Does anyone use the Organic Express, also called ''The Box''? I'm tempted to give it a try but would like to hear any first- hand experience. How timely is the delivery? How is the produce? I'm kind of particular on how I pick out my fruits and veggies at the supermarket...will I receive all quality produce in the box? If I don't think the quality is up-to-par, how's customer service? Is it too much produce for a couple and 1 year old to consume before it spoils? (The smaller box) Any input is appreciated.

I recently started receiving delivery service from The BOX (Bay Area Organic Xpress). I've had two deliveries to date and have been very pleased with the service and the quality of the produce. I have not had this type of service before so I don't know how The BOX compares to other services. It does have the option of fruit only, veggies only, or both. I have the fruits and veggie type. They do tend (so far) to have more veggies than fruits, but I don't find that to be a problem for me. Call them at (415)695-9688 and they'll send you a brochure. They say they serve the entire Bay Area. Victoria

Re delivery of organic produce. Give the BOX a call Bay Area Organic Express. They are in the phone book in SF. Michael

We like Eatwell Farms (www.eatwell.com) or 800/648-9894. They deliver a half-bushel basket of all-organic produce that they mostly grow on their farm near Davis. They also have a stand at the Embarcadero Farmer's Market in SF and are known for their tomatoes, so we've been getting some really great heirlooms & cherry tomatoes lately. Unlike some delivery companies they deliver to a central location near your house & you go pick it up, but this hasn't been a problem at all. They also don't offer the option of customizing your basket but since most of their produce is really delicious and very seasonal it's okay. We tried another service briefly (the BOX) & didn't like them much--they kept giving us apples, carrots and cauliflower in the middle of summer! Eatwell has given us peaches, tomatoes, plums, green beans and corn lately, which makes much more sense. My only quibble is that we get chard too often, but that's a personal opinion. Valerie

For organic fruits and veggies, we have enjoyed Farm Fresh to You produce out of the Capell Valley. I believe that they have a website. We were getting a box of produce every other week and paying ~$20/box. The produce was excellent and with a wide variety. Trish

Re. Webvan and other home-delivered food options: For an additional eprspective, there was a piece in the East Bay Express about Webvan in the last two or three weeks. I haven't tried it, but my new yuppie neighbors who, like me, have a two-year-old, swear by it. I do most of my grovery shopping with my daughter's daycare fundraising scrip, so I guess I would have to give that up if I used someone like Webvan. I get my organic produce delivered weekly by a fantastic service called Farm Fresh to You (sorry, no website). I share a bushel box with another single friend, and we get about 10 different fruits and veggies every week for $20 ($10 each). Another vegetarian friend gets a whole box a week just for herself! There are several of these services (another is called The Box), and the chief complaint I've heard is that from some of them some weeks you might get all kale, and the next week all broccoli! Also, depending on the delivery time, keeping stuff cool can be a problem, though not with the weather we've had lately. Nicole

Farm Fresh To You, (800) 796-6009 or fax (916) 796-3344 Produce Delivery - Organic fruits and vegetables. $25 a month for a half bushel. Recipes included. Natasha

I have used Full Belly Farm, a community supported farm, to deliver my organic produce for the last year and am very happy with them. It cost $13 a box plus $5 to deliver to your home ( you can also pick it up at various locations in Berkeley and save the $5). The quality of the produce has been consistently high and I always look forward to receiving their box every week. This week I received basil, asian pears, corn, beans, cucumbers, onions, peppers, a fantasic melon and always terrific tomatoes. The only (small) complaint I have is that sometimes they get on a streak of sending something that I just don't have the time or perhaps recipes to use, like beets or cabbage. Their phonenumber is 510-528-8630. Emily

One source for an organic produce subscription is Full Belly Farms. The contact person, Beth, is in Albany, or you can talk to a Full Belly worker at the weekly Berkeley Farmers Market downtown. The Full Belly isn't listed, I just called information.

We subscribed last summer. The peaches were heavenly (no, earthly!), the weekly price was very fair, but we had more string beans than we could possibly consume, or even manage. That's a lot of string beans. Good luck. Claire

I have not tried the The Box but I did try Planet Organics for about one month, I just cancelled my service. I should have read up more about Produce Delivery on this list ... because it's true the best deals/most produce for your money is probably the local farmers market. Of course if you don't live near a farmers market than a delivery service might be of help. Also many grocery stores carry organic vegetation. I did notice that Planet Organics was giving me stuff I could easily by at Safeway -- earthbound brand. Tasha-Castro Valley

I have used Planet Organics for over two years now and have been very happy with them. I have always had courteous and reliable service. If there is ever anything wrong with my delivery there is a "no questions asked credit policy" which has really impressed me. I have used other organic produce company's in the East Bay and find that they do not have the variety of produce. In the last few weeks, Planet Organics has just added a feature to their website where you can customize your current order which is great! In addition,they have dramatically increased their volume with ex Web Van customers, so it is possible that,with both the new web site and much larger volume, their service has been compromised but I am sure it is only temporary. Margaret

Some time back, I recall that there was a discussion about veggie boxes (Community Supported Agriculture--CSA--weekly produce boxes). As we're getting ready to leave the Bay Area, we're realizing that we're going to miss our box even more than Berkeley Bowl (and that's saying something). Our weekly box reminds me of the wonderful bounty that came from my grandpa's garden (and he was a farmer). The veggies are fresher than fresh--it's amazing. Our toddler son is a veggie lover because of our box--he'll eat the turnips raw, they're that sweet and juicy. So if you're interested, I encourage you to sign up. Here's the info: Riverdog Farm, tel 530-796-3802, e-mail rive- @yolo.com. It's $14/week for box of beautiful, tasty, varied organic veggies and fruit. Kristine

For the past four years I've been a subscriber for Riverdog Farm Weekly Organic veggie boxes. Riverdog Farm is also at the Berkeley farmers markets. The veggie boxes are delivered Wednesday to various drop-off sites in the East Bay. I believe there are about 6 different places you can pick up your box in Berkeley. The boxes cost $14/delivery. A typical box in July contains: watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peaches, basil and onions. Everything's organic, of course. The box usually has one or two fruit items and the rest are veggies. You can not specify what you want or do not want in your box. I believe you can get a box every other week, if weekly is overwhelming. Each box comes with a newsletter that talks about that week's veggies, recipes and what I enjoy the most, what's going on the farm. My three kids are always eager to see what's in the veggie box, and have become reasonable good veggie and fruit eaters. Riverdog Farm is a family run organic farm in Yolo County. You can reach them at 530-796-3802 or e-mail: riverdog@yolo.com Wilma

Terra Firma Farm, in Winters, brings boxes of organic veggies (and some fruit) to several pick-up sites in Berkeley, Oakland and SF (and I hope Wlanut Creek soon!). There is one that will deliver to your door, but I don't know the name of it and it's more expensive. If there's a Terra Firma pick-up near you or on your way it's really convenient. We subscribed for years (till we moved to walnut Creek) and I wholeheartedly recommend it. the produce is absolutely wonderful. It's $16/week for a good amount of produce. You don't get to choose what's in the box, but if there's an occasional item you don't care for you can either leave it at the pick-up site as a gift to another subscriber or give it to someone else (a friend of mine was delighted to get my rejected beets!). There's a newsletter every week that tells what's happening at the farm, what's coming into/going out of season, and a couple recipes. Also, they have a Farm Day every year where subscribers can come and see the farm. Their e-mail address is goldenbell@aol.com and phone # (530) 756-2800 Deborah

We sent in the signup this week for Terra Firma Farms. Our current
pickup location is in Kensington (although they list it as North
Berkeley) on Tuesday nights between 6-8. If enough other households in
our area are interested in signing up they might set up a pickup in
the North El Cerrito/Albany neighborhood we live in. I've asked them
to send me flyers which I can distribute. Let me know if you are
possibly interested in a delivery in our area.

Terra Firma Farm is an 85 acre CCOF certified organic farms that grows
fruits and vegies year round in Winters CA. Monthly cost for weekly
box of organic produce: $66. There is also an option for every other
week which costs $35/month. Boxes have enough vegies for a household
of 4 non-vegetarians or 2 vegetarians.

Sample box delivered in August:
2 yellow onions
1 bunch basil
4 ears sweet corn
1 lb mixed summer squash
3 lbs tomatoes
3 heads garlic
2 cukes
1 yellow/red watermelon
1 canteloupe

year round: green or dried onions, green or dried garlic, potatoes,
carrots, walnuts, seasonal herbs.

summer: sweet corn, tomatoes, summer squash, basil, cukes, melons, assorted
peppers, eggplant, pole and bush beans, cherries, figs, plums, pears.

fall: select summer crops, winter squash, salad mix, spinach, beets,
fennel, turnips, broccoli, sweet potatoes, persimmons, pomegranates and
apples.

winter: many fall crops, asparagus, carrots, cabbage, salad mix, baby
spinach, strawberries, arugula, greens, gold beets, leeks, broccoli,
garlic, daikon, fennel, oranges, tangelos, mandarins and kiwis.

spring: select winter crops, snap and sugar peas, asparagus, new potatoes,
lettuces, red chard, green garlic, strawberries, and heriloom variety
apricots.

If you want to call them to about signing up contact Valerie at
503-756-2800 or email tff25833@aol.com  If a lot of households in the area
let me know soon that they are interested in a neighborhood pick up I'll
contact her. As we are expecting a baby sometime in the next few weeks I
may be out of touch suddenly. If someone else wants to help coordinate this
I'd be happy to share it...

Laurie