Get Your Veg Fix In Tokyo With These Vegetable Delivery Boxes

While Tokyo and its surroundings practice self-isolation and social distancing to limit the spread of COVID-19, there are still many ways to obtain healthy food to stave off illness and reduce stress.

Direct ordering from farms and cooperatives is also a way to offer support during a time of economic instability. Read on to learn about the benefits and how to get started in the delicious world of vegetable delivery boxes!

Vegetable delivery boxes are beneficial to consumers…

These days of indoor living mean many people are (re)discovering the wonders of cooking and spending time in their kitchens. It makes sense to use fresh ingredients for optimum flavor and nutrition, but consumers will find even more to make direct ordering worthwhile. 

Easy Shopping—From the comfort of your favorite chair, you can choose the box or items you want, click, pay, and arrange a delivery time. CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture or 提携, teikei in Japanese) offer even more convenience: CSA participants pay in advance, thus providing funds for the farm’s expenses, and in return receive a monthly box of seasonal produce.

Stay Healthy—Fresh fruits and vegetables help ward off colds, boost immunity, and inspire creativity in the kitchen, which feels good, too!

Great Selection—Veggie boxes are filled with foods currently in season, which are also the best for your health and puts your table on a natural schedule.

many growers and producers include recipes to guide you on your foodie adventures!

Safe Exploration—The vegetable boxes are a nice way to try small amounts of something new, and many growers and producers include recipes to guide you on your foodie adventures!

Rare Finds—Many small growers raise traditional or heirloom varieties or new crops not often found in supermarkets.

Find Community—Farms and cooperatives often hold fun and educational events that bring people together in interesting places. Plus, you can share your kitchen creations with the farmers and your friends via social media!

Futoshi Ota of Ome Farm

…and beneficial to farmers too!

Growers and producers find plenty to cheer about with direct ordering. A long-established system in Japan, vegetable and grocery delivery boxes provide important financial support, but they also have other unique advantages.

Stable Income—Purchasing directly from farmers supports rural communities and strengthens farms. For new farmers like Simon Ruhe of Oishimon Farm in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama, direct sales help ensure the future of his operation.

Focus on Farming—A steady customer base frees farmers from marketing and finding outlets, letting growers like Heather Fukase of Nagano, Naturally focus on sharing the bounty of their fields with customers near and far.

Farm and cooperative events give farmers a chance to share what they love—their land and what they produce

Structure and Schedule—Veggie boxes and CSA plans give farmers a set of ‘knowns’: how much to grow; set prices; and a schedule to plan their fields around. This makes it easier for them to purchase seeds, plan the growing year, and budget!

Growth Opportunity—Farmers have a chance to grow interesting varieties, or as Ome Farm does, add bees to diversify their offerings.

Find Community—Farm and cooperative events give farmers a chance to share what they love—their land and what they produce. Yamayuri Co-op, for example, hosts on-farm workshops and wine-tasting events with the vintner so members can meet producers and each other.

Direct ordering is a great option to keep everyone on both sides of the table—consumers as well as growers and producers—healthy and, especially these days, safe. Below are a few options to get you started!

For more in-depth searching, try yasai tokuhai (やさいとくはい, 野菜宅配, vegetable home delivery in Japanese).

Greens selection from Oishimon

Some Vegetable Delivery Box Options

1. Farms

Nagano Naturally

Located near Matsumoto, Nagano, this band of three farms offers a selection of fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, and rice, throughout the year.
(English and Japanese)
Cost: Boxes are ¥1,200 for a minimum of six* types of vegetables. Price does not include shipping. Payment can be made via post office or bank transfer.
*Mixed vegetable boxes are available beginning in June.
Contact via website to set up an account and order.

Oishimon Farm

Nearly two years old, Oishimon Farm in Higashimatsuyama, Saitama offers seasonal vegetable boxes year-round containing kale, Swiss chard, and more.
(English and Japanese)
Cost: Boxes range from small to large and cost ¥2,263 to ¥3,468. Price includes shipping.
Contact via email at oshimon.farm@outlook.com or via Facebook/website.

Contents of a vegetable delivery box from Oishimon

Ome Farm

Located near the mountains on Tokyo’s west side, Ome Farm grows a wide variety of vegetables and herbs, including kale, dill, and coriander, using organic methods.
(English and Japanese)
Cost: One-year membership fee of ¥40,000 for 12 boxes of the monthly harvest. Special orders are welcome. Contact via their website to order and arrange payment.

Shiga Kajiwara Farm

Located in Shinshumatsumoto, Nagano, Shiga Kajiwara Farm grows roughly 50 different kinds of organic vegetables for delivery from late May to mid-December.
(English and Japanese)
Cost: Vegetable boxes are available on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis for ¥3,000. One-time and group orders are welcome.
Contact via their website to order and arrange payment.

Suirin Natural Farm

Near Mount Izuna in Nagano Prefecture, Suirin Natural Farm uses organic and natural farming methods to raise upwards of 100 different vegetables and grains for delivery from June to December.
(Japanese only)
Cost: Small to large vegetable sets ranges from ¥2,500 to ¥4,500 on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Trial sets are also available.

Tanaka Vegetables

Tanaka Vegetable Farm grows a little more than 60 different varieties of vegetables year-round in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi using natural and organic farming methods.
(English and Japanese)
Cost: Small to large boxes are available on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis and range in price from ¥2,160 to ¥4,320. Prices do not include shipping.

Cilantro blooming at Ome Farm

2. Cooperatives

BioMarche

Operating since 1983, BioMarche offers organic vegetables and products including dairy, eggs, fish, meat, and household items to members.
(Japanese and some English.)
Cost: Four types of vegetable boxes range from ¥2,152 to ¥2,600. Prices do not include shipping.

Radish Boya

This well-known delivery service offers a wide selection of organic and low-pesticide fruits, vegetables, seafood, home goods and more.
Cost: Memberships are free but there is an annual renewal fee of ¥1,100. Payment can be made by credit card or bank transfer.
(Japanese only)

Photo courtesy of Heather Fukase of Nagano, Naturally

Rakuten Ragri

The organic arm of the Japanese retail giant, Rakuten Ragri offers a variety of items including vegetable sets, single variety packs, salad mixes, and more.
(Japanese only)
Cost: Small to medium-sized vegetable sets ranges from ¥1,600 to ¥2,300. The order will continue on a weekly basis until canceled.

Yamayuri Co-op

Yamayuri Co-op lists more than 500 different products including fish, meat, eggs, and wine as well as vegetables and fruit from growers and producers located in Kanagawa Prefecture.
(Japanese only website. Some English is spoken.)
Cost: Membership costs ¥5,000 with a ¥1,000 annual renewal fee. Payment is via bank transfer.
*Delivery only within Kanagawa Prefecture.
**Yamayuri waives delivery charges for families with children under two years old.