Buzz
Even with the best preparations for a stay-at-home order, no one’s pantry is infinite. Eventually, your grocery supply will run low. Whether you’re avoiding in-person shopping or realizing that your usual delivery services like Amazon, Fresh Direct, or Walmart are facing frustrating delays, you may start to wonder about alternative options.
We’ve put together some alternative delivery options for you to consider—but before we dive into those, here’s a quick note.
A Quick Note on Shipping
While many businesses have been forced to close or operate at reduced capacity, food-selling companies are often still considered "essential." Likewise, shipping companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL remain operational. So unless an online grocery service is dealing with an unusually high demand or supply chain issues, getting groceries delivered is a reliable option in these unpredictable times.
However, keep in mind that with fluctuating demand, these services may need to adjust delivery times or the availability of certain items.
A Note on Supporting Local Businesses
The quickest way to get food delivered is to purchase from a nearby source.
If you follow your local farmers' market on social media, check there for updates on vendors offering home delivery or curbside pickup. Some even provide variety boxes in partnership with other makers and producers. Don’t forget to consider buying paper goods or eco-friendly cleaning supplies from local businesses as well. For example, my neighborhood’s zero-waste shop has been my go-to for toilet paper rolls.
Not sure where to start your search? The LocalHarvest directory can help you locate a nearby farm or CSA program. It features everything from produce growers and farmers markets to eggs, meats, and other locally produced goods.
Now, let’s talk about the larger players, grouped by their grocery category.
Important: We’re only listing companies that are openly accepting new customers or orders and don’t expect major shipping delays. If you have other delivery services you love, feel free to share them in the comments.
Fresh Produce
Misfits Market delivers organic produce starting at just $22 per delivery.
Imperfect Foods delivers fresh produce, grocery items, and some pantry essentials. A minimum order of $30 per week is required, with shipping fees between $5 and $6.
Farmbox Direct offers boxes of produce starting at $43.95 each.
Meat and Seafood
Omaha Steaks provides poultry, seafood, and a variety of sides in addition to its signature products. You can order items individually or choose the Re-Stock Reservation for scheduled deliveries of a mix of products.
Free shipping applies to orders over $169, so keep this in mind if you're not yet ready to fill your freezer.
Porter Road offers a variety of meats, including beef, pork, lamb, and chicken, available individually or through a subscription box. The company has informed customers that shipping delays of five to seven days might occur, though they are working to minimize these delays. Orders over $100 qualify for free shipping.
Pantry staples and cleaning products
Thrive Market is a membership-based service providing a range of products such as meat, pantry essentials, wine, and even baby and pet supplies. The membership costs $59.95 per year ($9.95 for a monthly subscription), but customers can try it for 30 days and receive a full refund if they cancel. Free shipping is available on orders over $49.
Grove Collaborative offers cleaning and personal care products, focusing on eco-friendly or ethically sourced options. The company has announced that delivery times may be extended, with shipping taking between 6-8 days, instead of the usual two days.
Pre-packaged meal kits
The main advantage of meal kits today is that every ingredient needed for the recipe arrives in one box. This eliminates the hassle of planning a meal only to discover that the store or delivery service is out of stock of that one crucial ingredient.
Blue Apron offers subscriptions starting at $48 per week for two meals, each containing two servings.
Hello Fresh begins at approximately $50 per week for three meals, each serving two people.
Home Chef provides a highly customizable menu, which results in variable pricing, starting at $7 per serving.
Freshly offers ready-to-eat meals priced between $8 and $11.50 each, depending on how many meals are ordered per week.
