Abel & Cole
16 Waterside Way, Plough Lane, London SW17 0HB,
www.abel-cole.co.uk.
Established in 1988, Abel & Cole is an award-winning organic service offering great quality, variety and flexibility. Seasonal fruit and vegetables come in 13 different boxes and can be tailored to exclude dislikes. Its biodiesel vans also deliver artisan bread, fish fresh from the boat and well-hung meat.
Delivery throughout most of southern England and much of the Midlands and North West. Mixed box for two (7 veg, 3 fruit), £14.80.
Damhead
32a Damhead, Old Pentland Road, Lothianburn, Edinburgh EH10 7EA,
www.damhead.co.uk.
Do all your organic shopping remotely from this seven-acre farm and farmshop. Home-grown spinach, herbs and lettuce are supplemented by beans, squashes and courgettes from East Lothian farms, while the main catalogue boasts everything from teas and cereals to roasting joints and salted fish.
Delivery throughout central Scotland and the Borders. Mixed box for two (9 veg, 3 fruit), £12.
Eostre Organics
Rookery Business Park, Silver Street, Besthorpe, Norfolk NR17 2LD,
www.eostreorganics.org.
A growers' co-operative with a strong ethical code through its zero air-freight policy and fairly traded fruit. Small holdings deliver fruit and veg that are often harvested one day and despatched the next. With a supplier in Italy, look forward to citruses and salad in the winter.
Delivery across East Anglia. Veg box for two (8 varieties), £9.50; fruit box for two (4-5 varieties), £5.
Northern Harvest
Kenyon Hall, Croft, Warrington, Cheshire WA3 7ED,
www.northernharvest.co.uk.
As well as fruit and veg grown at Kenyon Hall Farm, an impressive range of locally sourced produce is offered, such as soups, home-cooked ready meals, pickles, preserves and eco-friendly household products. Depending on the season, boxes can contain Lancashire black kale, leeks and broccoli, Italian peaches and lemons, and fairtrade bananas.
Delivery throughout the North West. Mixed box for two (6 veg, 4 fruit), £10 or £15 for organic (minimum order is £15 plus £3 delivery).
The Organic Delivery Company
Unit A59, New Covent Garden Market, London SW8 5EE,
www.organicdelivery.co.uk.
This one-stop outfit makes next-day deliveries every day of the week. Stripped of packaging and strictly no air freight, the produce comes mostly from Devon. Jerusalem artichokes, purple sprouting broccoli and fresh rhubarb are just a few of the many seasonal delights this month.
Delivery across London. Mixed box for two (8 veg, 4 fruit), £14.65.
Organics To Go
Werndolau Farm, Golden Grove, Carmarthen SA32 8NE,
www.organicstogo.info.
Supporting local growers and small-scale organic producers in Sicily and the South of France, this Welsh farm lets you adapt your box to suit your taste. Avoid potatoes and carrots, for example, and opt for aubergines and watercress or go for all fruit. Welsh meat and cheeses are also supplied.
Delivery throughout parts of Wales, the West, Wiltshire, London and Manchester. Mixed box for two, £12.90 in London, £11 elsewhere.
Riverford
Wash Barn, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0LD,
www.riverford.co.uk.
One of the country's most established organic box schemes, Riverford is known for its top-quality boxes and excellent service. Expect a selection of box sizes, including potato-free, with contents changing weekly, combining the interesting (red Russian kale, kohlrabi) with reliable stalwarts (onions, carrots). Juices, cheese and chocolate are available as extras.
Delivery across the south of the UK; throughout the East Midlands and East Anglia (0845 078 6868, rivernene.co.uk); and across northern counties (0845 367 1155, riverswale.co.uk). Mixed box for two (6 veg, 3 fruit, 1 salad pack), £13.50.
Rod and Ben's
Bickham Farm, Kenn, Exeter, Devon EX6 7XL,
www.rodandbens.com.
If some of the box contents don't appeal, pick the made-to-order choice box from these college friends' 120 acres in Devon. There are strawberries and raspberries in season, plus orchard fruit and Dexter beef. Also try one of Rod and Ben's famous organic soups with your box.
Delivery nationwide. Mixed box for two (8 veg, 4 fruit, 1 salad pack), £14 plus £1 local delivery and £4.99 for delivery elsewhere.
Simply Wild Organics
Roughfield Farm, London Road, Hurst Green, East Sussex TN19 7QY,
www.simplywild.co.uk.
Fruit and veg arrive on your doorstep in natural jute bags, deemed even more environmentally friendly than cardboard boxes. The farm's all-fruit bags are a must in the summer, with organic Kentish peaches, cherries and apricots. Imported exotics, such as kiwis and grapefruit, bridge the gap at other times. The groceries range from butter and eggs to pastas and flour, and there is a list of meats to choose from, as well as organically farmed cod, salmon and trout.
Delivery across London and the South East. Mixed bag for two (6 veg, 4 fruit), £12 plus £2 one-off bag deposit.
Woodlands Organic Farm
Kirton House, Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 1JD,
www.woodlandsfarm.co.uk.
Producer of the Year at the Organic Food Awards 2004, this family-run mixed farm grows its own salads, fruit and vegetables for regional delivery. The farm is open to visitors and also has a flock of Bronze turkeys, as well as breeding its own Lincoln Red Shorthorn cattle, and Lincoln Longwool sheep perfect for Easter lamb.
Delivery across parts of the Midlands. Mixed box for two (8-9 veg, 4-5 fruit), £13.