POMODORI'S MARKET
Location:
Hours of Business:
Phone:
Web Address:
1831 Oak Bay Avenue
Mon - Sat 8am - 8pm; Sun 9am - 8pm
370-2522
n/a
Chosen for:
A Specialty Grocery Store
Local & Organic Produce
Recommendation by several people
On Saturday, June 2nd, 2007, a Grapevine contingent of twenty-two people meandered through the aisles of Pomodori's Market, searching for owner/operator Steven McNaughton. We found him behind the deli cooler! When we handed Steven our bouquet of purple balloons and announced that his business had been chosen "best of the bunch for the month", he looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
Owner Steven McNaughton
- Photos by Tony Parker & Barbara McDonell
We understand how overwhelming it can be to suddenly find yourself the focal point of a crowd imparting a barrage of information! Once Steven absorbed all the "graping" data and relaxed, he was really warm and answered a multitude of questions in stride.
Even before entering Pomodori's Market customers are welcomed with a colourful display of produce. The Saanich grown-on-the-vine tomatoes smelled divine! Steven's fresh produce section is surprisingly large, providing a neatly displayed variety of organic or pesticide-free fruits and vegetables, obtained as much as possible from local growers.
The market is packed with quality products with clearly-marked prices. Items have been carefully chosen to embrace environmentally-friendly healthy ingredients. Shelves exhibit condiments galore. For a healthier snack than the norm, we tried Barbara's Cheese Puffs – so tasty that we truly couldn't stop eating them!
Shelves exhibit condiments galore ...
The Oregon-based Peace Cereal Company donates 10% of their profits toward either peace projects or saving the rainforest. Our choice was Mango Passion (96% organic, vegan, no added wheat, grown and processed without GMOs), described as "low-fat crisp with real mango pieces, organic corn flakes and oat clusters". It tasted yummy straight out of the box.
We couldn't resist a Green & Blacks organic dark chocolate bar, pairing it with a Jamaican-style ginger ale. Had it been a cool day, we'd have snapped up a red pepper or creamy roasted carrot soup from Pacific All-Natural Foods for just $2.99 a box.
Considering a romantic picnic on the beach or in Beacon Hill Park? Pick up a mini-watermelon, the perfect size for two and only $2.99. Then check out deli items that include delicious roasted pepper quesadillas, and feature "Mom's Potato Salad", made by Steven's mother Bev. Be sure to also pick up Bev's tiny loaf of delicious banana bread, sold at the check-out counter.
Pomodori's fresh produce section provides a surprisingly
large variety of organic or pesticide-free fruits and
vegetables, obtained as much as possible
from local growers
Organic coffee choices offer either pre-packaged Creekmore or bulk Oughtred whole beans coffee ($2.99 per 100 grams). Stock up on toilet paper: hypo-allergenic, unscented, recycled, made without dyes, and whitened without chlorine bleach: 12 rolls for $14.99.
Pomodori's Market opened l l/2 years ago. Estimating that he works about 80 hours a week, 32-year old Steven operates the market primarily alone, with occasional help from his wife Danielle and mother Bev.
Steven has been in the food business for seventeen years, working at Thrifty Foods for 10 years, and then five years at the Market on Yates, developing their organic program. As he was about to turn 30, Steven realized he had done as much as he could working for someone else. He felt the need to make a decision about his future. Should he stay in the food business, or try something completely different?
Because Steven's passion lay in organic produce and quality foods, he recognized a niche that large grocery stores didn't fill. When the Pomodori's location became available, everything fell into place. He confesses to taking creative license with the business name, which is his own phonetic take on the Italian word for "tomato".