we work with honor the same values as our farm: herbicide-free, pesticide-free and GMO-free.
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
Click the account button at the very top of this page, select "Manage my Account" from the hamburger menu, or select this link to go to the login screen, and use your email address and password.
Go to the login screen and click on ‘Forgot Password?’ link below the Login button. When prompted, enter the email address associated with your account where we can send your password reset link. Once you’ve submitted your email, please check your email inbox. The password reset email will contain a link that is valid for no more than an hour so please use it immediately. Follow the link and instructions from your email. When prompted, you’ll need to declare and re-enter your new password, after which you will be logged into your account.
You can put your account on hold for any reason. Login to your account, and click on the manage button once inside your portal. Click the Pause button next to "Need a Break?" or Subscription Settings at the bottom of the page.
Make sure you select a renewal date the Monday of the week you'd like a box. If you select another day later in the week, we may not be able to prepare a box for your order in time for the Thursday fulfillment date.
Log into your account. Click on ‘Manage’ button under the subscription on the homepage. Next to Billing Details, click the ‘Edit’ button.
Alternatively, from the homepage of your customer portal, select ‘Account’. Next to billing Details, click the ‘Edit’ button.
If you are leaving town or will be otherwise unable to collect or use your orders temporarily, please allow us to help you put your subscription on hold. You can put your subscription on hold from your customer portal, or by contacting us at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
If you are moving or need to cancel your subscription entirely, click on the ‘Manage’ button under the subscription on the homepage. Click on ‘Subscription Settings’ on the bottom right corner of the screen. Click on ‘Cancel my subscription’ and then click ‘Confirm.’
If your account has already been charged for the week (billing occurs Monday), and you need to cancel your order, please do so at least one day prior to order shipment by contacting us at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
Log into your account. Click on the ‘Manage’ button under the subscription you would like to change on your homepage. On the next page, scroll down until you see the "Add Addons" button. On the next page you'll be prompted to create a new subscription addon. Select your product from the drop down menu, the duration (once, or forever), and then enter the quantity you'd like per shipment. Press the "Add Addon" button.
To remove your add-ons, log into your account and select the 'Manage' button under the subscription you would like to change. Scroll down past the "Add Addons" button until you see a list of your existing addons. To remove an addon, select the "Remove" button directly to the right of the item.
Changing these preferences will only update future orders. If your order has already been processed for the week, this will not change your open order. If your order has been processed and you need to change your preferences for your open order, you’ll need to contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
Log into your account. Click on ‘Manage’ button under the subscription on the homepage. Click on ‘Account Settings (billing, email, password)’ link. Under Your Details, click on ‘Edit’ to edit the email associated with the account.
Log into your account. Click on ‘Manage’ button under the subscription on the homepage. Next to Shipping Address click the ‘Edit’ button.
Yes! In your delivery preferences, you will be able to list any items you might be allergic to or prefer not to eat. You may also list items you prefer. Where other food box subscriptions will omit items that you prefer not to receive, we will substitute those items by doubling up on another item in the Farm Box or including a different item you might enjoy of similar value.
Log into your account. Click on the ‘Manage’ button under the subscription you would like to change on your homepage. On the next page, scroll down until you see the "Add Addons" button. On the next page you'll be prompted to create a new subscription addon. Select your product from the drop down menu, the duration (once, or forever), and then enter the quantity you'd like per shipment. Press the "Add Addon" button.
To remove your add-ons, log into your account and select the 'Manage' button under the subscription you would like to change. Scroll down past the "Add Addons" button until you see a list of your existing addons. To remove an addon, select the "Remove" button directly to the right of the item.
Changing these preferences will only update future orders. If your order has already been processed for the week, this will not change your open order. If your order has been processed and you need to change your preferences for your open order, you’ll need to contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
If you receive a bi-weekly subscription and would like to change the schedule received, please contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233, or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
PICKING UP
When you subscribe, you will be prompted to choose from a selection of locations in our delivery area that are close to you where you can pick up for free. The list includes Dare 2 Dream Farms if you would prefer to pick up directly from your farm. We select our pick-up locations based on their focus on sustainable agriculture (vintners), locally owned businesses, and women and minority owned businesses.
Please arrive at your chosen pick-up location within the designated pick-up hours and ask them where the Dare 2 Dream Farms items are stored for customer pick-up. Be sure to only pick up the items that are labeled with your name. If you’re not sure whether you’re receiving a box, you may log into your account and click on ‘Shipments.’ If there is an order created that week for your subscription, you can expect it to be filled. You will also receive an email newsletter when your order has been filled for the week.
Yes! You can add authorized pick up persons into your account. Just be sure they know to collect only items labeled with your name.
Yes, you can change your pick-up location or switch between pick up and delivery. Log into your account. Click on ‘Manage’ button under the subscription you would like to change on your homepage. On the next page, select the Edit button under ‘Shipping Address’. You can add or edit an address here, or select the Local Pickup tab at the top, and choose from one of the available pick up locations. You'll also be prompted to add a pick-up person with their phone number.
Changing these preferences will only update future orders. If your order has already been processed for the week, this will not change your open order. If your order has been processed and you need to change your preferences for your open order, you will need to contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
Customers are responsible for remembering to pick up their order at the time and place designated when setting up the subscription. If you have forgotten to pick up your order, please contact your pick-up location to determine if your order is still there, and if I so, when the next time is that you would be welcome to come pick it up. Our pick-up locations are only asked to open their facilities for order collection during the hours specified on harvest day. They are not required to store orders safely beyond the pick-up day. Forgotten orders may be donated or enjoyed by employees of the pick-up location. Dare 2 Dream Farms does not replace or refund orders that are not picked up on time.
Please contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233 to verify that an order was created for you. We can also verify if the order is still on it’s way or if it your order is missing we can recreate an order to be delivered to you.
DELIVERY
Our farmers begin their delivery route as early as 10:00 am and may still be delivering until 6:00 pm.
We serve Northern Santa Barbara County and Southern San Luis Obispo County including: Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, Mission Hills, Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, Ballard, Los Olivos, Los Alamos, Orcutt, Santa Maria, Nipomo, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, Grover Beach, and Oceano. We are always looking for ways to expand access to farm fresh local produce, so if you live outside of this area and know of multiple parties interested in receiving a subscription, please feel free to contact us.
No, you do not need to be home to receive your delivery. If your order contains any perishable items that should be refrigerated (eggs or dairy), you will just need to leave out a cooler for us to deposit your order into safely. If you need to leave special instructions for where you’d like us to leave your order, please contact our customer service team at 805-735-3233 or customerservice@dare2dreamfarms.com.
We currently do not have a shipping account valid for shipping perishables such as produce, eggs, and dairy and are unable to deliver outside of our own delivery route.
PACKAGING AND RECYCLING
We do our best to recycle the packaging used for our subscription items. We recommend bringing a reusable bag to pack up your items, and then break down your box and leave it neatly stacked at your pick-up location. If your order is delivered, we recommend leaving out a cooler for us to pack the produce into. Not only does this help us to reuse the box, but also keeps your produce cool and out of the sun so it stays fresh longest.
If you take your box home, and would still like to recycle it, feel free to leave it on your porch or bring it back to your pickup location. Though we cannot reuse it for the Farm Box program again (for sanitation reasons), we are able to repurpose it at the farm for sheet mulching, composting, chicken carriers, and more.
We are not legally allowed to recycle the egg cartons for use as egg cartons again. However, like our produce boxes, we can recycle them or try to find a way to repurpose them for use in our garden.
We use recyclable packaging such as paper bags, rubber bands, pulp berry tills, and compostable bags where possible. However, there are some items that require zip top bags because they may roll around in your box and be damaged or require air-tight containment to preserve freshness. Our zip-top bags are excellent quality and should be reused when possible by simply rinsing and air-drying them.
USING AND STORING FOOD
Each Farm Box newsletter includes tips on how to safely store your produce for maximum freshness. You will receive a paper copy of the newsletter in your Farm Box, but in case you need backup, you can also look for our weekly Farm Box newsletter by email.
Each Farm Box newsletter will include tips on how to use some of the produce included in your box, as well as one or two recipes we think you might be able to use based on the items in your box. You can also visit our blog to search for recipes created and used by our farm.
Each item included in your Farm Box has its own expiration from the time that it is harvested. We try to harvest all our items for the Farm Box within one to two days to keep the food on your table as fresh as possible.
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