For the past few weeks I’ve been trying out Irv & Shelly’s Fresh Picks weekly Fresh Picks Box delivery. You can order a box for 1, 2, or the family size.
Fresh Picks offers year-round home delivery in the Chicago area of local and organic produce, meat, dairy and eggs. They work with local sustainable farms and know the farmers by name.
What’s great about the Fresh Picks Box isn’t just the produce, or the freshness, or the locality, or the great story. It’s all of those things plus on big thing: The surprise. Every week something new based on what’s in season. It’s a really great way to eat better (eat with the seasons), and try new stuff all the time. This last week my box included Burdock Root and Black Spanish Radishes—two things I’ve never had and probably never would have purchased on my own accord.
Each hand delivery comes with a description of what’s in the box, the farm it came from, and some suggested cooking/preparation instructions. A handwritten thank you is included sometimes. It’s really folksy and nice. Irv himself delivered my first order.
So if you’re in Chicago and looking for some good wholesome local organic produce (or meat, dairy and eggs), give Irv and Shelly a try. Yes, you can order online.
Nicole
on 18 May 07I love that home delivery of food is “back” (so to speak). I get milk delivered weekly that is amazingly fresh (“24 hours from Moo to you” is their slogan) and 100% natural while also amazingly inexpensive. The milk comes in reusable glass jars so I save waste, AND my milk never picks up external flavors.
I can’t help but gush.
Steve
on 18 May 07Yay! Organic produce delivered to your home is a great way to eat better and support the slow-foods movement. Not sure how to use up this great produce? Visit a recipe website such as ours (BigOven.com”) to figure out how to use up what’s in your fridge.
Morten
on 18 May 07So, did you cook anything using “Burdock Root and Black Spanish Radishes”, or did it end up in the garbage?
That’s usually what happens with the more funky vegetables from these kinds of services.
Marisa
on 18 May 07Anyone have a similar service they’d recommend in Seattle? My partner and I will be relocating there later this summer. (I highly recommend Harmony Valley in Minneapolis/St. Paul/Madison, btw – they are awesome, although they don’t actually deliver to your home.)
@Morten: For what it’s worth, in the past, we’ve used burdock root in stews in place of potatoes. Once, we felt really ambitious, and instead steamed it, cut it into spears, and used it in sushi (we’d had it that way in restaurants a few times). Never had spanish radishes, though.
Danny
on 18 May 07I’ve been meaning to give a similar service based in Brooklyn, NY a try: Urban Organic
Luther
on 18 May 07Anyone have a recommendation of a website which tracks such services? I live near Dayton, Ohio. We have local, organic growers – but I don’t know of any service like Irv & Shelly’s here.
John Hoffoss
on 19 May 07Since it’s not stated here, and not everyone may know this, the service offered here is typically referred to as a CSA (community supported agriculture) or crop-share. If you’re looking for a CSA in your area, start with your local co-ops, and go from there. A wonderful service, and a great challenge to any budding cooks to find ways to use the bounty of fruit and veggies each week!
Not to mention this winds up cheaper than if you bought even just your normal fruits & veggies each week at the grocery. (Unless you buy none right now…)
Matthew Pane
on 19 May 07Anyone know of a similar service in Northern NJ? A service like this sounds great.
Todd
on 21 May 07http://www.localharvest.org/
Has a search for CSAs, farm markets etc. Irv & Shelley’s is in their database in the Other category, so if you are looking for delivery in your area you may want to start with that category. Or CSA if you don’t mind picking your stuff up.
This discussion is closed.