VEG BOX CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
We’d love your feedback. Please take a moment to share your thoughts on this week’s veg box - your input helps us improve and deliver a better experience.
WHAT'S IN YOUR VEG BOX
There’s a major shift in the seasons underway and we’re just weeks away now from the first flow of new season summer produce from the GIY Farm. Our cucumbers are about 10cm long and growing daily, and the first green tomatoes have appeared on the plants.. we just need the sun to continue to shine to ripen them up!
In the meantime, across Europe the transition is on between last year’s storage crops like carrots, onions and apples (which are coming to an end now) and the new season crops like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and the like. We’re delighted to feature some scallions from the gardens here at GROW HQ this week - these are effectively immature onions that result from thinning out our onion crop to leave space for the rest to grow on.
A gentle reminder that a lot of the organic veggies in your veg box at this time of the year are Harvest 2025 crops coming from cold storage and will therefore benefit from being kept in the fridge as soon as they arrive at your house.
Your box may include:
In this weeks box (Delivery):
Irish Organic: potatoes, apples, scallions (HQ)
Spanish Organic: carrots, garlic, chilli, celery, pepper
Dutch Organic: onions, leeks, parsnips
Surprise! Organic aubergine pesto
In this weeks box (collection):
Irish Organic: apples, potatoes
GROW HQ Organic: radish, scallions
Spanish Organic: pepper
Dutch Organic: onions, leeks, parsnips, carrots
Portuguese Organic: sweet potato
Surprise! Organic aubergine pesto
Why are the boxes for collection at GROW HQ and delivery different?
There are two reasons. Some produce like salads, leafy greens and sprouting broccoli doesn’t fare so well in the delivery box as they wilt quickly, whereas at HQ we can keep them refridgerated until the customer arrives.
Timing - some of our organic suppliers don’t deliver until later in the week when the boxes for delivery are already shipped
Recipe of the Week
Apple & Chili Jam
Sweet, sticky, spicy, and brilliant with cheese boards, sandwiches, burgers, or glazed over sausages.
Ingredients:
- 4 apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 2 red chillies, finely chopped (remove seeds for less heat)
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 250ml apple cider vinegar
- 200g brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Add the apples, onion, garlic, chilli, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper to a saucepan.
- Bring to a gentle boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally. The apples will soften and break down while the mixture thickens.
- If you'd like a smoother jam, give it a quick blitz with a hand blender. For a chunkier relish-style jam, leave it as is.
- Continue cooking until the mixture is thick and glossy. Drag a spoon through the bottom of the pot - if the line holds for a second or two before filling in, it's ready.
- Spoon into sterilised jars while hot and seal immediately.
- Perfect with mature cheddar, brie, sausage rolls, roast pork, or stirred through a sandwich for a sweet-spicy hit.
MEET OUR SUPPLIERS
In the leaner hungry gap months we supplement our GIY Farm produce with organic produce from trusted suppliers in Ireland and the EU.
Astrid and Ingrid Rog - BIO-Centre Zann, Berkel & Rodenrijs, The Netherlands
ZANN is located in Berkel & Rodenrijs. Plants such as peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers are the heart of the company.
Philip Draper - Coolnagrower, Birr, Co. Offaly
Coolnagrower offers the discerning consumer a wealth of experience in the production of fresh tasty and nutritious organic vegetables.
Beechlawn Organic Farm, Co Galway
Beechlawn Organic Farm is recognised as a producer of the best quality organic vegetables in Ireland.
Richard Galvin, Clashganny Organic Farm, Co Waterford
Richard and Sheila Galvin have been growing their tasty organic eating apples for nearly 20 years in their organic orchards near Portlaw, Co Waterford.
Vincent Grace, Riversfield Organic Farm
Certified organic vegetables and salad leaves.
