Organic Wholefoods

Don’t tell anyone but this self confessed cheese, wine and gin lover is secretly also a health food freak. I LOVE veggies, I use coconut oil on just about everything (including my body when I can’t find the moisturiser!), there’s a mountain of weird looking grains and seeds in my cupboard, activated nuts in my freezer and kombucha is what I drink when everyone else is chugging back juice or soda.
I like to think that the healthy eating most of the time makes up for the booze fuelled nights I have a couple of days a week. Organic Wholefoods tends to be a bit pricier than other organic stores but the selection is vast, especially for «trendy» items like raw chocolate and desserts, coconut water and cacao. There’s bulk nuts, grain and seeds and a load of interesting imported organic ingredients. The fresh produce is good too which a decent selection of veggies, cheese and other proteins.
I often pop in when I need an emergency bag of bukinis, but usually I visit to get my weekly stash of Kombucha.
The selection of fermented drinks at Organic Wholefoods is excellent — they have a wide variety of brands including Good Brew, Remedy, Mojo and The Fermentary. I usually buy a big bottle of the Remedy Kombucha and drink it over a few days. I was once skeptical about the «powers» of fermented drinks but after having a small glass most days my stomach is a whole lot happier with me. Call me a hipster hippie-​wannabe if you like, but I love this stuff!
Pro tip: bring your own bag unless you want to feel guilty when you ask for plastic to carry home that carton of nut milk that has been imported from Europe…

This is a one-​stop superstore for the organically and healthy minded. There is a great selection of fruit and vegetables in front and a couple of isles full of vitamins, supplements, milks, breads, oats, cereals and other groceries down back.
There is a decent selection of meats and dairy as well. They stock informative books and magazines and even cater those with a sweet tooth with a great selection of chocolate. The prices are pretty good too if you start to compare with other organic retailers.
Some of their prices are even the same as the mega chain supermarket just down the road.
Situated on Smith St and servicing the healthy for the last 20 years, this family owned business is a pleasure to come and shop in. There is a very earthy feel with passive staff and smiles and positivity all around. If you can’t make it down, they also have an online shop and even do home delivery.

Firstly, a confession.
Although I occasionally brought organic produce, I had not signed on to the organic way of life. I thought it would be too expensive, boring, and not flexible enough for my student life.
How wrong I was. I discovered Organic Wholefoods on Smith Street a couple of weeks before, and am now prepared to make weekly migrations to stock up on fruit and vegetables and a few other products as well.
Organic Wholefoods boasts some beautiful regional produce (juicy oranges, enormous mushrooms and free range eggs) as well as an enormous range of cereals, flour, tea, nuts and more.
I was particularly impressed with the wide range of tea and coffee, and had to get my hands on some of the Mount Zero Extra Virgin Olive Oil (under $ 20!).
I was surprised to see that the produce was pretty reasonable (a couple of dollars here and there more than Coles of Safeway) but after buying and trying out the food I could definitely tell the difference.
Although I may not have the budget to buy organic for everything, visiting and trying the produce stocked at Organic Wholefoods was an eye-​opening and enjoyable decision.

Fitzroy’s Organic Wholefoods has been serving its loyal local clientele for more than 20 years. A veritable organic behemoth selling organic fruit and veg, dairy, breads and things like herbal teas and non-​toxic cleaning products in bulk alongside a frankly awesome selection or organic wine, Organic Wholefoods is a bit of a Smith Street foodie favourity.
Organic Wholefoods’ fruit and veg is extremely well priced — we’re talking similar prices to neighbouring Woolworths but for certified organic produce — and this shop’s selection is so wide-​ranging that you could literally do all of your food shopping here. Although that would cost you.
Prices predictably run rather higher than those for non-​organic products but if you’re in the market for a beautiful piece of organic meat or some organic, sulphite free wine, you can’t go wrong with Organic Wholefoods.
My one gripe? Staff can be a little thin on the ground, meaning service can take quite some time. But if you’re in the mood for doing a leisurely, ethical and strictly organic shop, Organic Wholefoods Fitzroy is the place to go.