Shop Smart During Lockdown

Boyne Valley Flavours (via Great Northern Larder)

Producers in the Boyne Valley have collaborated to develop a new initiative spearheaded by Great Northern Larder’s Ruairí Browne to help their businesses survive the lockdown – Boyne Valley Flavours Boxes, featuring fine Irish produce delivered to customers’ homes. Stock up with the Fresh Fruit and Veg Box (€20), Store Cupboard Essentials Box (€40), Boyne Valley Cheese (€6), Nick’s Fresh Fish (€45) and any number of meats, sauces, rubs and other products. Plus, you can add two 250ml bottles of Listoke Distillery’s hand sanitiser to your cart. Ruairí Browne and Laura Menamy of Great Northern Larder, which makes a range of sauces and rubs, have dedicated their website, time and packing facilities to support the initiative and those self-isolating. Order online at greatnorthernlarder.com.

MyMilkMan

If you haven’t already joined the many households in getting their milk delivered, now would be a good time to do so. A handy service, lockdown or not, to ensure you have the right amount of milk for your family’s daily needs, without last-minute dashes to the shops at breakfast time. Plus, you can order products like yoghurt, cheese, butter, eggs, juices and even vegan milks, so if you do already have a regular milk delivery, check out the full product range and consider extending your order to include other items to help you avoid unnecessary visits to the supermarket – mymilkman.ie.

Eat More Fish

Gannet Fishmongers in Galway provides nationwide delivery of its extensive range of fresh fish and seafood sourced along the west coast of Ireland. Minimum order is €35 (shipping costs €8.50, but is free for orders over €100 so consider doing one big shop and freezing or ordering for relatives who are cocooning and share it) and all nationwide orders must be placed by midnight on Tuesday for delivery by DPD on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. Click and collect and free Galway City orders are also available for anyone in the area. Visit eatmorefish.ie.

Mourne Fishbox

Another supplier offering fresh fish and seafood with free delivery across Ireland. Choose from a Family Favourites Box or Taster Box (€38.35 each), Daily Catch Fishbox (€39.55), Fitness Box (€44.10), White Fish Box (€39), Haddock Box (€40.20), Smoked Haddock Box (€45.55), Cod Box (€47.40), Salmon Box (€43.80), or Hake Box (€42.60), all featuring approximately 10 portions and opt for add-ons like smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, crab claws, oysters, or chowder mix, mournefishbox.com.

Cashel Food Box

The folks at Cashel Blue Cheese are offering a mixed box of award-winning Tipperary produce with free delivery across Ireland. The Cashel Food Box, €58, is packed with the following: brown bread, organic salad, 1kg apples, sparkling apple juice (500ml), rashers, sausages, goat’s cheese, 1 litre cow’s milk, 500g sheep’s yoghurt, 175g Cashel Blue Cheese, 200g Shepherd’s Store Cheese, marmalade or jam. The Vegetarian Food Box, €62, includes brown bread, organic salad, 1kg apples, sparkling apple juice (500ml), Cashew Chili Crush, handmade jam, chutney, organic oats, 1 litre cow’s milk, 500g sheep’s yoghurt, 175g Cashel Blue Cheese, 200g Shepherd’s Store Cheese, marmalade or jam. Or opt for the Large Box, featuring a bumper version of the Cashel Food Box with bacon, black pudding, an extra litre of cow’s milk, 500g natural yoghurt, 100g Crozier Blue Cheese, and organic oats added in for €80. Order online at cashelblue.com.

James Whelan Butchers

This award-winning butchers offers free nationwide delivery for orders over €100, so again, a good option when you want to stock up the freezer or share the order with a cocooning loved one. Check out the full range of meats at jameswhelanbutchers.com.

Take stock

Here are just a few more suppliers delivering fresh fruit, veg and other products to homes locally and nationwide…

Hussey’s Farm This renowned Dublin-based wholesaler is now delivering fresh fruit and veg boxes plus eggs, dairy and artisan products across Dublin. Minimum order is €25 and delivery is free, husseysfarm.com.

Green Earth Organics Galway-based, delivering locally for €4.50 and nationwide for €7.95; offering organic fruit and veg boxes plus other products like eggs, flour, coffee, dairy and an extensive range of pantry essentials, greenearthorganics.ie.

Nugent’s Fresh Produce Based in Ballyboughal in North County Dublin, Nugent’s delivers fruit, veg, milk, cheese and eggs to addresses in Dublin and across Leinster, nugentsfreshproduce.ie.

Jackie Leonard and Sons Dublin’s oldest fruit and vegetable wholesellers is now delivering their produce to homes across the greater Dublin area. One shopper reports that the small veg box for two, €20, is rather substantial, jackieleonards.ie.

Beechlawn Organic Farm Based in Ballinasloe, Beechlawn is now offering nationwide delivery via DPD with a range of boxes to suit different needs, from Stir Fry, €25, to Juicing Veg, €20, to seasonal boxes of varying sizes, beechlawnfarm.org.

The Fruit People The Dublin-based office fruit delivery company is now offering fruit and veg boxes to people’s homes across Dublin, thefruitpeople.ie.

From all of us at Unislim, stay safe, stay home.