Eleven Local Sydney Grocers For When You Need to Stock Up on Fruit and Veggies
Get your five a day from these family-run grocers.
Eleven Local Sydney Grocers For When You Need to Stock Up on Fruit and Veggies
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Get your five a day from these family-run grocers.
Whether it's being time poor or just a little bit lazy, relying on the big supermarket chains for your weekly grocery shop is all too easy. But if you're becoming conscious of where and what products you're buying, it may be time to return to a good ol' fashioned neighbourhood grocer.
We've teamed up with American Express to highlight some of Sydney's most impressive local grocers — to help you shop small. Many of them are still family owned and run, so not only will you be supporting the small guys but you're also buying from families that have been in the fruit and veg biz for generations. They really know their stuff, and they're passionate about sourcing fresh produce locally and sustainably, which means your goodies will be seasonal, grown by Aussie farmers and (hopefully) free from nasty additives. Plus, many have expanded their product range beyond the green goodies to include bread, eggs, deli products, pantry staples and other household items, so you'll actually be able to cross more off your shopping list than you expected. But if you really can't justify the extra time it may add to your trip to the shops, some offer home delivery, too. You've really got no excuses to get your five a day in.
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‘Nduja, chestnut puree, Kakadu plum hand cream, red gum smoked salt — they’re not the types of products you’d normally expect to find in a local grocer. But you can at this Surry Hills institution. The family owned store has been servicing the neighbourhood for over a decade. It prides itself on stocking gourmet varieties of some of your pantry staples, plus a few harder-to-find or rare items from local and international producers. It’s only a small space on the corner of Crown and Foveaux Streets, but it certainly jams in as much as possible.
You’ll find everything from fresh fruit and veg, premade meals and Iggy’s Bread to aisles of dry products — think pasta, sauces, tea and coffee. And in a cosy corner up the back is the deli, which stocks imported European cheeses and an impressive range of cured meats.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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One of the best parts about shopping at a local grocer is that you’re likely supporting a family owned and run operation — and that takes on a new meaning at Northwest Growers. The shop, based in Castle Mall Shopping Centre, is run by two brothers, who grew up working on their family orchard, from which they source their fresh stone fruit.
Stop by to try the juicy peaches, nectarines, plums and figs, and stock up on some top quality fruit and vegetables from growers in Windsor and Galston while you’re there. You’ll also find homemade jams and marmalade from the duo’s mother, alongside eggs, nuts, bread, pasta and dairy products.
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Considering it’s part of the inner city, Erksineville’s high street isn’t as big or bustling as you may expect. But it does have everything one needs: cafes, takeaway joints, bottle shops, pubs and a grocer stocked with all of your kitchen essentials. The Fruit Village has been around since 2013.
It’s the sort of reliable local you can count on to have an ingredient you’re missing from the fridge or pantry when cooking up a storm. But it doesn’t jack up the prices just because it can — it sells everything at bargain rates, particularly in-season fruit (we’ve seen trays of lemons and mandarins for just two bucks each). Alongside its fresh fruit and veg, it also stocks rice, pasta, Sonoma bread and snacks.
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Walking into Fresh City Fruit & Vegetables is like landing smack-bang in the middle of a rainbow. There are rows upon rows of boldly coloured, unpackaged fresh fruit and vegetables to choose from. Remember to bring along your reusable bags so you can keep the effort towards sustainability going.
The green grocer is located in Chatswood Place, which is super convenient if you live or work in the area and need to pick up a few essentials on your way home. You can also count on jars of pickled vegetables, fresh Lebanese bread and eggs.
Image: Leigh Griffiths
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One of the best things about shopping at a family-run joint is seeing that passion the folks have for their trade. Their knowledge about the products is second to none — and they’re more than happy to share it with you. This is certainly the case at eastern suburbs grocer, Patricks on Bellevue.
This is a family affair — Joseph runs the store with his uncles Sam, Frank and Tony. At the Bellevue Road store, you’ll find fresh produce alongside bread, deli goods and a fresh juice and yoghurt bar, if you need to grab something to go. Not only is the team dedicated to sourcing the best seasonal produce for its customers every day, but the team also want to ensure you make the most of it. The store’s website is a treasure trove of easy written recipes and video tutorials that’ll help you transform your fruit and veggies into tasty, seasonally appropriate meals.
Image: Yaya Stempler
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Being time poor is never ideal, particularly if you’re wanting to shop more consciously and support local vendors. If you’ve only got a small sliver of time each week to stock up on all of your essentials, but don’t want to sacrifice quality, head to Taste Organic in Enmore. Not only does the store have an extensive range of fresh produce, but it also sells other household goods — from bread, meat, eggs and dairy alternatives to cleaning products, pet food and cosmetics. It’s a one-stop shop — ‘topping up’ your supplies from another store won’t be necessary.
Plus, as its name suggests, it’s focused on organic products. All fresh produce is 100-percent certified organic, with as much as possible sourced from Aussie farms. And other items are largely sustainable, recyclable and free from toxic ingredients. Taste Organic has a second store on the north shore in Turramurra. Both offer click and collect and home delivery services to surrounding suburbs, too.
Image: Cassandra Hannagan
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Cheese cubes, cabanossi, crackers, a couple of dips and some packets of chips emptied into plastic bowls — it was once the standard food table spread at many an Aussie gathering. Nowadays, events of all kinds — weddings, backyard barbecues, baby showers and even kids parties — opt for a more elegant snack setup: the grazing table. And if you’re ready to try your hand at designing your own aesthetically pleasing grazing table, board or platter for an upcoming do, then Panetta Mercato is where to shop.
The Marrickville Metro store, which is primarily a grocer, has a pretty epic deli setup at the back that is chockers with imported cheeses, cured meats, olives, sundried tomatoes and more. Not confident enough to build your own yet? You can order a ready-made platter instead. Elsewhere in the store, you’ll find gelato, pantry staples, dips and more.
Panetta Mercato also has outposts in Leichhardt, Baulkham Hills and Macquarie Centre. Plus, it has set boxes packed with fresh produce and other essentials starting from just $15 available for home delivery from its website.
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Unless you’re extremely organised or have figured out how to squeeze a few extra hours in the day, some life admin usually falls by the wayside. And even if you love cooking, the weekly grocery shop is often what gets dropped. Rather than splashing all of your hard-earned cash on takeaway dinners, Ooooby may be the answer. Launched in 2013 in Newtown, Ooooby delivers boxes packed with fresh, certified organic produce to Sydney doorsteps every week.
You start by selecting one of three fruit and veg boxes, then add in any extras you may want, like eggs or bread. Then, on the same day every week (or fortnight, if you’d prefer), the box will get delivered right to your door. Delivery is free for orders over $44, too. The company works with local farmers and artisanal producers to source goods from across the country, including produce from Pocket City Farms and Kurrawong Organics, bread from The Bread & Butter Project and dairy from Country Valley. You can head here to see what is available in each box this week.
Image: Alice Mahran
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Bright lights, pristine clean floors and wooden barrels perfectly stacked with fresh produce — Farmers Fresh looks like it belongs on a movie set. Instead, you’ll find it on the ground floor of Westfield Burwood. Keep an eye on its Facebook page for epic weekly specials across its Burwood and Figtree stores, like cauliflowers for $2 each or watermelon for under a dollar per kilo.
Other essentials to complete your at-home feast are available, too, including dairy products, eggs, nuts, fresh bread, canned goods and an extensive range of spices. Don’t have much time to cook? Check out the freezer, which has giant spanakopita spirals, pastizzi and fresh pasta.
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It’s been a few years now since Westfield Miranda unveiled its renovations, including its brand new food court and fresh food precinct. And one of the best additions to the area was The Grocery Store: a grocer so overflowing with fresh produce and quality goods that it’s taken up space in the walkway, too. The store is run by veteran grocer Charlie Evripidou and his two sons.
At the entrance is a cafe that serves coffee, freshly squeezed juice, fruit salads, yoghurts and cakes, if you’re looking for a place to refuel during a shopping marathon. Venture into the spacious store and you’ll find more fresh fruit and veg, plus a deli and shelves packed with pasta, sauces, canned goods, nuts and more. And the refrigerated section features ready meals, Fresh Fodder dips, kombucha and yoghurt. The store offers delivery across the Sutherland Shire and St George areas (free for orders over $50) via its website, with same-day delivery available for some homes, too.
Image: Leigh Griffiths
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Balgowlah North Grocer may be relatively small, but it covers all the basics. Open daily until 6.30pm, it’s perfectly situated in a small strip of shops on Woodbine Street, so Balgowlah and Seaforth residents can pop in on their way home from work to pick up essentials for dinner.
Alongside its moderate range of fresh fruit and veggies, Balgowlah North Grocer also has bread, snacks and drinks. Oh, and good news: if you’ve realised on the way home that you forgot your partner or housemate’s birthday, it sells fresh flowers and indoor plants, too.
Image: Leigh Griffiths
