9 Jul 2010
How to get organic food at a fraction of the cost!
My first delivery of organic fruits & veggies
It’s been years that I’ve been telling myself that I would do it but it took a sales rep for Jardin des Anges at the Expo Santé Manger natural food exhibition at Montreal’s Palais de Congrés to kick my ass into signing up.
Jardin des anges (Angel Garden) is just one of many cooperatives popping up across North America that deliver fresh organic food to residents in their surrounding area. In general, they favour local produce, thus supporting local farmers and import when necessary (like in winter for example).
A customer, like me, can choose from an array of different basket sizes serving both single households and families. For those that are picky, you can replace certain fruits or vegetables with your choice making it somewhat personalised for your needs.
Delivery happens every week but you choose the frequency (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly) that serves your needs and budget. I pay $37 every 2 weeks.
If someone is guaranteed to be home during the delivery day, they will ring the door. Otherwise, what most people do, including myself, is give them a key to the front entrance of the apartment building where you live, then leave a box out for them to put the delivery in to. Houses in residentials neighbourhoods leave coolers out by their doors for the food to be placed into. In general, you can make arrangements with them for which ever method best serve your needs.
Likes:
- Reduces packaging waste. No pre-packaged vegetables or fruits with stroyfoam trays and saranwrap covering
- I’m finally eating fruit!
- Non GMO gigantic California straeberries with no taste.
- The flavours are incredible. I’ve never tasted carrots so sweet, non bitter celery and spinach so packed with flavour!
- Because each week contains different veggies and fruits, I’m eating more diverse foods and increasing my mineral and vitamin intake.
- I’m supporting local farmers
- I’m eating vegetables and fruits I would normally not buy, but actually enjoy
- Guilt free eating – no pesticides, herbicides or potatoes that have been irradiated
- Fresh!
- My delivery is like a surprise present each week. I’m always excited to open my door and see what I got
- I can change the delivery frequency whenever I need (no extra fee)
- I can stop the delivery if out of town and cancel whenever I want (no extra fees)
- In order to not waste food, I’m actually planning out meals and freezing some so my grocery bill has dramatically decreased
- I’m cooking new recipes to incorporate all the foods
Dislikes:
- Ummm…..having to think about writing the cheque and leaving it out the night before?
- Planning meals
- Food waste – I eat out a lot during the week and at friends homes so sometimes I can’t eat everything. I deal with this by inviting friends over to eat and make lots of soups in advance and freeze them.
Find an organic delivery service in your city:
There are so many out there. The easiest way to find one is to do a google search for “Organic food delivery + your city” and you’ll find tons.
Here are some that I know of though.
Toronto:
Vancouver:
Small Potatoes Urban Delivery (Spud)
Calgary:
Small Potatoes Urban Delivery (Spud)
Farm Fresh Organics (Edmonton too)
Ottawa:
New York
Organic Direct (New Jersey)
Door to door organics (Colorado, Michigan, Kansas City, East Coast)
Chicago
San Francisco
SPUD (Seattle, LA, Portland)
Farm fresh to you (Home & office delivery)
Portland:
Carmen, This is awesome. I just started really eating organic and don’t always have time to run to the market. Let’s face it, I also live in Calgary where it is winter 10 month sof the year…or feels like it anyway. Thanks for the great advice.
Shana Martin
July 9th, 2010 at 9:42 pmpermalink