Fresh Direct!

Don't get me wrong, I love carting back fresh veggies from the grocery store near my office in the city, but I miss me some Fresh Direct.

WHEN, please WHEN will they start delivering to the Stuy!!!

:?

This has been bothering me for some time now. I've written hate mail to Fresh Direct because they had the nerve to have a subway ad in the Myrtle-Willoughby train station and they don't even deliver here! I wrote them and told them that I will not use their service even if they do come around and begin to believe that The Stuy is worth their time. If they are not going to serve underserved communities, then what do we need them for? We won't need Fresh Direct when we finally get a decent neighborhood grocer. And what's more insulting is that I think some of the people around here actually WORK for Fresh Direct! :evil: Fresh Direct can go directly to hell.

Yeah - that kind of hypocrisy is intolerable. I could care not at all if Fresh Direct delivers out here - I'm more upset about the rotten state of the local grocery store, and my alternative which is to take a subway to get decent looking produce and meat...and frozen goods...and cheese, and eggs, and...ok, everything essentially.

ARGH.

what's their current non-delivery boundary? ie how close to b-s do they get?

FD seems like such an environmental disaster to me that I can't support using them. I have no hard info on which to base my claim, but all the packaging everything comes in and the trucks idling to keep their reefer units going seems bad.

piratesofwaverly wrote: FD seems like such an environmental disaster to me that I can't support using them. I have no hard info on which to base my claim, but all the packaging everything comes in and the trucks idling to keep their reefer units going seems bad.

I certainly don't feel good about their idling trucks and cardboard boxes however I wonder what the comparative environmental "footprint" is for food bought at a grocery store.

The difference in packaging can't be all that large (everything at the supermarket is shipped in boxes, probably just bigger boxes / less total cardboard). Another comparison is that Fresh Direct doesn't use all the electricity (store-wide air conditioning/heating) that your supermarket does b/c they only have warehouses, unlike food from supermarkets which requires both stores and warehouses.

Yes, I'm trying to rationalize my patronage of Fresh Direct. However I am curious what the comparative footprints are.

PS. Also, FD has come under heavy criticism in NYC for their idling trucks. I'm not sure if anything has come of it yet.

FD uses big boxes to ship small items for crying out loud! And then there's their big trucks delivering to each household -- and the idling. I like to pick individucal items for myself. Other than convenience, IMHO FD's a lose-lose situation. The fact that we Americans are so overworked and have no time (or make no time) to shop and have to have our groceries delivered says a lot.

Anonymous wrote: The fact that we Americans are so overworked and have no time (or make no time) to shop and have to have our groceries delivered says a lot.

On the one hand, this is true; on the other hand, if there's something your local supermarket doesn't have, then grocery shopping can be pretty damn time consuming even if you've got a full afternoon to devote to it, and Fresh direct looks like a very attractive alternative.

It strikes me that if Fresh Direct changed its approach to cater to people in neighborhoods that didn't have a very good grocery store, that would be genius; how many people might be having problems eating healthy simply because their local supermarket has a crap produce section?

I don't order fresh direct because I'm lazy. I order fresh direct because it's cheaper, has a much better selection, and has much higher food quality.

but your blind hatred of FD users is appreciated.

We're on putnam near irving and FD delivers to us. You know, a lot of people DRIVE to the supermarkets like the Pathmark in the Atlantic Terminal. A lot of families can't carry all the groceries home they need for the week. I think one FD truck per neighborhood trumps all that car traffic, so environmentally speaking, it's a wash

Boygabriel wrote: what's their current non-delivery boundary? ie how close to b-s do they get?

They at least get to Washington & Park Avenues for deliveries.

I believe that they deliver as far east as Nostrand right now. That was only after a number of people from the homes and apartments near Bedford Ave. wrote them to request delivery. If they see a demand for an area, they will expand their delivery zones.

I know they go at least as far as Classon...

streetwise wrote: I believe that they deliver as far east as Nostrand right now. That was only after a number of people from the homes and apartments near Bedford Ave. wrote them to request delivery. If they see a demand for an area, they will expand their delivery zones.

Makes sense.

queencallipygos wrote: It strikes me that if Fresh Direct changed its approach to cater to people in neighborhoods that didn't have a very good grocery store, that would be genius; how many people might be having problems eating healthy simply because their local supermarket has a crap produce section?

Yes, the fact that many neighborhoods, including ours. don't have good grocery stores is a HUGE problem. Does FD deliver to un-gentrified neighorhoods? Is that the issue with Bed-Stuy? Then it's only a matter of time...

Another issue is the fact that we think we have the right to eat any item any time of the year whether or not it's in season locally. And that everything needs to be at our convenience.

Boygabriel wrote: I don't order fresh direct because I'm lazy. I order fresh direct because it's cheaper, has a much better selection, and has much higher food quality.

Than any other option? I doubt it. But it is convenient.

Boygabriel wrote: but your blind hatred of FD users is appreciated.

No need to examine the ethics of rumbling big trucks roaming our streets and double parking in our neighborhoods. Everything's okay.

Anonymous wrote: [quote=Boygabriel]I don't order fresh direct because I'm lazy. I order fresh direct because it's cheaper, has a much better selection, and has much higher food quality.

Than any other option? I doubt it. But it is convenient.

Boygabriel wrote: but your blind hatred of FD users is appreciated.

No need to examine the ethics of rumbling big trucks roaming our streets and double parking in our neighborhoods. Everything's okay.

I'd be happy to debate the pros and cons of FD. In fact, I've already been doing that.

But you made a poor generalization about FD users and I was calling you out on your innaccuracy.

Anonymous wrote: But you made a poor generalization about FD users and I was calling you out on your innaccuracy.

I believe I used the abbreviation IMHO. Why do my comments irk you so?

I've tried FD and been disappointed. I couldn't understand why they packed some of my smaller items in individual, big cardboard boxes. It's plain wasteful! Is it more convenient to pack things that way or laziness?

It's unfortunate that in our area, besides the Farmers' Markets and local co-ops, that there's not an excellent grocery store. However, the answer isn't ordering in. Otherwise, our neighborhoods will soon have a glut of FD trucks like in the Slope.

If these are "poor generalizations" in your esteemed calculations than so be it. Most of what I eat comes from Farmers' Markets. That's what we should be supporting and nurturing.

This is a great discussion.

I personally dont think FD is any cheaper. Its the same prices as the local farmers market and a bit more expensive than the Pathmark I go to.

Yes its not in the same league of expensiveness as Whole Foods but thats another topic.

I wish they would have a better packaging strategy and spent time developing that. And the same with the actual delivery.

FD has a lot of positives, but the few negatives are not something that can be overlooked.

Another point raised briefly was the whole insistence of us wanting to eat anything and everything year around, be it in season or not. It takes the whole FD issue to a macro level. Like Chilean produce at Pathmark, travelled more miles that my frequent flier account to get to the local supermarket....eh !!

Boygabriel wrote: [quote=Anonymous]But you made a poor generalization about FD users and I was calling you out on your innaccuracy.

I believe I used the abbreviation IMHO. Why do my comments irk you so?

I've tried FD and been disappointed. I couldn't understand why they packed some of my smaller items in individual, big cardboard boxes. It's plain wasteful! Is it more convenient to pack things that way or laziness?

It's unfortunate that in our area, besides the Farmers' Markets and local co-ops, that there's not an excellent grocery store. However, the answer isn't ordering in. Otherwise, our neighborhoods will soon have a glut of FD trucks like in the Slope.

If these are "poor generalizations" in your esteemed calculations than so be it. Most of what I eat comes from Farmers' Markets. That's what we should be supporting and nurturing.

what irked me was your broad claim about FD and the laziness of Americans. I agree with your other points.

We did the Clinton Hill Community Supported Agriculture but it didn't end up fitting our tastes very well. The quality was excellent but we were getting too many obscure vegtables that we didn't end up using. I highly recommend the CHCSA to the more experimental chefs out there.

The farmer's market at FG Park (the closest one to our house) is good but it doesn't carry a lot of the stuff I get from Fresh Direct (lunch meats, cereal, processed foods, pet supplies, cleaning supplies). Farmer's markets are great for produce, fresh cuts of meat and breads.

So basically my choice for a lot of my food shopping is the Associated on Myrtle or Fresh Direct. And as Fresh Direct carries most things cheaper (and a better variety), it is better for our household.

arZan wrote: Another point raised briefly was the whole insistence of us wanting to eat anything and everything year around, be it in season or not. It takes the whole FD issue to a macro level. Like Chilean produce at Pathmark, travelled more miles that my frequent flier account to get to the local supermarket....eh !!

This is a really good point.

On this topic: Fresh Direct frequently offers the option to buy produce and meats from local NY-area farms. Something that my Associated sorely lacks.

I read in the NYTimes a few weeks ago that one package of generic ground beef at chain supermarkets can have meat in it from up to 20 countries. That's sooooo grossss.

I highly recommend this op-ed piece (link is the article posted on my blog). It is a fascinating read about chefs, our food supply and American food production. I found it really enlightening.

Anonymous wrote: Another issue is the fact that we think we have the right to eat any item any time of the year whether or not it's in season locally. And that everything needs to be at our convenience.

I...don't think anyone here is claiming that, though. We're not all drama-queening over not being able to get wild black truffle oil, I think it's a matter of some of us saying, "I just want to shop at an establishment where the bananas aren't all rotted already and the potatoes haven't all sprouted already, please."

Boygabriel wrote:
I read in the NYTimes a few weeks ago that one package of generic ground beef at chain supermarkets can have meat in it from up to 20 countries. That's sooooo grossss.

haha, I call it "million-cow burgers" and I avoid it.
I only eat one cow burgers.

There's no doubt that our area needs better grocery options. I would love it if Union Market would open a shop around here or we could found a coop or if someone else did something. Until then, I'll make do w/ farmer's market, csa, associated on myrtle and out-of nabe options, notably, Perelandra and Whole Paycheck.

http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/index.cfm/2007/1/25/Grocery-Survey-FGCH-Residents-Treck-to-the-Big-City-for-Organics-Gourmet-Foods

bolletje wrote: I only eat one cow burgers.

Well said.

Good news people! (semi-sarcasm)

When I got my FD delivery yesterday the guys turned off the truck while they brought the food inside! That means my food delivery created less carbon monoxide than a person who drives themselves to the grocery store.

FD could get a lot of eco-street cred if they took back the cardboard they wasted on the previous delivery. And they waste a lot. You can get a big box holding nothing but two items. Hardly difficult for them to do. You'd bundle it up if you give it to them, they take it. thats it.

Perhaps they should also get a fleet of smaller, even electric, vehicles for delivery. Those trucks are too big for brooklyn streets that lack parking.

Boygabriel wrote: Good news people! (semi-sarcasm)

When I got my FD delivery yesterday the guys turned off the truck while they brought the food inside! That means my food delivery created less carbon monoxide than a person who drives themselves to the grocery store.

That's one small step for humankind!

I bet that in NYC a large proportion of those who order FD are carless and would otherwise walk (or bike) or use the subway to do their grocery shopping.

Anonymous wrote: FD could get a lot of eco-street cred if they took back the cardboard they wasted on the previous delivery. And they waste a lot. You can get a big box holding nothing but two items. Hardly difficult for them to do. You'd bundle it up if you give it to them, they take it. thats it.

Perhaps they should also get a fleet of smaller, even electric, vehicles for delivery. Those trucks are too big for brooklyn streets that lack parking.

we haven't had any excessive packaging yet. all our boxes are pretty much full so instead of taking food home in plastic bags, we get it in cardboard boxes.

what i want to know is why FD doesn't just have reusable containers. like closeable crates or something. as you said, they could just pick up the old ones whenever they make a new delivery.

If you live in a minority neighborhood, chances are very high FD will not deliver to you.

I live in Williamsburg (no, not Bushwick), but since I am surrounded by Puetro Ricans, they will not deliver to me.

Boygabriel wrote: what i want to know is why FD doesn't just have reusable containers. like closeable crates or something. as you said, they could just pick up the old ones whenever they make a new delivery.

Maybe FD is just waiting for its customers to request it?....