“Wouldn’t go anywhere else for my fruit and veg” - support floods in for Fresh N Fruity as new shop opens in South Shields

Fresh N Fruity, which began life as a market stall 32 years ago, welcomed the first customers through the doors of its new shop on King Street just before Christmas.

After 12 years selling fresh fruit and veg from a pitch under the Metro bridge on King Street they moved to a temporary home on Station Approach when building works began back in July 2019.

Now owner Tracy Stephenson is delighted to have found a permanent home and she has received dozens of messages of good luck from readers who have been shopping there for years.

Many praised the business for its good quality produce and reasonable prices, saying they wouldn’t go anywhere else.

Here’s what some of you said:

Kelly Mchugh: “Good luck, wouldn’t go anywhere else for my fruit and veg.”

Denise Boulter: “This is where I get all my fruit and veg. They are so much cheaper than the supermarket and the stuff keeps fresh for much longer.”

Jean Sinclair: “Great little business. Quality produce at reasonable prices. Best of luck.”

Claire Rutter: “Good luck about time you had a shop especially in the bad weather.”

Chris Dolan: “We go in twice a week, buy mountains of fruit and veg and all good stuff. Love that girl, her voice can be heard all over Shields.”

Meanwhile Glenda Kelly said she travels from Gateshead to stock up on fruit and veg, while Carol Wilson shared happy memories of shopping there over the years.

She said: “Used to do me a veg bag, a fruit bag and a salad bag for a couple quid each..I remember when they stopped doing the salad bags a few years ago, was gutted but obviously times and prices change!

“Got a 3 year old now and still go! He tried to bite into a courgette a couple of days ago, thought it was a cucumber, shop was full, got me courgette for free! I'll always shop here!”