Wholefood Merchants

Organic fruit and vegetables, crystals, tarot cards and more: welcome to Wholefood Merchants, among Melbourne’s largest health food stores. Situated in Ferntree Gully in the Dandenongs, it’s a response to a growing community of health-conscious consumers looking for organic, more sustainable alternatives to what you’d find in major chain supermarkets.

Inside, many parts make the whole. In addition to organic, pesticide-free produce, there’s a range of bulk foods, eco-friendly cleaning products, skincare and beauty sections, baby food, supplements, and even organic booze and heat-at-home meals.

There’s also a cafe serving plant-based foods like wholemeal fermented crumpets, organic cauliflower fritters and a low-fodmap bowl packed with every green imaginable. To drink, why stick with coffee when you can order a carob-mushroom hot chocolate, a miso salted caramel smoothie or a dandelion latte?