Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

In my opinion, because New Zealand is relatively isolated, as compared to the U.S., Canada, or countries in Europe, it, by necessity, has had to become fairly self-sufficient with respect to food. If you visit a grocery store/supermarket while you are there, you will notice the high prices for imported foods. In fact, the prices are high for local foods, as well, because, unlike say, California, for instance, they do not have an abundance of cheap labor from just south of the border (though there are some imported laborers from other Pacific Island nations). In addition, fuel costs are high, so shipping of produce and other food items is costly. So "eating local and seasonal" has been a way of life for New Zealanders long before it became a fashionable international buzzterm. New Zealand also exports food, such as lamb, dairy (in various forms), seafood, venison, apples, glorious honey, and more. Much of its economy is based on agriculture.

My husband currently works in Dunedin, but previously he worked in Gisborne, which is on the Eastern Cape of the North Island. Though Gisborne has a Farmers' Market, we noticed that a lot of the locals had their own gardens for growing produce (Gisborne has some of the best weather in NZ). The small community college also taught cheese and wine making.

MLGB has sent you the link for the Farmers' Markets. Given your interests, this is a must-see. On the South Island, the best known is that of Dunedin's. It is held every Saturday morning. All the food is locally sourced, from fish to meat to produce to locally crafted cheeses, jams and honey. It is a lively scene held beside the historical Railway Station. It seems all of Dunedin turns out for the Farmers' Market--rain or shine. Also on offer are cooked foods. You will not see so many purely organic food stalls (in the sense of only organic fertilizers and pesticide free), but most of the produce vendors sell pesticide-free vegetables and fruits and indicate that their produce has not been sprayed. As you know, organic food labeling requirements vary from country to country.

I live in Marin County, CA., and even my own local Farmers' Market has few "certified" organic produce stalls, but many pesticide free stalls.

On the North Island the best known Farmers' Market is probably that of Matakana Village, in this suburb north of Auckland.

You will find excellent Farmers' Markets even in small towns. When I was touring South Island wineries a few months ago, I had a chance to shop at the Cromwell Farmers' Market (Cromwell is a small town in the heart of Central Otago's wine country). The Farmers' Market was small but lovely. The entertainment was supplied by a band from Vanuatu. I bought locally harvested produce, locally made bread and locally harvested honey.

A LOT of restaurants depend on locally sourced ingredients, for the reasons I stated above--because imports are expensive (and generally not as fresh), and because locally grown, crafted, and sourced food IS so tasty and fresh. I think it is harder to find a NZ restaurant that does not depend on fresh locally sourced food (excluding the fast food joints).

If you find yourself near Oamaru, which is about 90 minutes north of Dunedin, pop into the award winning Riverstone Cafe. Its produce gardens are adjacent to the restaurant, though not all of its produce comes from here.

In Dunedin, I love Plato Cafe
http://www.platocafe.co.nz/eatingatplato.htm

When I am in New Zealand, I love trying foods that I cannot find in California, such as ice cream or drinks made of feijoa (a fruit), local honeys like the fabulous Pohutakawa honey, Bluff Oysters, and more. As a native San Franciscan, I should be flogged for saying this, but I actually prefer the sourdough bread I have bought at the Dunedin Farmers' Market over that I find in San Francisco.

My husband likes to order mutton bird (titi), a popular NZ poultry choice. Mutton bird is known as the Sooty Shearwater here in California. Personally, I couldn't bear to eat this lovely little creature, but a lot of New Zealanders are crazy about it.

And don't forget the Green Lipped Mussels. You can buy them all over the world, but they taste best in New Zealand.

I would agree with MLGB. Cuisine magazine is terrific. Meanwhile, check out these links:
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/med...re_feature.cfm
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/med...-festivals.cfm

I actually think New Zealand is a land of foodies. Food festivals are common, such as the Wild Food Festival:
http://www.wildfoods.co.nz/index.cfm/1,51,0,0,html