Comments on: Price Comparison – great value vegbox

By: Greg the Veg Monster

Greg the Veg Monster — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:07:40 +0000

What do you mean, children don’t like the fruit and veg (Gert)? We (3 brothers) have a race home from school on Tuesdays to get to the fruit box first. My mum makes Green Alien soup (any random greens) , Martian soup (Tomato), Squashed Alien brain (mushroom) and Sunshine Slop (Butternut) to make sure we DO eat our veg. It is very tasty and we love seeing what comes every week. Our favourite is ‘Shrekocolli’ (romanesco).

By: Anni

Anni — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:28:37 +0000

The thing about the leafs that come with e.g. beet root is that you can eat them also. They make a nice extra to your regular salad.

I also love the surprise that the box brings with it. It’s like getting a present from somebody, I almost run home from uni on the delivery day to see what I got this week.

And that brings me to the issue of price. I am a student living on my loan and income from a part-time job, no money from parents or anyone else, and I still manage to afford organic. It may mean one less drunken night out per week, but it is definetly worth that.

What comes to children not beeing able to eat some of the vegs in the box: maybe it is time to teach them to try new things. My mother always insisted on us trying everything at least a few times, and I’ve always been able to eat about everything that is normally considered to be edible.

And for those who still are not convinced of the quality and value the boxes offer, just order one, you’ll only loose about a tenner if it turns out to be ‘ 2 bananas, 2 apples, and a kiwi’.

By: Alan Huyshe

Alan Huyshe — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 10:57:01 +0000

I’ve long been sure that Riverford is both better quality (obvious) but also better value than the supermarkets. Frankly, I’ve often wondered how a (medium/large) Riverford box would compare with supermarket poisonous. I wouldn’t be surprised if Riverford came out cheaper. Even if one discounts the extra vitamin and mineral supplements needed to make up the true comparison, along with the extra health costs of eating the poisonous.

I do so like my quality, tasty, cheap veg from Riverford….

By: Cynthia Price

Cynthia Price — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:58:46 +0000

Just to say Thank you for the marmalade kit ,just added sugar and my grandmother’s recipe -which differed only slightly from the one you provided- and I have 11 lbs. of lovely marmalade. I bought two packs so have some more to make this weekend when I have begged enough jars to put it in.
The only thing is I give so much away–everyone wants a taste!!

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:55:27 +0000

I messed up the ordering this time round and had to buy everything from the supermarket. It was really depressing. And the bill? £120. Thats obviously not fruit and veg. But supermarkets work hard to tempt you to buy things. Its very hard without the powerful analytics software supermarket chains use to work out how much spur of the moment shopping adds to my monthly bills. But I’m sure I spend less on other stuff if I get all my veg delivered.

By: Janet Kaz

Janet Kaz — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:27:23 +0000

Yesterday I received my 4th small veg box from River Swale and have to say that I am delighted once again. Whilst I have already looked to see what I am getting I still find it exciting to check the contents. I really do have to think about what meals I am going to prepare and find the recipes absolutely great.
I have read through the recent remarks above about prices and can confirm today that I have just checked my box contents with Organic produce at Sainsburys via online and the cost excluding delivery came out at £10.09 which makes our delivered veg box a bargain. I find that the small box is great for 2 people just enough to enable me to produce a variety of dishes. Organic vegetables, locally produced and delivered to my door – fantastic I am now converted well done to you all.

By: Kitchen Goddess

Kitchen Goddess — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:39:01 +0000

I’ve only had a couple of veg box deliveries so far but have been overwhelmed with the quality of the items, they’re so tasty and fresh (something the supermarkets can never compare with), but to top it all they’re so Eco too – something I’m on my soap box a lot about these days. In fact I’ve cut the supermarket out of my shopping completely now
Keep up the good work all at RiverFord. You’ve found yourselves a very loyal customer here!!

By: Gert

Gert — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:57:55 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree with most of the above, Maggie’s comments, in particular.

It’s the quality of supermarket veg/fruit, more than anything. I am fed-up with rock-hard peaches which turn straight to rotting, extremely hard-skinned apples , tasteless carrots or skinny beans (!) grown in Africa of all places. So I am very happy to put up with some mud.

The only thing some people say about the price comparison is the choice they don’t have in the box. Some of those have children who won’t eat what is in the box and give the parents grief.
I wonder what the outcome of the comparison would be, if you selected the items individually for the minimum order value of £12.50? Any idea?

By: John Amos

John Amos — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:14:19 +0000

Further to my comment above, Riverford have agreed that 300gm of carrot was an error and have kindly offered a compensating item in my next delivery. Thank you Riverford.

By: John Amos

John Amos — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 15:55:16 +0000

A day or two ago I filled in your survey. One of the questions concerned the effect of the “Credit Crunch” on buying organic. The first choice answer had a rider to the effect that “I don’t find organic veg more expensive. This I do not agree with. I think that organic costs 20-50% more. Then I read the blog with a summer box price comparison against supermarket organic prices. I had already decided to carry out my own survey, using last week’s small box. The results are as follows, using the ‘Extras’ price list (smallest quantities) and the small box weights.

Riverford Supermarket (Tesco)
Tomatoes 450 gm £1.61 £1.34
Mushrooms 250gm £1.80 £1.49
Sweetcorn 3 heads £2.60 £2.22
Pointed Cabbage 1 £1.39 £1.29
Calabrese 2
2.40 £1.59
Onions 500gm 95p 64p
Carrots 550gm 75p 70p
Potatos 1250gm £1.80 £1.60

Total price for Riverford using ‘extras’ = £13.30
Rverford box price = £10.45

Supermarket price = £10.67

All the prices are adjusted to match the weights in the small veg box. I hope they don’t come out scrambled when printed in the blog! I really cannot see where David gets his supermarket prices from.
I should also add that this week the carrots in my small box weighed a measly 300gm.
I am not an apologist for the supermarkets, I have many gripes sbout them, but I do think they offer good value in general.
I don’t think that Riverford is as wonderful as some of the comments suggest. Nevertheless I shall continue to buy from Riverford because I want to buy organic and I want to buy local. I don’t mind if some veg comes from River Nene as that is my district of origin!