Year-Round CSA, Fish Club, and Other Fresh Direct Alternatives

The Fresh Direct delivery trucks are ubiquitous, and the grocery delivery shop does a good job getting the goods out in a timely manner. But the prices are a little steep, plus there’s a delivery charge. Not everyone’s happy with the service. And sometimes it’s good to have alternatives.

One option is the year-round, flexible, city-wide CSA Nextdoorganics. It’s pay-as-you-go, you can skip weeks, and there’s flexibility on the amount of produce you buy. And you can add eggs, cheese, bread, or pantry items to your order. Best of all, you can pick it up at Four and Twenty Blackbirds on Wednesdays.

If you are interested in fish, Mermaid’s Gardenis a CSF (community supported fishery) that provides a variety of local Long Island and New England fishes year round. You can purchase a half-share of about 1-1.25 pounds of fish per week for four weeks for $66, or a full share of about 2-2.25 pounds per week for four weeks for $132 (plus membership fee for both). The pick-up location in Park Slope is at Palo Santo on Thursdays.

You may also want to look into Gabe the Fish Babe. Her fish club is $40/week ($25/week for fin fish only). You can get deliveries on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. Or you can opt for a fish party, a one time delivery of enough seafood for a six-person dinner party. That will run you $90. Gabe also offers 2-person and 4-person fish deliveries and a shellfish only meal.

Plenty of local grocery stores deliver, though you often have to go there to shop, first. Union Market (pictured above) takes orders by phone, and generally has a 10-block free delivery radius around each shop, then a $5 charge for anything further (they also offer curbside pick-up). Russo’s on 7th Avenue will deliver anywhere in the Slope ($20 minimum), and you can call in your pasta/grocery order of high quality not-organic Italian food – including one of their delicious sandwiches.

Any other suggestions for great grocery delivery? Let us know in the comments.