The Paihia market is a smaller version of the well-known Kerikeri market. Stallholders provide the locals and visitors with a variety of produce and products. Our visit mid-summer saw the stalls filled to overflowing with fresh fruit and vegetables (some organic). There’s also eggs, cheese, bread, local oils, honey, wine ... all that you could need.
Orira Orchards' citrus selection is outstanding — big $6 bags of sweet, juicy grapefruit and oranges kept us in fresh juice for a couple of weeks. These guys grow enough fruit to supply three markets year-round.
From Willowbrook Farm, gorgeous scallopini, lebanese cucumbers and specialty capsicums, including long ones (shaped like large chillies) that I had to buy once owner Carole told me they'd had them for dinner the night before stuffed with savoury pork mince and cheese. In season you will also find poblanos (ancho chillies) here.
You can buy JC Nuts' macadamias online (jcnuts.co.nz), but it's so nice to be able to chat directly to the producers here. You can get the nuts raw or roasted and I stock up on big bags to use in many meals including a crumb for fresh fish and dressing for summer salads.
Spray-free blueberries from Sue and Murray at Living Fruits are lucky if they make the trip home. The stall also has raspberries in December.
Mahoe is the award-winning local cheesemaker in these parts. There's gouda, edam, mahoe blue, yoghurt, quark, mozzarella and plenty in between. You can also visit their factory shop on SH10 just south of Puketona Junction.
Kerikeri Fig Company were offering a fine fig and ginger jam, fig chutney, semi-dried figs and frozen figs when we visited late January. Anytime now from March through May you will be able to buy fresh figs — the incredibly sweet, blackskinned, red-fleshed brunoro mission variety.
Churchills — Kerikeri's well-known butcher is here selling a range of deli meats and eat-on-the-spot sausage in a bun. You can also get eats from the avocado stall, The Mediteranean Bakehouse and the blueberry caravan and most on offer were in the very affordable $5 price bracket.
Complete your shop with some Far North Olive Oil, and a bottle of wine from the Ake Ake vineyard.
Paihia Farmers' Market
Village Green
Every Thursday 2-5pm