Fruit and veg boxes - what are they all about?

You might have read about them or indeed know someone who has a fruit and veg box delivered to their home; there's no doubt that they are becoming more popular. So why might you want to take part too?

• The contents are usually locally grown, so it allows you to support local farmers, helping them earn a fairer price for their produce.
• It helps you to eat seasonally (see the item from October on the benefits of eating seasonally).
• They will often be organic, but if this is something that is particularly important to you, make sure that you double check on this before you sign up to a scheme.
• It keeps things interesting, as you'll never quite know what you'll get in your box each week - though it is often possible to check in advance from a company's website if this will help you plan your meals for the week.
• You're encouraged to be creative in your cooking, as it won't be the same handful of fruit and veg each week. Some boxes are accompanied with suggested recipes for those items included, but cook books, cuttings from magazines and the millions of internet sites dedicated to cooking will prove invaluable.

But aren't fruit and veg boxes expensive? Not necessarily, as you can save money in a number of ways:

• You are cutting out the middleman if buying directly from the grower.
• If you can avoid going to the supermarket, there's a saving on fuel or transport costs and it also prevents those impulse buys that you would have likely made while there.
• Cooking from scratch, which buying fresh produce encourages you to do, is also cheaper than buying ready prepared foods.

If you're starting to consider the idea, some things that you might want to think about include:

• Which size box will suit your needs best?
• Do you want to get a weekly or fortnightly delivery?
• Are food miles and supporting local growers close to your heart? If so a local rather than a national scheme will be your best choice.
• Are there any fruit or veg you don't want to receive? If so, let them know!
• Think about where you'll be storing the produce to prevent any wastage from items that have past their best. And where can it be left if you're not home to accept a delivery?
• Finding out how to prepare and cook your veg. A step by step guide on how to tackle a butternut squash may not be provided, so do your homework!

For those of you living in the Teesside, North Yorkshire or Durham area, you might want to investigate these local box schemes:

• The Fruit Cellar - Eastbourne Road, Middlesbrough.
• http://www.fruitcellar.co.uk/
• Boxes from £7.99

•  The Organic Farm - Low Leases Farm, Low Street, Leeming Bar
• http://www.theorganicfarm.co.uk/
• Boxes from £7.50

•  New Close Farm Shop - Witton Road, Sacriston, Durham
• http://www.newclosefarmshop.co.uk/
• Boxes from £10