Local veg boxes don’t let you ‘choose’ your crops, they deliver seasonal surprise boxes every week or fortnight (some let you sub items, if you really don’t like Brussels sprouts). You can pause for holidays, and just leave your empty box out one week, to receive a new one. It’s a great way to support local organic farmers. Find an organic veg box scheme.
Farmers need a government license to sell at markets (also buy liability insurance). Know food hygiene rules and read up on food safety for people and pets. If selling flowers and plants, learn about pet-safe gardens, to educate customers. Never face indoor foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
Kentish Town Veg Box (London) offers organic food from small-scale farms, delivered to residents in Camden and Islington. Farmers get 60% of each pound spent (compared to 10% in supermarkets). There is also a low-income discount for people who need it.
Growing Communities (Hackney) offers organic veg bags from £10 a week (with discounts for pensioners and Healthy Start Vouchers), with pick-up points (some offer fresh bread) to keep costs low.
Paying in advance means every £1 spent generates £3.70 for local organic farmers, who all sell in plastic-free packaging). Its Better Food Shed sells to shops, schools and community kitchens.
Cambridge Organic is England’s oldest veg box, situated in the fertile Fens, where nearly all of England’s food is grown. Delivery is kept local to keep food miles low, with no plans to becoming a national box scheme.
If you don’t live near a local organic veg box, Abel & Cole offers a nationwide one that also delivers organic plant milks in glass bottles, to be collected and washed. It also delivers fresh herbs and organic flowers. .
The One Box, One Portion scheme means that for every box ordered, they donate a portion of fruit or veg to charity. The boxes include:
- Organic Best of British – seasonal plums, rhubarb and British apples
- Small, Medium or Large Boxes
- Christmas veg boxes (carrots, onions, Brussels sprouts, parsnips)
- Fruit bowl & juicing boxes
- Seasonal Salads
