Apples or Oranges?

Why don't you have some of both? They're fresh, organic and pesticide-free, and will be delivered right to your doorstep via JiyoOrganic.com, a Mumbai-based organic fruit/veggie/produce store on the web. Freshly launched and bursting with goodness - diverse offerings, easy to navigate UI, option for cash on delivery, no minimum order - Jiyo Organic is a good alternative to standing in neverending grocery store lines or trudging around the fruit and veggie market, especially during the monsoons. Byte, anyone?

Fresh!

Offerings on the website are divided into fruits, vegetables, groceries and, inexplicably, "24 Hour Mantra", which includes cereals, spices, dry fruits, oils and confectionary. The pulses and vegetable sections are most robust, with almost thirty options of the usual suspects - nimboo and methi, capsicum and carrots. If you're looking for zucchini and rocket, this isn't the place for you. We were excited, however, to find seasonal sitaphal (custard apples) in the fruit section, which also features pineapple, sweet lime, bananas and papaya.

Seekers of more exotic fare should browse through the confectionary e-aisle, which includes farm-made guava and hibiscus jams, kumquat marmalade, sesame and peanut butters and rosella syrup. Also available are cooking oils, ghee, Tulsi tea and even Chyavanprash  (shudder).

Taste Materials

Claiming to "join the fight against harmful chemicals in organic products", Jiyo Organic sources pre-made goods such as the abovementioned jams, teas and pulses from organic suppliers and works directly with farmers for the fresh produce, encouraging them to adopt pesticide-free growing techniques. They also claim to conduct random sample checks on all their vendors to ensure quality.

The Final Dish

Designed for the typical Indian kitchen, Jiyo Organic stocks healthy versions of all the products that would make your grandmom happy. Only problem is that here, she won't be able to gauge the freshness of the greens or the ripeness of bananas, or haggle for prices (which is a pity, seeing as some of their stuff is pretty steep). They do, however, have a "no questions asked" same day return policy, if you don't like what you see. Final catch? Deliveries are made only on the weekends, which means you have to plan your groceries in advance.

Fat chance of that happening or a sweet prospect? You decide.

Getting there: Visit www.jiyoorganic.com or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Rs 53 for a dozen bananas.