Frequently asked questions:
What is a box scheme?
A box scheme is a system where a box of in season vegetables is delivered to you each week. You can choose to have a small, medium or large vegetable box plus small, medium or large fruit boxes depending on the size of your household. This will be delivered directly to you or to a local drop off point, for your collection. Customers acting as drop off points receive a reduction on the price of their box. This means fresh, locally grown food gets to you as cheaply as possible. Seasonal fruit and mushrooms will also be available as an extra by special order.
Is there a minimum order value?
A small veg or fruit box is the minimum order.
What is the cost?
The Small Vegetable Box - 1 to 2 people - £8.00
The Medium Vegetable Box - 2 to 3 people - £10.00
The Large Vegetable Box - 2 to 3 people - £12.50
The Family Vegetable Box - 4 to 5 people - £15.00
The Fruit Options - £5.00, £7.50 and £10.00
The Salad Option - £5.00 Tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions etc
6 Eggs - £1.60
Fifteen Cornwall Bread - £2.80
Homemade preserves - £2.75
Origin coffee - £3.35
Dried mixed mushrooms - £3.00
Minimum order £5.00
What will you get in your box?
Our aim is to ensure that there is always a good selection of produce provided in the boxes, with as much as possible grown on our farms. If, however, some hungry caterpillars munch all the cabbage one week then we will have to supplement your box with organic produce bought from other local suppliers and growers. If we have to buy in, we will aim to buy as local as possible. We also offer three fruit box sizes:- These are available on request plus an extras order list with a whole load of other yummy stuff.
What you might expect to see in your boxes at different times of the year?
Spring: Broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, salad leaves, celeriac, chard, Chinese leaves, kale, lettuce, leeks, onions, potato, spinach. turnip, cauliflower, board beans.
Autumn: Calbrese, brussel sprouts, salad leaves, parsnip, marrow, squash, potato, carrot, onion cabbage, leeks, spinach.
Summer: Salad leaves and heritage tomatoes, cabbage, spinach, courgette, cucumber, peppers, aubergine, peas, radish, sweetcorn, carrot, potato, onion, French beans.
Winter: Potato, carrot, onion, salad leaves, kale, leeks, swede, broccoli, beetroot, Chinese greens, pumpkin, turnip.
How do I pay?
We will accept debit (preferably) or credit cards when our new card reader arrives. Cash, and cheques are fine and direct debits can be arranged.
Where do we deliver?
South East Cornwall, from Bodmin in the west to Saltash in the east and from Callington in the north to the south coast. We will soon be starting to deliver to the Plymouth area. The map above gives a rough idea of the area that we cover.
What can customers do to help us?
You can help a lot by keeping boxes dry and sending them back. We aim for them to do ten trips, but need to get them back in good condition.
Why do we offer some imported produce and not use all home-grown produce?
We feel the boxes would be unduly limited especially in winter.
Where will you leave my box if I’m not in?
We will arrange an agreed place with you.
Do I need to be at home?
No.
Is everything you sell organic?
It's either certified organic or produced to organic standards by local growers who are "In Conversion" to organic certification.
What does ‘in conversion’ mean
"In Conversion" means that the grower is going through a conversion period of usually two years to become eligible for Soil Association Certification or similar and are growing their crops using organic methods.
What are the extras we offer?
We will be offering a range of good value extras that will enhance our produce, such things as 5 litre tins of olive oil and organic coffee. You can check out the "Other Produce" page on this website for details. These extras can then be delivered with your weekly box.
What about eggs?
Free range local eggs can be ordered as an extra.
What should I do if my box hasn’t arrived or something is missing?
Contact us:
Sean O'Neill
Telephone: 01503 250226
Mobile: 0770 1098777
Email: sean@keveral.co.uk
What should I do if there is a problem with any of the produce?
Contact us as above.
Where do I find my receipt and newsletter?
Your receipt and newsletter will be delivered with your box
Why organic?
Organic food is grown without the aid of synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Our intent is to produce a feast of fresh healthy food without harming the environment. Organic vegetables are better for you and in our experience taste better than conventional chemically grown produce.
What is organic farming?
Organic farming is a sustainable farming system which maintains the long-term fertility of the soil and uses less of the Earth's finite resources to produce high quality, nutritious food. Organic techniques have been developed from an understanding of soil science, crop breeding, animal husbandry and ecology. Organic farming uses crop rotation, the application of animal manures and composts, mechanical cultivation, and natural integrated pest control to maintain soil fertility, to supply plants with the nutrients they need and to control insects, weeds and other pests. Artificial fertilisers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives are prohibited.
Why is organic farming better?
Organic farming is better for the environment because it values and protects wildlife diversity, which plays an essential role in maintaining crop and livestock health. Organic farming is better for the soil and its micro-organisms, and the soil is nurtured as a resource for future generations. Organic farming produces better, tastier and healthier food.
Why eat local?
A large proportion of vegetables on sale in the UK do not come from local farms. Most of it has travelled long distances to reach us. Everyday items such as Granny Smith apples can come from 14,000 miles from New Zealand , green beans 5,000 miles from Kenya . Excessive transport of food increases greenhouse gases and climate change. Eating locally involves the minimum of transport and has direct benefits to the local economy.
What is the hungry gap?
Eating locally with the seasons gives us root crops and hardy leaves in the winter, Vitamin rich leaves in the spring and early summer and an abundance of leaves, flowers, fruits and roots in the autumn. Around April there is what is known as the hungry gap. Winter crops and stored vegetables are mostly over, and the new crops are not yet ready. We do our best to bridge this gap by advancing new crops in our polytunnels, and by over-wintering crops.
What threats to human health do artificial pesticides pose?
Although all pesticides are tested by DEFRA, many used today were approved when standards were comparatively lax. Even current testing does not adequately investigate the long-term effects of low doses or the cocktail effect of mixtures of agro chemicals. There is evidence that many illnesses may be caused by the regular intake of pesticide residues.
What about artificial fertilisers?
Artificial fertilisers applied to the soil leach into the ground water and rivers. Nitrates are a health hazard in drinking water because they can be converted into carcinogens within our bodies.
Why is organic food better for us?
Organic food is generally more nutritious and contains less chemical and nitrate residues. No food produced in Britain can be guaranteed completely chemical free as ground water and the atmosphere are already heavily polluted. Organic food may have higher levels of vitamins and trace elements. This is because natural feeding of the crop produces a better balanced nutrient supply, whereas artificial fertilisers can cause elements such as calcium and magnesium to be so diluted in the soil that they are not taken up by plants.
Why is organic food more expensive?
Organic food is generally more expensive to produce than non-organic food. However, the prices of organic produce are likely to fall with economies of scale as the market grows. Organic livestock are free-ranged on grass for most of the year under welfare codes which prohibit the intensive factory farming systems which supply so much of our cheap meat. The price of organic food includes the cost of not polluting the environment with agro-chemicals or destroying wildlife and habitat. These hidden costs are not reflected in the price of non-organic food.
Why support organic farming?
If we want to enjoy our countryside, to keep it unpolluted and retain its beauty and diversity, we must farm organically.
If we want safe, healthy, nutritious food, we need organically produced food. If we want to reject the suffering of animals in inhumane factory farms, we must support organic livestock production. If we want sustainable production in the future, we must persuade the policy makers to support organic farming as a means of solving the many problems currently afflicting food and agriculture.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's)
GMO's are prohibited in organic farming and food processing, as they are incompatible with the principles of organic agriculture, with the potential risks they pose to the environment and human health. You can be sure that any food licensed under the Soil Association symbol is as free from GMO pollution as is possible. The strict monitoring and record keeping required by the Soil Association means that everything within the organic system be it seed, animal feed or compost can be traced and verified as GMO FREE .
So far there have been no GMO crops grown in Cornwall . Should this happen in the future we may find that the recent upturn in local farmers converting to organic systems are in danger of losing their hard won organic status as the threat of GMO pollution becomes a reality. Recent research by the Soil Association has shown that contamination may result from GM crops grown up to 6 miles away.
By saying NO to GMO's you are supporting local farmers in their struggle to remain viable.
Should you become part of the box scheme you will be joining a growing band of folk who enjoy a weekly delivery of fresh produce. There are currently over 50,000 organic vegetable boxes delivered each week in the UK .