Huckleberry Farms

Staff are always friendly here, if you can’t find something then definitely ask. This is a small shop but jam packed full of dried goods, canned items, fresh nuts seeds, water and fresh produce. Near the gluten free baked goods section, there is a small section of ready to go slices and cake with a café. They stock some seedlings along with compost bins and gardening supplies. They have a decent range of teas and supplements. They frequently have discounts and sale items as well as samples available and a naturopath. Unfortunately they have recently stopped stocking watercress.

If it is organic, gluten free or eco friendly then Huckleberry Farms probably has it. If you’re into organic eating or have some sort of food, this is the place for you. This store is a bit smaller than the other two locations but still stocks a decent amount of product. The produce is all very good quality and there is a good range of frozen and chilled foods. Down the back with the bulk nuts and cereals you can find baked goods that state they are free from multiple things. Harvest Wholefoods in Grey Lynn has a much better range and I prefer to go there as I can buy vegan muffins and cookies made in New Zealand from all natural ingredients by Kauri Kitchen.
Even so if you are local to GI and want to eat healthier or need to find foods that cater to your dietary needs then I recommend it. Price doesn’t really factor in much here. If you prioritise your health then you will pay to know what you are eating is free from preservatives and other ingredients that you can’t pronounce. The owners are strict with which products they will stock based on ingredients, location and production methods. Eat well, treat your body well. Shop here.

Huckleberry Farms is a fantastic organic shop down in Glen Innes, with locations also in Royal Oak and Grey Lynn. What I like about this place is that it caters for not just one but many niches — from gluten-​free to vegetarian to organic meat-​eaters, Huckleberry Farms has most of your shopping list sorted. Do keep in mind though that although they have a wide range of stock, as it is natural and/​or organic and/​or gluten-​free, it is pretty pricey and a lot more than what you’d pay down the road at the local supermarket. But don’t let that put you off too much — they have very competitive prices with Nosh located over the road, and the service is super friendly and a bit more personalised than what you’d receive at Nosh.

I went here as my last ditch attempt to find savoury yeast flakes to add to my hiking diet since it was going to be my first long distance hike as a vegetarian and I was paranoid about lacking in B12. Except for the parking area being small and awkward to get into, this was a great store. Although I felt a bit overwhelmed when I went in, and probably looked it, I was soon greeted by a staff member who knew exactly what I was talking about (even though I was calling it yeast extract or something else that it isn’t) and took to exactly the shelf where I would find it. Perfect. Mission accomplished.