Fresh Food Producers of Gisborne

King Bees produces wild, raw Mānuka honey on the remote East Coast, where salty Pacific breezes, golden sunshine, and coastal rain help shape every drop. Their bees get to roam a rugged paradise, producing a bold, complex honey with a distinctive depth of flavour. King Bees stands out for its deep commitment to sustainability: reusing beeswax, feeding bees their own stored honey through winter, and packaging in 50% recycled, fully recyclable jars. Every jar offers a sweet tribute to the harmony between people and nature, and with their strong focus on environmental guardianship, it’s a way of protecting the land for future generations.

Waimata Cheese has been crafting award‑winning wheels on the banks of Gisborne’s Waimata River since 1994, when founders Rick and Carol Thorpe set out to make exceptional cheese in their hometown. Three decades on it remains a family affair, keeping the legacy alive and thriving. From silky Camembert and Brie to punchy Blue Vein and flavour‑packed chilli or cracked‑pepper Haloumi, every batch is made with the same hands‑on care that’s earned them national titles and multiple awards. It’s a story of skill, family, and place, with each cheese carrying the character of the coast they call home.

Hill Road Orchard is home to the locally famous Hill Road Orange Juice: fresh, unpasteurised, and squeezed straight from oranges grown in their sun‑soaked Ormond orchard. Run by Matt and Cath Carter, who restored the property after taking it on in 2010, the orchard produces seasonal Navel and Valencia juices that capture the changing rhythms of the land. At the heart of it all is the Hill Road Farm Shop, a warm, rustic space brimming with local artisan goods, from the beloved ‘grown‑up’ jams and small‑batch sauces made with imperfect fruit, to handmade candles, soaps, and woodenware.

Swann Olives has been rooted in Rangitukia since 2001, where a whānau‑run grove produces premium extra virgin olive oil from mature, healthy trees. Guided by Māori values, their approach puts sustainability and organic practices at the forefront, ensuring every bottle reflects both the purity of the land and the care of those who tend it. It’s a small‑scale operation with a deep connection to place. The output: oil that’s as much about heritage and guardianship as it is about exceptional flavour.

Twisted Citrus began in 2003 with a bare Gisborne paddock, rich silt loam, and a few orange trees that produced fruit too good to keep local. Owners Bron and Sandy skipped the supermarket route to sell direct, first from a roadside stall and now nationwide through their online fruit market. From their own orchard and trusted growers, they deliver orchard‑fresh oranges, seasonal fruit boxes, and curated artisan products straight to customers’ doors. Their focus on peak‑season flavour, personal connection, and hand‑selected quality turns every box into a taste of Gisborne’s growing power.

The Tasty Vege Co. is a three‑generation family venture, growing, packing, and delivering fresh Gisborne‑grown vegetables (along with fruit and eggs) straight to customers’ doors. Serving the North Island with subscription vegetable boxes and seasonal add‑ons, they champion local produce and make it easy to skip the supermarket while supporting a grower who knows the region’s soil and seasons inside out. Their boxes cater to a range of diets, from vegan to keto, and every delivery carries the freshness and flavour of a harvest rooted in decades of hands-on experience.

The Village Berry is a Gisborne institution that’s grown from a summertime real fruit ice cream hotspot into a year‑round celebration of local food and makers. Owners Shelley Hunt and her son‑in‑law Tom McCann have transformed the sunny‑yellow‑doored store into a vibrant hub, sourcing 80% of its goods from within the region. There’s seasonal fruit and veg (including their own orchard’s stone fruit and nashi), artisan breads, pantry staples, and local goodies from Knock Knock Organics, Hill Road Orchard and The Sourdough Experience to name a few. The ice cream machine never rests, now churning berry‑packed swirls even in winter, while the kitchen turns out soups, toasties, and their relaunched Village Pie Co creations.

Far East Coffee Co. is a caffeinated way of life shaped by the mantra: Live. Breathe. Coffee. From their East Coast base, the family‑run business roasts certified organic, Fair Trade beans sourced from South America, Central America, and Africa, ensuring farmers are paid fairly and the earth is respected at every step. Every cup is crafted with integrity, connection, and a belief that simple choices (like the coffee you drink) can create meaningful change. Find their beans at Mr Clifton's, the Saturday Farmers’ Market, and plenty of cafes around town and up the coast.

The Sourdough Experience is a micro‑bakery where every loaf and treat is handmade with care, passion, and time‑honoured technique. Founded by Annie, whose love for bread began in childhood and deepened when a friend shared a sourdough starter, the bakery celebrates the rich flavour and texture that only natural fermentation can bring. Their artisanal sourdough, with its golden crust, chewy crumb, and tangy depth, is available weekly at The Village Berry, The WorkShop, and the Gisborne Farmers Market, alongside an ever‑changing line‑up of baked delights. It’s bread as it should be: simple, nourishing, and rooted in tradition.

Every Saturday morning, the Gisborne Farmers’ Market transforms the corner of Stout and Fitzherbert Streets into a lively showcase of the region’s best. For over 15 years, it’s been the go-to spot for meeting the growers, makers, and artisans behind Gisborne’s fresh, seasonal bounty. Stalls brim with freshly harvested fruit and vegetables, flowers, boutique wines, honey, preserves, baked goods, and ready‑to‑eat dishes from around the world. With a focus on community connection, sustainability, and flavour that’s as fresh as it gets, the market offers a weekly taste of Gisborne’s vibrant food culture in one welcoming, open‑air hub

Knock Knock Organics is the backyard‑to‑table venture of Gisborne grower Eric, whose lifelong passion for plants has evolved into a thriving small‑scale market garden. After starting as an organic vege delivery service, he refocused on what he loves most: nurturing vibrant microgreens, salad mixes, herbs, and seasonal cherry tomatoes and cucumbers. Grown with care and clean practices, his greens stay fresher for longer and make their way into local fridges at The Village Berry and PAK’nSAVE Gisborne, as well as onto plates at eateries around town.