5 food delivery services that are fresher than FreshDirect
Want locally farmed food without facing the crowds at Union Square market?
A handful of services have sprung up that offer fresh farm goods — many of them local and organic — delivered with the convenience of your local takeout joint.
We tried five different services. Here’s a look at what we reaped:
Farmigo
Brooklyn-based pickup grocery service; $50 for Best Sellers Box at farmigo.com
What it is: Customers order weekly on Sundays and pick up on Wednesdays at one of 260 spots throughout the five boroughs.
What’s available: The Best Sellers Box has seasonal fruit, vegetables, eggs, cheese, bread and a meat/poultry product. Starting in late spring, Farmigo will also offer a Farmer’s Choice Mixed Box ($29) with fruit and veggies only. More than 400 a la carte items, from apple cider to goat’s-milk yogurt, are also available.
The take-away: There are no substitutions with the Best Sellers Box we ordered, a bummer for those who don’t eat meat. The variety of vegetables was only decent, but other items, like the cookies, added excitement. Picking up at a local spot lends a nice community feel.
Good Eggs
Farm-fresh and artisanal items delivered to Brooklynites; $30 for preselected Fruit and Veggie Medley at goodeggs.com
What it is: This San Francisco startup expanded to Brooklyn in 2013 and plans to move into Manhattan this year. It has a $30 minimum for free delivery in a four-hour window.
What’s available: Preselected packages like the Fruit and Veggie Medley, with seven types of seasonal produce; packaged preparations for a meal (e.g., salmon with maple ginger marinade, $26 for two); and hundreds of a la carte items from kale chips to floral bouquets.
The take-away: Everything in the Fruit and Veggie Medley looked fresh, and I enjoyed the fingerling potatoes and two types of squash, even if the curly kale felt a bit blah. Cold packaging costs an annoying $4.99 if it’s not returned in 24 days.
Quinciple
Williamsburg-based delivery and pickup service; $43 for a box to be picked up, $7 more for delivery at quinciple.com
What it is: Quinciple boxes goodies mostly from local sources and delivers them by cargo tricycle (emissions-free!) or offers them for pickup at one of 17 local wine stores and restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
What’s available: A box with about a dozen items featuring breads, meat, fish, dairy products, veggies and artisanal products — all non-GMO, sustainable, free range and organic. Items are packaged with recipes for inspiration.
The take-away: Quinciple offerings aren’t just local, so it can deliver exotic items, like mangoes and citrus fruits. Our box was relatively pricey for what we got, but the recipes were inspiring and the produce offerings a bit more exciting than others.
Farm to People
Subscription service for pantry items; $30 for “The Casual Foodie,” $50 for “The Food Critic” at farmtopeople.com
What it is: Launched in 2013 and based in Williamburg’s Pfizer building, this service doesn’t offer seasonal produce but rather wholesome nonperishables. Boxes are shipped via FedEx Ground and the minimum subscription is three months, though it can be paused.
What’s available: Customers can shop a la carte (free shipping for orders more than $49) or subscribe to tasting boxes: the Casual Foodie (three or four items) or the Food Critic (five to eight products).
The take-away: It was fun to get some unusual items, but you have to commit to a subscription, and some of the treats are pretty out there — cricket protein bars, anyone? — so it’s best for those with an adventurous spirit (and stomach).
Go Organic NYC
All-organic delivery service based in Queens; $35 for small box, $55 medium, $75 large at goorganicnyc.com
What it is: Launched in 2012, Go Organic ships foodstuffs from a Long Island City warehouse to Brooklyn, Manhattan or Queens. Shipping is $1.99 and first-time buyers pay a $10 deposit for a reusable cooler bag.
What’s available: Customers select their own organic produce or a preset fruit and vegetable box. Other items, such as dairy products, tofu and snacks, are available, but selection is limited.
The take-away: I got the medium box and found that this service, which has great variety, offers the most bang for your buck. But foodies may want to know more about their carrots’ origins. And some items were substituted without warning (like bok choy for watercress).
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