We would like to thank each of the following businesses for their on-going support and commitment to Sustainable, Healthy, Delicious Food and to the next generation of cooks.
As a local family owned and operated business Mediterranean Foods Nelson Wholesale and myPantry.nz are proud to sponsor another fantastic community initiative.
myPantry.nz is the new online food store for Mediterranean Foods Nelson Wholesale offering top quality products to the public, at wholesale prices. Visit myPantry.nz and check out the ever-growing range today. Shopping made even easier straight to your door. http://www.mypantry.nz
Mediterranean Foods Nelson Wholesale is a local award-winning food distribution and importing business supplying over 1800 local and imported quality food products to the hospitality industry. As a key supplier for over 18 years in the Nelson Tasman region we are excited to give back and support our local community and the younger generation.
The Conning’s family market garden expands across the Waimea Plains of Nelson and has been running for over 40 years. It was originally started by Robbie and Cheryl Conning, growing cabbages, carrots and potatoes. They slowly diversified and eventually grew enough to run their own fresh produce store, Brightwater Country Fresh. The three sons – Simon, Toby and Ben decided to continue in their parents’ footsteps and open another fresh produce store – Farm Fresh. This started out as a road side stall in 2017, but quickly outgrew its small space. Soon a new building was rising out of the carpark, a new home with a new name ‘Connings Food Market’ – re-branded to recognise the family’s hard work and passion for growing.
Oakland Milk
Oaklands Farm has been part of the local community since it was purchased from the New Zealand Co in 1844.
Although John Waring Saxton found his £150 investment “steep, hillish and swampy” he and the eight generations of farmers who followed him worked hard to turn the ground into workable farm land.
The Saxtons did so well at clearing the area that not only did the farm supply the area with milk from their dairy but in 1932 some land was set aside for Nelson Aero Club. Three years later Cook Strait Airways began operating from the grass strip.
Despite giving over more land in the 1970’s to the council to allow for the Saxton Fields sports grounds, roads, car parks and house building, the farm remains in operation just as the early Saxtons had intended – serving the community.
Doing the right thing for the community has always been important for the custodians of Oaklands and so when the opportunity came about to allow natural, farm fresh milk to be sold directly from the farm, it was another chance for the Raine family to serve the public with good local produce.
East St Café
East St is a vegan tropical plant cafe & restaurant in Nelson. They create delicious unique food that even the carnivores love! Open for breakfast lunch and dinner they serve up planet-saving dishes year round which keep the locals coming back time and time again!
Little River Cheese
You could be forgiven for thinking Little River Estate cheese and dairy is produced in the small town of the same name on Banks Peninsula, Canterbury. But in fact, the Little River Estatebrand calls Tasman home and its’ products are made in a dedicated factory on Neudorf Rd,Upper Moutere, the same facility that produces the multi-award-winning range of Thorvald Sheep Milk cheese and yogurts. The Little River Estate brand was born out of necessity when repeated droughts caused the eventual drying off and forced sale of the ewes supplying Thorvald with sheep milk. While Thorvald now has a new source for its’ sheep milk, at the time things were rather dire and the decision was made to utilise the idle factory and venture into cow’s milk dairy production using locally famous Oaklands whole milk.
The milk from Oaklands’ A2 herd is exceptional and their commitment to the environment, animal welfare and waste reduction via re-fillable glass bottles fit well with Little River Estates’own values. Little River will continue to look at ways to improve its’ packaging while maintaining the measures required for food safety, practicality, food miles, cost, convenience,and other factors. But where did the name come from?It started over 18 years ago in Dec ’02 when Sue & David (see staff profile) came to Nelson to be married. While on their honeymoon here they found and purchased a lifestyle block that remains the family home to this day. To convince Sue to move, David sold the virtues of Nelson weather, touting the highest sunshine hours, moderate climate, and not too much rain. But as fate would have it, their re-location in late May ’03, was followed by one of the wettest June’s on record and a little (actually sizable) river was seen running through their now very soggy property. The name Little River Estate was quick to mind and registered for the soon to be established vineyard. Unfortunately, the vineyard was un-economic and the vines were removed some ten years later. Fast forward to 2017 and their new cow’s milk dairy venture needed an identity. The unused name was perfect and Little River Estate was given a new lease of life. Little River Estate dairy produces arguably the best yoghurt, sour cream, and halloumi available along with a wide range of cheeses including their trophy-winning Brie de Moutere, stinky Wildfire, Aged Swiss, the distinctively orange coloured Tasman Blue, and more. Plus of course,seasonal or limited offerings like chardonnay-lees infused Bliss, fluffy light Cumulus and Full Monty, a medium soft cheese aged in Montepulciano grape skins. For the record, Little River does not use any preservatives, fillers, thickeners, stabilizers,sweeteners or other unnecessary additives in any of their products. All products are hand-madeusing traditional methods with no compromise. The Junction- Urban Grocer is proudly home to Little River Estates’ entire range as wellas Thorvald cheese and dairy, which you can taste and purchase seven days a week.
Raeward Fresh Richmond is all about championing the season with the best and freshest locally sourced fruit and vegetables from the Tasman region.
Alongside being the champions of fresh, we also offer an awesome range of pantry and everyday essentials, while supporting our local artisan suppliers.
Nayland Food Collective 