Desperate for a sweet treat after our lunch at Hallertau we were stoked to discover that Phil Greig…read morewas just around the corner and open all year round. Sure you can't pick strawberries in winter (duh!) but you can still get a real fruit ice cream as big as your head. There's a couple of flavours to choose from (strawberry, blueberry, boysenberry) as well as the option of ice cream or yoghurt. Prices, given the size, are really reasonable and the young ladies manning the till, friendly!

It was that time of the year when Strawberry's needed to be picked and our family of little kids…read moreand big kids were all excited about heading to Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens. We arrived to quite a busy carpark and after securing the car, and lining up the kids, and putting the baby in the backpack, we were on our way to the little tent to pay up and grab a few buckets. Five dollars per person, for anyone over the age of 10, and you could pick as much as you wanted and eat as you picked as well. The admission you pay would later be deducted from your weight of fruit. I loved the fact that we could all do this as a family, and get our hands and feet dirty, whilst having a really memorable experience. Phil Greig Strawberry Gardens takes up quite a large space- a couple of acres of strawberry's, and there are masses of them everywhere. You wont know when to stop eating, and picking, but thanks to our over eagerness to pick, we later ended up with a pot full of strawberry jam boiling away on the stove- nothing beats homemade strawberry jam on piklets- delicious. I can say that this weekend activity gave us much laughter, and happy full strawberry tummy's.

Yip's Garden is a fruit and vege store located on Hobsonville Road in West Auckland. As mentioned…read morein one of my previous reviews, I am obsessed with comparing the many fruit and vege stores in this area, and Yips' comes in at a close second in my opinion. Yip's always has fantastic specials and deals on their produce. Heads of broccoli for 99cents, watermelon at $1.49 a kilo, leeks at 79cents - buying your produce from Yip's is a far more cost effective way to shop. Plus, unlike in most supermarkets the produce at Yip's is fresh, naturally grown and preservative free. Bonus. By purchasing your groceries from Yip's not only can you feel good about the healthy food you're stocking your cupboards with, you can also give yourself a pat on the back for supporting a locally owned, independent, business.

Bit of a drive out west, but they have the freshest strawberries for sale (or pick your own from…read moreBoxing Day). Make room for a huge strawberry icecream or smoothie and enjoy the views from the outside seating area. Can't be beaten on a hot summers day.

I have tried quite a few of the fruit and veggie shops along the Hobsonville Road drag and have to…read moreconsistently state that this is the best. They've got the freshest produce, sometimes not the cheapest pricing, but definitely quality wise I find they come out tops. Nothing is worse than getting a deal on your avocado only to find when you get home that they are rotten and inedible when you cut into them for the salad! Yesterday I picked up a box of cherries and a couple of luscious rock melons to add to the birthday party table. Once again the produce was delicious and enjoyed by all.

Everytime i come here the que is terrible the lady on checkout asked for help twice and rang bell…read morebut no one came to help ...wont b back plenty of other fruit worlds around

I'm a card-holding New World-aholic. Stepping inside other supermarkets makes me shudder. Kumeu New…read moreWorld has only made my addiction worse. This place is beautifully set out, with aisles comfortably big enough to accommodate 2 trolleys, and plenty of checkouts always open ready to help you. The butcher stocks the biggest scotch fillet steaks I've ever seen, along with rib roasts & T-bone steaks. They also make their own sausages. With a kick-ass deli, fresh fish counter & a great range of locally grown produce, you almost feel like you're shopping at a gourmet supermarket.

For those with young babies, The Green Grocer has a wide range of products for baby care, including…read morea range of frozen organic baby and toddler food from the Green Monkey Company. 100% hand-made, no additives, no preservatives, no added sugar, no fillers and no gluten, dairy or egg. Great convenient, nutritious food for your baby without the worry of any added nasties. This Kumeu health food store also caters to people with food intolerances and allergies with plenty of produce on the shelves for you. Home made baking, salads, savouries means you should plan your visit at lunch time. They also do a mean take-out coffee. Some tables in-store if you have time to linger.

Passion Produce is located on Hobsonville Road out in West Auckland. In fact, this place is so far…read morewest, it's like being out in the countryside. There are literally paddocks either side of the place, and I admit I love it. It makes you feel like the fruit and veges they stock are more fresh and healthy than those you find in central Auckland supermarkets. And, they are. I'm pretty cautious when it comes to apple buying - most apples are soft and floury and awful. If a store stocks fresh crisp juicy apples, I'll be a fan. And Passion Produce is definitely one of those stores. Every piece of fruit and bag of veges I've ever purchased from Passion Produce have been delicious. What's more, not only is their produce great - the prices are even better. Living in central Auckland, fruit and veges for the week often cost around $50, but if I get them at Passion Produce I instantly save about $15. It's that good - every week there are new specials. This week for example, you could purchase a kilo of Royal Gala apples for 99cents! Crazy good prices! Tip: In the corner of the Passion Produce carpark is a little stall that sells real fruit ice-cream and makes a good cup of Allpress Coffee. Get your groceries then enjoy a delicious treat!

Awesome family owned shop! The real fruit ice cream is to die for! They have lots of healthy…read moregluten/dairy free food, which is perfect for people with allergies and other health restrictions. NOICE. (To clarify, they offer strawberry and a "mixed fruit" real fruit ice cream. Both are amazing, but my fave is the mixed-- I think it's frozen berries, apple, banana, grape, mango, and some other fruits...)

Scott Carr, is NZ,s best loftsman the yard produces…read moreexcellent metal small ships, yachts etc I had business dealings with the yard and entrusted them with two projects NO hesitation in recommending them, there are reasons they are in business whilst most yards specializing in Alu in NZ have gone the way of the Moa Stuart Hearn QLD Au.