When the Coronavirus pandemic hit England and we were all thrown into lockdown, veg boxes grew overnight in popularity. I’d always been loyal to one particular company but during this time their prices increased… a lot! I appreciated that the company also usually supplied commercial establishments which were closed so their buying power was reduced, but as a loyal customer, I felt disappointed by an over 33% price hike on a box similar to my regular order.

Therefore I started to look for another supplier. Another local greengrocer, who also usually supplied commercial business, saw the opportunity and started doing residential deliveries. Their prices were similar to the amount I was used to paying (if not less) even with a delivery charge. So I gave them a try, ordering a medium veg box and a sack of potatoes. The delivery was friendly, respectful of social distancing and efficient. I soon added fruit box to my order and I haven’t looked back.

Today, my veg box, fruit box and a sack of potatoes (grown less than three miles away) arrived and I thought I just have to write about this. I love my fruit but I always brought the usual apples, bananas and sometimes satsumas, but with the fruit box I get such a variation and we both enjoy eating lots of different fruit (which can vary depending on their stock/what they can buy). Today I got green apples (hubstar likes these), red apples (for me), pears, bananas, satsumas, plums, kiwi fruit, apricots, grapes, pineapple and oranges.

And the supplier is John Patts. Go on give it a try, order before 12noon and they aim to get your delivery to you by the next day. The fruit box I order is £10.00, the veg box £5.95 and a sack of 10kg potatoes £5.99. You don’t have to buy boxes you can also choose individual items or top up your boxes with extra bits, they also sell eggs, milk and cream.