Shipping and delivery
Are the meals delivered fresh or frozen?
All meals are made fresh to order, they are then Gas-Flushed to seal in the flavour. We use recycled paper mesh liners and water based ice packs to keep your meals chilled and fresh until you receive them to pack into your fridge.
Our recycled mesh liners are home recyclable and water based ice packs are soft plastic recyclable at your nearest soft plastic recycle location helping to reduce wastage in our packaging.
What happens if I can’t be home for delivery?
Not to worry, if you can’t be home for your delivery our couriers will leave your meals somewhere safe on your property for when you get home. When placing your order, in the cart you can drop us a shipping note to let us know your preferred place to leave your meals. Our packaging will keep your meals at a safe temperature for a minimum of 36 hours from time of departure, so you can relax knowing your food will be delivered safely and well chilled until they make it to the fridge.
Do you offer pickup?
Yes we offer pickup for Christchurch based orders, simply select ‘Christchurch/Pick up’ in the shipping options and leave us a note on when you intend to come in to pick up your box.
Please note: We require pick up within 2 days of your pick up notification being sent, please email us on admin@southernorganics.co.nz if there are any problems for your scheduled pick up time.
How much does delivery cost?
We have a flat fee that covers all the delivery costs from our kitchen to your chosen address. Delivery fees are $5.00 for Christchurch deliveries, $17.50 for all South Island deliveries outside of Christchurch and $22.50 per box/per order for all North Island deliveries.
Due to the specifics with our delivery weights, our checkout will notify you don’t have enough meals or too many in the cart to align with shipping rules. If you wish to order more than one box worth of meals, we ask you to put through two separate orders.
Do you deliver nationwide, including rural addresses?
Yes, we do deliver nationwide! However, rural properties are more difficult for us to send meals to as they need to be delivered in a certain time frame to ensure their freshness upon arrival. So, for all rural addresses we can ship the boxes to your nearest NZ Courier drop off point that our couriers can deliver to for you to then collect from.
To check if your address is classed rural, follow this link. If your address is classed rural, you will need to locate your nearest NZ Courier agent/collection point to have your meals sent to for you to collect from. To find your nearest point, follow this link here.
Once you have found your nearest collection point, ensure you use the provided address in the postal address section in checkout, and we ask that you leave us a note to notify us that the provided address is an agent/collection point in the notes section of the checkout.
What if there is an issue with my order?
If you have any troubles with your order, please get in touch with us by emailing admin@southernorganics.co.nz. We promise to look into the issue as quickly as possible.
Please note: We ask that the order reference is included in the subject line of the email so we can promptly find all the order details.
Is there a minimum order quantity required?
Yes, in order to qualify for shipping, we require a minimum of 6 substantial meals, or 9 standard meals to be ordered.
Dietary requirements
Are your meals gluten free?
Majority of our meals are naturally gluten free, however our meals are produced in and around a kitchen that has gluten containing products. We strive to take the utmost care to avoid any cross contamination.
Are your meals nut free?
Majority of our meals don’t include nuts within the recipes, however in saying that a few do and are processed and handled in the same kitchen. We strive to take the utmost care to avoid any cross contamination.
Are your meals dairy free?
Majority of our meals are dairy free and are clearly noted on the product page. However, all our meals are produced in and around a kitchen that has dairy containing products. We strive to take the utmost care to avoid any cross contamination.
Do you offer vegetarian or vegan options?
We have a handful of our meals that are both vegetarian and vegan, next time you are ordering, just look out for the ‘VG’ or ‘V’ next to the product name in the menu.
Where do your vegetables come from?
We source all the veggies that go into your meals from our very own farm, situated just outside of Oamaru, one of the largest farms in the South Island. Nigel Clark and his dedicated team tend to the crops daily, ensuring our vege is the best produce, with only the best of the best heading out to our kitchens and local stockists.
If you are driving past, be sure to drop into our Farm Gate Stall - you won’t be disappointed.
469 Alma Maheno Road, Alma
Where do you source your organic meat from?
We strive to source the best quality organic meat to put into our meals. That is why we exclusively use chicken from Bostock Brothers Organic Free Range Chicken Farm, located in Hastings. A highly regarded organic farming company stocked in most supermarkets. Our beef and lamb is sourced from Clearwater Farms, just outside of Geraldine. With pastures and their processing methods they meet the high quality organic label requirements.
About the meals
Are the meals delivered fresh or frozen?
All meals are made fresh to order, they are then Gas-Flushed to seal in the flavour. We use recycled paper mesh liners and water based ice packs to keep your meals chilled and fresh until you receive them to pack into your fridge. Our recycled mesh liners are home recyclable and water based ice packs are soft plastic recyclable at your nearest soft plastic recycle location helping to reduce wastage in our packaging.
How long will the meals last once I get them?
Our organic meals are chilled then sealed immediately after being served to ensure we lock in all the freshness, they are then packed and sent to you in a chilled box, fresh. They have a guaranteed fridge life of 8 days after the shipping date. When you receive the box, we recommend the meals being refrigerated immediately. Meals should be consumed within 24 hours once opened.
Can you freeze the meals?
Yes, our meals will arrive to you fresh however they can go into your freezer. They have a recommended freezer life of 6 months. Meals need to be heated from their defrosted state so we recommend getting them out the night before to ensure they are thawed for when you come to heat and eat.
How big are your meals, do they come in different sizes?
We have two portion sizes, standard and substantial. Our standard size is 350g, and is considered our smaller serving recommended for lunches or if you don’t eat large meals.
Our substantial meal size is 500g-550g (depending on the meal) and is considered our larger serving recommended for dinners, or if you like a larger portion. Our substantial meals are also great split between 2 people with a side of steamed veggies or salad.
Are these meals easy to prepare?
Super easy! All our meals come with heating instructions on the packaging to guide you in the right direction. When reheating from fresh, you can either heat in the microwave for the guided amount of time on the heating instructions or until piping hot in the centre. Or use the oven at its recommended temperature and time also found in the heating instructions. All meals are able to be heated either way, but we do include ‘Recommended’ next to the method best for the meal. When reheating from frozen, ensure the meal has had time to fully defrost and follow the standard instruction as if heating from fresh.
Is the packaging recyclable?
Yes, all our packaging used from the boxes to the trays is all recyclable. Our boxes and the recycled paper mesh liner are home recyclable. The trays in which the meals come in are also recyclable provided the clear plastic and sticker is removed and they have been rinsed. Our ice packs, clear plastic coverings and stickers are all soft plastic recyclable at your nearest soft plastic recycle location.
Why is organic better than non-organic or conventional farming for your health?
Organic means that the produce has been farmed and harvested without the use of added chemicals, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. But, it is not just the absence of chemicals that makes our produce second to none; it is the health of the soil and surrounding environment that the produce is grown in. Our organic produce is without genetic modification (GMO) - when used, chemicals that remain on the product long after its harvest, are left in the soil and the surrounding environment. Organic production is sustainable, healthier and creates a better environment for ourselves and our future generations.
Question not quite answered?
If the answer you are looking for isn't in the above FAQs, feel free to drop us a message via our contact form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.