Are you a keen eyed cook? Love the smell of fresh, ripe ingredients bursting with flavour? Living in the city but craving a little country living? All of us could do with paying a little more attention to the origins of the food we eat. In light of this fact we've put together a list of the sites we deem (in our humble opinion) to offer the very best selection of fresh and organic produce. From fully prepared meals right through to the most carefully chosen veg boxes and groceries to stock your larder - we promise, with this list every possible culinary taste will be catered for...
Planet Organic
Swiftly nipping at Daylesford’s heels is well established favourite – Planet Organic; the UK’s largest fully certified organic supermarket - delivering right across the UK and Europe. With free deliveries on orders over £30, there’s absolutely no excuse not to indulge in their exceptionally high quality range of dairy, gluten free and organic products. The well designed site, with its simple user friendly interface will help you shop in record time. With beauty products, cosmetics and gifts also on offer you really can turn your entire household into a paragon of organic living.
Abel and Cole
Jaded with the tasteless flavour of your Asda bought fruit and veg? For a fraction of the budget added to your weekly shop Abel & Cole could be delivering weekly boxes of goodies right to your door. Love stamping your coffee card in Costa? Well Abel and Cole will go one better with a free box every fourth order and a free organic cookbook with your first delivery – now there’s an incentive…
Riverford Organic
Craving some purple sprouting broccoli? Missing your usual order of Pac Choi? Well look no further because at Riverford Organic you’ll be astounded at the sheer variety of fruit and veg boxes on offer. Starting at just £6.75 for 2-3 varieties of only the freshest local produce, there really is no excuse for not taking a dip into the organic market. Full of recipes, tips and even a GWG approved app, this site is a godsend for all those as concerned with the food they eat as the fuel in their car. Not a site to be missed.
Coffee Plant
Pride yourself on being a real coffee aficionado? Still drink your regular cup from Starbucks or Pret? Well shame on you when you could be sourcing only the finest Arabica beans (organic of course) from the king of fair trade suppliers Coffee Plant. Choose from coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and sugar with deliveries straight to your door. Hmm we can almost smell the aroma of freshly ground Monsooned Malabar…
Forman & Field
Looking for great, fresh British food made directly to order? Well look no further than Forman & Field with its crisp sharp site full of enticing images of only the highest quality seasonal produce. With gift vouchers on offer as well as complete menu deals, the site also has an express delivery option at no extra charge – last minute dinner party in mind? This site really is a godsend. Like staying in with your loved one? Not a fan of M&S’s Dine In For £10 Deal? Well now there’s a seriously luxurious alternative. Prepare to collect those Brownie Points – 200 when you pass GO.
Farmaround Organic
Based in South London or the surrounding areas? Lucky you – because this means you’re well within the catchment area for Farmaround Organic. With new postcodes being attended to in the very near future, here’s hoping the rest of the country will soon be able to benefit from
their incredible range of only the freshest organic produce. Highly commended at the Organic Food Awards, this is one company that takes its green credentials very seriously indeed. Don’t miss their recipes of the week, specifically tailored to what’s in your vegetable box, now that’s what we call thinking ahead…
The Organic Delivery Company
Another smaller independent retailer well worth a mention is The Organic Delivery Company, happy to mix and match orders with maximum flexibility, this small family founded local business really does have the personal touch. Intent on bringing ‘the taste of the English countryside right to your door’ the company is committed to making your food as ethical and sustainable as is humanly possible in a vast sprawling metropolis like London. Offering a wide selection of fruit and vegetables as well as household items and even a kitchen composter, this really is your organic online corner shop. Just don’t expect any midnight runs of Haagen Dasz or you’ll be sorely dissapointed!
Natoora
And last but certainly not least, how could we not recognise the seriously admirable efforts of Natoora? Personally endorsed by Ruth Rodgers (of River Cafe fame) this site is elegant simplicity at its best. A whole host of organic fare is on offer, including only the finest grass fed scottish steak, fresh fish and a wide range of other essentials. The site also offers an array of handy tips, blogs and newsletters for the discerning chef. Don't miss the special offers and the option to bulk buy your favourite items (at reduced prices). If you're primarily concerned with sourcing only the top quality ingredients for your cooking then this really is your online larder.
14th March 2012.