Fruit Center Marketplace
On Sunday afternoon, Mal and I fell head over heals in love with the Fruit Center Marketplace in Milton. The Fruit Center Marketplace is a cross between Whole Foods and Idylwilde Farms (where my mom works). Its product offerings include: gourmet and specialty items, imported goods, prepared meals, sliced-to-order deli products featuring Boar’s Head, a floral department, natural and organic items, and even many of the familiar brand name food items that you find at regular grocery stores. Even though it’s a cute, little marketplace, it has everything that I could ever want (and more!) when it comes to healthy, organic, and gourmet foods. I KNOW I will be shopping here a ton in the future!
The Marketplace has a HUGE selection of gourmet brands, including Stonewall Kitchen products, which I love! I have a feeling there will be some occasional splurging on these goodies!
Unfortunately, the grocery items at the Marketplace are pretty expensive (ex: $5.19 for ONE box of Puffins!?!), so Mal and I didn’t buy much from this part of the store. We’ll be sticking to Stop & Shop for the 2 for $5 Puffins!
Cheese! Glorious, cheese! The selection was outstanding! It was a tad on the expensive side, but I will always pay a little more for QUALITY (stinky) cheese!
The coffee selection was also wonderful and not too expensive. The best part: Freshly ground beans! Mal and I purchased a bag of Green Mountain Coffee and the woman behind the counter happily ground it right up for us. I love the smell of freshly ground coffee beans!
Decisions, decisions… I bet he’s checking the unit price! 
PRODUCE!!!
THIS is why I love this place so much! The produce at the FC Marketplace is top of the line… and not that expensive! Almost everything we purchased was comparable to Stop & Shop prices and a million times better in quality. 
Fresh herbs! Sadly, Stop & Shop’s selection is typically meh, but now I know where to shop for fresh herbs.
We purchased a pint of strawberries that were incredibly fresh and perfectly ripe… and on sale! Love that!
I love the option to bag as many greens as you want to buy– sometimes I want more, sometimes less. I like the individual customization of greens! Plus, I feel like this method is “fresher” than the pre-packaged bags. Oooh, it’s the little things in life that make me happy! 
So pretty!
The Marketplace also had every type of nut, seed, and dried fruit imaginable, which will obviously be very dangerous for me in the future. This time, I splurged on some medjool dates! 
The Marketplace even has a nice wine selection with many organic bottles! (Not for purchase before noon on Sundays, of course!)
Salad bar heaven!!! The salad bar went on and on and on! It seriously had everything– including oreo cookie mousse! I’ve already decided that a number of dinners this summer will be salads from this salad bar!
It’s HUGE! (“That’s what she said!” )
If you can’t tell already, I’m in love with this place! And, it’s SO CLOSE to where I live! I’m surprised that I didn’t visit sooner! So, basically, you’ll be seeing A LOT more of it on the blog in the future!
The only bad part about our experience: we forgot to use our $10 off coupon! Doh! And, it expired yesterday! GAH! 
Oh well, we got lots of goodies anyway!
Julie — March 23, 2009 @ 4:22 pm
Growing up we loved going there for produce! Their salad bar is AMAZING. My mom would always get a huge salad and let my sister and I get 2 small ones. I loved the meatballs for some reason. We also used to get cookies from the bakery…special sesame street or other character ones. I haven’t been there in so long, I think I need to make a special trip!!
Katie — March 23, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
I can top that Puffins price…..$6.59 at the Mill Creek Albertson’s in Washington! Absolutely crazy! I see it at Whole Foods every now nad then for 2 for $4, I wait until then and stock up
Dulcie — March 23, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
that store is AWESOME!!!
my favorite part is definitely the cheese section!! yumm im a sucker for stinky cheese
Cathy — March 23, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
This made me laugh a little! This past weekend a brand new HUGE whole foods opened by me in northern NJ. I dragged my husband there on Saturday to walk around and THEN I went back on Sunday with my Mom. The store is beautiful and everything they have is beyond what you think- the organization of the store is perfection! Anyway, it made me laugh that I was doing the same thing you were. It takes a certain type of person to enjoy the grocery store this much! Hehe! My husband says that Whole Foods is my new mall!
Kara — March 23, 2009 @ 5:08 pm
Oh wow that stuff is insanely gorgeous!
I would be completely overwhelmed by those cheeses!!
Marianne — March 23, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
Looks like a great grocery store. I wish there were some awesome marketplaces in my area like that.
And Puffins here are $6.09/box when they aren’t on sale! I realize there is an exchange rate and all, but still! Even when I get them on sale, they still cost $4.99/box.
Becca A — March 23, 2009 @ 5:11 pm
That marketplace looks killer!
emily — March 23, 2009 @ 5:21 pm
So cute, I love stores like that!
Mallory — March 23, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
that’s what she said… lol
there’s a grocery store near our cabin up north that has an entire ROOM devoted to cheese… glorious, stinky cheese in its own cheese cellar. love it.
i just wish there was a great market closer to my house!
Emily — March 23, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
That looks awesome. I went to Russo’s this weekend which is in Watertown and looks similar. Russo’s has a European feel and is full of amazing fruits and veggies (and cheese, coldcuts and bread). Yumm!!!
Running Within — March 23, 2009 @ 5:23 pm
Wow, what a beautiful looking marketplace! Too bad it’s so expensive. I love the picture of all those apples, they look fake.
Maureen — March 23, 2009 @ 5:26 pm
I love stores like that. In fact, I search them out when on vacation, that’s how happy they make me.
VeggieGirl — March 23, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE PLACE!!!
Check your email
Sarah — March 23, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
I love finding new stores to shop at! Especially when they’re as great as this one! But seriously, you can get Puffins 2/$5??? They’re at least $4/box here.
zestycook — March 23, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
WOW great place Tina! We have something similar here just not as large
Lauren — March 23, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
I’m definitely going to make a trip there! I’ll have to set aside a couple of hours to wander
Mom — March 23, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
Christine, I have never hear of this Marketplace place before! It looks so cool. Maybe I could move in with you and Mal and get ajob there!
Ryane — March 23, 2009 @ 5:40 pm
That salad bar looks insanely awesome – too bad I don’t live near there at all!
A friend of mine just got a job at Curry…. maybe I’ll go pay him a visit sooner than later! haha
Mel — March 23, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
That place looks absolutely amazing! I would love to have the chance to shop there, it all looks so good!
Leanne — March 23, 2009 @ 6:03 pm
Great picture, Tina! I love places like this!
K — March 23, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
What a great find! I could definitely get lost in a place like that – bad news for my wallet, good news for my stomach!!
Pearl — March 23, 2009 @ 6:10 pm
Oh my goodness – i LOVE gourmet supermarkets! The fruit/veggie displays and salad bar all look amazing! Gah I think I could die in there
Elisabeth — March 23, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Oh my goodness!! I just got so excited I screamed! I usually am a “lurker,” but I just had to comment after this post! THE FRUIT CENTER !! I’m from Milton and I’ve spent many a sunday afternoon at this place shopping with my mom. I miss this place… I’m currently a freshman at UVM, so I haven’t been in a while! In addition to the awesome salad bar, they also have great sushi : )
debbie — March 23, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
I absolutely love that place……None of the Supermarkets (ie Shaws,Roche Bros and Stop n Shop) have salad bars anymore.And the marketplace Salad Bar is Awesome.The groceries there are expensive but the salad bar is worth it.
Meg — March 23, 2009 @ 6:46 pm
OMG!! That place looks amazing!!! The produce section with everything in baskets is adorable!!!!!
Michelle Hisae — March 23, 2009 @ 6:54 pm
This supermarket looks amazing!! Being in Boston without a car, do you know if this place accessible by public transportation?? Or would you have to drive there?
Tina — March 23, 2009 @ 6:56 pm
@Michelle Hisae: Technically, it is accessible by public transportation, but you will have to take the T to a bus. Driving would be much easier because it’s not far from 93.
Beadie @ What I Ate Yesterday — March 23, 2009 @ 6:59 pm
That place looks like my kind of shop!!
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) — March 23, 2009 @ 7:09 pm
What a gorgeous market!!! I hope that’s what heaven looks like!
Nicole — March 23, 2009 @ 7:10 pm
Woah! That place looks like a dream land!
Laura — March 23, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
Are those Pink Lady apples? I’ve been craving them for almost a year! It’s autumn (fall) in New Zealand now, so hopefully the Pink Lady season is almost here! (It’s pretty much the only perk of summer being over; when I’m cold and miserable in front of my heat pump, I can console myself with apples).
Jaclyn — March 23, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
I too have a addiction with gourmet grocery stores–and looks like you’ve found a good one
Anna — March 23, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
Fruit Center! They have another location up in my neck of the woods (Hingham!). Their salad bar is incredible- I used to get salads from the FC with friends on half days in high school. Good times.
tami — March 23, 2009 @ 7:51 pm
we went to whole foods in Portland twice this week (we took a road trip) my hsuband had never been there before, he feel in lOVE
Janet — March 23, 2009 @ 8:10 pm
That place looks wonderful. PS: Love the reusable bag!!
Kerry — March 23, 2009 @ 8:17 pm
For other good produce and cheese you should check out Russo’s in Watertown, if you haven’t already!
Brandi — March 23, 2009 @ 8:41 pm
that place looks awesome! it’s so fun finding new places
Erica — March 23, 2009 @ 8:54 pm
Gosh! This place looks freaking incredible! So fresh. I can’t decide which part of the store looks best…
Haleigh — March 23, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
It looks absolutely amazing, I adore specialty grocery stores like that!!
Meg — March 23, 2009 @ 10:05 pm
That place looks amazing. I hate when I forget to use my coupons.
TorontoGirloutWest — March 23, 2009 @ 11:20 pm
I LOVE me a good market. And that one is QUALITY!!!!!
HangryPants — March 24, 2009 @ 12:18 am
I love how you, like me, appreciate the beauty in a market. Too bad about the coupon though.
Caroline — March 24, 2009 @ 12:42 am
What a fun place! I could totally spend hours in there…
Backtracking – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — March 24, 2009 @ 7:30 am
[...] Fruit Center Marketplace [...]
JohannaB — March 24, 2009 @ 8:59 am
I am 58, female, live in Topeka, Kansas and am a librarian in a medical library which is located in a hospital. I’ve been reading since sometime last fall. I don’t remember where I found your blog but it was from another blog.
That store is amazing. We have nothing even close in Topeka.
Mariposa — March 24, 2009 @ 9:58 am
wow!!! that place looks great! i admit i am a whole foods virgin.. never been in there-
there is a dave’s market near my sister’s house in RI that has great prices on specialty foods- i like going there! plus my hannafords has a great selection of fresh herbs that i love!
Lisa — March 24, 2009 @ 10:05 am
Puffins for 2/$5…that would be great….here they are 7.69 a box, yes you read that right! They never go on sale either!
Maria — March 24, 2009 @ 11:47 am
Everything looks delicious! I love a good stinky cheese. The salad bar looks great as well. I have been keeping up with the Yoga Challenge and so far I haven’t missed a day. Even through an injury I’ve kept going. Thank you for inspiring me to do this challenge. I truly didn’t think I could do it.
Jennifer — March 24, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
How do you define strawberries “on sale?” That meant $3.99 for a PINT at Safeway last week, but two weeks ago the sale was $2.00 a pint. So no strawberries, grapes, blueberries, peaches, etc. for me last week- all too expensive!
Tina — March 24, 2009 @ 1:55 pm
Wow, that place looks AMAZING! I want to go!!
Sarah — March 24, 2009 @ 6:26 pm
Haha Tina!! Did you really say that’s what she said?! My husband says that all the time
AD — March 24, 2009 @ 7:16 pm
That place is great! There’s one (the same owners) in Hingham – its on the way to the beach; best place to stop for salads and a snack on the way to Hull or Scituate!
It sounds weird….but the Fruit Center has the BEST seafood salad; that’s not usually my thing (mayonnaise, seafood…) but for some reason, with crackers – theirs is amazing!! Enjoy!
Grab ‘N’ Go and the Twitterverse – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — March 25, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
[...] Fruit Center Marketplace [...]
Springtime in Wine Country – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — March 28, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
[...] invited to a wine tasting event, featuring springtime-friendly wines from around the world, at the Fruit Center Marketplace. At the springtime wine event, we tasted and learned about many wonderful whites, reds and a [...]
Spring Has Sprung – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — April 19, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
[...] the two activities. I geared-up with my Garmin, iPod, and reusable grocery bag for my walk to the Fruit Center Marketplace, which is about 1.5 miles each way. (P.S. It’s really hard to snap a photo of yourself in a [...]
Wake Up, Gear Up – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — April 25, 2009 @ 8:37 am
[...] morning! Happy Saturday! Mal picked up a new bunch of daffodils for the house when he was at the Fruit Center yesterday. Flowers make me so happy! How can you not be happy around them, right?! What’s [...]
Walk This Way – Carrots ‘N’ Cake — July 15, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
[...] walked about 45-minutes roundtrip to the Fruit Center Marketplace to pick up some groceries for dinner, so I fit in some exercise while running an errand, [...]
Lorin — June 4, 2010 @ 12:16 am
For a graduation present I’m going to New York and we are spending a day in Boston before we leave. I am definately going here! I’m sure for all the stuff in the salad bar, that it is pretty expensive but hey, I’m probably going to go here only once in my life! I will let you know what I think about it! Can’t wait till June 20th woo!