What's in your organic veg box, how much does it cost and what are you doing with it?

jap200

dogstarheaven wrote: »

OP: yes, I understand leading a busy working and family life can be hard to juggle. These farmer's markets are only on either during the week when people are at work or on a Sat.! Plus, you can't get to the farm shop as well. Isn't it possible for your OH to pick up from them instead?

If we could then we would - I won't go into the details here but our life is rather complicated at the moment! It has been a godsend having a box of fresh veg just turn up when I haven't had a moment to go shoping or even do an online order.


I have now priced up the box using mySupermarket.co.uk. This is the equivalent price for organic veg. I picked the cheapest option which was usually Tesco and worked out the equivalent price for the weight of the actual veg in my box:

2 Kg organic potatoes = £2.50
900g organic carrots = £1.17
700g organic parsnips = £2.10
500g organic onions = £1.00
small organic red cabbage = £1.00 (the online price for this is £1.50 in Tesco, but mine was small so I have reduced it)
300g organic leeks = £1.50
small organic garlic bulb = £0.20 (these are 30p each for organic garlic bulbs in Tesco/Sains but mine was small)
bag of organic chard or spinach beet leaves = £1.50 (had to use price for leaf spinach as no chard online)
bag of organic mixed winter salad leaves = £1.50
half dozen organic eggs (medium) = £1.85
Total price for Tesco/Sainsburys organic equivalent = £14.32 + delivery) compared to £10.50 delivered for my organic veg box + 1/2 dozen eggs.

Based on this comparison the price looks favourable. However if I compared it to the price of regular veg using the prices for the basics or other cheapest options, or even my local farm shop (which is not organic) I thing that it is likely to work out more expensive. I will price it up at the farm shop next time I am down there.

sarah222

I have a mixed box from a local delivery company - I choose what goes it in and it just veg and usually costs me around £14 a week including £1.50 delivery charge. I live in a semi rural village and only have tesco locally otherwise any other supermarket is 35 mins away. My choice is limited in local tesco for organic other than tomatos and mushrooms. So I get everything else deliveries for the family of 4 (dd age 11 and 9) and I find this great value. I did look at have a regular veg box but found they pick what goes in it and altho slightly cheaper there was something each week I probably wont use so do my way. The box for £5 sounds fab I would love that lol but more than happy with what I get for price and your box looks fab so I would be happy with yours too

sarah222

Have you tried looking at the organic thread think in green fingers section?

sarah222

Not really a veg box issue but I bought organic rice (basmati) the other day and what a difference well impressed :-)

Paulie'sGirl

Vampiric_Addiction wrote: »

I saved a link to http://www.neog.org.uk/ not so long ago as I noted their prices seem cheaper than what I was paying Riverford plus they're collection-point based instead of delivery, which is a plus point for me as delivery was awkward when working.

I'm hoping once we're both in work again, we might be able to incorporate a regular NEOG order, though note I can't speak for their quality as I've yet to try them.

Vampiric Addiction, have you tried NEOG? I'm thinking of signing up for a trial with them in the New Year and was wondering if you could tell me how much veg comes in their boxes and what the quality is like?

Many thanks,

PGxx

meritaten

please be aware that 'farm shops' are not always what they seem. my local 'farm' shops buy in produce that you can get in any supermarket!
one is great for meat as it IS meat from that farm, but the veg is bought from wholesalers.
another does a great line in free range eggs - you can see the chickens running round and they roam the car park too! the jams, chutneys etc are all 'home' made too. I can see the whole of the farm from my bedroom window - so I know that the veg is not 'farm produce' as they say. may be a farm that supplies it - but its not the one its sold at.
I am lucky in that my mum has a huge garden and my son has part of it for his 'allotment'. in fact the runner beans we had Christmas lunch (and onions, sage, sprouts) were all from there.