Growing, it’s in our family

The history of ‘Connings’ as market gardeners in the Nelson Tasman region has well-established roots.

The love affair with cultivating high quality, fresh and affordable produce started with Robbie and Cheryl Conning, who started growing cabbages, carrots and potatoes in Nelson’s Waimea Plains over 40 years ago.

After lots of hard graft, eventually more crops popped up and the harvest was fruitful enough that Robbie and Cheryl could open and run a fresh produce store called Brightwater Country Fresh. A popular local favourite for fresh produce.

Explore our story below

Robbie and Cheryl’s three sons, Simon, Toby and Ben, followed them around the farm for many of these years (and in the shop), and the love of fresh, quality and affordable produce became deeply rooted in who they were, too.

Ben, Simon and Toby Conning at the family farm.

This passion flourished in 2017, when Simon, Toby and Ben opened a fresh produce store of their own – Farm Fresh.

But it was not only the love of providing fresh produce available at affordable prices that drove the Conning boys, but also their need to reduce the produce waste from the Connings Market Garden – the product that didn't get snapped up and shipped away by buyers.

Ben and Robbie Conning at the family farm.

In the small space by The Grape Escape the boys found their feet bringing fresh kai they had grown to locals, who made Farm Fresh a popular shopping destination for fresh, high-quality and delicious produce.

As word spread of the quality, affordable and mouth-wateringly fresh produce available, Simon, Toby and Ben realised their small store was no longer big enough to stock all the produce locals wanted on their plates.

The original Farm Fresh store at McShane Road, Appleby.

Connings Food Market in Appleby, opened in 2019.

In 2019, a new building sprouted out of the carpark that was big enough to meet the demand locals had for this fresh farm fare.

And with this new home came a new name: Connings Food Market, a recognition of the family's passion for growing beautiful produce and supplying an array of delicious and nutritious food for the region.

Today, with the additional pop-up market well-established in Nelson City, there are two Connings Food Markets. With shelves stocked with the 40 to 50 crops Connings Market Garden grows annually, and a delicious range of complementary produce, dry goods, alcohol and meat products, Connings Food Markets really are a foodie and produce lovers' destination. Come see for yourself.

“We try to provide an atmosphere that is inviting – somewhere that people want to come. And we believe we have done that. To see locals come week after week with the family to do their shopping is one thing; to know they are getting incredible value for money is another – and something I know we are all immensely proud of.”

– Simon Conning

Today, we remain committed to our goal to provide the freshest produce at the most affordable prices.

Our farm blocks that stock Connings Food Markets today are still within an eight-kilometre radius of our Appleby store and are family-owned and -operated – supported by a team of dedicated growers and shop staff that help us make our goal, to bring you the freshest produce at the most affordable prices, a reality.

Meet the Connings

Cheryl and Robbie Conning

Cheryl manages not only the accounts, but also the boys, keeping everyone in line – like all good family units, there has to be one! And while the fish in Tasman Bay keeps calling Robbie away from time to time, he is often not far from the farm and is still sharing his immense wealth of production knowledge with the team, ensuring the ongoing legacy of growing the freshest produce is flourishing.
Simon Conning

As the brother who manages the markets, Simon will be a familiar face to many Connings customers. It’s not uncommon to see him stacking some of that delicious produce that has just arrived from the farm onto the shelves.
Toby Conning

Toby keeps busy at the farm, managing produce production and, as a former diesel mechanic, is the go-to guy when anything needs a fix.
Ben Conning

As a family-owned and -operated business, you will find Ben Conning in the fields looking after harvesting (and always on the phone managing sales) – ask him about the produce and he will passionately share with you a love for what he does.