It’s all too easy to get into bad eating habits in Shanghai, both for our own health and for the environment. In the past decade, interest in organic foods has exploded worldwide, and though the trend has taken a little longer to catch on in China, the organic food movement is now starting to find its feet in the Middle Kingdom.

Many people are concerned with the quality of what passes for ‘organic’ in local stores, and rightly so, as there is still a great deal of confusion surrounding labelling and certification in China. That being said, there are now some respectable local companies doing their best to toe international organic certification lines and providing an organic option to consumers in Shanghai. Even better, many of them will deliver to your door with little to no delivery fee, making eating organic foods easier than ever before.

BIOfarm is one such option, offering a wide variety of organic foods, with 120 different crops rotating annually. The farm, which is located on the outskirts of Shanghai, offers weekly delivery of ‘Farmer’s Baskets’ containing the freshest and best produce available. For instance, the singles basket (for households with one to two people) offers five to seven types of fruits and vegetables and you can stipulate when you sign up if there are any foods you really want to avoid. The Farmer’s Basket concept ensures high quality and freshness of the organic produce, and also gives people the opportunity to experiment with different organic vegetables they might not naturally gravitate towards in a store. One month trial periods are available, but after the trial Biofarm asks that customers sign on for a minimum of three months. It’s perfect for adventurous eaters for whom freshness is a priority.

Web: www.biofarm.cn

Shanghai Organic Agriculture Co., Ltd. is another great local organic food option, also offering 120 different organic vegetables, cereals, and condiments. With Shanghai Organics, you get to choose exactly what you want and how much you want of it. However, since Shanghai Organics also supplies Carrefour, you might not get the cream of the organic foodstuffs, and the quality of your produce can’t be insured. It is very easy to order through their online service, and the company promises free delivery four times a week, a very convenient service. The farm has certification to prove that they don't use any chemicals or transgenic methods.

Web: www.shorganic.com