Box schemes. Support them as they struggle

Moneybubbles

Whoa! I put in River nene on search as I'm really interested in getting the boxes delivered, so got lots to look at now before I make a choice on what to go with

thanks

Bobbykins

I'd love to buy from a box xcheme, but the only one offered in our area (northwest) is Abel & Cole and I think they seem over priced!

Unless anyone knows of a decent box scheme in Cheshire, then I guess I'm stuck with Mr T's!

lil_me

www.bigbarn.co.uk is one good site for finding them

Some certainly do not struggle, I've seen the cars and homes they have, but yes some do. I'm all for supporting local suppliers if they don't rip your eyes out in return and you can trust them, have found some I can't.

Other down side is getting in touch with some, been trying to contact a local one to me for 2 weeks, another closes for several months when local produce is low (so they can go to their villa I was told aswell)

Another downside for me is getting things the other members of the house dislike, they are not big veg eaters unfortunately.

Justie

http://www.graigfarm.co.uk/catalog/index.htm is another national one that will deliver anywhere - I've never used them though so can't vouch for them.

Ianna

Bobbykins wrote: »

I'd love to buy from a box xcheme, but the only one offered in our area (northwest) is Abel & Cole and I think they seem over priced!

Unless anyone knows of a decent box scheme in Cheshire, then I guess I'm stuck with Mr T's!

Yep, I'm next door in Merseyside and they do seem thin on the ground in the NW

lil_me

With the national delivery ones it just makes me even more aware of food miles, it's not supporting local producers in my eyes if it's delivered from hundreds of miles away, suppose it works for some however. Yes I also thought able & cole were expensive plus that they require you to order every week etc. Goodnessdirect I had a bad experience with and were expensive so wouldn't use them again personally either.

Even if you are stuck with MrTs most are doing a veg box aswell, someone else mentioned it this week.

Justie

lil_me wrote: »

With the national delivery ones it just makes me even more aware of food miles, it's not supporting local producers in my eyes if it's delivered from hundreds of miles away, suppose it works for some however.

I agree in part - but having tried to buy organic in my local supermarket where everything is from Israel, Spain, Egypt etc I'd rather buy British if I can. I can understand if it's out of season fruit that's being brought in but to not be able to buy potatoes, tomatoes etc from this country is shocking imo. Ideally we'd all have good local producers and preferably good local organic producers.

floyd

I started getting a box delivery from a local wholefoods store in Merseyside that gets its produce locally but they were so unreliable with their deliveries we cancelled it.
We would be left waiting until 8.30 or 9pm for it to arrive, by which time we had been to Tesco to buy something to cook for tea. Not good business-sense to treat customers like that.
I now buy alot of my fresh stuff at the weekly farmers markets

odds-n-sods

I get rivernene, and they are great. The delivery guy is the same every week, they have their own vans + drivers, they employ over 300 people I understand on the fames, rather than the 3 per ?? that is usual on most farms.


This week the delivery guy gave me someone else's order; I called and he was back in 2 minutes, with the correct bits that were different. HE always is friendly and chats.

And we can order what we'd like when we'd like; don't have them come every week. I don't mind that we can't pick + choose in the box, we pick the box but there isn't anything we dont' like!

Oh, and he is here at about the same time every delivery.

user55

Bobbykins wrote: »

I'd love to buy from a box xcheme, but the only one offered in our area (northwest) is Abel & Cole and I think they seem over priced!

Unless anyone knows of a decent box scheme in Cheshire, then I guess I'm stuck with Mr T's!

OK there's definitely more - I used to use one from Warrington, also I know Stockley Farm do it, and also I've seen a few fliers around for someone else. Oh, and a van delivering near here too. Can't recall a single on of their names now, but I'll come back to you!

eta:

http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/veg-boxes/find-a-box-scheme-results.php?county=Cheshire&Submit=Search

Northern Harvest was the one I used. Very reliable and you could tell them if you didn't like something. I found them expensive and had to stop, but I don't know how they compare to others.