Anybody tried an Abel & Cole veg' box?

Edwardia

terra_ferma wrote: »

Never tried Abel and Cole, but friends who did told me Riverfords are better quality.
A&C are also owned by Lloyds now, a bit too commercial for me.

Lloyds Bank or Lloyds Pharmacy terra_firma ? Innocent is part owned by Coca-Cola and they wholly own Tropicana now -trying to diversify as governments tax the main product.

RHYSDAD

God forbid vegetables have the audacity to have mud on them! Whatever next, eggs with shells on?!?

namecheck

I ordered from Abel and Cole a few times. I stopped because the delivery (on the same day each week) was inconvenient and also because I prefer to choose vegetables and fruit myself.

However, since then I have been sent numerous mailouts, despite saying that I was no longer interested.

What really annoyed me, though, was that they kept phoning when I was out, but not leaving a message. I was at home for the latest call last week and said I was not interested and please don't contact me. So hopefully they have finally got the message.

Charliezoo

RHYSDAD wrote: »

God forbid vegetables have the audacity to have mud on them! Whatever next, eggs with shells on?!?

I was just explaining why A&C wasn't for me and the amount of mud on the produce was one of the reasons.

I simply don't have time to stand at the sink and scrub mud off the fruit and veg. Back when I used to order, things were CAKED in mud, not just a small amount that needed a quick rinse - I used to have to scrub most things with a brush. My kitchen would be covered in splattered mud, there would be dry mud in the box that would end up on the floor as it often fell through the bottom and sometimes fruit like grapes would also have mud on them from the veg in the box. I know it sounds silly but my metered water was being used to wash everything which meant that the box wasn't good value at all. The last box I received contained a whole handful of dried mud in the bottom.

I worked out that I can buy clean organic produce in the supermarket for virtually the same price or less if it's on offer. I often buy from the local allotment when they have a small sale on. Of course the veg has mud on it but it's far, far cheaper than A&C and the money's going to the local growers so I don't mind this at all.

terra_ferma

I agree that lack of flexibility and mud are a nuisance. For me what does it is taste, I can't find vegs as tasty as the ones from Riverford anywhere else (haven't tried A&C myself though).
Their aubergines are just fantastic. The eggs are very nice too. It's just not the same with stuff from supermarket.

Riverford let you choose a different box every week, so there is more flexibility than the old days, when box schemes has just started and there was only one box with lots of potatoes, cabbage, carrots etc
You can also combine with fruit and/or meat.

I tried doing without but we hated the veg and fruit from supermarkets, even waitrose.

raphanius

i have riverford boxes and have never had things so caked in mud they take ages to get clean. granted sometimes the farmer doesnt bother washing the veg (once his washer broke) but a reasonable layer of soil keeps the light out and this is essential when keeping spuds so they dont go green. wet soil is bad though cos then the veg will rot in the box.

i love riverford and would recommend them to anyone. the veg (and fruit) is fresher than the supermarkets and keeps up to a fortnight if stored correctly and it tastes out of this world. air miles are reduced as most veggies are grown in the UK and where necessary france and spain (except bananas of course) plus buying veg like this encourages us to eat seasonally and try things we wouldnt normally eat.

terra_ferma

raphanius wrote: »

i have riverford boxes and have never had things so caked in mud they take ages to get clean. granted sometimes the farmer doesnt bother washing the veg (once his washer broke) but a reasonable layer of soil keeps the light out and this is essential when keeping spuds so they dont go green. wet soil is bad though cos then the veg will rot in the box.

i love riverford and would recommend them to anyone. the veg (and fruit) is fresher than the supermarkets and keeps up to a fortnight if stored correctly and it tastes out of this world. air miles are reduced as most veggies are grown in the UK and where necessary france and spain (except bananas of course) plus buying veg like this encourages us to eat seasonally and try things we wouldnt normally eat.

..you probably never had my carrots then... most of the time there's more mud than carrot... (they have different farms, maybe it depends on where you live?)
spuds are not too bad, normally.

but I totally agree about taste, we are hooked

Charliezoo

I have to admit I have found Riverford boxes less muddy. I don't mind a little mud that just needs a rinse but I find clumps of mud annoying and messy. I have never had 12 phone calls in a week from Riverford either, can't say that about A&C.

terra_ferma

Charliezoo wrote: »

I have to admit I have found Riverford boxes less muddy. I don't mind a little mud that just needs a rinse but I find clumps of mud annoying and messy. I have never had 12 phone calls in a week from Riverford either, can't say that about A&C.

*wonders what A&C's carrots must be like...

BLUis

I used to have A&C boxes, but found that the veg always went off before I could use it! I had a medium weekly one, but it wasnt even lasting more than 4 days. I had 2 boxes refunded because the veg was mouldy.