Vegetable box scheme

Biokiste, Organic box, green box or basket of vegetables SUBSCRIPTION is a system of direct sales of local and seasonal food from organic farming, particularly fruit and vegetables, but also meat, dairy products, bakery products and pasta, in which the goods at a certain date prior to the door will be delivered. Biokisten systems with which consumers undertake in advance to purchase a certain portion of the annual harvest, are considered to be the most popular form of the solidarity-based agriculture and to strengthen local relationships between consumers and producers.

Distribution and history

In Germany Biokisten have been offered since the early 1990s by various regional suppliers. Meanwhile, there are supply you with organically grown foods over 110 providers in Germany, households, kindergartens, schools, businesses and restaurants. A majority of the products also comes from the region of the respective operation. An association for the marketing of Biokisten under the name Organic box was founded in 1996 in Bavaria. From there, the association spread only in Southern Germany, and finally in Germany. The term " Organic box " is a registered trademark. Owner of the word mark Organic box is the Association Organic box eV

In the UK, the market for Organic Vege Box or Box Schemes, of which there are about 600 growing. Critically, it is noted that the shipping trade in organic foods has now been taken over by the wholesale part and are no longer limited to local and seasonal merchandise.

In the U.S. there are besides the usual Biokisten systems, the so-called Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA) or agricultural community. This is considered as an alternative to anonymous mass production of industrial agriculture. Unlike many Biokisten models in which a monthly churn is possible that consumers bind in the case of solidarity agriculture even more: they usually stretch at the beginning of a share of the investment cost and you will receive in return during the year a proportionate share of the harvest free. The first CSA projects were developed in the 1950s in Europe in the field of biodynamic agriculture, Rudolf Steiner. In 1986, the idea of ​​two farmers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire was picked up. There are now in the USA 2000 CSA farms.

In France, the Association pour le maintien d'une agriculture Paysanne ( AMAP ), in Switzerland the "regional contract farming " agriculture contractuelle de proximité and Japan respectively since the 1960s, the Teikei system, similar in function to CSA.

Organization

Biokisten are usually offered in different types, eg especially with many regional or vegetarian products. Customers Biokiste can guarantee the regular purchase of a certain quantity of food in a subscription or each can be individually put together the box. Is organized Biokiste either of individual organic farms for direct marketing or through their associations. The appointment is made by telephone, fax, and often over the Internet. The Biokiste is also ideal for customers who like to shop seasonal merchandise.

Association Organic box e.V.

Organic box eV consists of a grouping of today 50 farmers and direct marketers. 2011 were supplied about 50,000 households per week. Total sales of all member companies amounted to about 50 million euros in 2011. The providers undertake to work to defined by the association guidelines. New members are accepted only for areas that are not already being supplied by existing members.