Any luck with Newflower (or Sunflower) Farmers Market?
Newflower Farmers Market (sibling of Sunflower Farmers Market) opened in Austin about a month ago. I finally took the trip down south to check this place out. I had heard it was similar to Trader Joe's, so naturally I was excited.
When I lived in Santa Fe for a year, I depended on Trader Joe's for cheeses, meats, breads, yummy dips, and (actually tasty) frozen dinner options. However, Newflower did not live up to these expectations today. I was disappointed with their selections of frozen and prepared foods. Not to mention, I didn't find any great bargains compared to my neighborhood HEB.
Have any of you Serious Eaters had luck with Newflower or Sunflower Farmers Market? What have been some of your best buys and favorite products of theirs?
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8 Comments:
I live in Austin too and have visited Newflower twice. I did see a couple good deals but lots of items at NF are more expensive than at HEB such as those Laughing Cow cheese wedges which are about a dollar more than HEB. One good deal that I did see was Sweet leaf tea for 10/10$. I like that NF gives you a bag rebate something like 5 or 10 cents.
I'll stick to HEB I just wanted to check out NF because it's new in town.
I hope that someday we'll get a Trader Joes. I've heard lots of good things about that store.
atxgirl at 9:13PM on 03/24/09
Sunflower has a store within driving distance, and I've been there once. The took over a couple of spaces in a corner of a strip mall and the layout of the place is weird, including an upper level that's like 5 steps up from the majority of the store. I took a walk around the place to get an idea where everything was, and then found myself wandering around trying to find things I'd seen on my way through. Not their fault because they're dealing with the existing structure, but it was an odd choice to move into a place like that.
They had a lot of brands I'd never seen before for things like dairy products, which is good if I want to try something new. There were some killer deals on a few items of produce.
I don't buy much in the way of packaged products, so I can't comment on that.
I asked a question at the meat counter, and the guy had no idea what I was talking about, which isn't a good sign. And he tried to make up an answer before I finally prodded him to ask someone else, which is even worse.
I'll probably go back again when I'm in that area, but I wouldn't make a special trip. There's supposed to be one opening in my town in a year or so, and I think that'll be better because they won't be dealing with a weird layout since they're building from the ground up.
No idea if it's like a TJ or not, since I've never been to one of those.
dbcurrie at 9:30PM on 03/24/09
I don't have a TJ's around, so I can't compare it to them, but I like Sunflower. They have a fair amount of organics/natural foods, their bulk section is really good, and they're way cheaper than Whole Foods (the other natural option around here). I buy almost all my produce from them (unless the farmer's market is going on), since the quality seems to be pretty good and it costs less than any other supermarket in the area (including the big stores like Safeway and Kroeger's).
cycorider at 10:47PM on 03/24/09
There are both Sunflower Markets and Trader Joe's here in Tucson, and I've been to both.
Sunflower is great for the sausages they make in house (the variety is lovely) and the organics, which are much cheaper than elsewhere. I also love the bulk section - great for a grad student who lives by herself and only needs 2 cups of rice. AVOID their veggie lasagna. It tastes like plastic. Deli counter is 05% Boar's Head, and I can't justify paying nearly $10/lb for roast beef.
That said, I don't shop there often, but I do go to Trader Joe's weekly. While TJ's has a smaller selection, the prices are ALWAYS good, especially for their cheeses and lunch meats.
missvenuz at 12:59AM on 03/25/09
Funny, I didn't get the Trader Joe's impression at all, since I understand Trader Joe's to have more unique products vs. general groceries. Never been to one, of course. Based on the sales flier, Newflower looks just like Sun Harvest, with a focus on cheap organic produce (which Sun Harvest frequently but not always has). Can anyone confirm? I like Sun Harvest, esp. because of it's smaller, more user-friendly layout. Sometimes going to S. Lamar Whole Foods is just exhausting, while I can pop in and out of Sun Harvest pretty quickly. And apparently Newflower also does the both-sales-ads on Wednesdays special that Sun Harvest does, which can be very helpful (although it does seem that someone shuttles in the retirement community on those days, which makes for a strange crowded-but-slow vibe). And Sun Harvest carries local eggs, Pederson's bacon (my absolute favorite), and Buddy's chicken--does Newflower?
I usually keep a frozen meal or two around for emergency back up, and I haven't found a better source than Super Target, esp. the Archer Farms offerings. Their pizzas, especially, are very well done, and when I'm dead tired, the steam-in-bad pastas are totally acceptable.
renzata at 1:43AM on 03/25/09
Missvenuz: I did try some of NF's andoiulle sausages that were on special. They were tasty and fairly inexpensive, but I won't be making another special trip just for them.
Renzata: I agree S. Lamar Whole Foods is tiring. I usually go to Central Market when I need special ingredients. Haven't spent much time at Sun Harvest, but it the South location is fairly close to me. I ran across their weekly circular in my mail. I'll have to check them out next.
Sweet E at 1:10PM on 03/25/09
I live very near a Sunflower Market and have a generally positive opinion of it. I agree with cycorider, the produce is much less expensive than any other grocery store in the vicinity and the bulk selection is good. I use my local Sunflower for these things and a few other staples, like eggs and tofu.
I don't care for the deli, the prepared foods, or the cheese, but find the frozen food section is alright. Since your market is new, you may want to give them a little time to grow the frozen foods section. The one I go to has rearranged over the last couple years to increase their frozen food selection.
Lastly, my local Sunflower has a decent beer selection. Definitely more diverse than any of the other nearby grocery stores, including the closest Whole Foods. Your mileage may vary, of course.
radish at 1:29PM on 03/25/09
Ever since moving to Utah from DC I've been pining for a TJ substitute. While not equal in awesomeness, Sunflower is by far the best thing Utah Valley has got going for it, grocery-store wise. It's the only place I've found to get relatively affordable fresh mint, basil, organic veggies, etc. TJ definitely has it beat in the frozen, and packaged delights, but sunflower has a great produce and meat section, and the bakery isn't bad either. I've quickly become a loyal customer since they opened here recently.
Do you know how hard it was to find matzoh in Utah before two months ago? IMHO, it's a god-send for those of us outside of the epicure-epicenter.
kazoinker at 3:04PM on 03/25/09