FAQs

There isn’t a veg box scheme near me – what do I do now? 

We’re still very new, so we’re building up our network of small-scale farmers across the region. There won’t be widespread coverage at first. But our sister organisation, Our Food 1200, is helping more new growers find land and start regenerative farming enterprises. You can find out more through their website – and by signing up to their newsletter.

There’s a fab veg grower near me. Why aren’t they on your list?

Some growers are happy working on their own. But if you think they’d be interested in joining our network, you can either tell them about our website, or tell us about them! Just contact us

What’s so good about ordering through a local veg box scheme ?

Every time you order, you support a shift to a fairer, more sustainable food system that helps nature and the local economy. By supporting your local grower you help:

  • make it easier for everyone in your community to enjoy fresh, nutritious and great-tasting seasonal food (many of our growers work in partnership with local food banks)
  • build food security
  • reduce food waste
  • promote regenerative farming, that restores rather than depletes nature 
  • create jobs, as well as training and volunteering opportunities 
  • reconnect people with farming and the local landscape 
  • keep money circulating in the local economy 

Isn’t it just easier to go to the supermarket?

A veg box can actually save you time and effort!

  • Our farmers offer weekly delivery or collection from the farm gate or a convenient pick-up point. Some also have the option of a weekly market stall.
  • You don’t have to worry about checking best-before dates: everything is freshly harvested (except crops that store well such as pumpkins, apples, potatoes and onions)
  • You can choose the size of box you need – a big benefit for smaller households where pre-packed veg can lead to food waste. 
  • Some of our farmers offer additional choices, such as boxes with or without potatoes, or the option to leave out anything you really don’t like. 
  • Most of our members charge a set fixed price, depending on the box size. A real help with planning your budget.
  • You know exactly where your food comes from – and can see how it’s grown.

What about cost?

Fruit and veg from our farmers tends to cost a little more than conventional supermarket produce – for two key reasons:

  1. Small-scale growers like those in our network are not eligible for farming subsidies, so they have to cover their costs. 
  2. Our growers don’t externalise costs. In the current food system ‘Cheap’ food isn’t really cheap. It just means that the true ‘cost’ in terms of carbon emissions, climate change and damage to the environment isn’t factored into supermarket prices. So we end up paying for those hidden costs in other ways. Research from Sustainable Food Trust suggests that for every £1 we spend at the till, we pay another £1 further down the line – whether that’s through taxes, or lost income due to ill health or the cost of mitigating and adapting to climate change. 

Our growers don’t contribute to those hidden costs, so the price they charge is the true cost. And while you may pay a little more than in the supermarket, you know it’s been grown with care for the environment, and also much, much fresher, so chances are you’ll have less food waste. 

In addition, many of our members operate as CSAs – Community Supported Agriculture schemes. For some of these, members are asked to pay forward, or to pay a little extra if they can afford it. This can help balance the cost for other members of the scheme.  

Will my box be the same every week?

No! That’s the beauty of seasonal fruit and veg: you get to eat the freshest produce, picked at the peak of ripeness, when it’s at its tastiest and most nutritious. 

Plus each week is an adventure, encouraging you to try new things and become a more inventive cook.   

So what’s in a typical veg box?

Our network is made up of independent farmers, with each one growing slightly different crops throughout the year, depending on local conditions and what their customers want. Growers with polytunnels and glasshouses will be able to provide salad crops pretty much all year round, as well as treats like early tomatoes, strawberries and cucumbers. 

Exactly what you’ll get will vary from week to week, but expect things like asparagus, baby carrots, salads, new potatoes, beans, peas, mangetout and courgettes in the warmer months, along with berries, soft fruit, tomatoes, aubergines and peppers. And root veg, apples, pears, squashes and pumpkins as well as leeks, cabbages, kale and purple sprouting broccoli through autumn and winter. Staples like potatoes and onions are usually available all year round.