KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
KATIE BANDURSKI/TASTE OF HOME
Pros:
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A new in-season fruit delivered every month
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Four fruit club options available
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High-quality fruit
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Free shipping
Cons:
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Three-month commitment required to order your first box
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Box contains pieces of one singular fruit, not a variety of multiple fruits
Food of the month clubs are just more fun, and The Fruit Company offers one of the best options for fruit. Every month offers a new in-season fruit (think plump peaches, juicy Navel oranges, pineapple and dark sweet cherries). Whether you’re shopping for yourself or gifting to a friend, it’s a fun way to experience each month’s in-season fruit. Choose from four clubs: HarvestClub Americana, HarvestClub Medley, HarvestClub Exotica or HarvestClub Organic.
Apart from the different fruit clubs, The Fruit Company also offers one-off purchases including gifts, produce boxes, organic options, dried fruits, cheeses and other specialty options. Editor Katie Bandurski tried the Simply Fruit basket and can’t wait to order more.
“It’s beautifully arranged, shipped without any damage to the fruit and has a nice variety,” she notes. Despite evidence of a rocky shipping trip, the fruit inside was carefully packaged in a generous straw bed with extra protection like mesh sleeves and tissue paper. This prevents the produce from bumping against each other and bruising.
VIA MERCHANT
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
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Customizable and curated boxes available
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Affordable
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Large variety of grocery items available for delivery
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Customizable delivery frequency
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Brand helps reduce food waste
Cons:
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Delivery isn't available in every state
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Price minimum to guarantee free delivery
A “feel-good, do-good” produce delivery service, Hungry Harvest operates in six states, bringing affordable fruits, veggies and everyday grocery goods straight to your door. We love this option for families because the box is 100% customizable and the brand offers a large range of other online grocery items like dairy, protein, snacks and bakery goods. You’ll love not having to make frequent trips to the grocery store!
Not only is Hungry Harvest tailored to its customers, but the produce sourced is rescued from going to waste, which allows the delivery service to keep boxes reasonably priced. Busy parents, these best meal delivery services for families might come in handy too.
Pros
- Customizable and curated boxes available
- Affordable
- Large variety of grocery items available for delivery
- Customizable delivery frequency
- Brand helps reduce food waste
Cons
- Delivery isn’t available in every state
- Price minimum to guarantee free delivery
ABLOKHIN/GETTY IMAGES
ABLOKHIN/GETTY IMAGES
Pros:
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Affordable produce delivery service
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Shoppers get to hand-pick their items
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Large variety of grocery items available for delivery
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Convenient option for shoppers who don’t live close to a grocery store
Cons:
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$9.95 delivery fee on most orders
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Doesn’t deliver to every city or state
One way to get cheap(er) groceries delivered straight to your door is hidden in plain sight: Amazon. With Amazon Fresh, shoppers can add any fresh produce and grocery store favorites to their online or mobile Amazon cart. From there, a personal shopper picks out the items and delivers them straight to your door.
Prices are kept low, and you can have your items delivered the same day you order—freshness guaranteed. Once your goodies arrive, wash and store them in produce keepers so they stay fresher for longer. Note: Check to see if Amazon Fresh delivers to your area as some locations aren’t compatible with the service just yet.
What to Look for When Considering Produce Delivery
Depending on your household size and what type of produce you want delivered, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
- Quality: Nobody wants produce past its prime delivered to their doorstep. It’s important to research where the delivery service sources its produce, like if it’s hand-picked from partner farmers or orchards, or, if a personal shopper is picking it up from the grocery store. Either is a fine option and depends on your personal preference.
- Type of Produce: Does the service offer various fresh, in-season and out-of-season produce? What about a variety of fruits and veggies? Whether you prefer just fruits or just veggies, a combination of the two or want a service that offers tropical fruit only, there are options for everyone.
- Customizations: Can you adjust the delivery frequency or size of the box? What about the ability to tack on other grocery staples to your box? Depending on your lifestyle, it’s important to read up on each service’s customizations (or lack thereof) before deciding if it’s a good fit.
Why You Should Trust Us
As a freelance writer specializing in all things food, beverage and pizza ovens, I’m constantly testing meal delivery services—and produce delivery services are no exception. My years of experience as a previous bakery owner also inform my research and writing. Whether I’m sharing the scoop on the internet’s new meal delivery craze (aka bread, pasta and grain boxes) or breaking down the best ways to put dinner on the table fast, I know what to look for when shopping for groceries online to help make the decision-making process less overwhelming.
How We Found the Best Produce Delivery Services
When looking for the best produce delivery services, we researched the top players in the market. We looked at local and nationwide farms that offer produce delivery and other online services to determine the absolute best picks. We evaluated these services based on the quality of produce inventory, ease of ordering and shipping, variety and value for the price. From there, we sourced six of our favorite options in order to test for quality and value.