Who does the best fruit and veg box?

[thislittlesisterlola]

I'll really like to get a fruit and veg box... ideally we would be growing our own again however that just hasnt been possible this year.
I am quite interested in locally sourced where ever possible is that standard practice in veg boxes?

So if you get a box- is it worth it?
Is your box better than other companies?
I'm lost!

Sorry I didnt preview I'd

I loved my Riverford one, sadly I moved house and they don't deliver here!

Because they have several sister farms spread up the country they can make the most of the seasons as they spread up North. As much as possible comes from your local farm but then other stuff cna come from the sister farms with transport being well managed and minmal. They are also building up a Farm in France (I think, somewher in Europe anyway!) so that they can better manage imports when there isn't much to harvest in the UK.

We live near a riverford one ok I will have a look. Do you know if they do a mixed fruit and veg one or separates?
Thank you for your speedy reply

Able and Cole are very good in terms of variety and flexibility. You can chose to exclude certain produce from your box either permanently or on a weekly basis.

All their food is organic, and seasonal. They do try to source it locally, but they don't always tell you where it is coming from, and they do rely on imports (although not airfreighted).

I have found their customer service to be very good, and the quality is excellent.

They have all their boxes listed on teh website, mixed ones, veg only, fruit only etc.

Riverford was great for us - I chose them partly because I knew they already delivered to someone in our street so it was no extra fuel use . I really liked the recipes they put in the boxes too. IMO you do have to build your meal planning and other shopping around the veg.

They will do veg as well as fruit, you can also order meat and lots of other stuff.

However, there are often even more local schemes - worth googling to find out what's out there. Someone at our school is an agent for one - she receives all the bags and you pick up from her. It's cheaper than Riverford but I occasionally forgot to pick things up so in the end I changed over.

If you are in Kent, (I expect they have similar elsewhere too) I have been ordering from here their products aren't organic as a rule, although some are. They are from local farms and I love the fact I choose exactly what goes into my box, I can mix it up as much as I want, spending as little or as much as I can afford. It is very useful for fussy families like mine.

I've been getting boxes for nearly ten years now and I always come back to Riverford. Local ones are I'm afraid sometimes too worthy and don't have the same variety and quality. I used Abel and Cole for a while but didn't think they tasted so good, good customer service though. I like the Riverford newsletter and website as well.

I second Riverford. I have tried many schemes over the years, including Abel & Cole, and nothing else is as fresh and long lasting as Riverford...I don't like having to chuck stuff out after a week or so!

Right, Riverford it is. They also deliever in our close anyhow maktaitai do we get bonus points for that?
I will report back once I've had my box

Thank you all for your help

I know the OP seems to have made up her mind now, but can I just add ... anyone considering an organic box scheme please, please see if you have an independent local farmer doing this. The quality may not be consistently as good as Abel & Cole or Riverford (although it may be as good or better) but the food miles will be less and it is so good to support your small independent operator. Both Riverford and Abel Cole have now become massive industrial scale operations now. Yes, better than the supermarket - but not as good ethically as supporting your small local organic growers.

We use Riverford too (did try to find a proper local one with no luck). I love the fact that DS1 (9yo) gets sooooo excited to see what veg we've got. DS2 likes the carrots, but you can't have it all

I had an Abel&Cole box for ages but got the feeling they were getting away a bit from what they were and becoming a sort of lifestyle brand- the Boden of organic box deliveries if you will Every box had flyers in from other companies- not necessarily ethical either just high end- and I got a bit fed up with em tbh

Riverford on the other hand are a lot more authentic and don't try to flog you unrelated shite. Only thing is you have to get what you're given and can't pick and choose your favourites like Abel&Cole- presumably though this is because they only have their own farms and not untold different suppliers...

i agree re able and cole, i used to use them and have just recently re ordered because they were giving away elderflower and i wanted to make some champagne. i havent noticed any fliers for other brands but it all feels a bit too slick these days. the major thing is that you can veto certain foods and as we dont eat potatoes for health reasons this is a massive advantage to me, a they are normally an integral part of a vege box.

riverford have only just started delivering in my area so i might try them, spose i could give the spuds away to neighbours!

riverford do a seasonal box (summer/winter) which doesn't contain potatoes...