Best produce in Stuart Florida? (Palm Beach Gardens, Jensen Beach: appointed, city hall, home)

[HillaryH]

Hi!
I am a raw foodist/vegan who is moving to Stuart soon. My mother, who has lived there for 15 years, says the produce is really just "eh" but I wonder how hard she's looked for alterative sources other than Stuart Fine Foods (which I understand changed ownership).

Can someone point me to their favorite sources for fresh, delicious fruits and veggies in Stuart?

Thanks!

[Denise in Fla]

I believe there is a veg/fruit stand on Dixie highway that has good produce.

[Jungle George]

There is a place on A1A called Tausha's where I get most of my produce. I think her prices are pretty good & have never had anything bad (so far) from there....

My cousin swears by a place on Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach though...(she's a "foodie" & makes everything from scratch) & says THEY have the best quality & prices...I don't know the name of it, but it's just before JB Blvd. on the left if you're heading north from Sewell's Point along the river...

[Lilybeans]

Green market on Sundays at city hall.

[Lilybeans]

A lot of the raw food folks go to the Publix Greenwise market or Whole Foods, both in Palm Beach Gardens.

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Lilybeans

A lot of the raw food folks go to the Publix Greenwise market or Whole Foods, both in Palm Beach Gardens.

Right. Moving near a Whole Foods was one of my number one priorities when I realized the local problems vegs in Fl (to my shock).

Publix told me they soak the greens extensively and it can't be changed. That's why the few meager greens they have are already "stale" (yellow) by the time they put them out. Then they shrink wrap them LOL.

Then I found the local weekly market (at Ft Pierce in my case) and it works for me.

ACTUALLY WYNN DIXIE'S PRODUCE IS MUCH BETTER THAN PUBLIX. (but nowhere near the huge selection of WHole Foods, true)

They routinely have heads of mustard turnip and collard greens, escarole frizee, kale, cabbage, bok choy etc that are still crisp and fresh NOT SHRINK wrapped LOL....and they are MUCH NICER to the customer than Publix. The PUblix people threw a temper tantrum when I asked if they had a fresher head of escarole and the guy punted all the produce to the floor cursing me.

I asked if I could get some "throwaway" pieces for my 2 small birds who live here and they said absoultely not.

When I asked the guy at Winn Dixie not only did he say "of course" and start to make small talk about the birds but he went and got me 2 stalks of EVERY SINGLE type of green they had in the store. Very nice. And he only charged me .75 for the bunch which weighed half a pound and I offered to pay whatever he wanted but he said that was fine.

Check Wynn Dixie before going too far if you just need something for a couple days. Dont forget to take a big cold pack thing for the road if you go far they wilt fast here in FL after May or so.

Unfortunately though I still need to drive all the way to Whole Foods on occasion, I just can't stand the limitations here. I plan to still move, too, to be near one. pathetic huh?

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

Unfortunately though I still need to drive all the way to Whole Foods on occasion, I just can't stand the limitations here. I plan to still move, too, to be near one. pathetic huh?

LOL!!! I wish I could AFFORD Whole Foods all the time!! Most of their stuff is good, but I've been consistantly disappointed in their "deli" stuff. Being a vegetarian, I use a lotta tofu/seitan/etc., & though their stuff looks great in the case, when I get home & start eating it, it's DEFINITELY not worth the price!!!

You're right...Publix is horrible (AND at top-dollar to boot!!!) I don't even set foot in there anymore. Winn-Dixie "winns" hands-down on their produce!!! What I don't find at the stand, I get from Winn-Dixie...

[runswithscissors]

Originally Posted by Jungle George

LOL!!! I wish I could AFFORD Whole Foods all the time!! Most of their stuff is good, but I've been consistantly disappointed in their "deli" stuff. Being a vegetarian, I use a lotta tofu/seitan/etc., & though their stuff looks great in the case, when I get home & start eating it, it's DEFINITELY not worth the price!!!

You're right...Publix is horrible (AND at top-dollar to boot!!!) I don't even set foot in there anymore. Winn-Dixie "winns" hands-down on their produce!!! What I don't find at the stand, I get from Winn-Dixie...

LOL I CANT afford it all the time. You're right about the tofu products. And yes, Publix has the nerve to put three stalks of kale in SHRINK WRAP (already wilted at that) and charge 3.95.

I'm a veg also. So when they charge 3.95 for a head of say, chard, that means I have to eat chard more than I would like HA HA. Up in Philly I had an asian market right down the street and it was the LEVITTOWN suburbs a blue collar area...but we had more diversity up there with alot of asians.

I can't believe I've been here over a year and JUST FOUND OUT about the great Wynn Dixie produce. (I just moved near one)....I was remembering the OLD Wynn Dixie in Tequesta that was nothing great many years ago.

Bummer all us vegetarians don't live near each other. We could have a veg co op. The mustard greens were awesome this week but HUGE LOL.

I also started adding one or two eggs to my diet per month down here to cover my b12 and non bean bases LOL. There's a farmer with chickens nearby so I go over there and have no moral dilemma since I see them laying and free range for real.

[Jungle George]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

Bummer all us vegetarians don't live near each other. We could have a veg co op. The mustard greens were awesome this week but HUGE LOL.

There was (is?) a place in Ithaca NY called "Greenstar" that was a veggie's "paradise"!!! Unbelievably great produce, prepared food, "green" items, incense, home-made granolas, etc. Ahhh.....memories....

They tried to start something to that effect in Stuart on Indian Street called "Nature's Way Cafe". I went in there, & the food (though good) was so outrageously priced I never went back. ($8.00 for 1/4 # of tabouli as an example!!!)

They went out in about a year & now someone else has taken over (can't think of the name...), but it's basically the same...

Oh & btw, I call Whole Foods "Whole Paycheck Foods"....

[Jungle George]

I tried a new recipe last night that was great!!

1 head cabbage
1 block extra-firm tofu
1 large onion
olive oil
1 tbsp Monterey Steak Seasoning

Chop onion & cube tofu. Start frying on med-high in olive oil in large skillet, & while that's going, chop cabbage & add to top of onion/tofu mix. Sprinkle seasoning over cabbage & stir to mix in.

Fry 'til cabbage & onions & tofu start to brown (past the "wilting" stage) (about 25 minutes).

Easy & good!!