Abel and Cole - How does it work???

skylight

I am planning on giving these Organic Boxes (and stuff) a go, but reading their FAQ's and bits and bobs, I am a bit confused now.

Like - "Skip an order if you are away", "Don't worry, we can cancel one" etc.

So - my question is, is my order a regular order and I get the same every week unless I cancel or change it? Or is it like a Tesco order - I can have what I like, when I like? I know that they would like repeat orders each week, but I cannot guarantee that!

Thanks! :T

HappyIdiotTalk

Is it fruit and veg? Having a weekly order sounds good to me, it would force me to use what I have instead of being lazy and letting it go bad. On the other hand it could be a bit too much.

skylight

They do Fruit and Veg, as well as meats/fish/diary/and general grocery.

Three_Dancing_Dragons

I tried an organic veg box once a week but I'm not a very good cook and couldn't identify 80% of what I received (it was normal veg but I have trouble telling lettuce from cabbage for example) so it was mostly wasted. Once I know what I am doing I will train myself up at their stall at the local farmers market on Saturdays. Maybe going back to a veg box can be a goal for 2008!

TKP_3

I tried a small box from Abel & Cole. The cost vs what I got in the box was a big shock :eek:
It was WAY too expensive for me - my farm shop costs about 1/4 of the price, and has better quality products.
Not for me I'm afraid

skylight

Thats the problem with my local "farm shop". Its just a glorified Tescos! The prices are higher, but I am paying for non-local produced food - some is, but the majority is imported and flown in (Argh!!) and none of it is organic at all.

I assumed that it was all great stuff, until I actually asked where it came from (and I should have known with Bananas in Winter, that sort of thing on sale!)

I would prefer to shop locally, but I must be honest, our Tescos have more organic/UK produce than the "Farm Shop".

I need to drive further afield to find one I think.

TKP_3

Luckily for me our Farm shop sources locally for most things, and has labels on everything to show where it comes from (so I can choose). They are cheaper than the supermarket (no packaging), and allow me to buy 1 or 2 items instead of making me get large quantities.

sufisu

I gave up on Abel & Cole largely because the quality of their F&V went downhill fast. The pros for them are that you can choose which F&V you would like and you can check their website each week to see what will be in your box. I've now gone over to Riverford and get a mini veg box for £7.50 a week. You can't choose what you get but, apart from brussel sprouts, I like most veg. An average mini box has enough veg for 2 people and then some. Last week's had potatoes, carrots, onions, cauliflower, sprouts (yuk), parsnips and leeks. It is more expensive than the supermarket but is all organic and the quality is superb. If you find you're getting overwhelmed by veg you can always stop delivery for a week.

Ebany

I got one box from them some time ago, which seemed good, but if quality has dropped recently then I wouldn't know. You can select what you don't want to receive, though there is a limit on how many things you can anti-pick (but if, for example, you dont like tomatoes, you can select tomatoes as a group rather than have to use up lots of them detailing every variety of tomatoes they have). I am quite picky with vegetables but was able to restrict it pretty much to what I would eat. Maybe over time I would have grown more adventurous.

The only reason I stopped was because it wasn't practical as I have no hidden outside place for it to be left if I was out. They prefer you to make longer term ongoing orders so they can plan what to plant, but if you just want something occasionally you can just cancel after you get one and re-order when you want another.

lindadykes

I tried Abel and Cole for a while and to be honest they weeren't bad. I had previously tried Farmaround and found Abel and Cole to be better value. I did however find that the quality varied. Sometimes a vegetable seemed "old" and didn't last very long, but overall I found them value for money. I only switched from Abel and Cole as a local supplier who comes to the farmers market in the next village has begun to deliver in my area. ( I live in Weardale - in the North East and Abel and Cole are in London) I decided I preferred the local option and have to say that although I have only had 2 weeks supplies from them so far they seem excellent - good quality and produce that remains useable for ages. By the way for anyone living in the North East my new supplier is http://www.bluebellorganics.co.uk/ .

icklejulez

Id avoid them. Most weeks my veg was mushed up or it would go off very quickly. The stock didn't change much and I was expecting enough food for a family of 2 adults 1 2 year old to last a week. I got about 3 days.