Organic food in supermarkets

Edwardia

I've had Wholegood fruit n veg from Ocado and been pleased but not had a box.

Since the IT upgrade the Riverford website has been worse If you don't find the small fruit bag under fruit boxes (doesn't show on mine), have a look in fruit as that's where I found the small fruit bag.

Been trying to log in for two days now and although I log it, my account info won't show at all.

alfsmum

Thanks kirri and edwardia. Some of the Ocado boxes have 20% off at the moment and others have 10% off with smart pass so I will have a closer look at the contents and add one to my next order. I do like getting deliveries from Riverford and A&C but cost is a big factor and being able to get an Ocado box delivered on a day to suit me rather that the box schemes' set days would also be an advantage. Will let you know how I get on.

Kirri

Kirri wrote: »

Will defo be checking ^ Edwardia. We've already gone through a bottle since lunchtime but I've started on it too!

For anyone who was thinking of trying the organic veg box from Ocado, I am really super pleased with it! Was a bit worried due to the very mixed reviews but what I got today couldn't have been fresher. I do wonder if some people don't know the best way of storing veg as well or is there variation depending on where it's coming from ie which distribution depot/supplier? I just don't get how the quality can vary so much? Also my order arrived on the last day of the current box contents, new items start tomorrow.

Veg box was veg and salad items, all clean, normal price £17.99, it was on offer the other week for £14.39 so I added it in my basket then as despite the offer date running out it stayed at the same price then I got the 20% code via email and waited for a free delivery.... so only paid £11.52 for the box along with all the other shopping on top, loads of organic offers saving me £10 ish and £12 of discount on top overall, got free delivery for early afternoon, fantastic as normally have to wait for a night slot to get it free. Driver turned up spot on time, polite and friendly and no missing items. No idea how price compares with buying the items separately but I much prefer the box as it makes me eat a bigger variety.

Veg box was a nice deep box with a lid. There is so much in it, rather a lot for me!! Lovely to have veg without all the packaging. The only item in plastic was the celery and the shallots and tomatoes were in paper bags. Potatoes and garlic were a bit damp from being chilled so drying them out before storing - these items would have benefited from being in paper bags.

Contained 11 items and matched the expected contents:
4 large bulbs of garlic
Cabbage - January King I think (came with 1 maggot lol but I don't worry about those now I grow my own!)
Lettuce - butterhead type - if someone doesn't know how to store this it would go limp quick but it is very fresh on arrival
Celery - would have liked a few more leaves left on, supermarkets cut too many off but lovely still
3 x leeks
Broccoli, quite large
7 x rainbow carrots
4 x beetroot, good size
7 x potatoes, Vales Sovereign apparently - big enough for me to use as baking potatoes so that's 7 meals in one item
14 x shallots
8 x vine tomatoes

All produce Soil Association and from UK, France, Italy and Spain.

Been a very long time since I had an org box as with the allotment I stopped getting them but don't have so much stored this winter due to the bad growing season so nice to be able to order one again. I didn't need garlic and potatoes as have my own but will still eat them as better than what I have.

Tempted to try A&C, Riverford and my local farm for a box now to compare.

Here you go alfsmum, found it, from last Feb.

Edwardia

Lidl from Thursday 09/01 6 organic Fairtrade bananas £1, Rachel's organic low fat rhubarb/raspberry yogurt 350g 99p.

Was in Home Bargains yesterday, and discovered that the Nicky loo rolls many people rave about (9 for £2) have now gotpack flashes about a plant a tree scheme.

Kirri

^ I've tried Nicky and don't get what everyone is raving about..

Waitrose own is my preferred. Got Andrex last time (on offer) and was surprised it wasn't any better (from what I remember as a kid). Do wonder what the dye they use is though in toilet rolls. I used to get an organic one in Waitrose when I shopped in store. As for kitchen towel nearly all the brands have recently gone downhill, makes me wonder if all the brands are made in the same place as so many have suddenly got very thin? Probably not eco friendly in the slightest but the only one that seems any good lately is Plenty but I won't buy it at full price (or the one I was getting from Milk & More with the heart on the front).


This place has a job going in organic farming - also cafe, shop and does eco/organic weddings:

http://www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk/

Edwardia

I buy Andrex Eco or Velvet or Nouvelle when on offer ie anything made with recycled/renewable paper/bamboo or which plants more trees than it uses. I;ve not tried Nicky. My mother likes it but she's less fussy than husband.

As for kitchen paper, I use either 6 rolls for 99p from 99p Stores or 4 rolls for £1 from Iceland (whichever I can get) because it goes in the compostable waste collected by council and composted.

Holland and Barrett has a penny sale on. The organic brown sauce still out of stock so they've refunded me the money plus gave me a sorry code to get 5% off my next order. If you belong to H&B Rewards for Life scheme, look out for an email.. I got £1.

Kirri

Waitrose offering bottle of champagne with online orders this month. That and the no delivery charge make it a good deal.

Though shame it's delivery from nearest branch as mine isn't the largest so doesn't have a few specific things I want ie no Ecover zero, no YV fave yoghurt flavour, very limited Natracare. Had to order from Ocado instead.

alfsmum

Kirri , I've got the email about the free champagne and was tempted to order even though we don't drink as I thought I could use it as a present. I find the Waitrose website still very slow and clunky compared with Ocado though and it's not very intuitive so I've given up.

Edwardia

My nearest Waitrose quite small, my mother's even smaller so I use Ocado. The Waitrose site was really good until they changed it and was worse than it is now, part of the reason why I switched to Ocado.

As for ASDA, my local store only stocks 3 types of Yeo Valley !

Kirri

^ alfsmum, I think in the small print there might have been an option for non alcoholic option but I also thought the champagne might be good gift.

It really annoys me that certain supermarkets only stock certain items in ranges, I presume more to do with deals with suppliers. I used to like the fudge YV but as only Asda stocked them I gave up eating them as I hate going to Asda.

Anyone on here buy dried Apricots? I'm not a fan but I've had to start eating them due to having to cut other stuff out and they appear on the good list.. The Crazy Jack ones are really soft, almost slimy soft - and I didn't realise before ordering need to be refrigerated and used within 2 weeks. I suppose they are just less dried and more fresh? I've not ever eaten enough to know what they are normally like but presumed more dry.. Can't remember what brand I had the other week before this, will have to look it up, but they were more dried fruit like and I preferred them. Usually love anything from CJ but not these.