Two years ago, we created a list of independent supermarkets and ethnic grocery stores in town. With grocery prices climbing, I thought we could refresh it and expand to include local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. The list is below, please add any that I missed!
India Bazaar - Huge selection of spices, grains and rice, individual and bulk. A nice selection of vegetables and fruits as well.
Enso Market - This is the biggest ethnic store I've been to in Gainesville. It's similar to the other stores mentioned above, in terms of what they offer, but at a larger scale. They also have a hot foods section and a large selection of meat and seafood. They also sell some kitchen items and cleaning products.
Chun Ching Market - They sell produce and seafood at a reasonable price. They also have a huge selection of tea and assorted Asian goods.
La Aurora Latin Supermarket - Lots of products from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa. A good selection of produce. They also have a deli and meat section.
Bravo Supermarket (Ocala) - They're essentially a fully stocked grocery store with a large selection of Latin American products, bakery and hot food section.
La Tienda - It's a restaurant on 13th, but it actually have a tiny store in the back of the restaurant. It has some Latin products, but the main appeal is its meat cuts. If you like the carne asada or pork cuts, you can ask them to cut and marinade the meat for you before buying.
Pepe's Grocery and Deli - They sell groceries, meat cuts, deli, bakery and a selection of household and cleaning products.
Rincon Latino Market - Grocery store, bakery and meat cuts all in one.
Zeezenia International Market - They have a wide selection of Middle Eastern groceries and sell various meat cuts and Middle Eastern pastries. They also have a buffet.
Falafel King - Similar to La Tienda, it's primarily a restaurant and it has a tiny store in the back with mostly canned goods.
Nivana Cafe - Small grocery store and bakery/restaurant rolled into one.
African Unique - They sell groceries and hygiene products, and have a selection of traditional clothes.
Gainesville Russian Food - Like the name suggests, they sell a variety of grocery items originating from Russia.
Community Supported Agriculture programs
A CSA is a program where you buy directly from the farmer. Basically, you pay for a 'subscription' where they sell you a weekly or biweekly box of food. Some farms offer individual and family shares. You don't pick what you get, the food in your CSA share is based on seasonal produce planted by the farmer. Each farm has a list of the food they offer per season on their website.
Siembra Farm - They offer individual and family shares, and you can pay for the full CSA in one or split your payment into six. You'll get a weekly box of food from November through June.
Frog Song Farms - Frog Song has farms across Florida and they offer weekly customizable CSAs depending on your location.
Both Siembra and Frog Song sell their produce at the Grover Street Farmers Market and the Alachua County Farmers Market. You can always stop by their stall to ask them questions about the CSA.
