The number of organic box schemes in Britain has been steadily growing until they are now on comparable levels to farmer’s markets themselves. Box schemes enable fresh farm produce to be delivered straight to your home, office or wherever necessary.
Boxes will usually contain fruit and veg but can come with meats, wine and more with the typical cost around £20 or so.
The boxes give farmers a good deal when compared to the prices they have to stoop down to to sell to supermarkets and also puts valuable cash back into our local economies. They present good deals to the buyers as well; the produce being local means transportation is kept to a minimum and so is packaging; saving on costs. In addition most of the box schemes provide organic food, so the buyer has greater confidence in not only where the food is coming from, but also the quality and health benefits.
Box schemes offer people the chance to quickly and easily obtain the top standard food that farms can provide us with, without the hassle of trekking down to a market.
Here are a selection of 4 in the South East rated by the Times as being in the top 35 in the country:
Ashurst Organic
| Address: | The Orchard, Ashurst Farm, Ashurst Lane, Plumpton, Lewes, East Sussex |
| Phone: | 01273 891219 |
| Info: | Local organic box scheme supplying fresh vegetables to Brighton, Lewes, Haywards Health, Eastbourne and Worthing. |
Down To earth
| Address: | 2-3 Goldrings, West Street, Midhurst, West Sussex |
| Phone: | 01730 815133 |
| Info: | Local organic foods – including dairy, groceries, meat and gourmet goods – are on offer, along with veg boxes for delivery or collection |
Simply Wild Food Company
| Address: | Pullens Farm, Lamberhurst Road, Horsmonden, Kent |
| Phone: | 0845 658 6141 |
| Info: | A family-run business that offers a range of boxes, each containing fresh, locally produced organic vegetables, fruit, eggs, bread and meat |
Tolhurst Organic Produce
| Address: | Hardwick Estate, Pangbourne, Berkshire |
| Phone: | 0118–984 3428 |
| Info: | Iain Tolhurst’s box scheme operates within a 25-mile radius of his farm and delivers to collection points. |
Some more available in the Kent area:
Ash- Ivy House Farm 01304 812 437
Belvedere - Regent Health 01322 446 244
Canterbury - Brockman, AG & Co. 01227 732 001
-Ripple Farm Organics 01227 730 898
Cobham - Luddlesdown Organic Farms Ltd. 01474 813 376
Gravesend -Dabbs Place Organic Farm 01474 815 393
Horsmonden -Simply Wild Food Company 08456 586 142
Ightham -Church View Farm 01732 886 680
Tunbridge Wells – Organic Health Shop 01892 538 155
Wingham -Wingham Country Market 01227 720 567
Whitchurch- Laverstoke Park Produce 01256 890 900
-Harroway Organic Gardens 01256 895 346
(Info sourced from Times Online)
