Food Lovers' Guide: Local Markets

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Among many other tings, you can find organic and sometimes local beef and chicken at Nature’s Green Grocer. Photo by Susan Laughlin.

More Local Food Guides

Our Food Lovers' Guide includes many more delicious topics:

Produce
Cheese and Milk
Farm-raised Meats and Local Meat Markets
Venison
Bread and Pasta
Herbs
Asian Specialty Markets
Fish

That's Special - Organic products are just one reason to shop at local markets.

One of the best growing food trends in New Hampshire is the one-stop shopping natural food specialty stores.

Nature's Green Grocer in Peterborough is quintessentially Granite State locavore and is so well known among green foodies it's opening a new location this spring on Amherst Street in Nashua in the plaza behind Five Guys Burgers.

Among the more than 15,000 items sold in the store are seasonally available, organically grown produce, local cheeses, all-natural meat and fish and baked goods. The beef is certified organic, pasture-raised and finished. The store buys whole sides of beef and offer a variety of cuts throughout the week. They grind their own twice (and sometimes three times a day) and will grind chicken and pork on request.

If all that healthy shopping makes you hungry, Nature's Green Grocer also has an in-house café with an organic juice and smoothie bar. The perfect healthy lunch? How about a South American salad made with fresh avocado, roasted red onions, carrots, tomato, blue corn chips, black bean corn and cilantro salsa with papaya poppy seed dressing and a hunk of wholesome, whole-grain bread, washed down with a "Nature's Cocktail," fresh-squeezed organic lemon, celery and cucumber juice? There's a sweet little café area inside but in the warmer months take your lunch outside and listen to the rushing Nubanusit River. Your tummy and soul will thank you.

Of course, no discussion of large, natural and organic food stores in the state would be complete without the grandmother of them all - A Market, 125 Loring St. (myamarket.com) in Manchester, which started in New Hampshire 42 years ago and is still going strong, selling everything from raw milk to Maunka hone to organic pet food and bulk grains. They also have an impressive herbal and homeopathic remedies section. As one Internet fan said, "The moment you walk into this place, you can smell its organic-ness."

Nature's Green Grocer
374 Union St., Peterborough
(603) 924-2233
naturesgreengrocer.com

How Interesting: Kombucha Tea is an effervescent tea-based drink The fermented beverage can be found on tap at Nature's Green Grocer. The tea is very refreshing once you get past the immediate vinegar smell.

Local Markets

The Local Grocer
Breakfast and lunch café natural food market with a large gluten-free section.
3358 White Mountain Hwy.
North Conway
(603) 356-6068
nhlocalgrocer.com

Natural Choice Market
A market that focuses on making the customer at ease when shopping while providing quality natural and organic products.
270 Londonderry Tpk.
Hooksett
(603) 669-6977
naturalchoicemarketnh.com

Twelve Pine Restaurant & Gourmet Marketplace
Specialty food store and café.
11 School St.
Peterborough
(603) 924-6140
twelvepine.com

Cooking Matters
Specialty cheese, condiments, teas, pasta, hot sauces and in-house café.
97 Main St.
Nashua
(603) 880-6200
cookingmatters.com

Philbrick's Fresh Markets
Locally owned alternative to big-box grocery stores, organic foods, naturally raised meats, seafood, beers and wines, artisan cheese.
775 Lafayette Rd.
Portsmouth
(603) 422-6758
and 69 Lafayette Rd.
North Hampton
(603) 379-2500
philbricksfreshmarket.com

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
Basic groceries, baked goods and cheddar cheese cut from the wheel.
377 Main St.
Hopkinton
(603) 746-7777
Crackerbarrel.com

Pawtuckaway Mushroom Company LLC
Grows mushrooms, Grow-at-home kits and dried mushrooms.
Deerfield
(603) 770-7813

Holderness General Store
A deli and supermarket with homemade fudge; also caters.
83 Rte. 3
Holderness
(603) 968-3446