Fruit and Veg boxes

[chloemegjess]

Hi, my friend, who is on benefits and gets healthy start vouchers, is about to start weaning her twins and was asking me if I new anything about the fruit and veg boxes you can get delievred, as she eats quite a bit of fruit too amd she thinks they accept heathly start vouchers (the vouchers you get on benefits that you can spend on milk, formula and fruit n veg).

Does anybody have these? Do you need to be home to get them delivered? Are they expensive? Are they all organic? How do you find out about them in your local area? Are they are worthwile thing to spend her healthy start vouchers on?

[tortoise]

Yes she can use the vouchers (well with Riverford you can).
Don't have to be in for delivery.
Not sure if all organic but riverford is.
I like getting my box. I have it fortnightly. Probably not cheaper than Tesco etc but easier for me as i have no transport.

[chloemegjess]

she doesnt drive either, sorry, ment to add that as the main reason she wanted them!

[BirdyArms]

I have Abel and Cole but am about to stop them because it is quite expensive. They do a baby weaning box though and you can stipulate likes and dislikes on their website which means that you don't get stuff you don't want. You don't have to be in as long as there's somewhere to leave it.

[blithedance]

It's worth doing a bit of research as there are a lot of box schemes around. My box from a local supplier costs £9 for seven "staple" veg eg. potato, carrots, onions and seasonal stuff, but probably isn't as fancy as the likes of Abel and Cole.

Try this link for finding a local scheme. (sorry I put in my own county but they have a picklist). It's worth checking neighbouring counties too as some schemes do quite a large delivery area.

If not too bothered about organics, maybe a local farm shop would put together a box and drop it off for a small charge? Is she town or country?

[chloemegjess]

Thanks. I looked at the Abel and Cole website and they are very expensive! No way would she pay that.

She is in middlesex, which isn't on the list blithedance. So I then did greater london, which I guess it sort of comes under, but no results. So then tried busckinghamsire, which is my county, which is next to hers. I did then find some, but I think they will be too far away as they are the other side of bucks, rather than her side. If I found a cheap one, I would consider it too, but doesnt seem to be one near here. Odd as there are lots of farms near me, I think meat ones more than veg

[chloemegjess]

They even have an option for "not sure"! But not middlesex?

[tortoise]

I pay nearly £13 for mine.
Spuds, carrots, cougette, cucumber, lettace, onions, apples, think thats all actually. Not much when i think about it.

[chloemegjess]

I think it is going to be a tescos job to be honest! You can get that for a fiver! Maybe not organic but when your on a budget, its not over important surely?

[blithedance]

Sounds like a supermarket job if transport a problem. She should go for it with a clear conscience, sounds like she has enough on her plate. The best thing about veg boxes is just having more vegetables on the menu and also having seasonal things - which you should be able to achieve at T*sco and which should help stretch the budget.