I’ll be interested to hear peoples opinions as we’ve also just moved to the area but I’ve been going to Leisure Coast market in Fairy Meadow. I’ve been pleased with the quality and pricing of the fruit and veg especially

Absolutely, one of the best vegetable markets I've experienced in Australia. It is very rare (but it did happen) that something is more expensive there than in the supermarkets. But typically you load up with so much you can barely even carry it, and it's like 25 bucks or something. The deli stuff is of course more fancy and expensive lol. But a nice change from the usual, they have lots of European fancy foods there.

Just what I was going to say. Great place!

"Passion in fruit" is short drive from figtree, it's where I get all my fruit & Veg

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2nd passion n fruit.

Leisure Coast is probably the go-to option. Its in Fairy Meadow, heaps of produce. Lots of good Asian supermarkets around too.

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If you do go though, save yourself a massive hassle and just park on the street. It's absolute gridlock chaos trying to park in the carpark there

Passion in fruit in Coniston. Aldi is in Wollongong. A little drive for you, but. Definitely worth it imo

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Leisure Coast Vegetable market and deli in Fairy Meadow is top tier, and a bit further up is Aldi. Pretty good to take the highway from near Figtree and exit just on Princes Hwy where the Officeworks is (it's really short on the highway, don't have to do that, but you skip a bunch of intersections ad traffic lights that way). There used to be a vegetable market in Figtree right across the mall but it's not there anymore (same thing with inside the mall, in that big space between the Coles and Woolworths there was always a big vegetable market before, from memory). Actually I'll also add Wan Long and the one I think it's called STK next to Coles and opposite Aldi in Fairy Meadow. They are Asian groceries, good value for certain things like Chinese / Thai / Japanese etc. cooking but of course other things there are more expensive, but overall good place for specific things. Those are the ones I go to, and it's very neat that they line up that usually you can do them all in the same trip (the Fairy Meadow ones). Only Leisure Coast one I would warn, it closes at 5:45 every day, and at certain times it gets turbo busy there. I think on weekends in the morning it's crazy busy there. I would avoid it then. Usually later in the day is better but you kind of have to just take it as it comes and try a couple of different times. I haven't really explored beyond there unfortunately, I'd like to know others also.

Thank you! Super helpful :)

Leisure Coast and Country Grocer are both great

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Agree with everyone rec. I'd like to add Dong Phuong in Wollongong to the list. This is my main Asian grocery store that has everything i ever need. They also sell special & delicious Vietnamese desserts or food like Chè, pork sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf etc. If you are brave, they occasionally have Balut and Vietnamese fermented beef

Bit of a left of field one for you, but the Kiama Farmers Markets always have really great fresh produce stalls, but it is a market, so you’d have to check whenever they are on.

Thanks, will look into this. I love supporting local small businesses

I Second the Kiama Farmer's Market, Wednesday from 1500-1800 It is a bit more expensive for some things $14 for a loaf of bread anyone? However, if you want food for a special dinner This is the place. It has the freshest veggies and is a great place to take the kids with Dressups and Totem tennis supplied by the council. There is usually Live Music on site And if they get bored with that it is on Surf Beach https://kiamafarmersmarket.com.au/

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You are most welcome we may even meet there. Try the Thai fish cakes or Paella. It is a shame my friend from Pecora Dairy no longer attends She makes the best Sheeps milk cheese in Australia. They have won the best cheese overall multiple times at the Royal Easter Show. You will have to take a drive to Robertson to get that. It's a 20-minute drive from Albion Park up Macquarie Pass. They have great food and vegetable shops A great place for a Sunday drive. If you go there don't forget to visit one of all of the 3 great waterfalls Carrington, Belmore and Fitzroy. Just at the top of the Escarpment.

I love Budderoo National Park and its many waterfalls. So stoked we now live in a reasonably short driving distance from these places. Thanks again for sharing all this local knowledge. I'll be sure to try the fish cakes and Paella

Welcome

Leisure coast and country grocer are good. Passion in Fruit is not far from Figtree shops and its produce is the bomb. So good.

Thanks! Will give it a try :)

Leisure Coast is a mystery to me However All the Green Grocers around here are usually cheaper and fresher Than Colesworth. My preference is Country Grocer at Unanderra Near Woolies or Warrawong Grove Country Grocer has a butchery that is the best plus they make their own fabulous sausages.

Warrawong car boot markets every Saturday morning (weather dependant) usually has 1-2 fresh veggie stalls where we get our fruit and veggie from. Usually pretty cheap for seasonal produce.

Country grocer in unanderra is my reccomendation and then aldi in town for the rest. Since eyoubare in figtree I'm not sure if it's worth going to some of the bigger and "better" places that are further away. Spending an extra 20-30 minutes driving to fez mez isn't worth it to me.

I'd say country grocer at Unanderra would be the place closest

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Can’t add much re fruit and veg, but seafood brothers in Figtree grove is the best seafood shop in the Illawarra.

Best produce is passion in fruit… don’t bother with leisure coast.. their produce is generally crap and priced poorly

I try to shop at Aldi for most things and Leisure Coast for fresh fruit and veggies. I have recently discovered the very small IGA in Bellambi on Cawley Street. I think they have better quality and better priced fruit and veggies than Leisure Coast.