The Best Organic Food Shops in Cape Town
Organic Zone
What started as a box scheme (where customers were offered various-sized boxes of fresh, local and organic fruit and vegetables) in 2003 grew in size and popularity to become a stand-alone retail shop in Lakeside, welcoming its first customers in May 2008.
It now offers one of the widest selections of organic fruit and vegetables, poultry and meat products, raw and unpasteurised honey and yoghurt, pantry cupboard staples, vitamins, beauty products, household detergents, pre-made meals, juices and smoothies in Cape Town.
Organic cred: More than 80% of its foods are certified organic, and they buy mainly from biodynamic-orientated farmers. Non-certified organic farmers are inspected first before produce is bought and relationships made.
Contact: 021 788 3133, info@organiczone.co.za
Opening times: Monday - Friday, 9am - 6pm, Saturday, 8am - 5pm, Sunday and public holidays, 9am - 5pm
Where to find it: Corner Main and Putter Roads, Lakeside Shopping Centre, Lakeside, Cape Town
Oranjezicht City Farm Market in Granger Bay
While this is not a brick-and-mortar shop per se, we thought we'd include it here because of the volume and variety of organic products on offer. Every Saturday and Sunday, foodie fantasies come true at the OZCF, where independent local farmers and artisanal food producers showcase their beautiful wares. You can do your weekly food shop here, as you choose from a range of mostly organic vegetables, fruit, bread, dairy, free-range eggs, honey and muesli. Keen gardeners can also stock up on edible plants, seedlings, compost, gardening supplies and equipment.
But for us, the most fabulous thing about this market is the incredible array of food, drink and beverage stalls dotted around the area, all of which serve ethically produced items that can be enjoyed at the market at the tables and chairs provided or taken home.
Organic cred: Most of the food sold at the OZCF Market is grown organically at the farm, alongside other independent organic farmers.
Green cred: The market encourages plastic-free, Earth-friendly shopping, so bring your own bags.
Contact: 083 628 3426, market@ozcf.co.za
Opening times: Saturday, 8.15am - 2pm; Sunday, 9am - 3pm (rain or shine); Wednesday, 4pm - 8pm (summer)
Where to find it: Granger Bay, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
GOGO's
This mom-and-pop operation is run by hands-on owners Sam and Deirdre Elliott, who are unrelenting when it comes to the quality of produce on their shelves - they don't stock anything if they don't know where it comes from, how it was farmed and who the suppliers are.
Their grass-fed, ethically reared biltong is some of the best in the province! And their other meat, fish and poultry products, droëwors, free-range eggs and organic vegetables are of the same high quality. Seapoint housewives have been known to trek around the mountain for some of their mouth-watering biltong. The oversized free-range eggs are delicious.
Organic cred: Sam and Deidre's preoccupation with provenance means that what you're buying has been ethically and sustainably sourced.
Good to know: Once a week Sam and Deidre upload their favourite homemade recipes onto their website, email them if you would like to be added to their mailing list.
Contact: 021 671 0573, gogosdeli@gmail.com
Where to find it: 6 Cardiff Castle, Main Street, Newlands, Cape Town
The Urban Farmer
Hidden in the heart of Kenilworth, this fully fledged grocery store is a treasure trove for all things organic. Started by Amanda Russo as a tiny garage shop, it now stocks a range of organic, pasture-reared meat, dairy and free-range eggs, fruit, vegetables, spices, grains, superfoods, tea, coffee, kombucha, nuts, soap, household products and eco-friendly toothpaste.
Organic cred: All fresh produce stocked at The Urban Farmer is grown organically by local farmers around the Western Cape.
Green cred: The produce is packaged in biodegradable materials and glass.
Contact: 021 761 0269, 082 955 7360, amanda@urbanfarmer.org.za
Opening times: Monday, 1pm - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 6pm, Saturday, 9am - 1pm
Where to find: it 278 Main Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town
Nude Foods
Nude Foods owner and founder, Paul Rubin, was frustrated with the amount of single-use plastic packaging used by regular grocers when he started the plastic-free bulk wholefoods store in November 2017. Nude Foods sells organic fresh fruit and vegetable; non-GMO dried pantry goods, oils, vinegars, honey, tahini and nut butters all on tap - as well as an earth-friendly selection of natural body and home products.
Everything is sold in bulk, so customers are encouraged to bring their own containers, fill them, weigh and pay. For those without containers, Nude sells a range of reusable glass jars and bottles, cotton-dry goods bags, and mesh fresh-produce bags. Also on offer are brown paper bags at no charge. Unlike most stores, you won't be charged extra for the plastic packaging!
Organic cred: They offer organic and non-organic (for those wanting a slightly cheaper shopping experience) non-GMO produce.
Green cred: They're a plastic-free grocery store so you can shop for fresh delicious produce without any waste.
Contact 021 437 3003, shop@nudefoods.co.za
Opening times: Monday, 10.30am - 6pm, Tuesday - Friday, 9am - 6pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm
Where to find it: 5 Constitution Street, Zonnebloem, Cape Town
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