The weekly produce box: Finito

We are through, my organic produce box and I. For the first time in nearly three years, I will not be picking up my weekly box this Friday afternoon. It's not that we are giving up vegetables. We love our vegetables, but I have some issues with my box.

1. My box has a policy that if you want to cancel a Friday box, you need to let the farm know the previous Friday. Which just seems a little early for me. A few weeks ago we were going out of town and I realized I had forgotten to cancel our box. I emailed first thing on Monday asking if I could cancel that Friday's box. "No! Sorry! That's our policy!" they chirped back at me. WTF? They neither pick the produce nor pack the boxes on Monday. Do they need to change how much they are growing for that week?? No, I think they are just being inflexible and unreasonable. So I told them I am aware that is their policy but their policy really does not work for me. I said I hoped it would not be too late to cancel my subscription altogether.

2. I have on occassion been less than thrilled with the quality of some of the produce. Would you pick out plums that looked like this?

Or basil that was this bug eaten?

I didn't think so.  The plums actually tasted alright, and the basil was fine in pesto, and I am aware that organic produce is not all about looking pretty. But still. And I've received moldy strawberries. 

3. I live nearby one of the most amazing produce markets ever where I can buy reasonably priced organic produce that looks pretty. It is sometimes fairly ripe, but that's ok because I tend to shop like a French housewife: one meal or so at a time; in other words, quite often. 

Look at some of the pretty stuff I got the other day:

And given the quantity contained in a typical box (I love it when they give me two zucchinis), I have to go here anyway. 

4. I simply cannot bear the thought of another winter of all those greens. Don't get me wrong: I like greens, and we eat plenty, but in the middle of last winter, there were times when there was hardly anything in my box except greens. It was just too much. And I have decided that I am a big girl: I will buy greens when I want greens. 

But I will miss my box. All those greens did encourage me to develop some pretty good ways to deal with them. Greens cooked in a coconut curry sauce over rice will remain one of our favorites. Our box also introduced us to some produce that I might not have bought. We now love Tokyo turnips, and they'll be on our winter shopping list forever. And the box caused me to fall in love with rose geranium. A large plant now grows in my yard and finds its way into ice water, quince preserves, and other concoctions. 

So long, box. It's been nice.