Knowledge Hub
FAQs and helpful info
Find answers to common questions here. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch.
About Eatlocal
What is Eatlocal?
Eatlocal delivers seasonal fruit and vegetable boxes across the South Island. We work with NZ growers and local producers to deliver fresh, high-quality food to your door.
Are you the "Eat Local" restaurant delivery app?
No. Eatlocal is a separate business focused on fresh food delivery, not restaurant or takeaway orders. We source and deliver fresh produce and selected artisan grocery items.
Where do you source your products?
We source fresh, seasonal produce from trusted local growers and work with New Zealand artisan food producers.
Do you stock only New Zealand–grown produce?
We prioritise New Zealand-grown produce wherever possible. At times, we may stock imported items when local options aren’t in season. The main exception is bananas, which are currently imported.
What does Tag 1 mean?
Tag 1 refers to our top-grade produce, selected for appearance and freshness, including good size, vibrant colour, and overall quality.
Do you offer organic produce?
We don't currently offer organic produce.
Are there options for people with dietary restrictions?
Yes. You can use the site filters to find vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and other suitable options.
How do seasonal changes affect your boxes?
Our boxes reflect the seasons, so contents change based on availability. You’ll always receive what’s freshest at the time, and we update the website when items are no longer available or out of season.
Why do some items suddenly become more expensive?
Prices can change due to weather, crop availability, and demand. When supply tightens, prices reflect that.
Items may be removed when a season ends, supply runs out, or the range is updated. We also retire low-demand items from time to time to keep the range focused.
Why are your prices sometimes higher than supermarkets?
Our prices reflect the cost of fresh, carefully sourced produce, rather than large-scale volume pricing.
How is Eatlocal different from other vege box providers?
We only send produce we’d choose ourselves. That means no offloading surplus stock - just fresh, quality produce, sourced carefully and packed with attention to detail.
Is your packaging recyclable?
Yes. We aim to make recycling simple for you, and use as little plastic as we can in our packaging.
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Cardboard & paper: Delivery boxes, apple liner trays, and brown paper are recyclable and can go in your kerbside recycling.
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Ice/chiller packs: These can be reused. If you need to dispose of them, please follow your local council’s guidelines for the plastic outer.
Ordering
How do I order?
Choose your fruit and vege box on our website, select your delivery option, and check out online. You’ll receive a confirmation email, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Can I customise my order?
Yes. You can customise your order using Custom Content, where you choose the fruit, veges, and artisan extras you want. You can also add extras to our Good-to-Go boxes to suit your needs.
Is there a minimum order?
Home deliveries:
• Minimum order $30
Fruit at Work deliveries:
• Minimum order $50 + GST
Can I request products that are not listed on your website?
You’re welcome to request items that aren’t currently listed. Let us know what you’re looking for and we’ll see if we can source it.
Can I add notes or special instructions?
Yes. Use the “add a note for us” section at checkout for any delivery instructions or special requests.
Can I change my order once I've placed it?
Changes may be possible before your order is packed. Please email joanne@eatlocal.nz as soon as possible and we’ll let you know if an update can be made.
Can I return my order?
Because our products are perishable, we don’t accept returns. If there’s an issue with your order, please let us know within 24 hours and we’ll arrange a refund or replacement where appropriate. We can’t offer refunds for change-of-mind purchases or Afterpay orders.
How can I check my order history?
Create an Eatlocal account to view past orders, manage your details, and access your Wishlist.
Deliveries
How much do you charge for delivery?
Urban delivery
• $10
Rural delivery
• $15
Delivery fees cover careful picking and packing, protective packaging, and delivery to your door.
Where do you deliver?
We deliver fresh fruit and vege boxes across the South Island, including rural areas. This includes Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland.
For more detail, see our Shipping & Delivery page.
When do you deliver?
Orders are dispatched throughout the week. Friday dispatch is available for Canterbury orders only.
What time will my order arrive?
Deliveries take place during the working day and may arrive as late as 6pm, depending on courier routes and workload.
Can you deliver to a rural address?
Yes. We deliver to rural addresses across the South Island.
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Delivery fee: $15
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Delivery timeframe: 2–4 working days (often quicker)
Rural orders should be placed by 11:30am Monday for Tuesday dispatch.
Subscriptions aren’t currently available for rural addresses, but one-off orders are welcome.
If you’re unsure whether your address is rural, you can check using the NZ Post Address & Postcode Finder.
Why can’t subscriptions be delivered rurally?
Rural delivery costs are higher, and with subscription discounts it’s difficult to keep pricing fair and consistent. One-off rural orders are still very welcome.
What happens if I'm not at home during delivery?
If you’re not home, the courier will leave your box in a safe place. You can let us know where in the checkout notes (eg, behind the gate/on the back deck). In warmer weather, we recommend choosing a shady spot.
Can I schedule a delivery for a specific date?
You can request a preferred delivery date by adding a note at checkout. We’ll do our best to work around it, depending on courier schedules.
What happens to deliveries on public holidays?
Delivery schedules can change around public holidays. We’ll share any updates in advance via email and the website.
Do you deliver to workplaces?
Yes. We deliver to workplaces as long as someone is available to receive the order during business hours
Do you deliver to the North Island?
At this stage, we deliver to the South Island only.
Subscriptions
Can I set up a subscription?
Yes. You can choose a weekly or fortnightly fruit and vege box subscription.
Subscriptions are discounted when you commit to 12 deliveries, and you can pause, skip, or make changes anytime through your account.
You can find more details on our Subscription page.
Can I customise the contents of a subscription box?
Subscription boxes are pre-set with the season’s best produce to offer good value and variety.
They aren’t fully customisable, but we do offer flexibility:
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Item exclusions: If there’s something you can’t eat, let us know and we’ll swap it for a similar item where possible.
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Full control: If you’d prefer to choose every item, our Custom Box option lets you select exactly what you want.
Can I pause my subscription?
Yes. If you’re away or just need to skip a week, log in to your Eatlocal account and make your changes there.
Can I cancel my subscription before it finishes?
Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time.
If you cancel before completing your 12 deliveries, any subscription savings will be reconciled in your final invoice.
If you’d prefer to pause instead, you can do that through your account.
What if my recurring payment fails? Will my delivery stop?
If a payment fails, your subscription won’t stop immediately.
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Your subscription remains active during a 3-day grace period
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We’ll automatically retry the payment during this time
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You’ll receive an email so you can update your payment details
If payment isn’t resolved within the grace period, your delivery may be paused until it’s sorted.
Fruit At Work (Office Deliveries)
What is Fruit At Work?
Fruit at Work is our office fruit delivery service for Christchurch workplaces. We deliver seasonal fruit boxes, with optional extras such as milk (including dairy alternatives), tea, coffee, juice, and honey.
What makes Fruit at Work flexible?
There are no contracts or lock-ins. You can scale your order up or down, pause deliveries, or make changes at any time.
How do you ensure quality in the Fruit at Work boxes?
We select seasonal, fresh fruit and pack each box carefully to ensure it arrives in top condition.
How can Fruit at Work benefit my team?
Fruit at Work provides a convenient, healthy snack option and helps create a workplace where staff feel looked after.
Why should we buy our fruit from you rather than the supermarket?
We handle the sourcing, packing, and delivery, so no one in your team needs to shop for, transport, or manage office fruit.
How much fruit should we order for the office?
A common guide is around two pieces of fruit per person, per day.
Tell us your team size and preferences and we’ll recommend a suitable box. You can adjust this at any time.
What can I expect in a Fruit At Work box each season?
Box contents change with the seasons and availability. Typical fruit includes:
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Summer: nectarines, apricots, plums, peaches, cherries, oranges, bananas, blueberries
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Autumn: bananas, kiwifruit, feijoas, apples, pears, grapes
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Winter: bananas, mandarins, apples, pears, grapes, oranges, kiwifruit
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Spring: mandarins, oranges, bananas, apples, kiwifruit
How do I keep Fruit At Work fruit fresh?
Store fruit in a cool, dry area, away from direct heat or sunlight.
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Avoid warm spots such as coffee areas or windows
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Store berries, grapes, and ripe stone fruit in the fridge
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Keep bananas, apples, pears, and citrus at room temperature
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Separate ethylene-producing fruit (such as apples and bananas) from other fruit
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Wash fruit just before eating to reduce spoilage
How can our company pay for Fruit At Work?
We can invoice monthly to your accounts team.
Payment Methods, Gift Cards & Referrals
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Afterpay, and ANZ bank transfer. Card payments are processed securely via Stripe.
Do you offer a 'buy now pay later' option?
Yes. We offer Afterpay, which allows you to pay in four interest-free instalments. If there’s an issue with an Afterpay order, we’ll arrange a replacement rather than a refund.
Can I gift a box to someone?
Yes. Enter the recipient’s details and a personal message at checkout. Prices are hidden for gift deliveries.
Do you offer Gift Cards?
Yes. We offer e-Gift Cards starting from $10, which are emailed to the recipient with your personal message.
Do you have a referral scheme?
Yes. You can refer friends using your unique link. When a referred customer places an order, both of you receive a discount.
Help, Reviews & Policies
What if there’s an issue with my delivery?
If there’s an issue with your order, please let us know as soon as possible. We stand behind the quality of our products and will work with you to arrange a refund or replacement where appropriate. For full details, please see our Guarantee.
What if I need help?
If you need help, just get in touch, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Our business hours are 9am–5pm, and messages received outside these times are answered on the next working day.
Where can I find your policies?
You can find details about delivery, returns, and privacy in our Shipping & Deliveries, Returns Policy, and Privacy Policy pages.
How do you protect my privacy?
We take privacy seriously and only use your information as needed to process orders and provide our services. For more details, please see our Privacy Policy.
How do I leave a review?
You can leave a review on Google, Facebook, or directly on the product page. If there’s an issue with your order, please contact us directly so we can resolve it.