A vegetable box scheme sends a regular parcel of produce to a household instead of leaving the choice to a supermarket shelf. The archived Westcountry Organics pages, from a Devon supplier, describe such a scheme. This page explains the idea in general. It is not an offer of boxes.
The basic idea
Customers choose a box size and how often they want it. The archive said a single box could be bought, or a weekly, two-weekly or other regular delivery. Extra items, such as other organic foods, could be added to the same order.
What is inside
Contents depend on the season. A sample list in the archive included leafy greens, root vegetables, onions, salad items, mushrooms, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes and some fruit such as strawberries and rhubarb. Where something was not available, a substitute was supplied. Weights were described for small, medium and large boxes.
Benefits people mention
- Variety. Boxes encourage trying vegetables you might not normally pick.
- Seasonality. Eating what is in season usually means better taste and often lower cost.
- Convenience. Regular delivery saves shopping trips.
- Less packaging waste, when the scheme is designed well.
Things to consider
- Boxes are not tailored to every taste, so you may receive items you have not cooked before.
- Fresh produce has to be stored properly and used promptly.
- Schemes set cut-off days for orders, so planning ahead is part of the routine.
Gifts
The archive noted that boxes could be sent as presents with a personal message. For more on the vegetables themselves, see which vegetables to buy organic and the welcome overview.