Just closed my Abel and Cole account - how many rotten vegetables can a girl take?

[OldieMum]

Fellow foodies, am I alone in finding that the quality of Abel and Cole's organic boxes has deteriorated over the past year? I have complained several times and have been given copious apologies and refunds, but I've had enough. I can see that there's a problem with storing root vegetables etc in winter, but don't think that there's an excuse for slimy, smelly spinach in June, or green sausages. DH thinks that they rely on people's goodwill and tolerance of lower standards than they would accept in a shop. I think that may be a bit cynical and that the problem is that they have expanded too quickly.
I hope I'll have more luck with Riverford.

[spidermama]

I love Riverford. I worry it has to travel too far and I should be getting local stuff but the R'ford boxes are so great that I'm loath to give them up.

[OldieMum]

Oh, that's what I want to hear, spidermama!

[Gem13]

We were disappointed once with Riverford over 10 months or so (oranges weren't great) and got a bottle of apple juice, extra fruit and something else the following week. £5 of stuff for 5 grotty oranges. I was very impressed. Sadly, I got fed up with the winter veg and wasn't very well last year so stopped my order but our fruit and veg intake dropped rapidly and our shopping bill has gone up so I must start it up again!

I hope you find them as good.

[Gem13]

Only thing is no substitutions are allowed (which I think you can do with A & C?) but you can check what will be arriving and change the order.

[OldieMum]

A&C is more flexible, but that's not much use if the produce goes straight from the box into the bin.

[Feistybird]

We have a local supplier of organic boxes, not perfect (a bit same-y sometimes), but nothing rotten!

[motherinferior]

Hmmm, loathe though I am to disparage my supplier of Fit Young Blokes, I know what you mean. A friend points out that this has coincided with A&C's shop in Brighton, and that this is where the Good Stuff goes.

[Pruni]

Oldiemum, we use \link{http://www.t3v.makessense.co.uk/locations/81.html\this farm} (they don't have their own website) for veg, v good ime and deliver in Oxford.
THey only do fruit and veg but it is as local as they can make it and v good quality (and flavour).

[OldieMum]

Pruni - do they deliver to people's homes? We are about to have baby number 2 and I think we would be too disorganised to collect a box.

[IlanaK]

We use Abel and Cole and have had a couple of bad experiences too. They have been apologetic mostly, but once got annoyed with me and said something about how I was being too picky (they did not use those words, but they certainly meant that). We are still using them at the moment, but with the weather so hot, I will be watching carefully.

[cece]

Have just started with Riverford, expecting my second box tomorrow. The first was very nice but stretched my imagination as some of the veg I had not seen let alone used before!

[motherbeing]

we have farmaround which is great - love their meditarranian box (can't sp sorry)

[LeahE]

How does farmaround come packaged? Would it survive being left outside while I'm at work in this weather?

[geogteach]

I recomend Riverford, my mum has A and C and sometimes over orders and gives me her left overs, the stuff doesn't last nearly as well. Riverford are great if you complain, 2 or 3 extras the following week but i've only had to complain once in 18 months.

[MitchMatch]

Have been using A&C for a while and most of the time are happy with the produce although both times I ordered a coriander plant it was dead. Complained and got a free one, but still not happy that it happened twice. I'm going to have a look at the others, but must admit that I really like the flexibility that A&C offer so will be looking for same.

[Pruni]

Hi Oldiemum,
No, they don't deliver, I pick mine up from round the corner - they have 8 pick-up points over Oxford (I think).
The email address is on the link - you could find out if there's one eg on the next street from you, if not then I wouldn't bother myself as I am not a shining light of organisation, even without a small baby.
It's a different service from A+C, no choice etc (but you can order extras), but we have been really pleased with it. £10 a large bag, enough for us for a week.

[katierocket]

I had Abel and COle for about 3 weeks and gave it up because the quality of the produce was always rubbish.

[Kittypickle]

Relieved to see that Riverford are good as my first box should be coming today. After ordering it I have found a lovely farm shop which has veg but not a huge amount so I will have to see how this works out.

[twocatsonthebed]

I love Riverford - we've used them for more than a year now and haven't had cause to complain once in that time.

Although you can't choose, you can take a look at what's in the boxes and change your order in advance (e.g. from medium to small box if it doesn't look right for you). Plus you can order all sorts of stuff on top - and the avocadoes they sell are the best we've ever tasted. And it keeps for weeks!

[Uwila]

Oh this is interesting. I've just started with cole and abel, but I'm not all that impressed with the food quality. Might have to try Riverford.

[OldieMum]

DH is an economist and so tends to think about things in terms of markets and incentives. When I told him about this thread, he offered the following hypothesis:
When people sell fruit and veg in a shop, they know that customers will not choose rotten produce, so they have an incentive not to display it and, hence, to make sure that their suppliers don't sell it to them. A&C lack these incentives and can easily be tempted to (i) put rotten produce into their boxes and (ii) not be so fussy about what their suppliers provide them with.
The hypothesis makes sense, though it doesn't explain why Riverford et al. seem not to do this.

[BonyM]

Agree that Riverford are great. Had a problem with mouldy oranges once but had a freebie to make up for it the following week.

[bluejelly]

Farmaround never mouldy

[motherinferior]

I tried Farmaround several years ago and wasn't impressed. I have to say at the moment I'm sticking with A&C.