Frequently Asked Questions
Why eat organic food?
- Because organic food tastes like food used to taste — great
- Because it's safe
- Because it doesn't contain a cocktail of chemicals — the chemical companies say they don't harm you, but who wants to take the risk?
- Because it's GE free
- Because it will help the environment
What is a certified organic product?
It is one that meets an agreed international standard and has been checked (by an independent inspector) to ensure that that standard has been met.
There are four certifying bodies in New Zealand: Bio-Gro NZ and Agriqual Organic (which are recognised internationally), Demeter (the bio-dynamic standard) and a local certifying scheme, OFNZ.
What do you sell?
- Fresh organic produce. We get daily supplies of many vegetables. A third of our produce comes from Common Property, our own BioGro certified market garden in Te Horo. We deal direct with many other New Zealand growers to ensure that organic produce is fresh from the paddock to your plate.
- Dried organic produce. We carry a wide range of grains, beans, flours, herbs, spices, nuts and fruits
- Processed organic foods, including bread, cereals, pasta, cakes, biscuits, sweets, drinks, oils, vinegars, sauces, tinned foods and macrobiotic foods
- Organic meat and dairy produce
- Health products, organic where possible and free of harmful additives
- Environmentally friendly household products
- A selection of books and magazines
- Pet foods and products
- Seeds, seedlings and organic fertilizers and pest control products
Ask for our product guides — and for our specialist diet guides.
Can you deliver?
Yes. We have a home delivery service and deliver anywhere in New Zealand from Monday to Friday. You can order a standard box of fruit and vegetables or you can order a box that is tailored to your needs.
When are you open?
See our opening hours.
Where are your shops?
We have three shops in the Wellington region. See our shops.
Can I park at the shops?
There is parking available at all the shops.
Why don't you sell the same variety of fruit and vegetables I can get in the supermarket?
All our fruit and vegetable except bananas are grown in New Zealand. That means they are all seasonal. The seasons are extended in various ways — apples and pears are kept in cold storage and usually last until the next season's fruit becomes available. Greenhouse vegetables are available in winter — but they are much more expensive than the ones grown in season.
What we don't do is put preservatives on our vegetables to extend the season as happens with many conventional crops. For example in the springtime all root crops start to sprout — potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic - our produce staff do a great job nipping the sprouts off, but nature has a way of bursting through anyway, so by November we are usually very low on carrots, onions and garlic in particular. But to compensate the asparagus is available in springtime, so it's just a question of learning to work with the seasons, rather than attempt to dominate them by denying them.
Do you cater for gluten-free diets and other allergies?
Yes — this is one of our speciality areas. Commonsense Organics is increasingly stocking supplies for people with allergies — and top of the list is adults and children with coeliac's disease — ie people who are allergic to gluten and cannot eat anything with wheat, oats, barley or rye in it. We stock a wide variety of gluten-free bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes and snacks. We also have a gluten-free product guide and guides for people who have dairy allergies and diabetes. In addition we label our products on the shelf — the main labelling is organic/non-organic, but a red stripe means it is gluten-free and a blue stripe means it is dairy-free.
Who thinks up your slogans?
Our brilliant staff! And we offer $100 to anyone who suggests a slogan that we use.