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

Daisydoll

thanks, do those of you who use them find them cheaper than buying veg from the supermarket? Or is it just better tasting/quality? Think I'm going to try out the nothernharvest one as I've just realised it's only in Warrington so quite close.

odds-n-sods

the quality and amount I get from rivernene is great. And its less hassle, you don't have to carry the veg home from the store! It lasts longer as it's been picked within 48 hours.

CharleneUK

What about that company...... Able something or another? I see them driving around all the time.

Daisydoll

Well I've done it, I've ordered a veg and fruit box from www.northernharvest.co.uk and have ordered some sausages and bacon to try too as a treat:D will let you all know what it's like when it comes, think delivery is due thursday!

debbie42

CharleneUK wrote: »

What about that company...... Able something or another? I see them driving around all the time.

Abel & Cole?
They've been distributing flyers in our area, but seemed a bit expensive, to me.

odds-n-sods

I didn't get very much in a Abel+ Cole box when I tried them and you have to have a delivery every week of the same size box. with rivernene/riverford/riverswan you can have a delivery as little as once a month, and can have different boxes delivered each time. One reason why Abel + cole seem more expensive is because you can pick + choose items to exchange in your box. With Rivernene you can't, so as all the boxes are exactly the same, it is cheaper for them to put the boxes together.

I get eggs and yogurt, a fruit box, and either a med. veg box or a summer/winter box each week. Eggs + yogurt are the same price as in a grocery store, veg works out cheaper than buying organic in tesco/sainsburies. Fruit is a bit dearer, but overall a good price.

dearbarbie

Hiya - new to these and wanting to know how they work? I'm in West London with my bf and buy from greengrocers when I can but there aren't many around and open when not at work/busy. I used to buy from a greengrocer regularly before I moved here a few months ago, and don't like buying from supermarkets where the veg is not ripe (avocados are my pet hate there!), or the food is old, overpriced and has been in a bag sweating! Thinking about a veg box per week for the two of us or mixed with veg and fruit (bf likes smoothies for breakfast) and wondered if anyone had any suggestions? Do you know any company that do a trial and are these boxes value for money, i.e. how much stuff do you get? I've had a look at http://www.vegboxschemes.co.uk/ and just want to know a bit more. Thanks a lot

Bongedone

Hi,

I have used Riverford. They will let you order one box to try it.

http://www.riverford.co.uk/

Pink.

Hi dearbarbie,

These older threads may help:

Veg box schemes

Organic Veg Box - good value for OS-ers?

Organic veg box

Organic veg box thing - opinions?

Solving veg box worries!


Pink

ladymacbeth_uk

I LOVE Abel & Cole! My partner & I get a small mixed fruit & veg box delivered once a week, 2 litre organic milk, half dozen organic eggs & pack of yoghurts for under £15. (We cook about 6/7 days a week - with the odd night out once or twice a month)
Now I could certainly find this cheaper in a store but not neccessarily organic produce. For us the savings come in because this is delivered to our door once a week so we never run out & we cannot have spontanious "lets just get a take away" moments. I plan our food depending on what we have in the house.
It took us a couple of tries when we first started with Abel & cole as Im ashamed to say we wasted a bit to begin with but we soon got into the swing of things.
Another plus is that we sometimes get veg that we may not have otherwise have picked up in the supermarket (I was in a routine of buying the same stuff without thinking).
Also important to note that you can take a break with Abel & cole at any time (for delivery on Tuesday we need to let them kmow by sunday night) that is adding holidays. So if you find you have too much stuff to use up - just add a 'holiday' & they'll skip your order for the week. So you can have a delivery once a month if you wish & you can cancel at any time or change your order, although I think minimum spend is about £9 or £10.
Hope this helps