Planning out my produce

Enjoying my new organic pears from
Boston Organics.

I felt like a mother rushing home from work yesterday to pick up my Boston Organics box. But my veggies had to be taken care of before my weekly Tuesday meeting. A girl's got to have priorities...

And it was like Christmas, my produce all wrapped up in my reusable green box. This week's "dogma box" included pears, apples, an acorn squash, sprouts, carrots, chives, collard greens, gold beets, Napa cabbage, red leaf lettuce and lots of potatoes.

I dropped a pear while cleaning the goods and loading up the fridge, so I had to eat it. And I followed it with a carrot dipped in hummus. Thus far, I've thoroughly enjoyed everything. It's the stuff that needs to be cooked--the squash and the beets, especially--that I'm struggling with the most.

So I checked out Boston Organics' recipes page. There's a recipe on there for baby greens with roasted beets and potatoes, which should utilize the red leaf lettuce, potatoes and beets. Then there's another on Allrecipes.com for stuffed acorn squash halves.

For the acorn squash recipe, I'm thinking I'll nix the brown sugar; I'm not a big fan of the sweet and savory combo. And I'll use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth (I've been pretty good about being vegetarian). But here's hoping that it turns out well. Dinner, anyone?

One of the things I thought I would struggle most with is being sure to use all my produce. But I think the best bet is to plan ahead. I note what veggies I have, then I research recipes and storage tips and take note of what I need to get the next time I go grocery shopping (like bread stuffing). Produce delivery in no way absolves my need to grocery shop, but it helps me save money and forces me to be adventurous, try new foods and plan my meals.

And when all else fails, I can always pawn them off on my roommates, neighbors and friends.

Boston Organics delivers a weekly dose of karma

A Boston Organics fruit and vegetable box.

Photo source: BostonOrganics.com

No matter how much I want to eat right, sometimes finding the time to purchase food from farmers' markets (which tend to be far away) can prove inconvenient.

Before I moved to Boston, my mom and I did a little research and found this company that would deliver organic goods to customers' front doors--or back porches or secret hideaways. It was a problem when I was living in a campus dorm (If people steal my newspapers, they're bound to steal my produce), but now that I'm living in the real world, I'm taking a chance.

Tomorrow, I get my first delivery from Boston Organics. With their programs, customers have a lot of choice:

• Customers first decide which size box they want delivered (prices range from $24-$57) and how frequently.
• Then, they decide what kind of fruit:vegetable ratio they want.
• Then, customers fill out their "NO LIST," a list of various food items that they never want to receive. On weeks when they are scheduled to receive that food, it will be replaced with something else they like. It's great for allergies or pickier eaters.
• Lastly, customers fill out their delivery and payment information and their fresh, organic food is delivered.

Patrons can also add on extras to their weekly delivery; the site offers additional produce, herbs, staples, spreads, teas, coffee, dairy products and snacks. The boxes also come with a weekly newsletter, including updates on the company and the "green scene" in Boston, as well as recommended recipes and information regarding where the produce comes from.

They also have a useful website, where potential customers can see what's in "This Week's Box" and get a feel for what to expect. They can keep up-to-date with the company blog, or search recipes for inspiration on how to prep, store or cook various items. Pluots and Celeriac and Calaloo, oh my...

It's a great business, in my opinion. It's an accredited Sustainable Business Leader and, in April, was declared a 2011 Sustainable Food Leader recipient by Mayor Menino. The organization has good relationships with local farmers, and try to source they're produce from as close as possible.

It is worth noting, however, that Boston Organics provides organic food, not necessarily local food. Though they make an effort to draw their produce from farms in the Northeast, some of their food (especially fruit) comes from as far away as Peru or New Zealand. So while the consumer may be enjoying the benefits of a pesticide-free diet, their not supporting their local farmers or their ozone layer (Think of all the fuel it takes to rush produce from New Zealand to Massachusetts).

For those who wish to be as green as possible, Boston Organics offers their soon-to-be-renamed "dogma box." The dogma box (which I think should be called their "karma box") contains eight different products sourced from as close to Boston as possible.

This is the box I decided on because I could use a little good karma. However, because local resources are less varied, especially in the winter, dogma box recipients are not permitted a "NO LIST," nor can they decide the fruits:vegetables ratio. But they can take comfort in the knowledge that their carbon footprint is smaller and that they are supporting their local agricultural scene. I'll be sure to post pictures soon of the box, and discuss how I cooked everything and the quality of the produce. Stay tuned.