All the experts agree, and it's widely known: you should eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day!
To help you diversify your diet, Potager City offers a subscription service that allows you to receive a basket of fresh fruits and vegetables every week. And as a bonus: you’ll be supporting the local economy, as all produce comes exclusively from partnering local growers!
I tested Potager City in the Bordeaux region for several months. Today, I'm sharing my experience with you.
What is a Potager City?
POTAGERCITY - FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES DIRECT FROM PRODUCERS | |
Content | Fresh fruits and/or vegetables from local producers |
Price | €11.50 for 2.5 kgs of fruit or 3 kgs of vegetables €17.90 for 4 kgs €26.90 for 6 kgs (Prices with subscription - add €1 for a one-off purchase) |
Delivery | Free to a partner retailer |
Frequency | Every week |
Commitment | No |
Values | Providing local produce, from short supply chains, in season, preferably organic. |
💖 I loved it
- The overall quality of the fruits and vegetables,
- The time-saving aspect of this system,
- Discovering new local producers,
- The app, which is also handy for saving time,
- The simple kraft packaging, which is almost zero waste!
❌ I liked it less
- The price is a bit high,
- Limited collection points in rural areas.
How Does Potager City Work?
Potager City offers you the chance to save time on your shopping by collecting baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables close to your home. You can choose:
- only fruit,
- only vegetables,
- a mix of both.
The possible quantities are:
- 2.5 kg of fruit (recommended for 2 to 3 people),
- 3 kg of vegetables (recommended for 2 to 3 people),
- 4.5 kg of assorted fruit and vegetables (recommended for 2 to 3 people),
- 6 kg of assorted fruit and vegetables (recommended for 4 to 5 people).
Are they seasonal fruits and vegetables?
Absolutely! In fact, this is the primary criterion for selecting products delivered by Potager City. There's no way you'd be getting strawberries in the middle of October or tomatoes in December! Your baskets will be composed solely of seasonal fruits and vegetables, chosen for their quality.
Potager City places great importance on the seasonal calendar
Where do the products delivered by Potager City come from?
The Potager City team strives to prioritise local produce as much as possible. When you sign up, you'll be asked which region you live in: this will allow us to deliver fruits and vegetables that are grown close to home.
🍌 For exotic fruits, which don't grow in our region, Potager City collaborates with organic partner producers. The products are purchased directly from them, ensuring they are paid a fair price for their work.
Can you add products to your order?
Of course. Once you’re registered (there’s no need to subscribe, just create an account with your email), you’ll have access to the Potager City shop. This allows you to order complementary products alongside your basket. These can include:
- Specific fruits and vegetables from a local producer,
- Organic eggs available in packs of 6 or 12,
- Herb bundles,
- Flour,
- Brown sugar,
- Jams,
- Fruit juices,
- A variety of savoury groceries...
👉 This is very convenient as it allows you to pick up other local and sustainable products while collecting your shopping, saving you multiple trips to an organic shop, for instance.
Is there a commitment with Potager City?
Not at all! You have two ordering options available to you:
- Without a subscription: in this case, you'll only receive one basket. It's perfect for trying it out!
- With a subscription: you receive a basket every week, but you can pause, change, or cancel your subscription at any time.
How does the delivery and collection of the baskets work?
Unlike some other competitors, Potager City does not deliver baskets to your home. Instead, they are dropped off at a pick-up point, at a partner shop near you.
There are numerous pickup points in France: over 6,300 at the moment! By clicking on this link, you can find the one closest to you!
As the name suggests, Potager City is more developed in urban areas. The brand tries its best to establish collection points in rural areas, but they are less common.
Potager City is available in major cities across France, with numerous collection points.
🏢 It’s also possible to have items delivered directly to your workplace, provided your company is a partner! If you’re working in a company, don’t hesitate to ask them about it.
What is the price of Potager City baskets? 💰
Potager City offers two different baskets, along with a €1 discount for those who opt for a subscription (no commitment required).
Here are the details of the prices offered by Potager City:
Contents | Basket Weight | Number of People | Price Without Subscription | Price With Subscription |
Fruits | 2.5 kgs | 2 or 3 | €12.50 | €11.50 |
Vegetables | 3 kgs | 2 or 3 | €12.50 | €11.50 |
Fruits and Vegetables | 4.5 kgs | 2 or 3 | €18.90 | €17.90 |
Fruits and Vegetables | 6 kgs | 4 or 5 | €27.90 | €26.90 |
You can add options:
- 6 organic eggs for €3 a week,
- 125g of organic dried fruits for €3 a week.
How is the price of baskets calculated?
Potager City is very transparent about the prices of their boxes. The aim is to fairly compensate the producer as well as the various parties involved in the delivery process (packaging, teams, rents, etc.).
What payment options are available on Potager City?
You can pay using a credit or debit card, including Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. You can also use your meal vouchers with Edenred and Swile meal voucher cards.
👉 You can't pay for your Potager City basket using PayPal.
How to pay with restaurant vouchers on Potager City?
All you need is a Swile or Edenred restaurant voucher card. When you’re ready to pay, simply click on Restaurant Voucher Cards and enter your account details:
Screenshot of what will appear on the site at the time of payment
What does a Potager City basket look like? Check it out in the video!
To help you better visualise a City vegetable garden planter, you can watch this video:
We see that the fruits and vegetables are varied and of high quality. The packaging is a simple recycled and recyclable kraft bag, making the offer accessible even for those with a lifestyle leaning towards zero waste.
In a basket, you will find either fruits or vegetables (or both, depending on your preference) freshly picked and in season. Since they come from local producers, they haven't travelled far to reach you. It's just like buying them at the market, but it saves you time!
Contents of a Potager City basket weighing 4.5 kgs
Is the Potager City app worth it?
On its website, Potager City encourages you to download the app on your smartphone. It has excellent ratings on both Google Play and the App Store, so I decided to take a look.
What features does the Potager City mobile app offer?
Once you’ve created an account, it’s very handy as it allows you to place your orders directly, as well as view the contents of your shopping basket for the week.
You also have access to the online shop, which allows you to add grocery items (juices, jams...) or other fruits and vegetables to your order.
The app also offers guided recipes, which are really handy for learning how to cook the fruits and vegetables in your basket. You'll find detailed articles on all the fruits and vegetables available in your basket (storage, preparation...). Lastly, you'll get information about Potager City's partner producers.
How to download the Potager City app?
You can find it by following the links below:
- Available on Google Play for Android smartphones,
- And on the App Store for iPhones.
✅ In summary, the app is incredibly handy and makes managing your subscription a breeze, while also helping you discover delicious and easy-to-make recipes!
Can you give a Potager City basket as a gift? 🎁
At the moment, Potager City doesn’t offer a gift card. However, you can give a basket by signing up and then choosing to send it without a subscription. You can also add other items (eggs, jams, fruit juices, dried fruits...) by selecting them from the shop.
👪 It's a brilliant gift idea for:
- A student who can't really afford to eat well,
- Some busy parents who don't have time to go to the market,
- An elderly person living alone who would like to cook,
- A person or a couple who work a lot and want to eat well,
- A family looking to enjoy local produce and varied, balanced meals.
How to set up Potager City in your business?
Would you like the business you manage or work for to become a collection point for Potager City baskets? It's completely free, and by doing so, you allow your staff or colleagues to enjoy the benefits of the Potager City subscription as well.
🥭 Potager City also offers fruit baskets for €25 including VAT, which you can place in your workplace, perhaps for coffee breaks. This allows all your team members to enjoy healthier breaks, while enhancing their quality of life at work.
What do Potager City customers think? Discover their reviews!
Looking for feedback from other customers is a great way to gather valuable information before signing up for an online service. To save you some time, I've conducted this survey for you and synthesised the various reviews available online regarding Potager City. 😉
On Google
Potager City has 163 reviews on Google and encourages its customers to leave feedback on this platform. This number isn't huge, but it's enough to get a preliminary idea of customers' opinions on the service provided. The average rating is quite positive, sitting at 4 / 5.
💚 Potager City customers loved:
- Freshness of fruits and vegetables,
- The ability to buy local,
- The option to add other products (like eggs),
- The app,
- The recipes available in the app,
- The time-saving aspect of this system,
- Easy diversification of their diet.
Positive review about Potager City left by a customer on Google
❌ Customers were less impressed:
- The selection of exotic fruits and vegetables which may not be necessary for everyone,
- The slightly higher prices for those used to buying their fruits and vegetables at a local market.
Mixed review of Potager City posted on Google
About Trustpilot
As I write this article, Potager City has a rating of 2.9 / 5 on Trustpilot, which is considered average by the platform. There are fewer customer reviews than on Google, with a total of 69 reviews.
This mixed review is due to several customers noticing that there are exotic fruits and vegetables in their Potager City basket. However, the brand clarifies its approach: they aim to sell primarily French products, but occasionally offer fruits and vegetables sourced from further afield. Importantly, there is no middleman involved; most of these products are organic, and the producer receives fair compensation that reflects the value of their work.
Some customers are also disappointed with the price, which they consider to be high. However, there is a considerable number of positive reviews with 5 stars praising the concept and the quality of the fruits and vegetables.
Potager City on Social Media
Would you like to stay updated on the latest news from Potager City? Feel free to follow the team on:
👉 In total, Potager City has nearly 115,000 subscribers who regularly share recipes and the contents of their baskets with the #potagercity!
Potager City also has a YouTube channel where you can find:
- Step-by-step recipes,
- Interviews with partner producers,
- Advertisements showcasing Potager City.
An example of a recipe from the YouTube channel Potager City: Cheddar Corn Fritters
Is Potager City a scam?
Potager City is a French company that has been operating since 2007. It is based in Lyon, France. This venture is the result of a family endeavour, as the company, which now employs close to a hundred people, was founded by two brothers who aimed to provide an easy solution for eating well. In 2020, the Carrefour Group acquired the start-up.
Potager City is well established in the business landscape and supplies baskets to numerous companies (including major brands) that act as intermediaries.
These major French companies are turning to Potager City
If you have a query, you can get in touch with Potager City via an online form or email. There isn’t a phone customer service available. However, the brand values its customers and responds to reviews left on Google.
✅ Potager City is a French start-up where you can confidently place your orders. We do miss having a telephone customer service option, but the company is responsive via messaging.
My Verdict on Potager City ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Normally, I'm someone who buys my fruits and vegetables from local producers at the weekly market in my neighbourhood. It takes a bit of time, but I don't want to give up on shopping local, as it aligns with my beliefs.
When I first heard about Potager City, I was intrigued by the idea of buying fruits and vegetables from local producers without having to go to the market. I decided to try it out for a week without subscribing, and then I signed up for a few months afterwards.
As we are a household of three (two adults and a child), I opted for the basket priced at €18.90 (€17.90 with a subscription) of assorted fruits and vegetables. The quantity is just right for a week, although I regularly add more fruits and other products (fruit juices, jams) from the shop. I don’t buy my eggs through Potager City as I find the price of €3 for 6 eggs a bit steep.
So far, I've always been happy with the variety of fruits and vegetables as well as their quality. The very simple packaging, a recyclable kraft bag, suits me perfectly. I'm also pleased that I can continue to enjoy local produce, but while saving a lot of time, as I no longer need to go to the market!
I wanted to sign my mother up, as she lives in the countryside, to introduce her to the concept, but unfortunately, there was no collection point near her home. I was a bit disappointed... I hope they’ll have a collection point there soon!
✅ In summary, I recommend Potager City for the quality of their fruits and vegetables and their commitment to supporting local producers, even if some products can be a bit on the pricey side.
FAQ on The Little Balloon: I answer YOUR questions!
👉 In this section, I’ll be answering the questions you’ve asked me about Potager City. If you can’t find the answer to your question, feel free to ask me in the comments!
How to Place an Order on Potager City?
To place an order with Potager City, you must first create an account. If you want to order specific products like fruits, vegetables, eggs, flour, or sugar, you must initially have ordered a box of fruits and/or vegetables. These are simply additional products you can add to your weekly box.
Once you've selected your basket, all you need to do is head over to the shop page while staying logged in to add individual products.
How to change your box with Potager City?
The box you chose last time doesn’t suit you? You can opt for a smaller, larger model, or one with different contents.
To do this, simply log in to your Potager City account, then go to the "ACCOUNT" section at the top right, followed by "SUBSCRIPTION". You will then access a page summarising the contents of your weekly order, complete with a button that says "CANCEL / REPLACE". Just click it to change your basket for the week. 😉
How to access recipes at Potager City?
Potager City offers dozens of guided recipes to help you cook with the fruits and vegetables from your baskets more easily. You have several options to access them:
- Visit the Potager City YouTube channel to watch the step-by-step videos,
- On the homepage of the site, while logged in, click on "MY ACCOUNT" in the top right corner, then "RECIPE BOOK", followed by "VIEW OUR RECIPES".
- From the app, navigate to the "RECIPES" tab.
👉 From the website and the app, you can favourite your preferred recipes so you can come back to them later.
How to get a coupon or promo code for Potager City?
Potager City is offering you a discount of 30% off your first order when you enter the promo code "POTAGER" at checkout.
Does Potager City only offer organic products?
Not necessarily, as the start-up focuses on the proximity of producers. The main aim is to provide regional products. However, the goal is for as many of them as possible to work organically, and that is indeed the case.
Fruits and vegetables that aren’t native to France (like bananas, kiwis, etc.) are largely organic. This also applies to the grocery products you can add to your weekly shop: sugar, flour, eggs...
How does Potager City's referral system work?
Do you want to introduce someone to fruit and vegetable baskets? Potager City has a really attractive referral offer for you.
By visiting the homepage of the site, then clicking on "MY ACCOUNT", followed by "REFERRAL", you will get a link that you can share with someone who wants to place an order on the site.
If your referral takes part, they will receive 3 discount codes that will apply to their first 3 orders:
- -50% off the first one,
- -20% off the second one,
- -10% off the third one.
🤑 You also get an added bonus as you’ll enjoy 50% off your next order!
👉 The maximum amount for this discount is €15.
How to get in touch with Potager City? 📞
Potager City doesn't have a phone customer service, but you can get in touch with the team:
- through a form available on the website,
- by email at: framboise@potagercity.fr,
- on social media: Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Source: Potager City on Instagram (@potagercity)
How to unsubscribe from Potager City?
You can suspend your subscription in two different ways:
- Temporarily,
- Permanently.
🔸 How do I temporarily pause my subscription?
To do this, you’ll need to go to your "MY ACCOUNT" section while logged in, then click on "SUBSCRIPTION". Next, head to "SCHEDULE A PAUSE". All you have to do is specify the period during which you don’t want to receive a delivery. It’s really handy for holidays! 🌴
🔸 How to Cancel Your Potager City Subscription?
To do this, you need to follow the same process as before, which is to click on "MY ACCOUNT", then "SUBSCRIPTION", but this time select "SUSPEND WITHOUT RESTART".
If you want to have your Potager City account deleted, please request this directly to the team via the contact form.
👉 All of these changes must be made no later than two days before the scheduled delivery of your order to be considered.
I hope this experience has encouraged you to also give Potager City a go. Feel free to share your thoughts on this service in the comments; I'd really love to hear from you! 😉