<h2>How (and Why) We are Different.</h2> <p align="left">We are heavy into the fall harvest with lots and lots of items coming in from our local growers. Apple picking at our farm in BC has started in earnest which means we will be flooded with apples starting this week! Yummy! This is our fourth year and every year we find ourselves very busy in the fall with back to school and the changing seasons. Part of this is having to remind each other, and our members, about who we are and how we are different.</p> <p align="left"><strong>How We are Different.</strong></p> <p align="left">The Organic Box is not a grocery delivery service in the traditional sense.We are an alternative food distribution system. Though we aim to provide order customisation as much as possible, we deliver what our growers have available. Our objective is to bring local, fresh, certified organic products to families in the Capital Region. We work hard to find the producers, set up a plan for the season and execute it. Our food, especially produce, is vastly different from what is available even in the organic grocery stores in Edmonton. We buy direct from producers in Alberta and BC. Many of these producers are 'micro-growers' on less than 100 acres of land, and don't have the extensive infrastructure of hydro-coolers and walk-in coolers, chilllers, refrigerated trucks, and advanced packaging and sorting machines. We are passionate about organics, sustainable business and families. You won't find industrial farm products at The Organic Box. You will find products made by people who care about their food and their land. </p> <p align="left">This Means:</p> <ul> <li>Sometimes your food will come with minimal or no packaging</li> <li>Sometimes your food will have to be cared for as soon as it arrives - no different than fresh cut flowers (for example, organic greens are also living food that need water or will go limp)</li> <li>Sometimes you might find a mouldy strawberry or soft onion (there are no chemical preservatives, refrigeration is key) </li> <li>Sometimes we won't have everything you ordered, due to transportation, quality or weather issues (for example, thunderstorms ruin an expected crop, trucks are delayed, pallets arrive spoiled) and we will substitute for another item or replace the item in the next order </li> <li>Sometimes we won't have items because they are out of season in our hemisphere (apples, potatoes, berries for example)</li> </ul> <p></p> <p>We are partners. We call this our 'Fair Deal' - fair for the producers, fair for us and fair for our members. If you receive something you can't use or isn't what you wanted, let us know and we will fix it. Don't be angry or upset. We will fix it. Its our promise and we will always make sure you get a fair deal. We are a family and you are part of it.</p> <p align="left"><strong>Why We are Different.</strong></p> <p align="left">Do you feel like your food system is unsustainable? Like you don't really know what you are eating? Like you don't know where the profits from food sales are going? We firmly believe that the current distribution model for food is unsustainable, endangering our economy and our health.</p> <p align="left">Our Core Values:</p> <ul> <li>Conventional Agriculture and Agribusiness is poisoning our environment and our economy</li> <li>The destruction of the family farm is irreversible and must be stopped while still possible</li> <li>People should know the real price of their food and fair prices for food should be a source of living wages for farmers and workers</li> <li>Businesses can be operated in a sustainable way that limits the impact on our planet</li> </ul> <p></p> <p align="left">We want to be different - we want to sell different products that are presented in a different way and offer a different value to people. We want anyone and everyone in the Capital Region to be able to take advantage of what we offer and we want them to embrace a new way of eating. But - please don't embrace us and then expect everything to be exactly the same as the grocery store. If we are to be exactly like the grocery store it is either because we have succeeded in revolutionizing our food system (a major grocery store carrying locally grown organic onions!), or have failed at our mission (a major grocery store still can't get, fairly pay for, or accept without a large amount of culling, locally grown organic onions because of how the food system is organized). </p> <p align="left"><strong>How (and why) You Fit Into this Picture.</strong></p> <p align="left">As a member of our service, you are making a commitment to us and our growers that you are trying to change the way you buy your food, that you want more of your food dollars to stay in the growers pocket, that you reject agribusiness control of our food system, and that you want to do things differently. The Organic Box is a food family of people working together and you are part of our team. Thank you for your support. It means the world to us and to our growers. </p> <p>At The Organic Box we are always growing, always looking for ways to get better, and always trying to find ways to fill more of your shopping basket with Alberta and BC food producers. We can do it! You are helping!</p> <p>Havea Great Week!</p> <p>Danny.<br />Founder, The Organic Box.</p> <h2>FeaturedProducts and Producers:</h2> <table cellspacing="15" cellpadding="0" bgcolor="#edf0e9"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="TurkeyTime" alt="TurkeyTime" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/organicturkey.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Thanksgiving Turkey Time</h2> <p>It's that beautiful time of year when we all get excited for big family gatherings and celebrate together around great food. For the first time ever we are able to provide fantastic, <strong>certified organic, free-range turkeys</strong> to our members! These birds are raised by Ron and Sheila Hamilton from Sunworks Farm and are incredible. </p> <p>Since delivering a fresh turkey to your doorstep is a little more challenging for us than we would like, these will be <strong>pickup only</strong>. Right now you can click on <a title="Turkey Time" href="/turkey">Turkey Time</a>, to take you to the booking page. A $20 deposit will be required for your hold on a bird, which will be available for pickup on Saturday October 12th from our warehouse (9764 47th Avenue). Only those who have paid the deposit will have turkeys set aside for them, and they are available at a first come - first served basis... so if you want the best selection of birds come early!</p> <p>Have a wonderful and organic Thanksgiving! </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="HippieCookies" alt="HippieCookies" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/cookiecollage.jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Hippie Cookies!</h2> <p>Our friends at Left Coast Naturals are at it again with a brand new product, Hippie Cookies. They are certified organic, made with raw ingredients, and gluten free! Much like a macaroon... these cookies are very very tasty and are absolute treats. Try all three varieties:</p> <p>Lemon Coconut<br />Vanilla Almond<br />Chocolate Cashew<br /><br />The guilty pleasure without the guilt. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><img title="SeasonalSquash" alt="SeasonalSquash" src="/uploadedImages/009_-_This_Week/lotsofsquash(1).jpg" /></td> <td><h2>Squash Season</h2> <p>As we officially move in the fall season, we are starting to see the true signs of the harvest coming to fruition. One of the last crops to be pulled off of the field is the hard winter squash. Pumpkins, Red Kuri, Kabocha, Butternut, Spaghetti, Delicata, Honeyboat, Sunshine... there are tonnes of great tasting and super nutritious squash on their way. We already have tonnes of spaghetti squash ripening in our warehouse and almost ready to go... and this we we are featuring some fantastic pumpkin varieties from Danny and Miranda's farm in Creston. So indulge in the squash! They are easy to prepare and add some fantastic flavour to your autumn meals. </p> <p>Easy way to prepare squash:</p> <p>-Put your squash of choice in the oven (400C) - Yes, the whole thing. <br />-Leave it in the oven until it looks soft, and the stem wiggles a bit. <br />-Take it out of the oven, cut it in half and scrap out the seeds, scoop out the flesh, and either enjoy this baked squash as is... or puree to add to baking recipes later. </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>
