This seems to be the more wholesome version of a supermarket in Nelson. Yes there is the Countdown…read moreand New World Market, but Fresh Choice is smaller and has more "local". These are locally operated under a franchise model so different stores have different management, but at least for now it still has that charm. We loved the various fresh produce and the set of organic choices was great. We were fortunate to be able to just walk there from our lodgings and it was nice to get a fresh batch of organic produce for the evening. So if you are in Nelson, give this spot a try, its nicer that the more typical spots around town.

When traveling abroad I enjoy stopping by supermarkets to see what different items are available…read morefrom those standard at my local California supermarket. While walking around downtown Nelson we stumbled upon Fresh Choice. We saw interesting vegetables, substantial meat substitute options, a automated wine tasting system, and a nice selection of Whittaker's chocolates at good prices. I stocked up on the chocolate for gifts for friends. The cashier was very friendly. We found it well worth the visit during our limited time in Nelson.

Based in Nelson - the northern part of South Island, Pic's Peanut Butter is undoubtedly one of New…read moreZealand's favorite spreads. Peanut butter enthusiasts as well as foodies from around the world trek here not only to learn about peanuts, but also to experience where the magic begins. Pic's Peanut Butter offers daily tours of the factory and guests will have opportunity to watch the process as nuts tumble out of Roasting Matilda and feed into the grinder before being squirted into jars. After the tours (approximately 40 minutes), be sure to make your way to the cafe for some amazing delights. With the use of peanut and peanut butter as key ingredients, you'll find variety of creative sweet and savory options that will fancy any taste buds. The gift shop is a great place to pick up some souvenirs or stock up on more peanut butter goodies. More importantly, Pic's Peanut Butter is committed to giving back to local community and to the world. They give out free tumblers for donations of any size. Thanks Barney & Olly for your generous hospitality (and private tour) while visiting Pic's Peanut Butter!

Flavio and Flavia are really friendly recent immigrants to New Zealand (as of three years ago) and…read morebring a passion for Italian cheese and yogurt to this part of the South Island. Probably easiest to catch them at the Sunday market in Motueka, but you can always call them to see where else they'll have their delicious cheese for tastings.

The spot where Nelson locals go. The main reason? Those tasty, handmade pies with delicious…read morefillings and flaky crust. They have all your classics - mince, mince & cheese, bacon & egg, steak & cheese, etc., AND always a vegetarian option on hand like curried vegetables & chickpeas. Pies are $4.50 NZD a pop. The store also has lots of cold beverages and a few basic pantry staples. Laidback super casual vibe, with countertops to stand at while you wolf down your pie. Also some bench seating outside!

We found out about The Nelson Market through chatting with one of the winery hosts. Lucky because…read morethis one was great! It's only on Saturday's from 8:00am to 1:00pm (or more likely to about 1:30pm). We dropped in right around Saturday during lunchtime. There's an excellent variety of vendors; a mix of food, arts and crafts. This is definitely the best market we've been to in New Zealand! We checked out a couple places: 1) Banjo Brews Kombucha We always love trying new kombucha places. This one you can sample all their flavours (around half a dozen). We ended up getting one bottle, the Himalayan ($4.00 NZD). 2) Dutch apple donut ($4.50 NZD). I never caught the name of this vendor but they were making fresh apple donuts. We got one fresh out of the fryer! Tasty and filled with a bunch of goodies. 3) Little Shaggery Farm We spotted some dried fruit (apple crisps and dried plums). We tasted both and really liked the apple crisps ($7.00 NZD for 150g bag). They were just the right sweetness. Perfect for snacking. We also tried two varieties of their pears ($4.00 NZD/kg); chojuro nashi and shinseiki nashi. 4) Windsong Orchard We spotted this place selling organic plums. They had two types: elephant heart and omega plums ($6.00 NZD/kg). We sampled the elephant ears, which were super sweet, so we ended up buying a few for the road. 5) Bratwurst Grill They specialize in traditional Bavarian sausages. This spot was non-stop busy and ended up selling out! Crazy. We tried a bratwurst ($5.00 NZD); great bread, tasty sausage and the mustard was fantastic. The lady ran out of bread and was selling just the sausage ($4.00 NZD). People were still buying them. They have a counter selling sausages to take home. The dried/fermented salami looked really, really good. Authentic and great prices. 6) The Wrapshack We shared a falafel ($12.00 NZD). Homemade chickpea patties with fresh herbs & spices, garlic hummus and mint yoghurt. This is one hefty wrap. Flavours were decent but nothing overly memorable. We sampled a couple other vendors and browsed the wares. If you're in Nelson on the weekend, it's a must!

Delightful farmer's market with lots of local fruit (cherries, plums and berries when we were…read morethere) and veg as well as some more unusual items like gourmet mushroom products (tapenade, ginger, smoked...mmm). Also food to eat while you are there such as empanadas and ice cream (mixed berry and ginger and mandarin were both great). Local country and blues guitarist added to the atmosphere. Don't miss if you're in Blenheim on Sunday morning