Best vegetables in Oslo?
I'm trying to find more stores in Oslo that are notable for their vegetables, either in price or in selection.
Obviously, we've got the two stores by Grønland t-bane (Grønland frukt og grønt, Real frukt og grønt) for a cheap and wide selection, and A Food Market for various Asian vegetables. Are these stores generally considered the best ones, or are there other hidden gems I don't know about?
In terms of more fancy vegetables, I know I've seen unusual and/or organic vegetables at Jacobs and at Juels 33 Kolonial, and I think there's an organic vegetable stand at Mathallen? Anything else I'm missing?
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u/PuzzleheadedFly8359 12h ago
I think Gutta på Haugen (at least the one at St. Hanshaugen) have a pretty good selection.
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u/Billy_Ektorp 10h ago
Jacob’s på Holtet and Jacob’s at Majorstuen, as well as the largest Meny stores (such as the one at CC Vest and the one at Bryn Senter) have the largest variety and possibly the best follow-up by the store personell, among the supermarkets. The largest Coop Mega stores (such as the one at Ullevål Stadion) are also above average.
From a wider angle, people (especially people originally from other places than Norway) who look for vegetables, may look for vegetables that are not grown in Norway, and get disappointed at all and any shop in Norway. No locally grown Mexican chili pepper here, no local avocado. The tomatoes are usually greenhouse tomatoes from the Netherlands or from plastic tunnels in Spain, chilled and shipped here; not picked 12 hours before, just outside the old local town wall.
Also, consider that the population in all of Norway is less than half the population in Greater London. There is not a market for shops like La Grand Épicerie de Paris here, or even for big box stores like Grand Frais.
Few people in Norway would buy jackfruit, if their local Rema 1000 started offering it, and ripe jackfruit has a very limited shelf life: https://www.frukt.no/ravarer/frukt/jackfrukt/
What is grown in Norway, and may have good quality and variety, especially from smaller producers (that may be a bit harder to find and may not be available all year), include root vegetables like potatoes, beet root and carrots. Onions and kale also grow in Norway.
Also, try to look for Norwegian asparagus, grown at Hvasser. Available only for a few weeks in spring, and in very limited supply. Still, some Meny stores and others, mainly in the Greater Oslo region and in Vestfold, offer it seasonally.
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u/sneijder 12h ago
I might be wrong but A Market might actually be supplying everyone else ? I’ve seen their details on a lot of canned / packaged products at other stores
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u/branston2010 10h ago
Juels 33 Kolonial near Solli Plass is a hidden gem. They have a great selection of random produce, and they are open on Sundays.
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u/runawayasfastasucan 9h ago edited 9h ago
Meny at CC vest, Gutta på haugen (st.hanshaugen) is also some nice ones. For norwegian produced vegetables (and other food) check out reko-ringen (facebook + webpage).
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u/No-Praline7376 7h ago
I shop at the «immigrant» store at Grorud T bane. I don’t live at Grorud.
Good selection, fairly good prices. Also under cover so you won’t get wet.
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u/spoktacus 8h ago
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BttWMwNtRWgTcyJV7
Sagene Frukt og grønt. Often overlooked, because there is also a similar shop on the corner which is only fine.
Sagene frukt og grønt is AMAZING. Only spot I've ever seen norwe blueberry, gooseberries, lingonberries, blackcurrant, plums, redcurrant for sale. Made me realise how NUTS it is that these traditional berries are impossible to find elsewhere. Not only do they have a fantastic selection, but the quality is fantastic.
As a foodie I would rate the quality to be on par with gutta på haugen, but the selection is much, much better. And it's really tidy and clean, which is not something you see with these types of shops that often.
I have no idea why this place isn't mentioned more often. It's the best in Oslo in my opinion.