Local fresh produce close to my home in Wilder! I am in heaven. First time I went to Stern's,I found the store very clean. The assortment is way more than I expected. Lots of refrigerated stuff like cream from local dairies. Butter,eggs,cheese, tofu. Chili peppers & load of home made noodles. Great prices. Very convenient, good pricing & I will go back again! read more

Day before Easter at 5:35 in the afternoon during a pandemic I arrive to find the Saturday hours posted on the door: Open till 5:00. This was only my second outing that week and my last chance for greens before Easter. Before disappointment could set in the door swings open and Jill, the owner is standing there with a big grin saying : "You need to shop?". Everything was neatly put away which she opened right back up again- reassuring me to take my time. I wasn't the last late shopper that she allowed in but I'll bet I was the most grateful. I just want to say thank you for that act of kindness it went a long way in making our very unusual Easter a little greener. read more

THE best place to get fresh veggies and fruit in the Upper Valley. Decent selection of mushrooms, cheeses, and packaged salad mixes as well! ($2 for a pack of arugula, $1.60 for a pack of spinach!) Between Stern's and Hannafords, I never really shop at the Co-op anymore -- and have substantially cut down my grocery bills. Downside: Not open on Sundays and close at 5:30pm on weekdays/Saturday so it's sometimes a struggle to make it here in time after work. Parking is a bit difficult on Saturday, but not really a big deal. Do remember to bring cash and your own bags - they don't take cards and you don't want to be caught trying to cradle $20 worth of veggies in your two arms. read more

Worth the trip. Produce is fresh, prices are great. I even like the sarcasm from the staff (and signs). If you're looking for a foo foo place....this ain't it (go to the coop and save the goods for me). read more

Stern's is similar to a large, slightly heated garage, with produce, nuts, tofu, bean sprouts, assorted dairy products (McNamara being among them), Greek yogurt, pistachios, lettuce in bags, loose greens, cereals, hot sauces, eggs, candied cashews, Cabot cheese, coconut milk, thai curry paste, roasted salted (and unsalted) peanuts, carrots, canned goods, apples, 1% milk, avocados, limes, lemons, peanut butter, dinner rolls, garlic lime pistachios, asparagus, etc. The reason Stern's is great is the prices. However, the experience of shopping at Stern's has caused me some psychological distress. The sign out front of the store asks customers to please "back in" their vehicles. Almost no one backs in and when I tried to abide by the sign it took me about 10 minutes to back in. This was due, in part, to school letting out across the street and my poor depth perception. I have never backed in since. Stern's should give into the will of the people and take down the sign as I experience a mild tinge of guilt every time I disobey the curt, yet sensible, directive. Once I forgot to buy bread (they also have bread) because I was distracted by the incongruent nature of the parking. They should really get a sign that says "Park Where You Like Just Come In and Buy Produce," but I doubt that's going to happen any time soon. I mentioned above Stern's is like a garage, it's a fairly apt comparison, especially when you consider the floor space. Often it can be difficult to get past other customers when shopping. Once I had to wait for almost three minutes while a man hogged all the space in front of the bell peppers, I needed one for a chili. Due to the capacity of the floor at Stern's I had to watch this aging Homo sapien fondle red bell peppers for a good three minutes. His hands, closer in texture to low priced ginger root, prodded the Jon's head (as they are called in the United Kingdom) as the seconds ticked by, my impatience mounting as I considered scrapping my dinner plans altogether. Eventually the cretin wrapped his gnarled paws around a fit specimen and tottered off toward oblivion and the discount raspberries. There are also times when I forget cash. This means I have to go to the Upper Valley Co-Op just down the road or the Citizens Bank, one charges ATM fees and the other only lets you take out $25 at a time cash back. I'll let you figure out which is which. This also means I have to walk by the school yard, typically, on a weekday. I'm not scared of bullies, but I do worry the slovenly appearance I've adopted since moving to the rural community of Hartland may give some more vigilant educators pause. I try to walk quickly, too close to justify driving, but I can sometimes feel their piercing gaze boring through my unwashed t-shirt and unkempt beard. Will today be the day I get stopped by the police? I wondered. Nada, as they say in Spanish speaking countries. De nada, Sterns. read more

Best of the upper valley for produce! I hate going to regular grocery store for produce. I always compare.

This is the best place in the entire Upper Valley region that makes me feel that I can still live here and not be too far from any of my favorite food items. Its the best value for money+implement customer feedback, and by customer feedback I mean, they literally take suggestions for non-american vegetables and actually and try to get it whenever possible. I asked for all sorts of exotics things (South Asian vegetables, far east vegetables) and sell for a very reasonable price. Really, hats off to these people. Its literally a tiny shack, but simply fantastic! Any day, my favorite place for all my grocery needs! read more

Stern's has great quality produce at really good prices. They carry in season fruits and vegetables, some Asian vegetables, coconut milk, wonton and dumpling wrappers, some breads from local bakeries, eggs, and a good variety of the Cabot line of dairy products. I usually leave Stern's with a produce box full of fresh fruits and veggies for about $25. They get shipments from Boston on various days but weekends are crazy busy. Your best bet is to go there during the week. read more

Quintessential "hole in the wall" grocery store. Before I discovered this senior spring I had no idea that you could get half of this stuff in the Upper Valley. I got lost on my way to downtown WRJ and stumbled upon this little gem. Yuchoy? Daikon? (Okay, they have that at Price Choppers, but it was mad expensive.) Elephant Garlic (Ditto.) Ong choy, Fiddlehead Ferns, and the list continues. Cheap, too. read more

Great produce, great value. Unfortunately you are assaulted by curt, tasteless, offensive in-your-face signs on the walls. Kind of like shopping for produce at the Soup Nazi's produce shop. I seriously detracts from the already marginal "shopping experience". If you loot at the floor and get your stuff and get out then it is great. read more

Cheap high quality produce. Shipments come in on Tuesday's. Funky converted garage. We fill two big shopping bags with fruit and veggies for under$30 read more

There is a warning posted on one of the doors to Stren's that fines you $5.00 if you fail to close the door. Once inside, you'll forego potential fines as you fill your wire basket from an ever changing variety of fruits and vegetables, local maple syrup, bread, cheeses, dairy products, and nuts. Twice weekly trips to Boston keep this not so secret garage full of everything from Maine tomatoes to Asian bitter melon and "fancy schmancy" mushrooms. Prices are incredibly reasonable, and the quality is excellent. The staff is friendly and helpful, humorous as well, which is evidenced by humorous signs hung throughout the store. I have noticed an increase in Asian specialties on my last couple of trips, which is great, and complements the Asian market about a mile or so away. I highly recommend Stern's, they are worth the drive. One word of warning however: They do not accept credit or debit cards. They will take cash and checks. This helps to keep prices reasonable. Just go. You'll be glad you did. read more

As good as it gets- way cheaper, way fresher and more fun to boot. Kind of feels like California produce markets, only smaller and with Vermont door and maple syrup. Makes life in the Upper Valley better. read more

Looks like a shed but offers a great selection of (affordable) fresh produce, dairy goods, eggs, tofu, noodles, nuts, etc. Delivery days are Mon, Wed, and Fri. Notes: - byob (bring your own bags, but boxes avail) - cash and checks only (bank/atm across the street) read more

If you want quality, you go to STERNS. A box full of vegetables, fruit, dairy, noodles, nuts etc would be 50 dollars more expensive at Hannafords, Shaws, price copper, and coop. read more

I should get here more often. The produce is tasty, affordable, and comes from Boston a couple times a week. The variety is nice and not always seen at other local grocery stores: More Asian produce like bok choi, daikon, bean sprouts, and others. They also have fresh and dry noodles like pho, egg noodles, tofu, wonton wrappers, cabot and other dairy products, and dried fruits and goodies. I like coming here because you can count on some staples, but sometimes there are great seasonal finds. They take cash or check. read more

This place actually encourages me to eat better because the more produce I eat, the cheaper my grocery bill is! I love that my money isn't going to marketing and packaging. I hope they never change! read more

The best place to buy produce in the Upper Valley.

I live right nearby and am on a fixed income, so the affordable produce was great. Sadly, the way they treat customers is...not so good. I overheard another customer harassing people who were on low budgets or using EBT (while they don't take credit cards they do process EBT cards), and when the employees didn't interrupt the insults or ask them to quiet down/leave, I called it out. Months later I went back only to have the owner bring this up and blame me for the interaction and threaten to ban me, not the aggressor. Refused to listen or problem solve, did not understand why it was out of line--that harassing their target base of customers was not good for business (and that there was no need to ban me--as I voluntarily am never going back. I'm "banning" myself). Later I learned the original owner was running for office and had opinions that could be considered controversial or damaging, and seem to be in line with the behavior I experienced. I would not recommend this store to anyone vulnerable or easily targeted, or anyone on assistance who feels scared or ashamed when shopping and having to disclose. It's a shame, because the vegetables really were good! read more

I finally made it in yesterday. For a year I had wanted to stop, but never had time. Yesterday, I made time. I arrived around 5pm, so much had been picked over. But, what was left was still better than in the grocery stores. All of what I purchased was in excellent condition, proper color and shape, not shriveled up and dry. I left with a flat for $28 which included: yellow and summer squash; strawberries (better than any I've gotten fresh in summer); plum tomatoes; bananas (.53/lb); grapes; fresh basil; mushrooms (I pic/put in paper bag); red, yellow, orange peppers; broccoli crowns. I will be back! read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I wish I got there more often but what a great place to save money, buy locally and get all your fruits and vegi's