Organic food in supermarkets

Kirri

Edwardia wrote: »

Thanks Kirri will have a look at undersink cupboard at Ecover stockpile thanks cos have Ocado delivery Friday.

Nope, no blackfly but have had slugs eww. Home-grown courgettes mmm.. I didn't get act together early enough to do much this year. I will have home-grown figs n grapes later though. Must say I'm excited that I managed to grow Duchy Originals organic sweet basil from seed. My mother is awash with runner bean flowers but few beans yet.

Yep basil is growing well this year, better than last year! Figs and grapes will be impressive.
I'm way behind and only have a fraction of what I normally grow, due to the cold, wet start (and me not wanting to go out in it..).

Really disappointed with Riverford raspberries this week, have had to complain, waiting for response..

Kirri

GemDoll wrote: »

Does anyone shop in Waitrose for their organic fruit and veg? I have been for a couple of years now and find that they have a pretty good range, the biggest range of good quality organic out of the supermarkets. I wish they did organic green leafy veg like Kale but they don't even when it is in season. Their apples and pears are lovely though. Their organic frozen sweetcorn is lovely and sweet too.

I do occasionally, best of the supermarkets by far and the only one worth bothering with - but since going over to A&C/Riverford I go in Waitrose and find all the packaging quite irritating now! Plus they don't have such a good range as the box schemes. But Waitrose veg is always very fresh, even when reduced.

GemDoll

Kirri wrote: »

I do occasionally, best of the supermarkets by far and the only one worth bothering with - but since going over to A&C/Riverford I go in Waitrose and find all the packaging quite irritating now! Plus they don't have such a good range as the box schemes. But Waitrose veg is always very fresh, even when reduced.

Maybe I should give a box scheme a go? I wouldn't know where to start really! Are they better value then buying individual from Waitrose I'm assuming?

Kirri

GemDoll wrote: »

Maybe I should give a box scheme a go? I wouldn't know where to start really! Are they better value then buying individual from Waitrose I'm assuming?

They can be but some things seem more expensive ie they have individual veg items you can add too and they can be expensive. The boxes seem good value to me though but at this time of the year I am just ordering a few odd bits of salad mainly as I grow my own but I love the boxes and the variety of org veg they stock is fantastic. A lot of the non veg items are cheaper than the supermarkets though too, plus I find it easier to have everything organic delivered than trying to find it in store and you can place small orders, ie minimum is around £12.50 ish so it's ideal for smaller households too who want shopping delivered. A&C have nearly everything I need and far more organic than Waitrose. I still use Waitrose for odd bits or offers though.

Kirri

This place in Cornwall was just mentioned on the Hungry Sailors, wow wish I lived closer, looks great (and good value - to a Londoner!).

http://www.cusgarneorganicfarm.co.uk/boxscheme.html



I've put in another order from Farmaround this week - mainly because I wanted the 'cruelty free/non destruct' eggs and cheeses - the cheddar was superb last time for taste and they also have blue cheese in for limited period so am trying that. Trying a fruit bag too (as I have no fruit currently ready on the allotment), the smallest fruit bag is 5 items for £6.99.

Edwardia

I sometimes buy organic veg boxes from Ocado and have been very happy with them. I use Abel & Cole and Riverford both almost every week but they don't stuff the boxes full like Ocado so I choose what I want. The organic cherries from Riverford have been fantastic.

When I go into supermarkets, it's really for a limited number of items now.

ASDA for organic Extra Virgin olive oil, organic tinned tomatoes and organic Weetabix.

Lidl for organic Fairtrade bananas, additive free prosciutto di Parma (1.99 Lidl, 2.65 Sainsbury's) and organic Heinz biscotti for OH

Sainsbury's for organic seeded wholemeal rolls and Respect organic carrot cake for OH, Taste The Difference wild Pacific salmon, Sainsbury's SO organic teabags £2 for 80, organic veg when I run out

Though I really like Waitrose, Ocado has a much bigger range of organic Waitrose stuff than my nearest store in next town.

Lilac in my garden has burst into flower for second time this year which hasn't happened before. Runner beans have flowers. :DGrapes useless about 4 bunches total However lots of figs !! :T
Herbs have done really well except mint which got a virus then mildew

Ocado sent me an eVoucher for up to £10 off chocolates to celebrate my first anniversary with them this month. They have Ecover stuff on offer at the moment.

Riverford small fruit bag is 3.75 and OH often gets one for work. He gave up on Graze boxes so I buy him stuff and I think it works out cheaper though not as fancy.

Kirri

Saw this on Choose Green, seems like only London markets though but they are new markets I hadn't heard of so I may have a nosey when I have some spare time.

http://www.organically-prepared.co.uk/


My Farmaround order arrived though 2 items not supplied including the cheddar Riverford tomatoes were not good quality last week (soft but not ripe, only any good for cooking immediately) Farmaround failed to deliver any at all so going for a 3rd go at getting some from A&C this week instead! Greenhouse ones are just starting though thankfully. Have finally stopped buying cucumbers as they are now ready on the allotment

I find the fact all 3 org delivery co's give a credit on the account rather than my credit card rather irritating. I don't have any spare cash and have to re-buy things not delivered so to have this credit does me no favours when I don't order from the same company each week :mad: Riverford didn't even credit me for the substandard tomatoes, only the mouldy/maggoty raspberries and even then I got no apology.

The Farmaround mini fruit bag - 5 items - £6.99 contained the following, not a huge quantity but plenty for me (it's designed for 1 person) and think some of these items are not cheap separately?

Melon - 1
Apricots - 8
Plums - 4
Bananas - 2
Oranges - 2

lindens

Higgidy pies/quiche - I love these but am the only one in my house who does. Its not cost effective always to buy the little ones - so does anyone know if they freeze well? Then I could buy more of the bigger ones and freeze them in slices.
thanks

Edwardia

They freeze really well, OH has them a lot for lunches. Curently large ones on offer at Sainsbury's for £3.

Also if you collect ten of the eat by dates on boxes within a 3 month period and send to them they will send you a voucher for a free one !

Holland & Barrett penny sale on until 22/08, got email today

Hope everyone well and enjoying sun xxx

Kirri organic melon was £2 in Sainsbos, organic plums when I've seen them £2/£3
I get your point re credits, I'm currently 1.99 in credit with Riverford cos they forgot my baba ganoush

Kirri

^ I wasn't over keen on their baba ganoush, actually think I made it better! I do, however, love their new salsa. May try the harissa - though currently still a bit annoyed over last week's problems.

Interesting re those fruit prices, they are not items I buy usually, I think the Farmaround bags seem good value then.