BU Organics- Pete Melov opens new produce store

December 26, 2012

Pete Melov (from the Suveran cafe) and Pete Evans (chef from My Kitchen Rules) have joined forces to open a new organic produce store at 40 Ebley Street Bondi Junction, just around the corner from Pete's existing Suveran cafe on Oxford Street. The shop has been opened a mere 3 days. The space is open, large and bright - a welcome change! On sale are affordably priced fresh fruit, veggies, eggs, lacto-fermented foods, pastured meat (Cleavers, Enviroganic chickens), grains, teas, other staples and of course loads of coconuts! All produce certified organic or wild crafted (ie grown without sprays in accordance with the laws of nature). In the near future we can also expect to see certified organic livers from various animals (including emu!) as well as bacon (bring it on!). Who doesn't love a one-stop shop! But no sign of dairy....we won't go there.....

Pete tells me he aims to keep produce prices cheaper than the prices of the produce sold at his previous organic shop which he exited a few months ago (Organic Paradise on Oxford Street which is a couple doors down from the Suveran cafe). Spend more than $100 and you get 5% discount.

The new BU Organic shop will also sell take-away cafe food like salads but not to the same quantity as the Suveran cafe which will still operate and exclusively sell cafe food without produce.

BU Organics (which stands for BE YOU, as everyone is seemingly trying to be like someone else or so Pete tells me) comes complete with a dry sauna and shower facilities for $10 a pop. I wouldn't have expected anything less from our quirky Pete, would you?

I left with 3 large shopping bags of produce to feed a family of 4 for a week for $110 and Pete threw in for free a couple of kilos of free well-ripened bananas, 6 bunches of coriander that are starting to wilt and a couple of mangos that are slightly blemished. Pete has always been generous in giving away produce that is less than perfect looking.

I think Pete's doing a great community service in opening this new store and I admire his vision and enthusiasm in making affordable sustainable produce available to the masses.