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Having a weekly box of organic vegetables delivered is a relatively recent phenomenon. Thousands of people -- several of the SmartPlant team included -- love getting a box of local, organic and muddy veg featuring exotic specimens like black salsify and romanesco cauliflower. But could the credit crunch put paid to box schemes' success? Yesterday I learned that one of the oldest schemes, TheOrganicFarm.co.uk, has gone into administration due to cancelled orders.
Rachel Watson, marketing director at Riverford organic vegetables, doesn't think organic veg boxes are in trouble. "The credit crunch hasn't really affected us and we've not had a lot of orders cancelled," she told me. "If anything, we've seen quantities in individual orders go up as people want to make the most of the each delivery.
"If people cancel it's more likely down to them not adapting their lifestyle around the box -- learning what to do with new vegetables they haven't seen before or trying new dishes with what they've got left over. Most people who order from us are committed and recognise the value we offer compared to supermarkets."
Big business isn't abandoning organic veg boxes either. As recently as last October, the Abel and Cole box scheme attracted the interest of private equity group Phoenix Equity Partners, which bought a stake for an undisclosed sum. "We haven't seen any increase in cancellations. If anything, people are sticking by their organic veg boxes," says Abel and Cole ethics director Ella Heeks. "People would rather eat out less and cook more themselves to save money so their weekly delivery of organic produce is important to them. And it's a predictable expense every week that you can budget for and plan around."
Plus, as our resident organic foodie Rikke would point out, you're more likely to be tempted to waste money at supermarkets on unnecessary treats. So staying at home and having a box delivered could actually save you money by cutting out impulse buys.
One of the regular criticisms I hear of veg boxes is that you waste food by not using it all. To avoid that green and financial bummer, check out our top 10 ways to rescue old fruit and veg.
What do you think? Have you cancelled your organic veg box because your budget's tightened? Or are they better value than the supermarkets? Hit the comments below and let us know.
23 June 2008 01:46pm
funny timing. I cancelled my Abel & Cole account about a month ago. It was for pretty much the reasons Rachel says above. It was good value but the way we used it didn't make for good value - we often ended up with food left over at the end of the week, and a new box would arrive! I prefer doing 3-4 small shops each week rather than one big one. Works better when you're not sure where you'll be from one day to the next.
23 June 2008 04:23pm
Well I cancelled my Riverford Box two weeks ago! Besides being left with the odd bit of Veg which I did not eat before the next box arrived, I have found the quality reasonable but alot of the Fruit and Veg Tasteless. Riverford are now a massive corporate company and may be jeopardizing quantity over quality. Ask Rachael Watson the question this time next year and the credit crunch may be biting then.
15 July 2008 08:30pm
I am always fascinated that when ever "Organic box scheme" is mentioned, the media use "Abel & Cole" or "Riverford" for opinions. It may come as a surprise to some but there is another (and probably the original) Organic home delivery company, "FARMAROUND"
Abel and Cole ie Kieth Abel, started life in veg selling battery farm eggs and conventional Spuds! he copied Farmaround and concentraes on the "Image" of Abel and Cole. "Riverford" are like a "Tesco" in the Organic world with thundering great trucks on a constant journey accross Europe bringing produce to the UK as well as slowly but surely covering large areas of Devon in polytunnel!! If you really want to use Organic home delivery, use a small local supplier or Farmaround. At least Farmaround are not trying to become a "Supermarket operation" in the Organic market.
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