Organic food boxes

With the news that some supermarkets are storing so-called 'fresh' fruit and vegetables for long periods before getting them onto the shelves how can we tell how good for us the produce we're buying is?

The nutritional content of fresh food declines rapidly with storage and when you consider the difficulty of telling how long the food has been stored for, or whether it has been treated with gas to prolong the shelf-life, it makes sense to think again about where your food comes from. So what is the best way to find food that's newly-picked and packed full of essential vitamins and minerals?

Organic box schemes and farmer's markets are a great way of finding food that is fresh and good for you and usually locally produced. Unlike supermarkets, the producers will tell you exactly when your apples were picked and where, and how long they took to get to you. All you have to do is ask, or in the case of box schemes, read the leaflets.

With a box scheme the produce is delivered to your door, saving you hassle and providing you with nutritious and tasty goodies. Some box schemes, such as Abel and Cole's, even allow you to register foods you dislike to ensure you don't receive them in your box. Because the food is organic you know it's free from harmful pesticides and that the farming process works with the land rather than against it. And best of all you don't have to schlep round the shops on your way home from work. One word of warning though: with some box schemes your veg will be so fresh it will still be muddy. It's worth the effort of washing it yourself so don't be put off.

If organic boxes sound too restrictive or just not your thing, then your local farmer's market is the place to head for. You get to talk to the people who grow the food or work on the farms so they can answer any questions you have about the food production. The food won't necessarily be organic but that doesn't mean it isn't a good option. Food on sale is usually locally farmed which means fewer food miles and fresher produce. A wide variety of stalls means there's lots of choice and all kinds of goodies on sale. Expect to find local honey, cakes, cheese, meat and fish as well as fruit and vegetables. The only problem is carrying everything home when you finally decide what to buy. If there isn't a farmer's market near you there'll usually be a farm shop that you can visit within a few miles.

Both farmer's markets and organic box schemes enable you to buy fresh food with confidence, knowing that it is fully traceable. You'll also be supporting the local economy and farms in your area. Add to that the reduction in food miles, packaging and waste and you'll be feeling virtuous as well as healthier.

Check out these websites for further details:

www.abel-cole.co.uk
www.riverford.co.uk
www.farmaround.co.uk
www.farmersmarkets.net
www.lfm.org.uk

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