Fruit and veg boxes - are they good value for money?

oystercatcher

I had a regular River Nene box for a couple of years, they are a sister company of Riverford.
I used to order extra spuds to go with the box.
I didn't like not being able to substitute items, although we were able to change the size or type of box each week which I used to do regularly so we got the most favourable selection. There were some things like celeriac, kohl rabi and Kale which no-one would eat however much I disguised it I felt it was a waste of money being forced to buy these things.
I also disliked that all the main boxes had a standard potaoes, carrots, onions base with varying numbers of items added. There were one or two options without this but a limited choice. I never used to buy carrots so didn't want huge amounts and although my parents were quite interested in veg boxes my Dad is allergic to onions so they would have had a very limited choice.

These factors combined with the rising prices and lower household budget meant that I cancelled my regular order and now just have a very occaisional box as a treat!

River Nene claim to be cheaper than the supermarket and they are for identical items...but if I shop around and avoid weird and unpleaseant veggies then I spend much less.

Oystercatcher

My family would rather starve than eat kohl rabi !

Ishtar

I used to have a Riverford box, but found that at certain times of the year there were endless supplies of Swiss chard (which none of us like), beetroot and swede and hardly enough potatoes for two meals - and we're only two adults and a 4 year old. I got around this for a while by ordering the Winter/Summer box, but it all became a bit repetitive after a while and I found I was having to top up more elsewhere.

The ability to substitute would have been great, as would the option to create your own box.

The general idea behind having the box was to try and eat a bit more seasonally, with the organic element of it an added bonus. Since we've moved I've had to be a bit more careful about how much I spend on groceries, so is more cost effective for me to pick up what I need when I'm in the supermarket. We also have a couple of farm shops quite close which although they aren't strictly organic, are at least local and quite cheap.

D

Caterina

Sorry to sound like an old cynical so and so, bytesize, please forgive me if I am barking up the wrong tree, but are you doing some sort of market research to start your veg box business? Or are you from one of the established veg box companies?

If so, good luck and all but please could you come clean - if this is the case you could ask for OSers feedback and offer a little discount to people who respond (via the referrers thread, that is), I bet you would get a lot of custom!

If I have got it all wrong, please accept my apologies.

Caterina

bytesize

Again, thank you to everybody for your replies.

I'm not doing market research - I just wanted to get an honest opinion of whether veg boxes really were as good as everybody seems to say they are before spending my hard earned money.

The old threads were full of peoples positive comments, but this thread shows a completely different side - if I don't ask people what the problems are, then I'll end up finding out the hard way after spending £20!

competitionscafe: Thanks for the links - I will take a look at those tonight.

Caterina: Sorry, you got it all wrong! Good luck to any veg box companies reading this though.

I'm still undecided about whether to spend the money or not - its hard to take a risk and change from what I already know in Sainsburys!

Thanks.

Caterina

bytesize wrote: »

Caterina: Sorry, you got it all wrong! Good luck to any veg box companies reading this though.

I stand corrected. Sorry, hope I did not offend. It would have been interesting if you were, though, we could have negotiated a little discount for all OSers!

I am sure that with all the input on the various thread, you will be able to make your decision - if I may offer a little advice: do not try only one supplier (unless you are deliriously happy after the first order of course), have a few one-offs, calculate the expense against the weight and size of produce, and then make your mind on who to stick with.

Best wishes,

Caterina

maryjane01

I think it depends on how you normally shop and whether the organic element is important to you.

If you compared to buying organic in the supermarket it may work out cheaper. If you buy from your local market it will be loads more expensive.

For me, it save us money but not because it is particularly cheap. My husband and I both work full time and it stops us from making too many random trips to the supermarket on the way home, which is when we spend loads more than we mean to. To buy at the market Saturday day time is our only option and realistically we would only get to do that about once a month with other commitments in our lives and wanting to relax on a Saturday.

If you are a true OSer who meal plans and plans their shopping budget, I don't think the veggie box is good value.

Penelope_Penguin

bytesize wrote: »

I'm not doing market research - I just wanted to get an honest opinion of whether veg boxes really were as good as everybody seems to say they are before spending my hard earned money.

Have to say, I initially thought the same as caterina. I'll add this to the exisiting thread on whether veg boxes are good value.

Penny. x

oystercatcher

Well I've ordered one for next week.
I think they are nice as an occaisional treat but every week and we ended up wasting too much!

OC

bravotwozero

@ Ishtar, Riverford have been doing 'create your own boxes' for some months now, although it's much better value to have a set box. We've only done this once, as we prefer the element of surprise (although we get emailed with next week's box contents on the Friday before) and the occasional culinary challenge. If we need more veg, spuds usually, we just add them on as extras - they do lots of different sizes.

@ Owlet, have a look at my post in the other vegbox thread for our vegbox experiences in Shropshire and give Riverford a try, you'll be surprised at the difference, particularly the freshness. There are some smaller schemes, but in reality their 'localness' is affected by their reliance on having to buy in most of their box contents. If they buy from local wholesalers (as most do) that doesn't mean that the produce was actually grown locally.

Incidentally, it appears that Riverford are launching a new box next week called 'Roots and Greens', big portions, containing the core veg we all use, one other root, a couple of leafy veg and a mystery veg, added on the day from what's in the fields. This seems like really good value at £11.95 and might give it a try to see how we get on.

Lewisthewestie

My first box arrived this morning from Kelly's Veg, all very fresh, contained the following:

(all non-organic)1 bunch carrots, 2 pointed cabbages, 1 large lollo rosso (I think) lettuce, 650 grms courgettes, 420grms button mushrooms, 440grms French BEANS, 1.1 kg potatoes, 800grms plums, 1.1kg cooking apples & 8 bananas.

This is a box for 4, despite it looking very nice I'm not convinced that this is enough for us for a whole week despite being described as 'plenty'.

Do others think this is good value for £16.00? Are there any other veg box delivery schemes in north Hants/Berks? I can't find any.