Good food makes for a good life. And the best food is organic and locally grown, bringing all-round benefits – it’s better for your mental and physical health, more delicious, and better for the environment and economy. You can shop organic in Oxford too.
Is it expensive and inconvenient to buy? It doesn’t have to be – B-Hive Living is here to make it simple for you. Here are just a few basic rules and recommendations for Oxford where our Hive coliving properties are to help you enjoy top quality sustainable foods, beauty products, and gifts without going out of your way or pocket.
Make it simple
- Choose the organic section of fruit and vegetables at your local supermarket – most of the time it’s as easy as that. Supermarkets like Sainsbury’s do have a selection of inexpensive organic products that you can just pick up while doing your daily groceries.
- Shop at farmers’ markets – many cities and towns hold a weekly farmers’ market with vendors from local farms, selling fresh produce often at a discount to grocery stores. Oxford is no exception.
- Join a food coop – cooperatives are an excellent source of top quality food at lower prices for members that pay a small annual fee to belong.
- Buy in season – when the fruit and vegetables are cheapest and freshest. Locally grown produce is also harvested when ripe, making it full of flavour!
Tips & Tricks
Fruits and vegetables in your grocery basket that should have the organic label due to usually high pesticide levels include: apples, sweet bell peppers, cucumbers, celery, potatoes, grapes, cherry tomatoes, kale, summer squash, nectarines, peaches, spinach, strawberries, hot peppers.
Where to get Organic Produce in Oxford
Shops
Wild Honey is Oxford’s award-winning, independent, Organic Health Food Store chain. Go to one of the closest of three Wild Honey stores around town to get your organic groceries, beauty products, diet supplements, household goods, and gifts.
Run as a community health hub since 2014, they have become an integral part of the local scene. They stock the freshest organic produce from local producers, and an incredibly broad selection from around the world, out of passion for food, health, and the vibrant Oxford community. Probably most commonly favourite place to shop organic in Oxford.
“Thank God this place exists! Make a trek here once a month to stock up on sea vegetables, tempeh and all sorts of other goods I could not find anywhere else in Oxford.” *****
Google review
Uhuru Wholefoods is another of our favourite shops, right in the Cowley Road.
Established in 1974 in Cowley Road as a cooperative, and named Uhuru (Freedom in Swahili) in honour of several African countries gaining independence at the time, it has remained the oldest place to shop organic in Oxford, as a lovely health food store and deli, well catering for special/alternative diets. Among other things they stock organic salads, cakes, and body care products.
“Lovely inviting shop with a range of products to browse. I don’t follow a particular diet, but they have lots of vegan and specialty foods on offer. They also have lots of niche items and brands.” *****
Google review
Cafe
At Organic Deli Cafe you can enjoy tasty breakfast, coffee, juice, salads, bowls, sandwiches, and groceries of excellent quality, also for pick-up and delivery, with an option of event catering on top of that. Their mission is providing quality consistent food that tastes great every single time, and it’s definitely worth a visit!
“Gluten Free. Great selection for breakfast. Lovely happy lady serving. Excellent coffee and food. All round, very much worth our one mile walk to find it.” *****
Google review
Image: https://www.organicwholefoods.co.uk/
Restaurant
For an outstanding dining experience based on locally sourced produce, take a short drive to Brill to enjoy Restaurant The Pointer. The restaurant’s meat and poultry all come from British farms with Jon their own butcher bringing premium cuts of meat from his shop next door. The menu has a superb selection of seafood dishes sourced from fish mongers’ daily morning catch. Even your drink will be local, with their very own Brill Gin distilled in the UK.
“There are no words to describe how amazing this place was. The food was so fresh and tasted amazing, the staff incredibly attentive and kind. If you’re anywhere near you should definitely take the time to visit!” *****
Google review
Market
To shop organic in Oxford weekly, head to the East Oxford Farmers & Community Market. It is a small, friendly local market which can provide the staples for your weekly shop: bread, eggs, milk, vegetables, cheese, various meats, refills for cleaning supplies – as well as a range of other products such as jewellery, clothing and secondhand books. The majority of producers are from within 30 miles of Oxford. It has been running since 2006, and has since grown into a local institution, offering a huge range of top quality local food and more every Saturday morning (10:00am to 1:00pm).
The market also has a cafe which runs each week selling delicious breakfasts, lunches, cakes and fair-trade teas and coffee. This is a lovely place to meet up and take a break from shopping.
“Just fantastic, everything you could want, delicious food to eat there or take away, some of the loveliest veggies I’ve ever eaten, all local, slightly varied each week, and a refill station with all the staples and loads more you bring your containers to to fill up and pay by weight. Perfect weekly shop!” *****
Google review
Vegetable farm, veg box scheme
Riverford Organic Farmers have been farming since 1986. Their award-winning veg boxes are packed with the best of every season – all slow-grown for maximum flavour, and delivered (for free!) in reusable home compostable packaging, or without any at all! As part of their plan to reach Net Zero emissions, all their vans will be electric by 2025. In some areas, they even deliver by bike! An additional benefit is the farm’s recommendations of seasonal products to help you make the most of your food.
“Really pleased I signed up. It makes eating healthy food something I can’t avoid! Good products and efficient delivery. Thanks!” *****
Google review
North Aston Organics has been supplying freshly harvested vegetables to the Oxford area since 1997. They grow almost the entire range of vegetables themselves, in their own fields, so that you can experience the pleasures of seasonal eating all the year round. Salads and other leafy crops are harvested on the day of delivery, ensuring they arrive in peak condition, crisp and fresh, and with the maximum possible shelf-life. Shop organic in Oxford in the simplest way – order one of their vegetable boxes to enjoy delivery of goodies to your door with added benefits such as the option to exclude vegetables you never eat, and top up from the monthly list of seasonal extras.
“Been buying their weekly veg box (ours is delivered to a pick up point in Oxford) for nearly 20 years now. Great price, quality and variety and completely reliable.” *****
Google review
Cultivate is a food growing co-operative set up nine years ago and funded by the people of Oxford, to supply the city with local, ethical food. They prioritise organic, low waste and low use of plastic, and source food that has a low carbon footprint. They support community enterprises wherever they can. You can volunteer at the coop, or order a weekly box of vegetables delivered around Oxford on bike.
“I love these veg boxes. Been with them over a month now and the best thing I could have done for health and general better living and consuming. I’ve chosen to be surprised each week rather than know ahead of time and this is very exciting.” *****
Google review
Other useful links for eating healthier:
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