This site is closed to new comments and posts.

Notice: This site uses cookies to function.
If you are not comfortable with cookies then please don't browse this website.

Urban Organic — Brooklynian

Urban Organic

anonymous
anonymous
edited November -1 in Park Slope
I'm anxious to support organic and local produce, so we signed up for urban organic. so far we're pretty happy, though it's definitely not local.

what are others' experiences with urban organic? any alternatives other than the obvious farmer's markets?

thanks.

Comments

  • raw
    raw
    I know absolutely nothing about urban organic. How does it work and how much does it cost?
  • veggiequeen
    veggiequeen
    I haven't used them but here:

    http://urbanorganic.com/
  • rose
    rose
    I've been a subscriber (that's not really the right word) for years, on and off. For the most part, I've been happy with it. The downside is the weeks when I don't feel like cooking, or don't have time, and I end up throwing out lots of veggies at the end of the week, which makes me feel guilty. But usually it is sort of fun to get all these random veggies and figure out things to do with them. The delivery is very reliable. The only real issue I have with them is that often there are one or two things in the box that aren't as fresh as they could be -- yesterday I got some chard that was starting to wilt. The delivery in Park Slope is on Monday, so if you mostly eat take-out during the week and cook on the weekend, most of the stuff isn't going to last that long.
  • veets
    veets
    I did use Urban Organic years ago. The system seems to be the same so I don't think it is out of line for me to comment. You don't get to choose the things you want. They deliver a box of veggies each week off a list that they have for that week. There was a way to substitute other things for afew item but there was a charge. here was my problem at the time.. There were let's say 3 carrots and 5 potatoes in the box. Well what do you do if you were feeding a family of 5 and you wanted to eat potatoes more than once a week or cook a recipe that involved more than afew carrots. get the picture? Yeah, like the previous poster said it was like a puzzle to figure out what to cook with what was in the box but I stopped the service because the game stopped being fun and I always needed to shop for veggies above what was in the order and I did land up throwing things out and it was expensive.

    I am curious to hear from people who have more recent experience. Who knows if the system has changed for the better. I hope so because the concept is good.
  • rose
    rose
    Yes, it works the same way -- there is a list of fruits and vegetables for the week and you can look at that in advance and request a substitution or two. I think the selection has improved -- years ago, there always used to be turnips in the box, at least in the winter months. Who really wants to get turnips? They don't send turnips anymore. But yeah, I find that I usually have to buy more of some things and other things end up getting thrown out. So that's annoying. But getting the box kind of forces my family to eat more veggies and fruit, which was really the point, for me. And I have learned a bunch of ways to cook chard.
  • cheflady
    cheflady
    Other options:

    Park Slope CSA: http://www.parkslopecsa.org/
    Park Slope Food Coop: www.foodcoop.com
  • anonymous
    anonymous

    Subject: Park Slope CSA

    Thank you, cheflady! I didn't know about the Park Slope CSA. Does anyone else know about other CSAs, particularly those that deliver? What we've really liked about Urban Organic is that it delivers, but it's just not local enough for us (does it get more local in the summer?). We also like the variety and enforced creativity, especially for a family of two.
  • akbunte
    akbunte
    We canceled yesterday. The last couple of weeks there was always something missing. You get a list where you can see what you should get.
    Then you call and complain and next week you get more but you did need it last week. Very annoying.
    Sometimes it could be fresher. For weeks we got up the three lettuces a week. At some point you can't eat it anymore.
    After all we were happy for 3/4 of a year but now we move on.
  • veets
    veets
    I am thinking Urban organic needs a constant supply of new customers. It seems like people don't stay with this service for long periods of time. I bet there are plenty of people aboard who can see I have been a member of the ps food coop for ten year sor more and not too many who can say such a thing about urban organic.
  • rose
    rose
    You might be right. I've been a customer for a long time, maybe even ten years, but on and off. I'll get deliveries for a few months and then quit for a few months. I never use them in the summer because you can get much better/fresher stuff at the greenmarket.
  • filmlover44
    filmlover44
    Anyone use the farmers market? It's a great way to support locally grown...
  • anonymous
    anonymous
    do they still charge a 'membership fee'? We used in years ago, when living in W'burg. Loved it, but it did get tiresome week after week. How many freakin carrots can one eat?? (although it made for some great carrot ginger soups)

    Overall a great thing cuz it does force you to eat your fruits and veggies! At the time quality was always high, can't vouch for them now since it's been a few years since we last used it.

    The reason I asked about the membership fee, if it's low it might be worth trying out their service for a few weeks. and yes, agreed with above. Cancel in the summer. Much more fun and rewarding to hit the green markets in the warm months.
  • cheflady
    cheflady
    heck yes i use the farmer's markets
  • veets
    veets
    Visiting the Farmer Market is glorious. It always gives me a feeling of really living in a neighborhood. The produce is terrfic... the baked goods are sinfull.. (watch out if you are dieting) and it is just the best stroll through the Slope in the warmer months.
  • anonymous
    anonymous

    Subject: membership fee

    The reason I asked about the membership fee, if it's low it might be worth trying out their service for a few weeks. and yes, agreed with above. Cancel in the summer. Much more fun and rewarding to hit the green markets in the warm months.
    as far as I know, the membership fee is a one-time-only fee no matter what, but you should check it out.
Sign In or Register to comment.

Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Sign In

Categories