Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

Lugh_Chronain wrote: »

Would it not be fairer to open another thread so others can express their opinions on the debate for and against conventional farming, organic farming and GM products, and why they might support either, and why they might purchase one or the other? Post the links to the above if you must as well as these articles are after all of interest to most consumers.

Most people who don't buy or can't afford organically grown food most likely won't be viewing this thread. Are they not allowed an opinion also?

It doesn't appear fair if people aren't allowed to defend against accusations and assumptions such as those made in post #1805.

Incidentally, I wouldn't normally view this thread as I'm not persuaded by the ideology behind organic farming, and I'm not normally interested in buying organically grown food stuff either, so normally have no interest in viewing this thread. Though after hearing the latest news on genetically modified crops I thought I'd have a look to see what others might be saying. However, I'm not prepared to comment here for the same reasons I've mentioned above. Either way, I wasn't going to comment until I saw what people on here were posting, you almost appear to be verifying each others opinions without any debate or oppostion. This clearly is unfair!

I only post any links on GM, organic stuff, probably as do others, as those into organic food on this thread probably have an interest in any latest developments and the way the market is going, especially given the general decline in the production of 'food'. If people are pro GM or pro chemical laden food there are umpteen other threads they can be discussed in and it's a bit pointless for anyone on here who is mainly just looking for the best value in organic/eco foods/products to get involved in pointless arguments. I hardly think anyone is going to convert the other way :rotfl:

It's bad enough the single organic gardening thread got hijacked by a pro weedkilling person, why, just pointless. What next, pro meat eaters arguing in the vegan/veggie food threads ...


SophLowe/Edwardia - I've had lots of the A&C free box vouchers to give out - have had quite a few £5 off spend ones too. Wish I'd got one when I first joined though! (though I loved the cookbook offer I got).

Welcome back Quasar

Kirri

First order placed with Farmaround this coming week, hope it's more successful than yours, Edwardia.. just trying a veg box and the cruelty free eggs/cheese.

happy35

would anyone be able to give me an idea of the amount of veg you get in largest veg boxes.

We are a family of 3 but eat loads of veg as I am 99% veggie (eat fish a few times a year), I only notice a list of items it contains and no guide as to the amount.

I have looked at a few different places and none give any info on this

I do spend a lot on fruit and veg and would be prepared to pay for the box if it was definitely going to be enough for the week, but I wouldnt want to have to buy in addition to the box on a regular basis

thanks

Edwardia

I await your Farmaround delivery with interest Kirri !

Kirri

Edwardia wrote: »

I await your Farmaround delivery with interest Kirri !

If it turns up! No sign yet... I'm a tad nervous I might be left veg-less, I've nothing much in the fridge either so would have to do the unthinkable and go to Morrisons as a last minute emergency if not.
They've charged my card though.

Edit - now arrived. Initial impression:

Do get quite a lot for the money, I'd say better value than the other companies? but presentation not so good as it's all in a large paper bag longer than my arm and bit wet at the bottom (which looks like it's been reused a fair few times) instead of a box like A&C/Riverford (and as a side note the driver smelt strongly of smoke - maybe can't be helped but still..).

There were 3 substitutions which seems a lot (A&C usually update the list before despatch online and Riverford only seem to sub no more than 1 thing) and bit disappointing as I got no tomatoes and it's a very veg-heavy bag now so I still need to shop for the pets... I didn't get leeks, tomatoes and beans but did get kale, mushrooms and squash - not so great for me as I had fajitas in mind plus I already have a squash here and I'd ordered mushrooms as an extra anyway - I wish when these companies do swaps they would realise that we probably then don't want the same item as an extra... also the potatoes were listed as new potatoes but the skins don't rub off so not sure about that (given I grow my own too).

Full price of bag was £14.85 for 9 items but had a 50% discount code for first order so for £7.42 it was fantastic value. seems mostly very fresh, could have a couple of quibbles on a couple of items though but seems bit par for the course with all deliveries. The mushrooms I'd ordered as an extra were a very small portion however. Delivery charge of £1.80 compared to A&C of 99p and Riverford free. However if you are outside of the delivery area served by their own vans then it's a lot more expensive for delivery as I think the rest of the country is served by a overnight courier type thing.

Got the cruelty free cheddar and eggs and they look fantastic, not tried yet but nice long dates and I love this brand/idea. I think the eggs had a longer date than the other companies and I think all eggs have a 28 day bb date ? so these must be very fresh. I thought they were also supposed to be discounted but charged full price, will have to double check that. Will get those again as the cruelty free aspect really appeals as I'm usually a guilty vegetarian whenever I eat dairy (HenNation hens are rescues and are never killed whereas other organic hens are killed at just over a year which I have issues with...) but not sure would re-order veg if so many subs. However I think it's worth trialling them again to see but probably only when I want more of the cruelty free dairy. I'd maybe just try a salad bag next time I reorder eggs/cheese. Their eggs are a bit cheaper than the other co's too.

Prices on the other items on the site are not as competitive as the other delivery co's and the Ecover seems expensive compared to everywhere else.

Pic to follow.

Edwardia

happy35 it's really difficult to help as you get different amounts of veg and different veg every single week in any box from whichever company. Ocado organic boxes are always stuffed full so a small box will keep OH and I going for over a week.

Abel & Cole ran out of samphire so I got refund and getting it free next week. Got a freebie.. some sort of bar that seemed like compressed nuts with a thin covering of carob on top.. unimpressed.

My mother opened A&C a/c today, she's getting first veg box free plus the cook book. Later this afternoon I got email from A&C saying I'd be getting free gift with next order -hope not cook book, already have it.

It seems minimum order for A&C now gone up to 12.50 btw.

Now that's what I call an excellent review Kirri but I have to say I'm sticking with mostly buying what I fancy from Ocado-Abel & Cole- Riverford.

Kirri

Your freebie sounds nice! ^ I do like the surprise element rather than choosing what I want but does get annoying and I've just had a very irritating visit to Morrisons which was hellish and useless for organic being sparse and let alone that the few bits of veg they do stock hadn't even been put out 2 hours after the shop opened - I asked and got a offish reply. So now I'll have to go to Asda instead :mad: Morrisons had samphire but from Israel.. My mum got A&C before I got the introduce someone coupon so missed out on that freebie. I got my scrubbing brush from Riverford the other week and that was very nice.

On another irritation, the council are driving up and down my road spraying chemicals

happy35 - I've never ordered the largest boxes but even the small and medium boxes have had huge amounts in - 1 veggie here who cooks from scratch and 3 veggie pets so we consume a lot here). Also where the box says butternut squash etc, they sometimes come in multiples, they always contain a lot more than I would actually buy if going to a shop. I think one site suggested going up a box size if veggie but the largest boxes should really be plenty I would have thought.

Wilkos still have the non bio concentrated liquid for £4 (very good price) but most of the other Ecover offers seem to have either stopped or there is no stock.

january_23

Kirri other than waiting anxiously for a picture I'd like to know did you weigh the contents at all of the veg? Found out I'm in the £1.80 delivery charge area. Although I have to say I'm happy with A&C.

Tuesdays fruit and veg box (large). I did weigh everything but I have scales that go up in 25g so it's not accurate. Will edit the weights in if anyone is interested though.

Bananas 6
Melon charentais large
Nectarines 5

Carrots 8
Chinese leaf
Courgettes 4
Green frilly lettuce
Ostara potatoes (in the bag)
Pearl white onions 4
Pepper red medium 2
Spinach
White mushrooms

Hope the pic isn't too big. Did resize it but its difficult on my tablet.

Kirri

^ Like the look of those white onions, look unusual.

No, sorry, I didn't weigh the Farmaround delivery but it was very heavy - I couldn't hold the bag in one hand (Though that's not a very concise weight!). Oops, the pic, will upload.

My current fave is Riverford lately, I've like all the new season things in the boxes ie the wet garlic, bunched onions, bunched carrots and herbs, the last few boxes have been SO good. I like A&C for the sheer variety of products on the website and Farmaround I like for the cruelty free eggs/cheese. I will probably continue to dither around and order from all of them but preference to Riverford for veg and the home made stuff from the farm kitchen.


Oh and shame on these awful people for selling battery eggs and passing them off as FR.. not sure how he can say it wasn't a profit making business when he bought 12,000 of the things

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10511370.Guilty__couple_who_misled_customers_over_battery_farm_eggs/?ref=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

january_23

The only reason to do that would be for profit. How could they not know they were doing wrong? My OH and I would go nuts if we found the eggs he'd been eating were battery eggs. Passing food off as something it isn't is abhorrent.

Yes the onions are unusual. OH thought they were garlic, lol. I let him know gently that they were onions. It was before 7am and he was getting ready for work so I let it slide.