While New Zealand is well known for our dramatic landscapes and laid-back locals, there’s one thing that many people are surprised by when they visit—the quality of our food.
In New Zealand, food is deeply tied to the land and the seasons. If you’re new to the country, you’ll quickly notice that produce tastes not only fresher, but also more flavourful. That’s because, whether you’re shopping at a boutique grocery store, a Sunday farmer’s market or even picking up produce from The Warehouse, you’ll often find food that is locally sourced and grown in season.
Exploring what’s grown in different regions is one of the best ways to connect with New Zealand culture. In this guide, we’ll explore New Zealand’s regional produce and show you where to shop for it while you are here.
New Zealand’s produce is highly seasonal because, unlike places like California or Queensland, our climate doesn’t allow for year-round warmth and stable growing conditions. That means fruit and vegetables grow best in their natural season.
Out-of-season produce is either very expensive or disappears from shelves altogether. For example, you can still find tomatoes and cucumbers in winter, but they’re usually hothouse-grown and cost much more than in summer.
Other favourites, like avocados or asparagus, simply aren’t available outside their season.
Tip: In New Zealand, it pays to make the most of them while they’re around. Eating seasonally is not only more affordable, but also allows you to enjoy produce at its absolute best in terms of flavour and freshness.
Before we get into where to find New Zealand’s best fresh fruits and vegetables, it helps to understand what’s grown locally and what’s imported. Thanks to its diverse range of climates and fertile soils, New Zealand produces a wide variety of vegetables, stone fruits, apples, pears, kiwifruit and some tomatoes.
When it comes to citrus and tropical fruit, the country doesn’t have the year-round heat or humidity needed to grow these fruits en masse.
If you’re new to New Zealand, you may be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to shop for local products. There are lots of ways to fill your basket with fresh, local food in New Zealand. Some of these options are more direct from the grower, while others are convenient for everyday shopping.
You might be surprised to know that New World, Countdown, Fresh Choice & PAK’nSAVE stock plenty of locally grown vegetables and fruit (just probably not the ones we mentioned above). That’s because around 99% of fresh vegetables are grown locally. You can count on common staples like apples, kiwifruit, potatoes, onions, and leafy greens. Fruit in particular usually comes with a New Zealand-grown label.
Tip: If you’re in a smaller town, the local supermarkets are often family-owned franchises. This means they may also offer fruit, veg, or eggs sourced directly from nearby growers, alongside the main supermarket supply.
Farmers' markets are one of the best ways to buy locally sourced produce. You’ll find Saturday or Sunday markets in nearly every town or city in the country. These community-driven spaces are a great place to shop for seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisan bread, honey, eggs and cheese. Best of all, if you have any questions about the produce, you can ask the seller directly.
Tip: Not only are these markets a great way to buy local food, they’re also a lot cheaper than shopping at a supermarket.
Services like Bliss Box and Wonky Box deliver seasonal fruit and veg straight to your door. As a bonus, Wonky Box prevents food waste by repackaging food that is perfectly fresh to eat, but considered too misshapen to make it onto supermarket shelves.
Tip: The North Island and the South Island produce different fresh fruits and vegetables. Produce boxes are great if you want to eat seasonally and want to save money or prevent food waste.
Many towns have independent fruit and veg shops with fresher, more seasonal produce than supermarkets. Great places to shop for locally sourced produce are Asian supermarkets, small grocers, and speciality organic shops.
Roadside stalls are a quintessential part of rural life in New Zealand. You’ll find these dotted around the countryside, particularly in areas like the Hawkes Bay, Central Otago, Bay of Plenty and Wairarapa. You can find a range of fresh produce, from stone fruits to eggs and avocados, depending on the location.
Tip: Many stalls work on an honesty system where cash is left in a secure box. Don’t forget to draw cash before you head to any of these areas.
Whether you’re moving to a new region or exploring New Zealand by car, add this locally grown produce to your shopping list.
Northland’s subtropical climate, combined with the rich soils of nearby Auckland, makes this region great for avocados, some citrus fruit, and feijoas. Northland is also a hub for honey, especially mānuka and rewarewa honey, thanks to its native bushland. In late summer, you’ll see roadside stalls bursting with passionfruit, mandarins, and avocados.
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Waikato is New Zealand’s dairy heartland, with green pastures that produce world-class milk, cheese, and yoghurt. You’ll also find sweetcorn in summer and strawberries around Hamilton and Cambridge. Local berry farms often have an option to pick your own.
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This coastal region lives up to its name, producing much of New Zealand’s kiwifruit. The climate also supports avocados, oranges, and mandarins. If you’re there in autumn, orchards are full of ripe kiwifruit and feijoas.
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Hawke’s Bay is famous for its crisp apples, juicy peaches, and plums, as well as some of the best wines in New Zealand. The warm summers and long growing season also make it one of the country’s best wine regions, especially for syrah and chardonnay. You’ll also find roadside stalls selling stone fruit, including cherries and apricots.
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The lush pastures around Mount Taranaki are ideal for dairy cows, so the region is well-known for its milk, ice cream, and boutique cheeses. Small-scale growers supply microgreens, herbs, and fresh vegetables to local co-ops and markets. You can also enjoy locally roasted coffee in the region and artisanal foods, including sourdough, local honey, gin and other products.
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Wellington city prides itself on artisan food and craft coffee, while the surrounding Wairarapa countryside grows wine grapes, olives, and stone fruit. Seasonal greens and root vegetables thrive in the cooler climate. There are also many small boutique supermarkets and greengrocers to explore.
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Canterbury’s vast plains make it one of NZ’s most productive farming regions. You can expect summer berries, apples, and pears as well as plenty of preserves and jams from the Barker’s store in Geraldine. In summer, you’ll often find roadside stalls selling strawberries throughout the countryside.
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With its warm summers and cold winters, Central Otago is the perfect climate for growing stone fruit. You’ll find cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines for sale at roadside stalls from December through February. The region is also world-renowned for its pinot noir.
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Southland’s cooler climate produces hearty crops, like swedes, potatoes, and carrots. Sheep farming dominates, so red meat is a regional staple. The coastline also provides fresh seafood—you’ll find blue cod at much more reasonable prices than anywhere else in the country.
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