Frequently Asked Questions

WEEKLY ORDERING SYSTEM

How does the Weekly Ordering System work for one-time orders?

  • Based on your location, you will have a set delivery day, eg. Etobicoke deliveries are made on Thursdays
  • If you place your order before Friday at 4pm, your order will be delivered the following week on your delivery day eg, Thursday. Orders placed after 4:00pm on Friday will be delivered 2 weeks later.

How does the Weekly Ordering System work for subscription orders?

  • Based on your location, you will have a set delivery date, eg. Etobicoke deliveries are made on Thursdays
  • Your order date, and delivery date are different. The delivery date will always be the week following your order date.
    • If you place your first order before Friday at 4pm, your order will be delivered the following week on your delivery day, eg, Thursday. 
    • Orders placed after 4:00pm on Friday will be delivered 2 weeks later.
  • After your first subscription order, all future subscription orders will be placed and charged automatically by our system early Friday morning, the week prior to your delivery. 
    • You will receive a reminder email on Tuesdays confirming your order  for the next week’s delivery
      • Make sure to make any changes/cancellations to your upcoming orders before Thursday evenings. 
    • You will also receive an email on Fridays confirming that the order has been placed. That’s called a charge date, ie, when your payment method is charged.
  • Note that cancellation request of an existing order must be sent to onlineorders@foodshare.net the Friday prior to your delivery week by 4pm at the latest.
  • We understand it can be confusing if you order on a Friday and your delivery day is on a Friday. The same rules apply: if you order Friday before 4pm, you’ll receive the delivery the following Friday. If you place your order after 4:00 on Friday, your delivery will be 2 Fridays later.

PRODUCE BOXES

How are FoodShare's fresh produce boxes different from other fresh produce boxes?
For over 30 years, FoodShare's fresh produce sales have supported FoodShare in animating community food programs across Toronto. Your purchase helps FoodShare support Toronto’s most nutritionally vulnerable through a variety of programs and initiatives. You can find more about the impacts of your purchase on communities across Toronto here. 

What can I expect in the box?

If you'd like to know the content of your upcoming box, select your box on our store’s website and look for the updated weekly content in the description.

Our content changes weekly based on what is in season, fresh and available. You can expect each box to be full of fresh, high-quality produce, with locally grown options in season. In the summer, don’t be surprised if you find some delicious leafy greens from FoodShare’s School Grown farms. In the winter, keep an eye out for some organic butternut squash from our partners at Black Creek Community Farm.

Is there any minimum order?
Yes. The minimum order is $18.

Can I gift a box to a friend?
Absolutely! You can purchase a gift card directly from our online store. 

Can I customize my box?
Not at the moment.

How far in advance should I place my order on your website?

  • One time orders need to be placed by Friday 4:00pm in order to be delivered the following week. Orders placed after 4:00pm on Friday will be delivered the week after next. 
  • For subscription orders note that your first order must be placed by Friday 4:00pm to be delivered the following week. All future orders will be placed automatically by our system early morning on the Friday of the week prior to your delivery. Make sure to make any changes to your upcoming orders before Thursday evening. Note that changes made through your online portal will only apply to future orders, not orders already placed. At this time we are unable to add or swap items to an order already placed. 
  • Note that cancellation request of an existing order must be sent to onlineorders@foodshare.net the Friday prior to your delivery week by 4pm at the latest.
  • Our system will send you an automated email with your exact delivery date. Please check your spam folder in case you don't see it in your inbox.

Is there a length commitment?
There is no commitment. We have two options available:

  • Choose between a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly subscription. The frequency will be set based on your first delivery date. If you ever need to put your delivery on hold while you are away, you are able to manage this option by logging into your account.
  • Order and pay as you go (one-time purchase option). 

 

PAYMENT

How do I pay?
Payments are processed at checkout and can be made by Visa, Mastercard or Paypal. For recurring subscriptions, payments will be automatically processed when your order is placed (the week prior to your delivery day). For more information on when you will be billed please check your delivery schedule under your account. 

What if my produce is spoiled?
We understand fresh produce is fragile. If an item in your box is spoiled, please take a picture and send us an email at onlineorders@foodshare.net within 24 hours of receiving your box, and we will gladly provide you with a refund for the value of the item.

Do you offer volume discounts?
If you are an agency or community group ordering boxes in bulk please connect with us at orders@foodshare.net to discuss pricing and volume discount. If you are an organization that is interested in wholesale fresh produce, contact orders@foodshare.net

 

REFUNDS

Why are some products (eg, bread and coffee) non-refundable?

With our weekly ordering system, our fresh bread and coffee products are made to order. The order is custom to you on that particular day and we can’t sell that item to other folks. So if the product has already been made for the week, and you cancel your order, or reschedule it for another week, we cannot refund your order.

 

DELIVERY

Where do you deliver?
We currently deliver in all neighbourhoods across Toronto and a part of Mississauga (East of Hurontario St. and South to Eglinton St.). On the checkout page you will be able to confirm whether we deliver in your area by entering your postal code. To check your delivery day, check our delivery map

When will my box be delivered? Do I need to be home?
We deliver Wednesday through Saturday, depending on your postal code. Due to COVID-19, we are currently doing deliveries between 9:00am and 9:00pm. To check your delivery day, check our delivery map. If you are not home, we will leave the box at your front door, or at any location you have identified in the delivery instructions box on your cart page (before checkout). Our boxes will keep your produce fresh for a few hours.

Can I choose my delivery day/time?
We are always looking for the most efficient way to get the produce boxes to your door. As a result, we cannot commit to a specific delivery time. We will do our best to ensure that you receive a notification when our driver is close by and when your delivery has been completed.

Is there a delivery fee?
Delivery is free for orders over $48. For orders under $48, there is a delivery fee of $3.50 + HST. 

If I live in a condo or apartment, can I order a box?
Yes. Provide our driver with instructions to access the building (i.e. buzzer code, management/security office, etc.) in the delivery notes box at the bottom of your cart page (before check out).


MANAGING MY SUBSCRIPTION

How can I make changes to my subscription?
Customers with a subscription are able to make changes to their account and future orders (e.g. orders that have not been placed yet) by logging in their account. Changes include: new address, email, phone number, credit card, swapping an item, skipping a delivery, cancelling an item. Detailed instructions on how to do so are available here.

What is the deadline to make changes to a recurring order?
All subscription orders are placed automatically by our system early morning on the Friday of the week prior to your delivery. Make sure to make any changes to your upcoming orders before Thursday evening. 

How can I make changes to a recurring order that was already placed?
Note that changes made through your online portal will only apply to future orders, not orders already placed. At this time we are unable to add or swap items to an order already placed. If you need to cancellation part or all of your existing order please send a request to onlineorders@foodshare.net the Friday prior to your delivery week by 4pm at the latest.

 

THE BOX

What packaging do you use to deliver the produce?
During COVID-19 we are using a recyclable cardboard box, which is lined with a plastic bag. Tip: The boxes are great for moving so if you’re able to hang on to a few boxes, we recommend posting batches of boxes to your neighbourhood Buy Nothing groups, or on Kijiji/Facebook Marketplace. The plastic liner can also be reused as a bag for your recyclables.   

 

THE MEAT BOX

Where do you source the pasture raised meat from?

FoodShare has partnered with NIKU Farms, an online farmers market that connects customers directly to pasture raised meat products from local small-scale farms. All the farms they work with meet high standards for ethically grown meat that is raised on pasture and is free from antibiotics, hormones, and non GMO. NIKU Farms is a mission-driven company that aims at putting farms first, supporting ethically raised meat, and connecting customers directly with their local farms.

How is the meat box packaged?
The meat is all pre-frozen and individually vacuum packed. It is shipped in corrugated boxes that have an insulated liner with frozen gel packs. The meat will arrive mostly frozen or cool to the touch. Once the product is received, it must be put in the freezer or refrigerated.

Your vacuum-sealed, frozen meat will be sustainably shipped in our recyclable and biodegradable packaging. Learn more about our Green Cell Foam insulation, made from renewable, non-GMO corn starch.

If the product arrives partially thawed, it is still in perfectly good condition as long as product feels cool to the touch. The quality will not be diminished. You can refrigerate if you plan to cook within a few days or re-freeze until you are ready to use. 

Why does the meat come frozen?
We believe that packaging is key to reducing food waste. This may come as a surprise, but one of the best ways to avoid wasting food is by freezing it. That's one of the reasons our farmers flash freeze their meat immediately, at the optimal time for freshness. This way, no meat is spoiled or wasted on its journey from your doorstep, or while sitting in your fridge. When meat is vacuum sealed, it is designed to deliver the ultimate in protection, locking in the freshness and nutrition and extending its shelf life.

How much freezer space do I need?
Since all the meat is tightly vacuum packed and individually packaged, you can store much more in your freezer than you probably think. We have many customers who live in condos with small freezers, and they are able to accommodate the beef, chicken or mixed box.

How long can I keep the meat in my freezer?
The meat should be consumed within 1 year of the processing date on the package if kept frozen in the freezer. Once it is defrosted in your fridge, it should be consumed within 3-5 days. Although we can’t imagine leaving delicious meat in the freezer for that long.

What is the refund policy on this box?
Note that there will be no refund on the pasture raised meat box for cancellation requests received after 4pm on the Friday of the week prior to your delivery week. Cancellation requests must be sent to onlineorders@foodshare.net.