![IMG_7739[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_0ewx5bRfIGI/S7_LBZ9gKWI/AAAAAAAAAe4/JGazbOYcr7Q/s1600-h/IMG_773913.jpg "IMG_7739[1]")
Every Friday night, the above arrives on my doorstep. I bring it in, excited, and unpack it with my son (who is equally excited to see what’s inside and name the items, even if he doesn’t always eat them ;).
Fresh, organic (and when possible local) produce and other groceries (I also get a loaf of 7 grain bread each week, and other items like delicious sour dough sesame buns some weeks).
In January, in the midst of cold winter months and a house of illness, I decided to try the delivery service from Ottawa Organics. I’ve been hooked since.
For $35 I get the medium basket mixed with vegetables and fruit which is more than enough for us, but it forces me to use more veggies and fruit.
I didn’t start doing it to avoid grocery shopping (although, when everyone is sick and we’re busy, that’s a perk) and I don’t do it just for the organic aspect (I like having some organic but don’t believe everything needs to be). In the end, it was an experiment – my goal was to break even (or pay a bit more) and eat healthily.
Each week the basket is different based on their suppliers and what’s available locally. I have noticed 2 important things:
1) We eat more fruits and vegetables. If we are going to pay a premium and buy more, we feel we need to use them up. Plus, the produce is just beautiful.
2) I am trying new recipes to accommodate new ingredients found in the basket. I had never cooked with beets before they were in our basket. Or swiss chard. Or kale. That has been an exciting off shoot.
The service is available weekly, bi-weekly or just once and a while when you know you’ll be busy or are having guests. I’m not sure if I’ll continue with it once our local markets open up, but really, getting local produce dropped off has been a nice treat.
Also, see in my basket this week? Strawberries. Already tried one and they are delicious 😉
How do you shop for fruits and veggies? Would you try a service like this?
Those strawberries are BEGGING to be eaten! Been considering doing this too but I'm not a fan of beets so I wouldn't want a bunch of veggies that no one would touch, waste of money. Doing some more research!
I get the small basket each week along with milk. It's such a great service!
Amanda, you can specify preferences. I don't eat potatoes so I just selected to not get them ever. You can change it online too, it's very easy.
Amanda, just like Kat said the online site is easy to customize – we had been getting a lot of oranges but don't always love them so I just switched. I got extra pears or peaches one week – yum!
You can also add on things – so I could get the small basket and then add on items that I need like potatoes that maybe aren't in the basket.
Really easy!
Your post and photo have convinced me. I showed this to my Hubby tonight, and we're signing up.
Thanks!
I don't know why I didn't sign up over the winter! But now I'm thinking like you, seeing as I'm on mat leave and the local markets will be opening up soon, I think I may wait until I go back to work, then a service like this will be super handy! Thanks for the post about it.
I've just started looking into a service like this this week. I really want to try it out for awhile. I love the local market idea, but realistically…. well, let's just say despite my best intentions, we didn't make it to the market a single time last summer 😉
We've used this service on and off over the past two years.
Likes:
– Trying new veggies
– Convenience
– Great Service
– Good Quality
Dislikes:
– Our delivery day was always on on off day for us (Thursdays or Saturday). Since we sometimes go away on the weekend, I found it difficult to use all the produce between Thurs-Sunday.
Every once in a while, I get 'Ottawa Organic' bite and sign up with them again. They are also happy to happy me back.
Hope you enjoy it.
J.
Lara, we made it to the market a few times last year – love going but realistically, if I was hunting for a weeks worth of veggies/fruit it may not be as enjoyable with the kids so I understand!
I'll wait to see what things look like as the markets open up but in the summer our schedules change a lot so hard to say if we'll stay with it then.
J, you're right – our delivery is on Friday which means on weekends we are home we eat wonderfully but often I have to put a hold when we go away etc.
Wow! This is awesome! I'm so looking into this more!
Great concept! But I don't know why but I still like to smell and touch my fruits and veggies first before I eat them hehe.