The Vegetable Connection

Love the quality of the fruit and veggies at this place, and some nice quality additions such as beans, rice and pasta (and for those of you who eat them, deli and cheese items). I would love it if they had some organic items however I’m really happy with what they do have. Go there most weeks! (They also have a loyalty card system).

Buying fruit and veggies is a delight at this small store on Brunswick Street. On each of my visits the staff have been very friendly, making jokes with me and asking about what I’m cooking for dinner. It’s obvious that they enjoy working here and it makes such a difference when I hand over my hard earned cash.
The produce is beautiful, with plenty of great value on abundant and seasonal produce. (Ie. 3 avos for $ 5 and a whole cabbage for $ 2 on my most recent visit).
They have a great selection of high-​quality and mostly organic meat, dairy and pantry items too so you can essentially buy everything you need for a meal in the one transaction. I much prefer a visit here to support smaller producers than the nearby supermarket.

Although I am no longer a student on a student budget, I am still frugal when it comes to food shopping. This is probably why I rarely shop at the Vegetable Connection — there are some pricey items in there. But if I’m looking for gourmet relishes/​marmalades/​chutneys and ‘good’ olive oil for salads versus cooking, the Vegetable Connection is perfect for those kind of purchases.
I purchased some delicious seeded mustard and Phillippa beetroot relish for a Kris Kringle present and walked away with a vegetarian brownie for myself. For the three items, I spent about $ 24, which is kind of expensive, but people do appreciate great local produce. I know I do when I can afford it.
P. S. Best impulse buy — LYCHEE! They sit near the register waiting to be purchased!

The Vegetable Connection may be a great example of style over substance but being a fan of stylishly displayed fruit, vegetables and gourmet foodstuffs, I don’t care a jot.
Without a doubt the prettiest grocer in the area, The Vegetable Connection sells a range of fruit and vege that borders on the exotic and its displays really are worth a visit to see alone.
As my fellow Unilocalers have observed, not all of The Vegetable Connection’s produce is organic and I suppose the demarcation between organic and inorganic could be made clearer considering the sometimes premium prices charged for what often turns out to be pesticide laden vege.
That said, The Vegetable Connection does have the occasional good deal, with a three avocados for $ 3 deal when I visited the other day and the selection, as I’ve mentioned really is mind boggling.
A great place to go if you need to do a little fruit and vege shopping but are sick of the usual produce culprits, The Vegetable Connection is as inspiring, inviting and excitingly designed a grocer as I’ve found in Melbourne.

It’s easy to mistake The Vegetable Connection for a grocer that is cashing in on the gentrification of Fitzroy, but this Brunners St shop has a long history in the area. It was actually opened in 1941 as a fruit and veg stall. Over the years it has expanded its range to other grocery items as well as fresh breads and cheeses.
That said, it’s still on the pricey side. I always thought (as I know others did) that all the produce was organic, but it’s important to note that it is not. Only part of the produce is organic — so before you spend $ 4 on a couple of pieces of fruit, check if they are organic first. And if you’re looking for more organic stuff, head to Organic Wholefoods on Smith St.

The Vegetable Connection definitely has a very good reputation of doing amazing looking window displays. If you have ever walked up this end of Brunswick Street I am sure you have seen the beautiful gourmet-​looking displays of food peeking out at you from their shop front window.
This is after all is what The Vegetable Connection is all about. Selling you the dream of gourmet food. And they do have a good selection of gourmet foods. Chanterelle mushrooms, black truffles, organic small goods and any other kind of gourmet delight you can think of.
As you would expect, The Vegetable Connection is certainly not a ‘cheap value for money’ kind of shop. But then again — if you are in the market for black truffles then value isn’t what you are after.
My main criticism of this place is the fact that they sell a small range of organic fruit and vegetables right alongside non-​organic fruit and vegetables. I have know many people that have mistakenly thought that all of their fresh produce is organic — which is in fact not the case. So just make sure you look at their signage clearly.
Definitely worth a look-​in — you never know they may have that ingredient you just haven’t been able to source anywhere else.