Value for money or not? Veg box buyers opinions needed

naughtymittens

Interesting pov.

The problem with local shops is that you don't always know where it's come from, i.e. - is it imported? Grown organically? That may not be important to some people but it matters to me.

kerleytops

it's good to support any local businesses, organic or not. Maybe better to buy veg at a farmer's market - if you have one of course

Rummer

I thought the fruit and veg from our box was delicious however rising costs meant that we had to cancel as paying debts took priority. When we are debt free I will be going back to the box though!

V.Lucky

I have priced up what the fruit and veg would cost from Sainsburys, where the quality is comparable and there isn't much in it, and that's for non-organic food so we have stuck with ours.

We get it from Boxfreshorganics.

Penelope_Penguin

naughtymittens wrote: »

We get one and I really like it but I am getting a bit sick of the same type of stuff and we sometimes struggle to be inventive with it which means we have a bit of a glut of veg. The contents really dictate what we eat. I think it's environmentally friendly and great for local economy but I'm a bit worried it's an extravagance while we try to become debt free.

These 2 phrases are incompatible Only you can decide what's more important for you at this time - ethics or clearing your debt.

Is there any chance of you growing your own veg You'll then know where it's from, and if you have a freezer, you'll be able to pick whatever veg you like :T

Good luck whatever you decide.

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing veg box thread to keep ideas together.

Penny. x

tryingtoruletheworld

I have compared the price of what I get in my veg box from a small local company and what I get for £10 would cost around £20 in Sainsburys, with some of the sainsburys options being non-organic. Win-win!

greenbee

tryingtoruletheworld wrote: »

I have compared the price of what I get in my veg box from a small local company and what I get for £10 would cost around £20 in Sainsburys, with some of the sainsburys options being non-organic. Win-win!

I use a local farm shop (actually easier than a veg box for me) and its definitely cheaper - with much of the organic stuff being cheaper than non-organic in the supermarket. I spend about £10 when I go (shopping for one), but don't go every week - stuff like squash, aubergines, cougettes etc. sometimes last into the following week. I get my eggs there, and otherwise I can get everything else I need at the village shop (yogurt), butcher and healthfood shop.

It does mean that I need to be creative with my cooking - I do my shopping, then plan what I'm going to cook with it rather than the other way round.

It also means that I don't go to the supermarket and come back with a load of stuff I didn't need in the first place

Caterina

Organic veg boxes are good value if:

1 - you reall want to eat organic - Riverford claims to be 16% cheaper than the equivalent of supermarket prices in what they sell (if you could not care less about organic, market stalls are much cheaper - no point in making a comparison if the "organic" thing is not an issue!).

2 - If you tend to stick to seasonal basics. The moment you start ordering avocados, peppers, mangoes etc... it goes through the roof.

I find that ordering exotic stuff from the organic boxes does not work well either, especially fruit, as it usually comes under-ripe and not very palatable, at an extremely high cost. Whereas, say, local apples, or English asparagus in season, are a delight not to be missed.

Depends on your tastes, inclinations and priorities really. I am happy to pay a little more to avoid pesticides and GM in my food and feel really grateful and fortunate to be able to do so, but am aware that many families cannot do it.

If you are really skint and want to eat organic I think it is still possible (I know a few people who eat organic on the dole - but they are very well organised long term vegans) but it is a bit more of a struggle.

Hopefully if more people go towards an organic lifestyle there will be a drop in prices due to higher demand and higher production.

Juliav_2

Hello all

I have started to see quite a few 'organic vegetable box' delivery vans in my area and it's got my interest.

I just wondered if any of you fellow moneysavers could recommend a particular company, I in Cambridgeshire.

Does it work out cheaper than supermarkets?

I can imagine receiving a box, you would make sure you use up all the veg, therefore in turn being healthier.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

2cats1kid

I'm in Cambs and I've tried two :
http://www.riverfordsacrewell.co.uk/

and
http://www.cofco.co.uk/site/

I found that River Ford didn't allow you to say things you didn't like very often so we ended up with a load of stuff that only DH would eat. COFCO were better at allowing substitutions but we still ended up with a lot of strange things. We had the fruit and veg box, but didn't get even close to enough fruit for packed lunches and snacks etc. so I ended up buying from Tesco anyway, and I must admit as a result I cancelled and just went back to buying from Tesco as it made no sense to have 2 orders on the go. At least with Mr T I know I'm buying stuff that my family like.

Of the 2 I definitely preferred COFCO, though, and I'd go back to them if I was to order a box again.