food co-op

I'm hoping to help a friend in Manhattan. She read
about a produce co-op in the NY Times a while back.
This outfit delivers fresh produce to people in NY
City. Of course, one has to join the co-op and pay a
fee. The Times was unable to help her identify the
issue. Does anyone have knowledge of such a concern?
Thanks, as usual. pat

Pat,
We really enjoy Urban Organics. Yes, they've changed management a few times, but currently we find the produce in the box very high & filled with variety. THere is usually more than enough for two people to last a week--if your week consists of going out to eat two or three times, which ours does. I feel that to pay someone $27 for organic produce that I don't have to pick out and make the decision (should I get the chard this week or beet greens?) plus I don't have to carry it home is truly a wonderful service. When I am not at home, they leave it in front of my apartment door inside the building, which happens to be a safe place. I highly recommend them.
E.

Ed,

Thanks very much. I told my friend to go for it. pat

I don't suppose you mean Urban Organics, which will
deliver a box of fresh fruit and/or veg to your door
(you choose the type of box and size) weekly or
biweekly or whenever you call? My friends and I have
had mixed feelings about this business which has
changed management a couple of times in the past few
years, but when it's winter and cold and icy outside,
sometimes it's nice not to have to shop at special
places for organics.

Barbara,

Never heard of "Urban Organics." Could you explain how it works (do you have a choice in quantities and variety of what they deliver?) and why you have mixed feelings about it?

Thanks,

Dave

Urban Organics is in the phone book (They're based in
Brooklyn, I think 7th St.) and on the web. They used
to just have "the box" - you call in on Sun and they
tell you what's in the box for that week (depending on
what's fresh and available) and you can call in
substitutions (up to 3 in addition to 3 permanent
subs. you can leave on your account) or cancel
completely for the week. There is a sign-up fee, but
sometimes you can get one trial box before paying it.
Now, I think, they also have all fruit boxes or
juicing boxes (heavy on the carrots) or the regular
mixed box. They come in 3 sizes - same variety of
stuff, but more quantity as the price goes up. When
you sign up they tell you when they deliver in your
area and that's when you get your box - no negotiation
on that. Mixed feelings: 1. a friend who lives in
Stuyvesant Town found her box left in a public area
and was, of course gone by the time she got home. 2.
They sometimes (understandably) have to make
substitutions and I was finding that the particular
stuff I was looking forward to didn't come. 3. The
variety and quality is usually VERY good, especially
for organics. 4. My time just didn't allow me to
keep up with the flow of stuff coming in, even when I
only got a box every other week (so now I call them
when I want one). 5. I have another friend who is
VERY happy - she's quite creative with what they send
(btw, there's always a newsletter with recipes). 6.
The office staff is uneven. Sometimes they resolve
problems efficiently and cheerfully, other times less
so. 7. You can also order extra organic stuff -
grains, breads, milk products. 8. You have to be on
top of scheduling for cancellations or extra orders or
you find orphan boxes of veggies on your doorstep.
That's about all I can think of for now. Basically
it's a wonderful idea, but it seems so much more
wonderful when the farmers' markets aren't as
bountiful as they are at the moment. And definitely
helpful for busy, working people. I stopped getting
boxes several months ago. I'd be interested in
knowing what anyone else thinks of them.

> Urban Organics is in the phone book (They're based in
> Brooklyn, I think 7th St.) and on the web.
>
You're right on the money, though I've not used their
services myself. FYI, their info is:

http://www.urbanorganic.com/

Urban Organic
230A 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Phone: [phone]
888 4 URBAN 0

Fax: [phone]

email: [e-mail]

HTH,

Scott

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post. I believe
my young friend now has all the information she could
possibly want so that she may make an informed
decision about produce delivery. pat

Pat,

I'm a member of the Roxbury Farms coop. I don't know if this is the one you read about because they don't deliver to your apartment.

I believe they deliver to at least 3 or 4 locations in Manhattan, but only one site per day. Mine is at the church on 86th and West End Ave.

You join in the Spring and share in the total production of the farm. If they have a big crop, you get more good food. It's organic and of course, fresh. They produce a wide variety of stuff -- very little fruit, a lot of vegetables. This week, I took home 6 little yellow squashes, 2 cucumbers, 2 onions, 2 eggplants, a quart of string beans, 5 corns, 4 red peppers, and a whole bunch of herbs: basil; lemon basil, lemon balm; Italian parsley; and mint.

The bad news is that I don't think you can get "in" now, but I'll try to find out.

DF

Barbara and Dave:

Thanks to you both for the info. Barbara, I'll wait
for your answer to Dave's post before I relay your
suggestion. Are they in the phone book?

pat