Veg box schemes have been around for many years. That said, they’ve often been considered a service only for the well heeled; those who could afford to buy into the latest eco trendy lifestyle and who embraced the conundrum of what to do with some of the more quirky offerings.

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I, for one, have never got to grips with kohlrabi and remain sceptical that it will be featured on my dinner plate anytime soon.Veg box schemes have come of age, however. Many will now tailor the choice of fruit and veg to make it acceptable to the individual palate. Some also supply a whole raft of delicious, well produced, lovingly tended local produce, from milk and cheese to beef and beer.
More importantly it is becoming increasingly  necessary that we all wake up to the problems facing our environment, and by purchasing food with as few transport miles as possible, we are sending a big message to the market place that we can and will change our buying habits.

Whats More….

And if that wasn’t reason enough, it’s a well-known fact that most fruit and vegetables start to lose their flavour and nutritional value as soon as they're picked.
Buying local, seasonal food guarantees you shorter times from field-to-kitchen. Out-of-season food may have been picked six or more weeks before you buy it. Food left to ripen on the plant will also contain more nutrients and have a better flavour than food that is harvested early and ripened artificially.
Local food often makes it from field to fork in less than 48 hours, meaning that nutrient levels, which decline rapidly after harvest, tend to be higher. Even better, local food products tend to be grown or produced by hand, with care and attention, preserving traditional breeds or recipes and resulting in food of the highest quality.

Trading fairly with farmers & producers.

Buying local or supporting a local farm shop or farmers’ market means that farmers and producers get a fair price for the food they are producing.
Farmers & growers in the UK battle to compete with cheap imported food that comes from countries where production costs and standards are lower. The aggressive purchasing & marketing tactics of some of the big supermarkets also eat into revenues: the costs of most price cuts or ‘deals’ are passed straight back to the farmer who has the choice of bearing the cost of the promotion or losing the business.

Investing in your local economy.

Supporting small producers, farmers & shops is vital to the survival of our local & rural communities. On average, spending £10 on local food will result in £7 of that money being re-invested in the local area.
Buying in the traditional box scheme method still probably works out the best value of the methods available., Check carefully before including the add -ons in your basket. At The time of writing a free range chicken from Riverford for example came in at a hefty £12.80 for a small 1.6kg bird. We Love Local was offering a similar fowl for £7.50 compared to Waitrose's £8.80.
If you’re new to the whole veg box thing (and I certainly was) the site for you is www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk.
This site is dedicated to guiding you through the options available and more importantly is full of recipes on all of the veg you are likely to encounter.
The following information comes directly from their site.

Find A Box Scheme.

How to choose a veg box scheme.

Do you want a local or national scheme? Most veg box schemes deliver within a radius of the farm. But some deliver nationwide, either by courier or by franchises.If you want to minimise food miles and support the local food economy, you should make sure you choose a veg box scheme run by local farmers, rather than a national scheme that may travel hundreds of miles to get to you. Deciding whether you want to buy from a local farmer or a national network is the first step.

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2. How important are food miles to you? If you're not fussed about food miles, then you won't need to check this one out. But if minimising the environmental impact of your fruit and veg delivery is important to you, ask potential box scheme providers what proportion of their produce is sourced from the UK - or even locally to your home. Many, for example, supplement their fruit bags with New Zealand apples in the summer.

3. Can you opt out of stuff you hate? Can you elect not to receive certain fruit or vegetables? If you know that nobody in your family is ever going to be persuaded to eat celery, can you request something different instead? Most schemes will agree to you having a "blacklist" of 1 to 3 items.
Any more becomes a logistical nightmare for them!

4. What's their policy on quality? Over the years, we've seen some amazing quality in veg boxes. But with one provider we no longer use, we regularly had to compost 1/3 of the contents.We're not talking cosmetic blemishes here - we're talking about mouldy plums and rotten potatoes... What's the company's policy on replacing stuff that arrives in an unacceptable condition?

5. Do you have anywhere safe to receive deliveries? If you're not likely to be in when the box is delivered, is there anywhere shady, secure and dry they can leave your fruit and veg?There's nothing more disappointing than to get home from work on a hot summer's day, only to find your freshly picked lettuce has gone slimy after a day in a plastic bag in the sun... If you don't have anywhere suitable, do they have a drop-off point near you, where you could collect your box in the evening?

6. Do you know anyone else who is happy with their veg box? Recommendation is the best way to find a box scheme provider. It's reassuring to know someone who is happy with their delivery, before you commit.

7. Can you get a sample box? Can you sign up for a one-off delivery, to test the quality and the concept of a veg box?

8. Weekly / fortnightly deliveries? Not everyone needs a veg box each week. Some people prefer to receive one once a fortnight. If this is important for you, check whether it's an option.

9. Notice period for changes If you're going on holiday, how much notice do they need to cancel your box? This shows how far ahead you'll have to plan.Some providers allow you to cancel - or even increase / decrease the size of your delivery - at the beginning of the week. Others need several weeks' notice.

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We Love Local  -Brighton Worthing and Peacehaven, but plan to expand. www.we-love-local.com  01273 206865

Riverford Organics - operate right across the UK www.riverford.co.uk 0845 600 2311
Hankham Organics – Brighton –hastings www.hankhamorganics.co.uk 01323 741000
Hen on the Gate –  Lewes Tunbridge Wells www.henonthegate.com 01435 874852
Simply Wild Organics – Kent and Sussex  www.simplywild.co.uk 01580 879930 (delivery charges depending on area)
Down to Earth – Midhurst  www.downtoearthmidhurst.co.uk 01730815133
Veg Out – Chichester-  Howard & Debbie Smith- 01243 781438 Local scheme in operation for over 12 years. Has survived without the need for Websites and emails, testament to the service they provide. Call Debbie for info.
Barcombe Organics – Lewes, Brighton and surrounds 01273 400 011
Abel & Cole- Nationwide www.abelandcole.co.uk 0845 2626364

Don't forget your local Dairy Crest milkman offers a range of products delivered direct to your door including organic veg boxes from £9.50, organic dairy and store cupboard essentials. They sell Yeo Valley and Ecover products. Find out more on www.dairycrest.co.uk or call 0800317846