20 places to get your organic vegetable box in Brussels

I love Wednesdays.

Organic Vegetable Box

Every second Wednesday I walk up to the little office of the neighbourhood committee in Rue Sans Souci to pick up my organic vegetable box. It’s such a pleasure to come home afterwards and sort through the treasure trove of fresh, seasonal and local produce, immediately being struck by inspiration on what to create from the water cress, the beetroot, the mushrooms or carrots, sometimes challenged to find new recipes for previously unknown marvels, and generally enjoying the touch, the smell, the colours and the quality of what I get for my 9,70 EUR.

The system is pretty easy, if not easy to find. There are about 20 pick-up stations all over Brussels (see pdf). Most are open only one day per week, sometimes only for an hour. There is no subscription or long-term commitment: You come and order a week or two in advance, pay on the spot, and pick up your box on the desired date.

I usually take the smaller of the two sizes of boxes on offer, which is plenty to feed the BF and me for two weeks. There’s also a fruit box, and the option to order bread. All produce is organic, and mostly from a handful of farms around Grimbergen. The box comes with detailed information on the origins of its content, and some recipes to match.

More information on sustainable living ideas in Brussels are on Friends of the Earth’s website GreenBrussels.