Organic food in supermarkets

frugal_shopper_2

Crazy Jack pumpkin seeds are from China the sunflower seeds are usually from China but occassionally from the USA.

The obvious alterntive would be Serbian organic pumpkin/sunflower seeds but they will be difficult to find at the moment because there has been a temporary export ban on various priducts including sunflower seeds for the last few months due to 2012 crop shortages.
You could usually get them from http://www.rawliving.eu but they don't have any listed at the moment.

Kirri

Does nowhere closer to the UK produce them? They both grow easily here, guess there's no money in it to give up the use of the land to them...

Interesting site thanks ^ also they are not heat treated which I noticed the Infinity ones are - not that I've read why they are heat treated yet, to dry them or something else??

In my search for Dukkah, had forgotten about this site. Never tried their products but very good selection - delivery bit steep too unless spending over £20.

http://www.steenbergs.co.uk/

ThriftyFelicity

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but food co-ops are a great way to buy organic stuff for a lot cheaper than supermarkets and (especially) health shops. You can find if there are any in your area here:

http://www.sustainweb.org/foodcoops/finder/

frugal_shopper_2

Sunflowers are grown commercially in the UK by companies such as http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/growing-sunflowers.aspx
They don't like wet weather so the growers experience major problems with fungus and sclerotinia. The seeds which are grown are usually only fit for use as bird food as they rarely meet the standards for human consumption.

Heat treatment is to stop the seeds germinating which helps prevent plant diseases from being spread. Some non-organic seeds may be fumigated with methyl bromide to acheive the same effect.

Edwardia

Hi gailey welcome to the thread x

I can't get Riverford in my area and as there are only the two of us, we don't buy meat boxes. I would think meat boxes make savings for a family but I'd suggest calling them both and asking any questions you have. Can't say anything about Riverford but Abel & Cole customer service is great, they're all very friendly.

When I switched to organic I tried different farms/brands and figured out which we liked best. For example, we like Daylesford chicken, Duchy Originals from Waitrose bacon and Laverstoke Park buffalo burgers.

You can get free delivery from Waitrose (minimum £50 order) at any time, you can get free early morning/late night slots from Ocado (minimum £40 order) and delivery from Abel & Cole is 99p (minimum order £10). Sainsbury's has its own SO organic range which has some good stuff.

Re burgers and mince.. Waitrose does British veal mince (no crates involved and not fed GM feed) and on offer atm 3 x 500g bags for £10. It tastes soo much better, makes spag bog amazing. I was checking the price and notice that Waitrose now does 20 British veal meatballs 300g for 2.79 and two large burgers 250g for same price.

My suggestion would be to try these so you don't have to worry about gruesome meat while you try organic things and decide what you and your family like.

So Kirri what's the problem with the Chinese seeds ? I clocked chevalburgers (have you seen the panto horse in Tesco Loughborough video yet ?) and arsenic rice but not the seeds

IME if you call customer services of Ocado, Abel & Cole, Waitrose or Sainsbury's they are very helpful and will find out where something comes from etc.

I remember that Whole Foods Market in US got caught out by buying organic veg from China that turned out not to be non organic.

Couldn't find organic pumpkin seeds on Ocado other than Clearspring organic tamari roasted pumpkin seeds on offer 20% off so 95p for 30g to 23/01/13. Ocado doesn't do Crazy Jack's, surprisingly. No organic sunflower seeds either.

Holland & Barrett has Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic sunflower seeds 500g 4.19 and Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic pumpkin seeds 400g 5.69 and 250g 2.35. Website doesn't give country of origin though. Orders over £20 on the website get free delivery and the penny sale is on atm.

Just noticed ThriftyFelicity hi and welcome !

Kirri

frugal_shopper wrote: »

Sunflowers are grown commercially in the UK by companies such as http://www.vinehousefarm.co.uk/growing-sunflowers.aspx
They don't like wet weather so the growers experience major problems with fungus and sclerotinia. The seeds which are grown are usually only fit for use as bird food as they rarely meet the standards for human consumption.

Thanks for info Surprised none grown in France, Spain though even. I did grow a lot of my own this year, more so for decoration of the flowers - but the parakeets blitzed them, I wouldn't have had a chance to eat my own to see if edible..

Edwardia, nothing wrong with the seeds themselves from China, I just don't want to buy anything from China if I can help it.

System

Just noticed the Bentley Organic Kitchen Clean is under £3 on amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bentley-Organic-Kitchen-Surface-Cleaner/dp/B003E4IQ7I/ref=sr_1_2?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1358610041&sr=1-2


subscribe and save, and then cancel it once it has been dispatched

Ingriedents (notice no perfumes ) Aqua, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Betaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder* Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Extract, Citrus Sinensis (Sweet Orange), Extract Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil*

Edwardia

I just bought this along with other Bentley Organics stuff using the get 33% off your first order with https://www.yourhealthfoodstore.co.uk and seems fine so far.

https://www.approvedfood.co.uk sometimes has Crazy Jack's stuff

gailey_2

Edwardia wrote: »

Hi gailey welcome to the thread x

I can't get Riverford in my area and as there are only the two of us, we don't buy meat boxes. I would think meat boxes make savings for a family but I'd suggest calling them both and asking any questions you have. Can't say anything about Riverford but Abel & Cole customer service is great, they're all very friendly.

When I switched to organic I tried different farms/brands and figured out which we liked best. For example, we like Daylesford chicken, Duchy Originals from Waitrose bacon and Laverstoke Park buffalo burgers.

You can get free delivery from Waitrose (minimum £50 order) at any time, you can get free early morning/late night slots from Ocado (minimum £40 order) and delivery from Abel & Cole is 99p (minimum order £10). Sainsbury's has its own SO organic range which has some good stuff.

Re burgers and mince.. Waitrose does British veal mince (no crates involved and not fed GM feed) and on offer atm 3 x 500g bags for £10. It tastes soo much better, makes spag bog amazing. I was checking the price and notice that Waitrose now does 20 British veal meatballs 300g for 2.79 and two large burgers 250g for same price.

My suggestion would be to try these so you don't have to worry about gruesome meat while you try organic things and decide what you and your family like.

So Kirri what's the problem with the Chinese seeds ? I clocked chevalburgers (have you seen the panto horse in Tesco Loughborough video yet ?) and arsenic rice but not the seeds

IME if you call customer services of Ocado, Abel & Cole, Waitrose or Sainsbury's they are very helpful and will find out where something comes from etc.

I remember that Whole Foods Market in US got caught out by buying organic veg from China that turned out not to be non organic.

Couldn't find organic pumpkin seeds on Ocado other than Clearspring organic tamari roasted pumpkin seeds on offer 20% off so 95p for 30g to 23/01/13. Ocado doesn't do Crazy Jack's, surprisingly. No organic sunflower seeds either.

Holland & Barrett has Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic sunflower seeds 500g 4.19 and Neal's Yard Wholefoods organic pumpkin seeds 400g 5.69 and 250g 2.35. Website doesn't give country of origin though. Orders over £20 on the website get free delivery and the penny sale is on atm.

Just noticed ThriftyFelicity hi and welcome !

Thanks my freinds brought riverford and wasent too impressed.
said boxes either too big or too small.

I reguarly use ocado/waitrose for online deliveries but not tried their organic ranges.

The veal is it british rose veal?
is it for sure the meatballs/burgers are pure? no protein fillers or powders?

Might ring co-op check my normal vennision burgers are ok nothing added.

We have large sainsburys nearby but find service and price not great.

veg will probably do regular order with dairy as its local produce from local farm non organic and continue to buy mix veg organic/non organic depending whats on offer.

Its the meat thats bothering me.

Not sure can afford organic milk as can get through 8pints a day!

we have 2farmshops nearby
we have farmers market city centre
some posh organic butchers in city too

used to have fresh and wild supermarket but now waitrose not sure if london one still open.

just_trying

Edwardia, sorry being lazy and didn't look through your whole thread but lidls have organic cheese just now for £1.29. Thought that was quite good.