Who doesn’t know about the Huckleberry store at The Mount!? But did you know New Zealand’s retailer of organic, natural and allergen-friendly products has now joined forces with Wild Earth Organics and Wild Herbs in Tauranga? focus paid them a visit and found the legacy of Wild Earth and Herbs co-existing in beautiful harmony with the new proprietors.
“Excuse me, would you mind if I squeezed in quickly?” says a young woman reaching out for a pack of hemp hearts on the shelf. It’s 8.30am and Wild Earth Organics on Cameron Road is already chockablock with people. “Hemp products are selling like hotcakes,” smiles store manager Melanie Koko.
What started out two decades ago is now a large thriving one-stop-shop for all things organic, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free, in the very heart of Tauranga. There is an abundance of organic fresh fruit and vegetables, rows of healthy ingredients for cooking and baking and giant freezers with plant-based dairy and meat alternatives, as well as a carefully curated range of high-quality, organic dairy. Goat cheese lovers, your paradise has been found! There is even a whole section of products for the home and garden.
Store Manager Mel strolls along the aisles pointing out products on the shelves, many with a Huckleberry logo – “Here we have natural honey. Oh, and these are Huckleberry organic teas, spices and herbs.”
Today Wild Earth Organics is everything you would expect from a modern on-trend health store. They support local brands, like Mount Maunganui based hemp and maca producers Good Pantry, Six Toed Fox salad mixes from McLaren Falls and of course, mandarins, avocados and other seasonal products from Tauranga farmers. They also encourage you to produce less waste by shopping from their bulk bins, and by offering customers a 50c discount for bringing their own bag. And, of course, they have a nice welcoming café in the furthest corner of the store where you can relax and take a break from shopping. There’s a delicious selection of raw cakes, vegan burgers and samosas and the salad menu changes every day.
“We do follow the trends so long as they fit with our philosophy to only stock good quality products made with real ingredients,” agrees Mel. “For example, we’ve noticed that more people are asking for aluminium free deodorants, so we’ve introduced a good selection.”
Wild Herbs Natural Health & Herbal Dispensary
After the busyness of Wild Earth Organics, Wild Herbs – the sister store on the opposite side of the carpark – feels strangely quiet and calm. People don’t come here with the whole family for groceries … this is a tranquil place for mental and physical wellbeing.
Wild Herbs specializes in natural and organic supplements, oils, homeopathy, herbal teas, natural cosmetics, skincare products, practitioner only remedies and, their latest add-on, products for pets. “Vicky is our pet enthusiast and keeps the assortment growing,” says store manager Angela Frieswyk.
Angela and Vicky Armstrong have been with the business from the very beginning. Now there are five practitioners at Wild Herbs, with at least three working in the store at any one time. “We spend a lot of time talking to each customer. People know that they can always approach us for advice and consultation.
Katie Davies, Angela Frieswyk, Shona Melhuish, Vicky Armstrong
If the problem is too complex for an instore solution they will recommend an appointment with a naturopath at the Wild Herbs Natural Therapies Centre – a spacious beautiful clinic beside the store. A private consultation with a naturopath or medical herbalist costs $120.
As a qualified naturopath with 18 years’ experience, Angela works at the clinic as well. “Our consultations last for one hour and we normally start with a chat. We then do different diagnostics, check a patient’s nutritional status and sometimes refer them for a blood test.” After that, the naturopath comes up with a dietary plan, supplement recommendations and lifestyle advice.
Wild Herbs Natural Therapies Centre
Their main pride though is a huge Herbal Dispensary. The bottles stocked here contain herbs with different medicinal properties and can only be dispensed by a professional naturopath or medical herbalist. “When we know what the problem is, we can recommend a specific combination of these products to support overall wellbeing.’
With the ever-growing interest in natural medicine, the demand for these private consultations is so high that some people have to book appointments two weeks in advance! Luckily, the team has expanded and they now have massage ($45-$150), reiki healing ($30), reflexology, hypnotherapy and a trendy flower essence therapy on offer.
Huckleberry: huckleberry.co.nz
Wild Herbs: wildherbs.nz
Follow Wild Earth Organics & Wild Herbs on Facebook
Address: 777 Cameron Rd, Tauranga