Special Delivery! Get Fresh Organic Produce From Beijing Farms, Right to Your Door

With many of our favorite restaurants and bars still closed, we're all spending a lot more time cooking at home. It's the perfect time to tap into some of the great food delivery services that are available. Fresh organic food is pricier than what you'll find at the market down the road, but the proof is in the flavor. Plus, think of all the money you're saving from not dining out every night! 

Beijing actually has an abundance of organic farms, so this list is by no means exhaustive, but here are three that we can guarantee are delivering fresh produce to the capital, even during the coronavirus. 

Farm Fresh Plus

Farm Fresh Plus is a certified organic farm in Tianjin, which delivers to customers in Beijing every Wednesday. I've been using the service for almost a year, and especially appreciate the attention Australian-born owner Daniel D'urso pays to his customers. The foreigner-friendly English app makes ordering a breeze, and the range of produce available changes according to the seasons, so all you have to do is choose between a vegetarian box (including salad greens and eggs), vegan box (no eggs), or salad-greens only box, pay, and await delivery. It's an opt-in service, so each week, you'll get a prompt via WeChat asking you if you wish to re-order for the following week. 

Farm Fresh Plus is committed to reducing waste, and all produce comes in cotton bags that can – along with the egg containers – be returned to the courier upon the next delivery, who will take them back to the farm to be washed and reused. FFP guarantee a 24-hour farm to door turnaround and are also collaborating with Beijing's International Center for Vetinary Services (ICVS) to donate RMB 40 from the first order of all new members who are referred by an existing customer. 

How to order: Search Farm Fresh Plus on WeChat under Official Accounts, and select EAT from the menu bar to set up your order. Or, scan the QR code below. The app is in English.

Shared Harvest 分享收获农场

Shared Harvest sells a wide range of farm products grown on their Pinggu District farm, including organic and antibiotic-free meat and seasonal fruit and vegetables. You can choose to buy a membership, which affords you privileged access to low-stock produce, or just order à la carte from the app. 

As Shared Harvest operates under the Community Supported Agriculture structure, a national network of small-scale farmers, they have access to an extensive shop including health and beauty products and homewares which are all available on the app. Loyal customers appreciate the farm's commitment to sustainability, as the farm frequently delivers in recycled containers and never uses plastic.

Owner Shi Yan has a PhD in agriculture business and management and regularly posts about the ins and outs of organic farming on her channel. She's also a bit of a celebrity in the organic, local farming community, having appeared on a range of news media, including CCTV.

How to order: Search 分享收获农场 fēnxiǎng shōuhuò nóngchǎng on WeChat under Official Accounts, and select SHOP from the menu bar. The app is in Chinese with some English.

Gingko Farm

Gingko Farm takes its name from the 135-year-old golden ginkgo trees that grow on their grounds, an organic farm in Lizhuang Village, Chaoyang District. As well as fresh fruit and veggies, the farm also sells a range of other items such as cornmeal, preserves, dried chili, and hand-pulled noodles. 

If you order before 11pm, they will pick and deliver the produce to you the following morning. Fans appreciate their speedy delivery, and also the fact that they will go out of their way to minimize plastic if you request it. 

How to order: Search 银杏农庄 on WeChat under Official Accounts, and select 微商城 at the top to go to the store. The app is in Chinese only.

Now, learn how to turn the veggie scraps into compost with this easy and locally-made indoor composting kit.

Images: Shared Harvest, Farm Fresh Plus, Ginkgo Farm