Organic box delivered on a bike

For a while, while driving through Brussels wih Mr M and the kids, we often spotted a guy riding a cool delivery bicycle with organic fruit and vegetables. We could make out the website, so we noted it down and we decided to give it a try.

The company is called L'Hereaux Nouveau and it offers a weekly delivery service for organic/ bio fruit and vegetables straight from the farmers. They have a shop in Saint Gilles but you can order your delivery through their website (only available in French, I am afraid) in a fairly straightforward manner. Every week, deliveries are made on Fridays, so orders can be placed until Wednesday afternoon. You can view the composition of the organic box (or "panier") and choose between Belgian-only produce or European-wide produce and go for a small, medium or large box. For a few extra euros, you can ask for the box to be delivered straight to your home address, or choose one of the delivery points in St Gilles, Forest, Ixelles, Etterbeek, Uccle, Brussels centre and St Josse.

Last week, we went for a medium, European box, which weighted about 7 kilos.

The produce is delivered in a paper bag and it contains a description of the contents and also a leaflet with some recipe ideas. When you register in the service, you also receive a weekly newsletter with more recipes info about their producers, and a whole array of events they are involved in.

I think organic box delivery services are a great way of encouraging eating seasonal, organic produce that is healthier than the average supermarket variety. It also makes you discover less popular fruit and vegetables. and kinds of forces you into planning your weekly menus around the contents of the bag, making sure nothing goes to waste. It definitely pushes you a bit out of your comfort, tried-and-tested zone, but it is definitely worth it.