Stocking the Pantry

The most frequent inquiry I receive is ‘where do you source your dry goods’. Come join me, as we have a look around into my pantry.

I like to have a pantry full of whole grains, flours (including a selection of gluten-free), nuts, seeds, dried beans and lentils. Plus dried fruit and nutritious sweeteners. I like to focus on nutrient-rich and wholesome food at home and save the less healthy foods for occasional outings.

Whole-grains / Flours / Dried Legumes

• Flour > organic white, wholemeal and rye + brown rice flour, buckwheat and tapioca are the main gluten-free flours I use.
• Rolled-oats and spelt (or Arawa*)
• Whole-grains > quinoa, millet, buckwheat, polenta, basmati/ jasmine rice, brown rice and medium-grain white rice for risotto/ paella.
• Dried legumes > split red lentils, green lentils (French), chickpeas, kidney beans, pinto beans

Dried Fruit / Sweeteners

• Dried fruit – dates, apricots (sulphur-free), prunes, raisins, sultanas > check packets but most ‘brown’ dried fruit are naturally sulphur-free.
• Raw honey, maple syrup, apple syrup
• Golden sugar, muscovado sugar, rapadura sugar, palm sugar

Nuts & Seeds

• Nuts > almonds, cashews, brazil nuts, hazelnuts
• Coconut > desiccated and flakes
• Seeds > sunflower, sesame, pumpkin, flax seeds

Condiments / Oils / Seasoning / Spices

• NZ sea salt & black pepper in a grinder
• Cocoa powder, vanilla extract, baking powder/ soda
• Vinegar > apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, balsamic
• Extra virgin olive oil + Ghee for cooking
• Tamari (soy sauce), fish sauce, sesame oil, Worcestershire sauce

Spices & Dried Herbs

• Dried herbs > dried oregano and basil > fresh thyme, parsley, rosemary, sage and bay leaves in the garden.
• Whole spices > cumin seeds, turmeric powder, coriander seeds, nutmeg, mustard seeds, fennel seeds, cardamom pods, cinnamon

Wholefood Suppliers

The following is a list of New Zealand wholefood suppliers. Please note, I am not endorsing any of these suppliers, instead sharing the knowledge I have gained over the years sourcing quality ingredients food for my family. Firstly, I like to support local suppliers so I start this list with my Nelson locals. However, I know many of you reading this live elsewhere so read on for other NZ-based suppliers.

Local Nelson > Nelson Fresh Choice, The Organic Green Grocer, Prego Mediterranean Foods (including FYO local extra virgin olive oil), Nelson Bin Inn,

Fresh2U Organic Food Delivery  / Nelson – weekly organic produce boxes + bulk organic dry goods and products. Organic grower Wolfgang Mann and I set up this service in 2005 and handed it over to Lucy Maxwell in 2012. Lucy has increased the range to include dry goods and organic products.

Ceres Organics/ Auckland – wholesale bulk organic foods. A huge selection of dry goods, gluten-free products and natural health products. You do need to set up an account with Ceres either as a business (with references) or coop account (for the coop account there is a minimum monthly order – this works best if shared between 3-4 families with each family ordering on a 3-4 monthly rotation).

Chantal Organics/ Napier – wholesale bulk organic foods. You can order 500gm packs up to 25kg sacks of dry goods.

Terrace Farms/ Canterbury – Ira & Geoff grow, harvest and mill flour fresh to order. They have Otane wheat (higher gluten for bread making), Arawa wheat (lower gluten), rye and buckwheat (beautiful fresh buckwheat flour). Email for a price list terracefarmorganic@gmail.com

Milmore Downs North Canterbury > Biodynamic – NZ-grown wheat, spelt, rye and oats.

Bio Grains Canterbury > mostly NZ-grown grains and wholefood products, chook food, flour etc.

Minchins Milling – NZ-grown freshly milled stoneground flour – Canterbury

My Bread Mix – organic flours and natural ingredients, including organic spelt flour suitable for bread making.

Canterbury Quinoa – spray-free grown by Andrew Currie at Avonmore Farm.

Wholegrain Organics – freshly milled stoneground organic flour – Palmerston North + online orders available.

Ngamara Farms  – Organic Grain + Stoneground Flour – Marton, Rangitikei

*Please comment below with details of other NZ wholefood suppliers and also where you source your local wholefoods i.e. name and location of your local organic/ bulk food store. Thank you and shop local 🙂

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