After starting with fresh city during one of their promo offers, I have now been with them for over a year. They consistently put together a great blend of groceries at a fantastic price.
I have done this with a few other companies, but here are some ways I found fresh city better:
- produce was always packed and delivered carefully. Even tender produce is consistently in good condition.
- the one time a product was damaged, a refund credit was put on our account for the loss with minimal hassle
- the web interface for managing your produce is super convenient: delivery holds are simple, modifying your order is a snap
- you can add regular pantry items to be included in your bag for repeat or single delivery. We will often add onions or garlic to our orders, and have milk delivered weekly (biweekly deliveries of specific items are an option too)
- recipe cards and produce info is included with each bag to help you figure out how to prepare some of the produce that may be new to you
- I really appreciate that they are using plots of land that would otherwise be unused, such as lots designated for future development that are sitting empty; even downtown!
- frequent community gatherings such as farm tours and BBQ's
- pre-delivery emails are sent a few days prior, giving a heads up as to what is in your delivery so you can plan ahead
Some things to keep in mind if this is new to you:
- the price is low because the farmer's produce is guaranteed to be sold as it is grown. This means the food doesn't sit on shelves or end up rotting and being wasted. To me it makes giving up the choice of food quite attractive in return for the low cost and high efficiency
- lots of leafy greens and sprouts will be in your bag all year because they are simple to grow quickly and take up small plots of land for the amount of harvest
- local food is fresher and, of course, supports the local economy
- it can actually help you plan your food for the week, because it helps you narrow the options to certain ingredients without your cooking getting boring
Some specifics I am hoping to see for future development:
- larger delivery zone
- other delivery options tailored to apartment building dwellers who work daytimes
Overall: consistent service and great quality produce. Happy to be with them!