Farmers Markets versus Buying Fruit and Veges via Home Delivery

I decided to check out some of those online vendors who deliver organic fruit and veges to your door. I was not impressed. It was a lot more expensive than I expected, and the quantity, selection and quality were not great – nor seasonal - and some of the items clearly were not grown on their own farms.

My home delivery cost $40 and the package included 1 romaine lettuce (with lots of dark green inedible leaves), 2 medium size broccoli florets, 5-6 small and poor tasting nectarines, 2 small mangoes, 3 small avocados, 1 small box of blueberries and there may have been a few other items. The same from the ethnic market would have cost about $12 (although it would not be organic). Other markets such as Trader Joe’s, Smart & Final, Farmer’s Market, Ralph’s, Whole Foods and Gelson’s would be in-between, with the latter two sometimes as expensive or more expensive than home delivery.

The Encino Farmers Market and Tapia Brothers are better alternatives. I find our Farmers Market not that great compared with others around LA – the atmosphere is a bit lacking and most of all, it’s really out of the way. It would be much better to have one at Genesta Park. I have mixed feelings about Tapia Brothers produce – watery strawberries as often as not and right under the freeway absorbing air pollution.

So, on balance, we will stick with the ethnic markets for most produce, plus Trader Joe’s for organics.