If Peapod doesn't provide quite the level of service you expected... if you would prefer to actually have a look at the specific fruits and vegetables or cuts of meat, etc... before purchasing them, then Japanese robotics developer tmsuk might have the solution for you.
According to Pink Tentacle, tmsuk has developed a remote controlled shopping robot that allows the infirm or just plain lazy to shop from home via various cellphone links.
The current state of the technology was demonstrated at the Izutsuya department store in the city of Kitakyushu, Japan.
According to Pink Tentacle:
In the demonstration, an unwell grandmother unable to go shopping with her granddaughter sent the robot in her place. Using an NTT DoCoMo video-capable cellphone, the grandmother was able to control the robot and enjoy the shopping experience through the robot's camera eyes. As curious shoppers looked on, the woman maneuvered the robot to the hat section, eyed what was available on the shelf, and had her granddaughter model a few for her before deciding which one to purchase.
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