Fruit and veggies to your door - good for health and community

A visit to an organic farm in Fiji and the realisation that I eat nowhere near 5 pieces of fruit and vegetables a day (most ozzies only eat half that) prompted me to order a fruit and veg box.  A box of seasonal, fresh and tasty fruit and veggies delivered every week.  I’ve been raving about the box to everyone in banana throwing distance.

The benefits
Health – organic produce and more fruit and veg in your diet
Carbon – less distance from soil to plate and you only receive seasonable produce
Wastage – fresher fruit and veg means more time to enjoy it
Convenience – delivered to your door 
Local – supports local farmers and the local business who organises the boxes

Providers
There are loads of companies who deliver a weekly or fortnightly box to your door step.  You can also get organic meat, free range eggs, bread and flowers so you never need to visit a big supermarket again.  Just give it a google.  Here are a few in Sydney:

Fruit Man Sam

Doorstep Organic

Sydney Fresh

Andy and Ted

Challenges
The only downside is that you have no choice on what you get each week.  This can get you out of a cooking rut as you’re forced to look for new recipes, but can be a bit stressful if you hate mushrooms and have to palm them off on someone else, or just don’t have time to roast a fennel.  Some companies allow you to state which fruit and veg you never want to receive, at least that means less fruit and veg presents for you unsuspecting friends.

Alternatives

The alternative is to pick what you want at one of the many farmers markets that seem to be springing up all over Sydney at the moment and this handy guide lets you work out your shopping schedule.  I’ve also got on my list to visit the Local Harvest Collective at the Paramount building’s rooftop in Surry Hills one Saturday.

Wherever you are in the world, take a look at where your fruit and vegetables come from and take a step to becoming a shade greener.