Organic box schemes and food budgets

I am blissfully and stupidly happy with Abel & Cole. The stuff is superfresh, organic, and never air freighted, we get to exclude the few things we don't like, the mixed box is the absolute perfect size for the two of us, and over the last year of using them, the only two times I ever had problems, I rang them up the second I got home from work and they bent over backwards to please me. That, and their newsletters in each box are actually a fun read.! It's like a little village feel to it all...

I feel we get really good value for money from our box, and because we always have so much fruit and veg at home, I go to the supermarket waaaaaaay less (like once a month). And that means I spend way less, because even if I go in for one thing, I'll end up buying five things. So not going in at all really avoids the temptations!

Between Abel & Cole, GoodnessDirect.com (bulk whole foods place), and our local butchers, we're doing pretty good on the healthy food budget stuff.

ours we are able to specify things like no carrots.  In fact I did just that while pregnant as for some reason carrots made me queasy.    Now we've switched it to no cabbage.

One more thing for the Leeds peeps & I'll shtup...   We have such fabulous markets here - the Leeds city market is amazing! My town has a wonderful green grocer, and Headingley also has one or more (HME can tell ya!).  I know that having it all delivered is a convenience/time thing & as I said I'm not sure about the organic/not organic thing so much - but I do know about the local thing.  If we don't support our community's businesses, they aren't going to exist anymore - in fact you can already see that happening at the market some.   One of the things that I've found unsettling about some of the box schemes - Abel & Cole, for example - it's a Wimbledon company, not a Leeds/Yorkshire company.  Apart from that, there is nothing that can replace the sensual pleasure that I take in going to a market/green grocer - seeing, breathing, etc its goodness & picking out just exactly what I want.  Plus if you go frequently enough, the vender will recognise you & starts putting extra stuff in your bag for free...and nearly everyone here talks about how cheaply you can shop at Leeds city market.  (Plus don't forget the weekend farmers markets twice a month in Leeds, once a month in Headingley (this one I know is organic!), twice a month in Otley - opposite weeks from Leeds...)

Ok - sorry for the hijack & no offense to anyone intended at all (do what works for you & all!).  I'll get off my soapbox now...   Sorry Elliejean!  (if you're out in the boonies, I know your choices are more limited)

Not a problem!  If our farmer's market here was more than once a month, I'd just do that, so feel free to sing the virtues of the Leeds area!!  I'm all for supporting small local businesses and alternatives to the supermarket.

Thank you so much for not minding.  It's just that I'm really passionate (and selfish) about that this is home for us & I really want these wonderful people/places (my neighbours in my community) to stay in business so we can keep shopping there, year after year.  Abel & Cole is great stuff I'm sure for people who live in/around Wimbledon/London & makes sense down there.  So I'm hoping if people up here are using a box scheme, that it's at least a local one!    (Though I've seen the Abel & Cole van going down our street before, and my heart sinks knowing that we have a fab hometown green grocer just steps down the street - and that the man who works there is so kind & so friendly.)

Thank you so much for not minding.  It's just that I'm really passionate (and selfish) about that this is home for us & I really want these wonderful people/places (my neighbours in my community) to stay in business so we can keep shopping there, year after year.  Abel & Cole is great stuff I'm sure for people who live in/around Wimbledon/London & makes sense down there.  So I'm hoping if people up here are using a box scheme, that it's at least a local one!    (Though I've seen the Abel & Cole van going down our street before, and my heart sinks knowing that we have a fab hometown green grocer just steps down the street - and that the man who works there is so kind & so friendly.)

Well, and to keep food miles down as well, surely?  The organic box scheme we're considering is a local one - yes it's Woodlands, Meggles.  Thanks for the info - we were considering a medium box, but they'll be at our farmers market on Saturday so I'll eye up the boxes there and try and judge what size is best (they have sample boxes).  The local farms around here are great, if I may say so!

You're right there in heart of farm land, I think!

You're right there in heart of farm land, I think!

Yeah, all we need now is moo cows and a good local dairy to complete my foodie fantasy world! 

Andee, out of curiosity, who were you using?

Oh, sorry--just saw this!  I'll have to ask my hubby--I'll let you know...

We also prefer to stay as local as possible.  Our nearest town has a farmer's market on Wednesdays so we buy veg from there, meat from the butcher and fish from 'The Codfather', the local fishmonger.  Eggs come from around the corner and are free range and much cheaper than in a supermarket - £1.50/dozen and we use a lot because I bake a lot. 

I've never been tempted into a box scheme because I'm a control freak when it comes to what and how much veg we have.

Do you have a garden?  We're growing some of our own this year for the first time and have a lovely lot of peas and strawberries just now, plus plenty of herbs for seasoning.

Speaking of local produce--there's a pick-your-own Strawberry farm literally right down the road from us--I'm going to do it on Friday! 

I'd like to buy veggies locally but there are no greengrocers in Inverness.  I wish someone would realise the gap in the market and open one!

Speaking of local produce--there's a pick-your-own Strawberry farm literally right down the road from us--I'm going to do it on Friday! 

Ooooo, do share! I think I need to do this too!!!

Mrs R, the box scheme we're doing is River Swale, out of Newby Wiske. So yes, quite local! That's the only way that makes sense to me.

I haven't seen a greengrocer in Headingley yet--will keep an eye out. I also want to get down to the farmer's market sometime, but I wish it was on Saturday instead of Sunday. One of the things I miss most about upstate NY is the AMAZING weekly farmer's market we had.

I'd like to buy veggies locally but there are no greengrocers in Inverness.  I wish someone would realise the gap in the market and open one!

What about farm shops? That's where I buy all my fruit & veg.

There are a few websites out there that'll help you find one in your area:

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/ShopTypes.cfm?type=Farm

http://www.farmshop.uk.com/

http://thefoody.com/regionalproduce.html

And what about these?
http://www.yell.com/quickclicks/SP/F/Farm_Shops/inverness-shire/1

What about farm shops? That's where I buy all my fruit & veg.

There are a few websites out there that'll help you find one in your area:

http://www.information-britain.co.uk/ShopTypes.cfm?type=Farm

http://www.farmshop.uk.com/

http://thefoody.com/regionalproduce.html

And what about these?
http://www.yell.com/quickclicks/SP/F/Farm_Shops/inverness-shire/1

I go to the Farmers Market once a month but the veggies don't last that long.  There are some good farm shops around but none easily accessible without a car.  The one in Beauly is nice though. 

I haven't seen a greengrocer in Headingley yet--will keep an eye out. I also want to get down to the farmer's market sometime, but I wish it was on Saturday instead of Sunday. One of the things I miss most about upstate NY is the AMAZING weekly farmer's market we had.

Not sure, but I think the Headingley farmers market is on a Saturday.  mapleleafgirl72 will probably know.  Also, I'll see if I can get HME to pop in on this thread cos I know she knows for certain & also will know where the green grocer(s) and other cool places are - she knows everything!