Organic Veg Box - good value for OS-ers?

TKP_3

I tried one box, and was horrified at the small amount I got for my money, and the poor quality I received Bad experience all round

My local farm shop does organic or not organic, local sourced food (every food tell you where it comes from), is VERY cheap (no packaging), excellent quality - I stay with them

MadCowMan

It does seem like the quality can vary from company to company - I'll suck it and see ( so to speak )

sairy2005

I use a company called Wild Country Organics. They deliver in the Cambridge, Newmarket area but not sure where else. I have a £10 box every fortnight as there are only 2 of us. I think it is excellent value. It always has potatoes, onions and carrots in it and last time it had red cabbage, mushrooms, salad leaves, parsley, spring cabbage, parsnips, swede, sprouts and leeks. We are still using up some things and I will make soup with the left overs. (I have already made one batch with the leek tops, and peelings)

I dont bother with fruit as in the winter we only eat bananas, apples and oranges and they cant be sourced locally any way.

I rarely buy veg in the supermarket now but occasionally at markets. (we use more potatoes than we get in the box). There is also a couple of car boots in Cambridge which have pretty good fruit and veg stalls on Sunday mornings which I buy from. :

Philippa36

Friends of ours recommended Northern Harvest

We missed their Christmas deadline but are hoping to order from them from next week onwards. We used to get all our veg from the local farmers market but the lady that had the best quality fruit and veg is no longer there. They do supply meat and other produce too but you can make up your own box.

Bexstars

I have just found my local box delivery and it looks pretty good. I think we have a farmers shop not too far away from me which I have never been to so I may go to them first and give them a try and then try the box

Roz_V

How odd that this thread should pop up again today! I've been looking into organic boxes and today have decided to go for one.

I will be ordering from WildStar - I found out about them when they had a stall at one of the Xmas Markets in November, I tried the produce then and it was nice. I think I'll ask for the 1 week trial first though and see how it goes.

I was thinking to go for the Standard Mixed Box to be delivered fortnightly. There is just me and OH but he has a big appetite and it is to last us for 2 weeks. I will get potatoes, onions etc and any other veg we require will be bought from local greengrocer.

Opinions on this welcomed?

Bexstars

Roz_V wrote:

How odd that this thread should pop up again today! I've been looking into organic boxes and today have decided to go for one.

I will be ordering from WildStar - I found out about them when they had a stall at one of the Xmas Markets in November, I tried the produce then and it was nice. I think I'll ask for the 1 week trial first though and see how it goes.

I was thinking to go for the Standard Mixed Box to be delivered fortnightly. There is just me and OH but he has a big appetite and it is to last us for 2 weeks. I will get potatoes, onions etc and any other veg we require will be bought from local greengrocer.

Opinions on this welcomed?

Im in Sheffield too and this is the company I have been looking at today. I have just been shopping today and bought what we need to cover us for a while but I may give them a try in a couple of weeks. Would you mind letting me know how you get on with them?

Roz_V

Bexstars wrote:

Im in Sheffield too and this is the company I have been looking at today. I have just been shopping today and bought what we need to cover us for a while but I may give them a try in a couple of weeks. Would you mind letting me know how you get on with them?

Yeah of course I will

Tried some of their stuff at Whirlow Christmas Fair and it was lovely, hope the box lives up to the same standards. Haven't actually ordered yet, have emailed them to find out what day they deliver to my area on, as there isn't really anywhere to leave it if it happens that they deliver on a day when I'm at uni/work...

competitionscafe

My organic veg box is £10 a week (free delivery) and I think that it represents good value for money. I am in Edinburgh and use East Coast Organics:
http://www.eastcoastorganics.co.uk/

£10 veg box 11 items: 4lb potatoes, 1½lb carrots,1½lb onions, 6oz mushrooms, ¾lb tomatoes, lettuce or salad (basics every time) spinach or chard, cauli or swede or cabbage, leeks or celery or courgettes, fennel or aubergine or cucumber, garlic or pepper (rough guide only)

For those in London I have heard good things about this box scheme and they seem good value too: http://www.btinternet.com/%7Egrow.communities/box-scheme.htm

It's a 'pick-up' scheme rather than delivery though, so you would need to live or work nearby [Hackney]

Queenie

Interesting article in this months TopSante regarding what to buy in the "organic" ranges and also items where "... organic doesn't always equal healthier"

Potatoes were one of the "organic doesn't always equal healthier" as

... studies show there are no real nutritional advantages to buying organic .. potatoes

Might be something you want to consider when deciding if your veg delivery is worth the money.