If you want the best of local purveyors of food and produce, delivered to your door, contact Fresh Picks! Last week I had BangBang Chicken Pot Pies from them...the best I've had in my life. So yummy! They find the best of the best and literally bring it to your door! And the produce so fresh...you can taste the difference. read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Chock-full of chicken, peas and carrots, with a flaky crust from heaven, this bang bang pie from fresh picks was amazing. - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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They are a company holding on to the values of real health a nutrition the essence of life so support them for their great efforts and beautiful friendly customer service and eat real non gmo foods god bless, hold the line. read more

So far so good. This is my first time ordering from Fresh Picks, so I suppose this review could change over time, but so far I am extremely happy. My boyfriend and I ordered the $18 Single Fresh Picks Box with no embellishments or anything (with delivery and fuel surcharge it comes to just under $25). Our delivery day was set for Thursday (today) and they delivered just as they said, around 11:30am. The delivery guy was very friendly, if a little hard to hear on my intercom, and brought in our order. For the single box we received : 4 beets, 1 giant bunch of thin chives, 2 huge red peppers, 1 ginormous bunch of kale (I have no idea what to do with so much kale), 1 pint of cherry tomatoes, about 1 lb or so of green beans and 2 medium red onions. Everything looks super fresh, smells great and will last for quite a while it would seem. I'm excited for the new recipes we'll be making with all this fresh produce! read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Single Fresh Picks Box (1 bunch kale, 1 lb green beans, 4 beets, 2 peppers, 1 pint tomatoes, 2 red onions, 1 bunch chives) - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

When you tell a writer they can write about anything, absolutely anything, sometimes they get writer's block. On the same page, I feel like I was getting cooker's block. The cure? constraints! Tell writer you have to write about a dog, a cat and a serial killer. Give a cook a box of fresh veggies! BAM! So many ideas! Irv & Shelly's got me excited about cooking again! I was more adventurous, more willing to try out dishes I had never done before. And the greens were so fresh! nom nom nom. love it! read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Great fresh produce from local farms. Great Organic choices from responsible sources. Today we had Salami Barolo, some mild cheddar made with raw cows milk, and Honeycrisp apples. Delicious! The delivery guys are super friendly (so tip them!) and the quality is great. Can't beat the convenience! read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Salami Barolo, raw milk Mild Cheddar cheese, and Honeycrisp Apple. A perfect light lunch for two! - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

Ok, got the 40+ serving fruit box. Uh Maz Ing. While the variety wasn't vast (pretty much just pears, apples, kiwis and bananas) the quality was superb. The apples were awesome, again. My mom raved about the pears (I gave them to her because I'm not a huge pear fan), the bananas were so good even my dog was excited about them and he doesn't usually like bananas. The kiwis were juicy and delicious. Veggies again were good, yummy flavorful mushrooms and great spinach, good boston lettuce and some random bok choy-like stuff. My veggie adventure every week has me eating healthier and more adventurous than I have in ages. Yum. That's all I can say. read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - $48 Fruit Box - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I started a standing order with Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks in late June 2009 and am still going strong. They are very reliable and affordable. I can't believe I didn't yelp them yet. My favorite part is finding out that I love vegetables I probably would never have bought on my own at the market. I like that by buying from them that you are supporting LOTS of local organic farms and not just one like buying from a regular CSA, where the cost is prohibitive and limiting to what you get each week. Thus far my favorite things that I have eaten in restaurants but had never made at home: collard greens, patty pan squash, spaghetti squash, kale, swiss chard, these heirloom cucumbers which I forgot the name of, etc. As a big fan of eating tasty food, I love having new to me vegetables to experiment with. P.S. The garlic we've been getting from them is awesome. read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Sugar snap peas, roasted zucchini, sauteed beet/dandelion greens, & non-CSA chicken in bread crumbs, olive oil, and savory - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

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We want to like the service, and it's great for certain items, but we have encountered several problems that keep us from using it for more of our needs. We've placed maybe half a dozen orders so far. The website is a little bit clunky and needs to be modernized. It's easy to accidentally revert changes to item quantities and pages can be slow to refresh. Out of stock items are not indicated. All items appear to be refrigerated prior to delivery, even items that should not be kept cold like tomatoes, garlic, onions and potatoes. We sometimes get blemished fruit and have received damp garlic and sweet corn with wet ends. We haven't ordered too much meat, but burgers and chicken breasts have arrived frozen. Our favorite items are their eggs, fruits, breads and pastries. Items are occasionally on the packing list, but missing from the shipment. Customer service has always been helpful and credited our account when this happens. Communication is generally good, but there have been times when we haven't received notification of delivery. We still intend to place our weekly orders, but we've become more selective about what we choose. Certain items are absolutely fantastic, but others are better bought during our weekly grocery trips. read more

Fresh Picks is fresh, local, organic, pastured made convenient. What could be easier? Sign in, select the items you desire, and they're delivered (weekly). Unlike traditional CSAs, if you don't like kohrabi or summer squash or beets, you aren't forced to take them. You select only what you like. You may establish a standing order of your favorite things (those available year round) or choose different items every week. In season, items that can be sourced locally are sourced locally. Outside our (short) local growing season, Fresh Picks sources organic produce elsewhere. Organic produce, like citrus, that isn't grown in our region is also available. You'll really appreciate Fresh Picks in the winter when the farmers markets are closed and the groceries have only sad, pale tomatoes. Fresh Picks offers much more than produce... local, hormone & antibiotic free beef and pork; local, organic, free-range chicken; local, grass fed lamb; wild caught, Great Lakes fish; organic dairy products & eggs; organic baked goods; locally produced honey; locally made sauces, preserves, and more! Some of my favorite items have been: fresh morel mushrooms, River Valley Ranch fresh crimini mushrooms, Food for Thought pear preserves, MInt Creek Farm lamb chorizo, Trader Point Creamery cottage cheese, Prairie Fruit Farm chevre, Heartland Meats ground beef, sauteing greens and always, of course, the seasonal, local produce. The quality of products is excellent. Everything is so very fresh. Service is excellent too. All the staff I've spoken with are helpful and friendly. read more

I've only had 2 deliveries so far, but I am thrilled with my single-person subscription to Irv & Shelly's. It might be a little pricey for how much is included, but my local produce options are terrible, and I have absolutely gobbled up all of what has been delivered by this service so far! Plus, all of the other options I found were WAY more expensive. And I love they have such a small option! With other services, there's no way I'd ever eat all of that before it went bad. I'm so happy with this service! read more

I'm extremely disappointed with what 75$ (double veg box, small fruit box, staples box) got me today. I had such high hopes! First off a quarter of the products are from outside of the US or from California, my oranges are soft and discolored and I'm sure once cut into, completely tasteless. The onions are all banged up, soft, and missing the protective skin. The lettuce is bruised and beat up-- just a big "meh" for this package. I thought this was going to be a better alternative, but I will continue to go to Trader Joe's. At least 75$ gets me bags full of groceries (still organic at that). I wish this was the fix I was looking for :/ read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - My sad, soft, beat up oranges and onions :/ - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

When I come home to my gray bin, in my head I hear Ted Allen's ("Chopped") voice: "Chefs, you may open your baskets." Then, I sometimes wonder, "What the heck do I do with this?*" I love a challenge. That's the kind of fresh (and local!) produce that gets me thinking and gives me the chance to try some new stuff I may not see at my neighborhood produce market, or even think about buying. Plus, I can order online and it's delivered right to my door. Order online, you may ask? Yes, I'm a produce whisperer. I love to touch, feel, smell, and pick that special item out of a bin of hundreds. At first, I was hesitant to give the online thing a go. I do it with Peapod, but produce? Hmmm... Then, it hit me. After I realized that I trust good farmers, as an Iowa girl should, I figured they wouldn't steer me wrong with what I'd get. I was right. I typically get a Fresh Picks box, which is packed with featured seasonal produce. Now, every day that I see a gray bin waiting for me is a happy day. Buy local and support local farms as much as you can!! *Lucky for me, Fresh Picks includes a list of what they sent you, in addition to some information about what to do with it. Guessing game over. read more

Freshpicks is like Veggie Christmas! I started ordering Freshpicks after searching for a CSA and not feeling like I found one that would meet my needs. I wanted to get fruit too, and traditional CSAs usually don't have fruit, or it's extra. I can't say enough good things about Freshpicks. I love that I come home to my box and it's like Christmas morning for veggie lovers! The quality of the produce they send is top notch. I have a standing order for a Fruit/Veg box (full size), which is usually the perfect size for my boyfriend and I. We're both very active, and vegetarians, so we eat a lot of veggies. It's also a great size because if there's a particular recipe I want to make and I need other ingredients, I can pick them up in addition to the box and not be overwhelmed with produce. They pick high-quality items, and sometimes even things like a potted basil plant! Score! The veg box item that keeps on giving! I like that they email you the weekend before you'll get your box letting you know what's coming. I basically plan all of my meals around the veggies that are on the list. Freshpicks also carries great things that are farmer's market staples like Mushrooms and sauces from RIver Valley Kitchens, excellent Vallarta Hummus, and they carry some gluten free items and dried beans which are awesome to add on when I need them since they tend to be hard to find. I also get one dozen, farm-fresh organic, grass-fed eggs from an Amish farm near Carbondale for cheaper than fancy eggs in stores! Plus, they deliver all year round! In the winter, the produce comes from further away, but they still provide plenty of local produce too. And the way I look at it, with a traditional CSA, I'd still have to buy my organic produce in the winter at the store, and Freshpicks saves me money and time. And I just can't speak highly enough of their excellent customer service. Yesterday my box did not get delivered. In a state of despair, I called their number, and within an hour, Shelly called me back to let me know that the gate was locked so the driver couldn't get in (an oversight by another tenant in the building), but they could deliver it to me the next day if I could ensure he'd get in. No extra charge, no grief because it was an issue on our end. Just excellent, prompt customer service. Freshpicks is awesome! read more

After reading all of the rave reviews for Fresh Picks I decided to start ordering the produce box from them. I tend to spend most of my grocery money on produce anyway so I was hoping to save some money while trying new surprise veggies every other week (sorry I am actually indifferent to the whole "organic" part). Things to know: -With the fuel and delivery surcharge it comes to just under $25 for the "single" box -The" single" and "bi-weekly" option works well for me (a person who lives along and cooks Monday- Thursday) -They deliver (for me at least) early afternoon- early evening -You get more veggies than fruit (at least I have so far) -You can cancel whenever you want- no penelty. -You can make specifications to the orders (I asked to never have cilantro or cucumbers in my order and the week that they had cilantro on the list I got broccoli instead). -This has not eliminated my need to buy produce in other places- I still buy extra fruit from the local produce market -I felt my first order did not have very many items, but the last few orders have been fuller. -They provide information about the produce and suggestions on how to cook it- which is nice especially when you get an item that is new to you (mizuna anyone?) -I have dealt with them over the phone once and they were very friendly and helpful! I do not know that I am saving money by getting this order, but each time I think about canceling (b/c I am poor) I look at the projected order for the week and get excite about the items and opt to keep it for at least another week! read more

I feel incredibly fortunate to have Fresh Picks in my city. Essentially, they connect city dwellers to local farms by delivering organic produce and meats right to your door. Though you can find some grass-fed beef and organic products at regular grocery stores, certain items are almost impossible to find in most stores in Chicago. For example: pork & chicken raised on pasture; bones, lard, and eggs from non-factory-farmed animals; many different cuts of grass-fed beef (including liver, various steaks, tongue, etc.) I don't use them as a CSA or get the boxes; I just place orders for whatever I need each week. Some favorites that I regularly order include: eggs, bacon, vegetables, raw cheddar, ground beef, bones for stock. I have been a customer for years. If there has ever been an issue or a concern, the staff is quick to offer help or a solution. (We once received the wrong delivery, for example, and they arranged to bring ours the next day.) Eating well is very important to me and I'm so grateful to have this resource, which makes all this healthy food available! read more

Great concept. Delivery was seamless and friendly. Here are excerpts from the leaflet included in the fresh picks single box: "Why Local? Most food is grown on large corporate farms...and travels an average of 1,500 miles to where it is sold, creating significant greenhouse gas emissions along the way. Eating locally grown food means less pollution, healthier, high nutrient food and a fair-trade, local economy." The segment of this paragraph omitted discusses the importance of eating organic. "...We supplement our local offerings...in the winter with organic produce from outside the region, always going the least distance possible to get these items." The single box sends 7 items. 3 of them were from local Wisconsin farms. Here's the remaining 4 items, farm name, town and distance from Chicago, IL: Broccoli- Earthbound(the nation's largest grower and shipper of organic produce- fills Whole Foods and Jewel) San Juan Bautista, CA. 2,205.2 miles. Spinach-Nature's Way, MEXICO(no city given)-1,824.5 miles(to mid MX) Romaine Lettuce- Bonipak, Santa Maria, CA-2,170.1 miles Grape Tomatoes- Del Cabo(the same plastic dry pint you find at Whole Foods)-Pescadero, CA. Product of Mexico. 2,177.7 miles+1,826.9 miles from MX to Pescadero. Distances provided by google maps. read more

I read about Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks in an article in Time Out, and was intrigued by the idea of a home delivery service for organic food. I don't usually use delivery services (I've only used Peapod a couple times, and in New York I used Fresh DIrect from time to time) so I thought I would give it a try. I went to their website and read a little about the service. Here's an excerpt: "Irv & Shelly's Fresh PicksSM offers year-round home delivery in the Chicago area of local and organic produce, meat, dairy and eggs. You can order online anytime to choose the specific items you want, or opt for a Fresh Picks Box that is automatically delivered to your door weekly or bi-weekly. We are committed to working with local sustainable farms we personally know and trust. Our fresh picks will arrive at your door ripe and bursting with flavor, vitamins and minerals within hours of leaving the farm. We're as proud of our farmers as they are of their food, and have developed tracking systems for the great local products in your order so we can tell you who raised them and how they protect your health and the environment. " As it turns out, the receipt lists the growers of all the ingredients so you really do know where everything comes from. The delivery is $3.50, so it is competitive with other delivery services. Prices are in line with what you would expect to pay at the farmer's market - neither low nor outrageously high for the straight-from-the-farm quality that they offer. They will deliver to your house when you aren't home -- just let them know where they can leave the bin and when you come home you will find it exactly where you told them to leave it. It is well-packed with blue ice and a foam lining. They'll pick it up from you the next time they deliver. Winter isn't a great time of year to take advantage of the service, as most of the produce is hothouse or root veg. But for those will a desire to get farm-fresh produce in the summer without joining a CSA or going to a farmer's market each week, Irv and Shelly's fresh picks is a great alternative. read more

Totally love Irv & Shelly's! They were recommended to me by a former coworker who had started receiving their products after the birth of her baby. She wanted to make more homemade food, so finding a CSA seemed like a logical choice. I have also wanted to make more fresh, healthy, homemade food but didn't know where to begin, especially since I often buy vegetables from the store only to throw them out because I've bought too much or something I don't really like. I really wanted a CSA box because I figured it would push me to encounter veggies and fruits I don't normally consider and to make new recipes with what I receive each week. This has happened... and then some. I am really, really happy with my Fresh Picks weekly delivery. Compared with other CSAs, Fresh Picks offers a way larger selection of produce and fruit boxes as well as fresh dairy and meat prodcuts. Most other CSAs don't offer choice and just require a buy-in to a certain shared amount of a crop, but Fresh Picks really offers so much choice that you can create custom boxes, mix and match products, and add on to your box delivery each week if you'd like. The prices are very reasonable and comparable to other CSAs that don't offer as much choice. The products are all local and always organic, which is comparable to every other CSA in the area. I pay about $25 each week for my "mini fruit and veggie" box, which is enough for two people who don't eat that many fruits and veggies. The regular fruit and veggie box actually says it feeds two people per week, but I find that I just won't make that much so quickly after arrival. I get free delivery because I have my box delivered on the one day per week that they come to my zip code. You could pay a few bucks extra, though, to have it delivered whenever it's convenient for you, which is awesome. Their website offers a lot of explanation on mixing and matching, what boxes contain, what to expect each week with delivery, etc. AND recipes for the foods that you've received. Some of the veggies have been a bit exotic (in fact, some things I've never heard of) and wonderful to incorporate into new recipes. I highly recommend going to their website, browsing what they have and giving the service a try. Even with a delivery cost, the prices are comparable to CSAs or shopping in local produce and grocery stores for fresh food. The delivery is obviously very convenient and everything is always incredibly fresh when it's delivered. I've never had a problem with something being old or starting to rot when I received it - in fact, the greens and other produce are all so fresh that they're super green, crisp, and excellent smelling. read more

LOVE IT! * Delivery comes in a cooler (that you leave for them to use for the next week). This is SUPER great because I work long days and have peace of mind knowing that my food will be preserved when I get home. * Love that in addition to local produce, I can order meat, dairy, bread, oils, etc. I can't always make it to the farmer's market, and this allows me to support the same farms that are there. * I appreciate that I can cancel an order just a couple days in advance of delivery. * There are different sized boxes - in my CSA that I got before I could only order from 2 sizes, and even the smaller one was too much and I would waste some of it. This also helps keep the box affordable. * Fun options, including a recipe box (all of the ingredients that you need to use to make the featured recipe) and a lunch box (lunch meats, bread, snacks). read more

A friend referred me to Irv & Shelly's a few years ago and I have been getting biweekly deliveries from them for most of that time. I will definitely say they keep expanding and getting even better! They have added options and tons of new items from really great places. I always get the boxes that are an assortment of what they have in season that week. Excuse me for being long-winded, but I love this service so let's break it down- Affordable - I would say their organics are even cheaper than if you bought the same assortment at a farmers' market, but it still comes from hardworking local farmers, which is awesome! Convenient - I love that I just come home and have a box of veggies waiting for me, twice a month. And I don't even have to put a ton of thought and time into deciding what to choose out of what's in season right now. Fresh - 95% of what I have ever gotten from them has been perfectly fresh and delicious. When working with organics, I realize it would be hard not to occassionally receive something that's not perfect or have something go bad a lot faster than I thought. But it's never been anything that I was mad about. I accept that as part of the territory Impeccable Customer Service - I remember a couple years ago, my credit card info was compromised and I had to close it out, wait for a new one and I forgot to update my Fresh Picks billing info. They gave me a call about a month later and asked if they could update my info for me - but they had kept bringing me my deliveries the entire time! Obviously I owed them and they couldn't have been nicer about it, too, and you know most places would have immediately cut off the delivery or even acted like I was trying to pull something over on them when I honestly just forgot. The reps and drivers have always been great when I've interacted with them The only thing I get kind of down about is at times with the variety boxes, you get the same things a lot, but that's not really their fault either given that they probably have a limited amount of types of veggies to offer, especially in the winter. For months in the midwest you are really only going to have carrots and maybe kale and random others. I'm also not very picky - I will eat almost all veggies. If you're not open to eating anything then you probably want to set your own order. Because you will get to try almost everything under the sun if you stick to the variety boxes. They send everything! Now the nice thing is if there are things you don't care for, you can list them in your "exclusions" and if that's what's in the box this week they will replace it with something else. Just this week, fennel was in the mix (my veggie nemesis) and they kindly threw in some cucumbers instead. They even put a note about it on my invoice. I loved it! Bottomline, try FreshPicks! You will wish you did a long time ago read more

This is my second time ordering from Fresh Picks, and I have to say that while you get much better selection in the "boxes" in the summer than winter, all in all its a great deal. Did you know you can also forgo delivery and pick up your order at the Howard St location? For me its great, since it is relatively close by and I save on the delivery fee. Might not be good for everyone but its an option! Everyone has been very cool to deal with - I have not had a problem yet and all the food is fresh, never crushed or damaged. It's a great way to stay healthy! Not to mention you are helping local farmers which rocks. You can opt out of certain foods that dont agree with you (for me its turnips), but I love getting produce I normally would never buy, like swiss chard and kohlrabi. Makes you a more knowledgeable cook! Thanks Fresh Picks! read more

Fresh Picks delivery is the highlight of my week: a crateful of veggies of farmers' market tastiness for just over $20, including delivery. Variety is the spice of life, at least when it come to vegetables. Every week I'm forced to learn to cook different vegetables. Sorrel? Brussels sprouts? Leeks? Turnips? Sunchokes? Parsnips? How awesome is it that! It also serves as a precommitment strategy to make yourself eat enough servings of vegetables during the week. Hell, it's probably a better weight-loss strategy than those meal services you see advertised on TV. There's certainly fewer calories in spinach and cabbage than sweet, delicious Connie's Pizza. Update: This week (10/30/08) brought the best apple that I have ever had in my life. Oh, and their customer service is incredibly attentive, helpful, and flexible. Plus, I mean, even if they leave the produce on your doorstep, who's going to steal a crate of fresh vegetables? read more

When the Farmer's Markets are not around, or you can't get to them, Irv and Shelly's is the way to go. I've used Irv and Shelly's a few times and appreciate everything about it, from the concept (mostly local, seasonal and organic produce and meats delivered to your doorstep) to the execution (delivery in insulated boxes, done on a particular day of the week based on neighborhood to minimize transportation use) to the customer service (have spoken to Shelly and Alissa on email and phone, both of whom have been very friendly, professional and accommodating.) I mostly get the "single boxes" of vegetables which is a great way to get a variety of seasonal produce. If you check out the website I&S give you a heads up on what veggies and other items you can expect that week. The website also has recipe and storage tips, and lets you know which farms the local items come from. (Note the boxes include some non local items as well.) It's a great way to be connected to the source without requiring you to drive up to a farm yourself. CSAs are wonderful, but an advantage of this service is that because they are sourcing from multiple farms, you're not going to be left in the dust if 1 particular farm has a problem. Finally its up to you how often you want delivery. You don't have to do it each week. That way you're not wasting things if you're not in town, etc. Lamentably I have to avoid nightshade vegetables so I've requested that substitutions are made for those veggies in my box (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and eggplant) and I&S has accommodated that beautifully. My last box included savoy cabbage, spinach, collard greens, cippolini onions and (in lieu of tomato soup and potatoes), fennel and kumquats. I don't think I've ever had kumquats before..fun! Besides from the fresh picks vegetable and/or fruit boxes you can also order individual items of all produce, as well as eggs, lamb and beef (including grassfed), chicken, dairy products, and some specialty items like baked goods, honey, preserves, soups and sauces, made by local artisans. It's expensive (about $24 for a single vegetable box when you include the delivery charge), but worth it. read more

I absolutely love these people. Met Irv himself when I first started getting deliveries; he's a very charming guy, by the way. I started ordering Fresh Picks after a miserable CSA experience. The best thing about it for me is that I'm not committed to ordering every week. I travel far too much and hate coming home to organic purslane rotting in my vegetable drawer. The vegetables are plentiful, and most of them are local (except for the obvious, like organic lemons). The meats are more expensive than you might be used to buying, but they are absolutely worth the extra money. The dairy is excellent too, especially the goat cheese. And last year we gave all different flavors of jams from here as stocking stuffers and gifts for the delivery people/mailperson/etc. The Fresh Picks boxes are a great idea, but I find that I have to be in the mood for things like radishes, so I don't always go this route. It's an easy way to meet the minimum order amount, however. Not only are these organic goodies delivered, but they will leave your order outside if you're not home (just be sure to tell them where). Items come extremely well packaged, so nothing should freeze or melt completely if you're at work all day. read more

I've been receiving Irv & Shelly deliveries bi-weekly or weekly for the last 7 years, which in and of itself is a huge sign of approval. Currently, we get the mini fruit and veg box bi-weekly, and will go to weekly in about June until about November. Why? Well, as others have said, you get a lot of the same stuff which is compounded in the winter months (I have never eaten so many turnips). Once June/July hits the bounty is amazing, the variety quadruples (or more) and there's more veggies one can consume raw vs roasting. As others have indicated, you can let them know if you don't want a particular food - for me: Collards, Eggplant, Chard, & Squash (EXCEPT pumpkin & zucchini are OK). Be aware you will likely get some veggies you've never seen before - which has been great for both fun (looking up what to do with them) and health. I will say you won't get something as exotic as durian, or perhaps some of the more obscure pickling or stewing veggies you might see at an indian market, but they will still throw you for a loop if you've never dealt with, say, Japanese black radishes, delicata squash, or garlic scapes. This is NOT a CSA, and that's exactly why I love them. The veg comes from multiple sources, so there's distinct advantages. Namely: --More variety - they source from multiple farms, not just one so there's more kinds of veg and fruit (and note that there IS fruit, lots of CSAs only offer veg) --Organic - many CSAs aren't organic. I actually am not a stickler for organic, as I still buy things like mangos, bananas, limes, lemons, at local produce markets or Costco, but I do like supporting organic farmers. --You can get delivery in the WINTER! --They deliver to your home, not to a central location --You can stop or start anytime! Give it a try! It's not a full season commitment and you'll add some variety, taste, and excitement to your meals! read more

For many years now I have not cooked, not even boiled an egg. I know how, just didn't want to. Now that Christopher and I are rapidly approaching crusty old fartitude, we are starting to pay the price for years of dietary neglect. The only way I could see to change things was to force fruit and vegetables into our gullets one way or another. In the end we decided to order from Fresh Picks for reasons to numerous to mention. Today a beautiful box of assorted veggies and another box of assorted fruits arrived and it felt like Christmas. I had to call my pal Jean C. to figure out what some of the stuff was. For the first time in my life I am excited about starting to cook. Fresh Picks is awesome. We already had the salad mix for supper (and there is a lot left). And for dessert we had fresh raspberries with a splash of cream. Was so yum. I am so inspired and ready to try all kinds of things. Everything came so well packed and looks so beautiful and it was so cool that both jean C. and I got gifts of extra produce just because she referred me to FP. I think this has become my favorite company on the entire planet !!!! Way to go Irv and Shelly!! read more

Today, mid-snowstorm I got my first Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks order, and I could not be more psyched. I originally found them as a Christmas gift for my sister who is more into healthy eating than I am, but after reading about the produce and Irv & Shelley's mission, I was sold and signed up for myself. I'm so glad I did! The produce is huge and earthy, like what you would expect if you had an amazing green thumb and endless time to grow your own super-veggies. I was a little worried when I opened the box and found Kabocha squash because I've never cooked with it before. BUT then I flipped through the sheet they sent with the delivery and saw that they offer a recipe for each piece of produce they include! AND, they were supposed to send beets, but I told Alissa I don't like them, and they sent me apples instead. I'm so thrilled with this experience, I can't wait to see what comes next week! Oh, and at $23, I think the price is more than fair for local, organic, gorgeous produce that I wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. Plus, you can opt for every other week if you want...so awesome. read more

I have been moving to as much of an organic/natural diet as possible. After reading Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto" and "The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals", I was determined to try to support the "100-mile diet" ideal as much as possible. I shop at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods for about 90% of my grocery needs these days, but TJ's frankly doesn't carry a lot of vegetable variety, and WF is expensive, and I never seem to make it to the farmers' markets as much as I would like. A friend told me about Freshpicks and I decided to give them a shot. Since my apartment building doesn't have a doorman, I asked if they were able to deliver to where I work. Yes, they are! So, my first week I ordered a box of mixed items from them - a loaf of bread, a couple jars of Spinach Artichoke Dip, and their organic lemon cheesecake. All of it - awesome. So I started weekly delivery of the $25 box. (They have three sizes of box - the $15 single, $25 double, and $40 family). This week's box came with asparagus, green garlic, spinach, arugala, cilantro, sorrel, salad mix, radishes, and a block of tempeh tofu. $25 at Whole Foods would not get me this much food -- and they all looked so vibrant and beautiful. They arrive in a large plastic box that is lined with a styrofoam cooler and cold packs. I receive my box around 1-2 in the afternoon and by the time I got it home, it's usually around 8-9pm and the vegs/other stuff still are cool and are fine. If you're doing a weekly box, you just swap the empty box out when they deliver the following week. I bought a book from Amazon.com called "Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers' Markets" by Deborah Madison to help me figure out how to cook all the cool and unusual new vegetables that I'm looking forward to adding to my diet this summer! read more

I've been getting Fresh Picks for almost a year now and I love it. For all the reasons previously stated, but also because it forces me to try things that I otherwise wouldn't, sorrel anyone? We have been eating much more healthy (which was our goal) and I feel that the prices are very reasonable in comparison to organic grocery store prices. We get a single box for the two of us and a some staples, eggs, half and half, bananas for about $30 or so per week. I was super impressed with their delivery driver's stamina mid-winter. I got my groceries every week, even when it had snowed 2 feet. Thanks Fresh Picks! read more

What's not to love about local fresh produce delivered right to your door? My only complaint: The delivery schedule for my location occurs on Wednesdays. In order to receive it, I have to order by Sunday. They don't announce what will arrive in the mixed boxes until Monday. I've literally never been disappointed with what I've received, but it would be nice to see what will arrive before I place my order. It's a seriously small complaint. And it forces me to try new things and get creative. So I'll shut up now. Thanks, Irv and Shelly, we love you. read more

High quality produce. Extremely good customer service. You put in your order (recurring or one-time as you prefer) and they ship consistently great product. I had an issue with the driver leaving a bin (which I didn't want, because I didn't want to have to deal with returning it), and the people at Irv & Shelly's were extremely responsive and even refunded my shipping costs without my asking. read more

I love the produce I received ! I am so happy that I found this service. Great quality for a great price. read more

Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks - Food Delivery Services Near Me - Niles, Illinois

I just started using this service but as it stands now I'm very pleased with it. Unlike probably most other people who use it I AM a bit of a veggie-phobe. Some of the stuff in their Fresh Picks boxes I wouldn't know what to do with so instead of getting that I use the service as a way to deliver our basic weekly staples: milk, eggs, bread, butter, fresh fruit, etc. Now, I'm by no means the Whole Paycheck type (more like an Aldi type), but I find the biweekly standing order delivery a pretty affordable option and it saves us schlepping milk jugs home from the store. It's also nice to know everything is from local, free-range sources. And since the food is high-quality one is less inclined to let it go to waste. I do wish they would expand their offerings a bit to include yogurt and maybe some different kind of juices but maybe that will come in time. P.S. Their bread, which comes from a bakery in Gary, is perfect. read more

I'll be the first to admit that I have, ahem, issues with produce. I'm more than a bit obsessed with finding the best quality, ideally from local producers (which was much, much easier when living in California). This means that I tend to shy away from any produce shopping experience that doesn't involve my getting my wee grubby hands on the green stuff (thus why I feel off the Peapod wagon after one too many crap produce experiences). When I read about Irv & Shelly's, I liked why I heard (local farmers, organic, CSA-style "grab bags" of seasonal goodies) and decided to give them a go. And am I ever so glad I did! Here's a few reasons why: 1. Web-enabled ordering. Okay, so the site's not the fanciest, but they're all about good food, not geektacular web design. I'll take substance over style when it comes to online shopping, so I give them points for having a site that works. Its fairly easy to navigate (I agree that some parts are a bit clunky navigation wise), updated regularly (new stuff seems to appear each week), and I love the standing order functionality. I also very much appreciate the email reminders, which give me enough of an advance heads up on my next delivery so that I can change my order. 2. Variety/Quality - I get the double Fresh Picks box delivered every other week plus a few odds & ends I select in addition to the produce box. This is the perfect amount for my husband & me. This is not to say that what you get for the money is skimpy. I am always amazed at how much stuff we get. There's no way we could ever mow our way through the double box in less than two weeks (and we're no veggie-phobes). Everything I've received from them has been of incredible quality & freshness. 3. Customer service - the first delivery I scheduled with them went a bit awry as a sudden business trip meant no one was home to let the delivery person in (and we'd yet to get keys made so they can let themselves in & drop off their boxes, which, btw, come with ice packs to keep everything cold for up to eight hours). They bent over backwards to try and reschedule, but I just couldn't make it work, so they instead arranged to meet me at their warehouse (just a few miles from my home) so I could pick up the goods myself. This gave me the opportunity to meet the whole gang - what a wonderful group of people! They obviously are as passionate about their customers as their products. 4. Fact Sheets - I think my favorite thing about this company is the informational sheet they include with your order. It lists everything that comes with your Fresh Picks box, including which farm produced it and suggestions for how to prepare the item. Having grown up in a farming family, I love the reminder of where the food comes from (something that is so easy to forget when trolling down the aisles of your average Jewel). And, even though I'm a pretty decent cook, some of the serving suggestions have gotten me to try things I've never much liked (next up, Erin tries Brussel sprouts!). read more

My husband and I just relocated to Chicago from San Diego and decided to give Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks a try. I believe this week is our 4th delivery and so far so good. I started with doing the fruit and vegetable box, however every week I was getting spinach and greens that we just don't eat and I was throwing a lot of it away. So this week I decided to look and see what they were expecting for delivery and I created my own box. It ended up saving me $4 and contains only the items that we will eat but it was more time consuming and that's the whole reason that I have my delivery in the first place. I know that there was a comment on here about sourcing food from far away, I actually really appreciate this because I am not a huge fan of winter fruits and vegetables so I really enjoyed getting strawberries and bananas the past couple of weeks! I did have a couple of items that weren't really fresh enough for me to eat only one day after delivery and that was sort of disappointing. I have found a couple of other companies that I may try so that I can have a comparison. However, I think that creating my own box will help with some of my issues. They do provide recipes online and a newsletter, yet I work on a computer all day long I'm usually not in the mood to jump on the computer at home to look them up. read more

I have ordered from Fresh Picks for a few years, so it's about time I finally sat down to write a review! An incredible assortment of produce & fruit - which can be ordered either in pre-determined boxes or you can select your own individual produce items. You can also order meat, farm fresh eggs, dairy (great cheeses), bakery and pre-made meals. Not your average CSA box - more like a farmer's market at your doorstep. Love. It!! read more

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As I've gotten a little bit older, and as I've learned more (with the help of great thinkers such as Michael Pollan -- if you have not read him, don't wait another minute) about how our food is produced, stored and transported, I've come to a few conclusions: -- Eat real food, not processed imitation food substances. -- Eat lower on the food chain (including lots of fruit and vegetables) -- Eat whenever possible from within your "foodshed" -- Know your farmer or retailer. These relationships of trust are enriching, and as conducive to food safety as any FDA/USDA regulation. -- Don't be cheap when it comes to food. Cheap is never truly cheap, because of the hidden costs to your health and to the health of our ecosystem. Spend a little more for high-quality ingredients, and savor them. -- Teach your kids all of the above. What does this have to do with Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks? Simply, buying from Irv & Shelly's promotes all of the above. And it goes without saying, the quality is supreme. Also: Irv and Shelly are real people, and very nice people to boot. I know this, because I know them. So while you are getting great, local and organic stuff, you are also supporting a local enterprise run by some top-notch folks. There are items for all tastes and budgets, so give them a try: www.freshpicks.com. Enjoy! read more

I wish I would have discovered Fresh Picks earlier in my life. This is the best investment in eating healthy and on a budget for someone living solo. My journey started when I was dissatisfied with the produce at my local grocery stores. Things were not fresh, variety was slim and I found myself eating the same veggies and fruits over and over. I posted on Yelp Talk, inquiring about CSA's that others have used and were happy with. After looking into the several suggestions that I was given, Irv & Shelly's Fresh Picks. The website was the most user-friendly and I liked that you do not have to commit for an entire season. There is an option for a reoccurring delivery (either every week or every other week) and you can place your deliveries on hold if you are out of town. I decided to try the single veggie box and added some other goodies for my first order. I anxiously awaited for Saturday to come (the day Fresh Picks delivers to my area). It was like a Produce Christmas!!!! The best part is, Fresh Picks posts simple recipes for all the produce that comes in the box. Otherwise I would have not know what to do with Broccoli Raab or Daikon. The amount that comes in the single veggie box is perfect for a week of lunch and dinners. Having other staples on hand such as quinoa or beans or meat helps round out each meal. BTW, all of these things can also be ordered from Fresh Picks. The Customer Service is outstanding. I had lots of questions before my first order came (how to get into my building if I am not home, can I add to my reoccurring order, how to I place my order on hold) and I always received a prompt and thoughtful response. My humanitarian side enjoys supporting local farms and knowing where my food comes from. And did I mention the value is fantastic?!?! Even with delivery charge, it is much more budget friendly than going to the grocery store for your produce. And everything you receive is in season. Cannot say that about grocery stores. My life is more complete with Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks (: read more

Irv and Shelly's Freshpicks boxes are a great way to supplement (or even replace) your weekly grocery shopping needs. We've been using Freshpicks service for over a year now, and cannot say enough nice things about it. On a weekly basis, we order the fantastic Freshpicks box, which includes a variety of veggies that we would not necessarily normally try. In the winter, sometimes we received amazing tomato sauce instead of the vegetables, and their home-made jams. Other times, we've received berries, leafy greens (of different varieties), mushrooms, kale, honeydew, squash, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, etc. Additionally, we always order milk, eggs, and bread. We often supplement these with meat, and other stuff that looks good. We've never been disappointed. The service has been incredible. If anything goes wrong with the order, which is rare but happens, Irv and Shelly are there to help. Most of our friends are loyal Freshpicks customers, and we all look forward to the next delivery. I know I'm going to receive my order today (every Wednesday), and I can't wait to see what's in it! read more

Delivery did not follow instructions which left my vegetables MIA for two days in my building downtown. Also, I was charged the full amount when I had used a groupon. Not happy with the customer service. Vegetables were great. Not sure I'll use them again. read more