UPDATED LIST: Where to shop for local, fresh produce in Cairns

We're pretty lucky in Cairns to be surrounded by fertile cropping and livestock producing areas, plus some really amazing food creators.

Really, there's no need to shop in the major supermarkets. You can get all the fresh food you need, as well as your staples, at smaller, locally-owned establishments.

Here at Tropic Now, we've uncovered some of the best in the business.

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Bakeries

Le Crouton  

227 Kamerunga Rd, Freshwater

If it wasn’t for the sea-of-sugarcane view from this itty-bitty bakery/café, you’d swear you were in Paris. Le Crouton bakes arguably the city’s finest brioche, baguettes and fresh crusty loaves (not to mention chocolate croissants).

Orangerie Patisserie  

Redlynch Central, 7-15 Larsen Rd, Redlynch

Pastry Chef Simon Lewis-Jones has plied his tasty trade at five-star hotels and resorts around the world, and it shows: his artisanal loaves and rolls are first class.

Olivetree Fine Foods 

Rusty's Markets, 57-89 Grafton St, Cairns

Allan Thomas’ famous (and famously healthy) rye and spelt wraps are just some of the doughy drawcards at his Rusty’s market stall. His sourdough, ciabatta, spelt dinkle brot and rye are also popular.

Dino's Woodfire Bakery

1/18 Hollingsworth St, Portsmith

Dino’s woodfired wonders include luscious loaves (the traditional Italian ciabatta is a must-try) and pizza bases. His own shop is in Portsmith but Jonsson’s Farm Market is also a stockist, along with the Mungalli Creek Dairy shop at Rusty’s.

Loaf

381 Mulgrave Rd, Bungalow

This Japanese-style bakery turns out some of Cairns’ most beguiling breadstuffs. From Asian milk bread to soft, thick-cut white loaves, Loaf’s incredible variety of fluffy-dough treats has attracted a cult following.

Baked on Red Hill

Shop 4, 1 Windara St, Woree

Former chef Jeremy Mason was cooking bread as a hobby and selling it at Rusty’s Markets, before taking the leap and making it a full time job. You’ll find tantalizing sour dough breads, baguettes and ciabatta at his shop, along with cakes, slices, savoury pies, rolls and sandwiches.

Woodward Street Bakery 

216 Woodward St, Whitfield

Andrew Keable and Sarah Cossa, the owners of Earlville’s Cobber’s Crust Bakery, opened their Whitfield store in 2018, with all their popular pastries plus a new focus on artisanal bread. Already, it’s proven to be immensely popular with the locals.

Grant Street Kitchen

Shop 4-5, Corner of Grant and Macrossan Sts, Port Douglas 

A Port Douglas favourite, this bakery and café has hand-baked bread, pastries, pies, salads, gourmet sandwiches and heaps more.

Butcheries

Marsh Butcheries

1 Kamerunga Rd, Stratford

Family-owned and operated, the Marsh's get to know their customers' names, offer advice on how to cook their meat and even hand out recipes! They have the usual sausages, steak, chicken and pork, but also specialise in goat meat, which is halal certified.

Byrne's Quality Meats

160-162 Mayers St, Manunda

The Byrnes Family purchased their first Butcher Shop in 1960, so it's safe to say they know a thing or two about meat. Many of their products are sourced from the Tablelands, and there are some amazing smallgoods on offer as well.

Edge Hill Butchery

136 Collins Ave, Edge Hill

One of the city's longest standing – and most loved – butchers, Edge Hill Butchery was first opened in 1925. Rod and Julie Leaver bought the business from Brian and Lorraine Vallely in 2016, and have expanded the product offering with great success.

Clifton Beach Butchery

Clifton Village Shopping Centre, Captain Cook Highway, Clifton Beach

Mitch is known as the sausage king of the far north and was voted by Triple M listeners as the best butcher in Cairns in 2018. His team does 25 sausage flavours as well as plenty of cuts of beef, chicken, pork and lamb.

Jonsson's Farm Markets 

31 Johnston St, Stratford & Stockland Shopping Centre, Earlville

4th generation farmers, 80 per cent of the Jonsson's meat comes from their own farm at Wombinoo Station near Mt Garnet. Their pork comes from the Atherton Tablelands, and their chicken from Mareeba.

Cairns Bulk Meats

36-38 Ishmael Rd, Woree 

The Edmonds family has been providing meat, poultry and small goods to far north Queensland since 1958. Their meat comes cheaper in bulk but they don’t compromise on quality and exclusively sell King Reef Beef, from Victoria, in north Queensland.

Mighty Nice Meats

Barr St Markets, 532 Mulgrave Rd, Earlville

Owner Josh is Cairns born and bred and has been butchering for 15 years. His range includes premium beef, lamb, pork and chicken products, including Bingil Bay Beef.

Seafood

ISP Seafood

1 Bramp Cl, Portsmith

Independent Seafood Producers has been around since 1984 and have their own fishing fleet, plus contractors. While they have a full range, some of the highlights are line-caught gulf mackerel, tropical rock lobster and tiger prawns.

Great Barrier Reef Tuna

37-39 Aumuller St, Portsmith

Fishers Bob and Annie Lamason started this business back in the 80s and now their three children are also involved. They have three tuna boats working out of the Port of Cairns. The go-to for sashimi grade tuna.

Prawn Star

E Finger, Marlin Marina, Cairns

Fresh and local seafood off the trawler – you can take away or dine onboard. They have tiger prawns, mud crabs, crayfish and more. While the seafood’s top notch, this place is really all about the dining experience.

Ocean World

379 Sheridan St, Cairns North

Mende and Peter Adams of Ocean World Seafood Market have stamped themselves as a popular seafood outlet amongst locals, specialising in locally caught fish and prawns and take away fish and chips.

Preston Seafood Cairns

10 Mac Peak Cres, Smithfield 

Established over 25 years ago by Max and Francoise Pantacchini, Preston Fresh remains family owned and operated. As well as selling a massive range of fresh fish and shellfish, they also do pre-packaged meals and takeaway fish and chips!

Fruit & veg

Rusty's Markets

57-89 Grafton St, Cairns

No doubt THE PLACE to get all your local, fresh, in-season fruit and veg, including plenty of exotics as well as cut tropical flowers. But you’ll have to plan your shop for Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Jonsson's Farm Markets

31 Johnston St, Stratford & Stockland Shopping Centre, Earlville

The Jonsson family built their business around supporting local farmers. They’ve got a huge range and often you’ll find in-season local stuff, like mangoes and avocadoes, heavily reduced.

FNQ Local Choice

DFO, 274 Mulgrave Rd, Cairns

Skip the Coles fruit and veg section and take a few steps to this little gem, right outside the supermarket giant’s entry. It has everything you need and you can also pick up dried local fruit such as bananas and mangoes.

The Healthy Hub

45 Moffat St, Cairns

This is where you go to get your organic fruit and veggies in Cairns, but they also sell organic, local meat and dairy products, plus plenty of other health-related products.

Delicatessens

Providore Amore

117/113 Sheridan St, Cairns

Providore Amore stocks continental deli lines as well as cheeses from all over the world, plus baked goods. Don’t leave without tucking into a nourish bowl.

Angelo's Fine Foods

81 Fearnley St, Portsmith

A family business distributing the world's finest food to Far North Queensland. There’s everything from smallgoods to chocolates, sauces and antipasti. The range is huge and worth checking out.

Oliveri's Deli

41 Edith St, Innisfail

An Innisfail institution, this little deli has been around since the 1930s. They’re more than happy to let you try before you buy but pace yourself – there are around 60 cheeses as well as prosciutto, salamis, ham off the bone and delicious marinated olives. Tropic tip: Try their lunch rolls.