I love this local, family owned produce store in the Central Ave. Shopping area of the Heights…read moreneighborhood. It is small but has everything you need such as fruits, vegetables, some bread like Portuguese rolls, canned goods, eggs, milk, even cheeses and packaged cured meats like sausages and hams. No fresh meat or seafood but I go to Pampita Meat Shop (great Argentine and Americans cuts) and the seafood shop across the street for those.
The price is great - I would buy 2-3 bags full of fresh groceries to feed two people for the entire week and more and the total still usually comes out under $50. When I was living on the other side of JSQ, I used to frequent another similar produce shop called "Mira Fruit & Farm" on JFK Blvd (I wonder if it's owned by the same person?) We are talking 4 grapefruits for $1, a package of blueberries for $1, a bag of 3 bell peppers for $1, 6 limes for $1 price range. Some things are pricier here, like bananas, which usually cost 69 cents or even 79 cents per pound when I can get it for 49 cents per pound at Shop Rite in downtown. Regardless, I like supporting small mom and pop businesses so I will continue to be a regular here! I like to juice at home often so this is a great place to source celery, cucumber, carrots, apples, ginger, lemons, beets at very affordable prices since I go through them quickly in large quantity.
I have no doubt the owner of Young's Farm is Korean or at least Asian because they have a limited but good selection of Asian goods too like Korean Shin Ramyun and Vietnamese vermicelli noodles, fish sauce, sriracha, and jarred kimchi in the refrigerated section, etc.
My tip would be to go there early on Saturday (before 9 am) because by the afternoon on Sat and Sun, all the freshest pickings will be gone. Also, while the prices are super cheap, look and pick carefully to make sure your box of berries doesn't have mold growing in it and try to pick the freshest one. Many of the packaged goods like berries, cherries, tomatoes that are outside the shop on the stall as "specials" are already in advanced ripe stage so eat within 2-3 days max. They are perfectly find to eat, just shorter shelf life. My guess is the store operates in a very similar way as some of these new delivery companies like Imperfect Foods and Misfits Markets do in terms of sourcing their products, by taking less "perfect" produce directly from farms and producers and resell at the store at cheaper costs.
I always have good fun poking around what's available here at least every other weekend.
