We used Abel and Cole about 15 years ago when we lived in London, then Riverford which we preferred.
We moved to an area not covered by either firms at the time.
Quality was excellent, with recipe cards, but we objected to the inclusion of oranges and/or bananas in place of seasonal soft fruit, as they are hardly locL grown and available anywhere, we thought this was not in the spirit.
Yes they were expensive, but then so are farm shop which have become increasingly chi chi, limited opening times, also selling imported fruits - pineapples for eg and eggs from the commercial supplier in the next county.
Abel and Cole were a victim of their own success and bought out.
We have a small genuine farm shop nearby opening only Wednesday and Saturday limited hours. It’s exclusive you
know …
We also have a Tuesday am market here, the veg stall I feel
is expensive but always busy, fine if you can stand the shouting and barkering, they prefer cash, its from the wholesale market, nothing is hours old, you would have to go to Boston for that.
I had to google ‘farm shops near me’ as no neighbours or anyone I met knew of any, or wanted to as they were ‘quite happy with Waitrose’ and flown in from Kenya/Peru/Morocco, food, so sleuthing was essential.