Melbourne’s best place for fresh fruit and veg is now my favourite place to shop for Christmas Dinner. Now they even do the shopping for you! Order online, then click-n-collect.

Usually when I visit the market I only have a few things to get. I like walking the market and I take a backpack with me, because the trolley thing can get a bit tangled in the crowd. I like walking up from our apartment downtown, and then taking the tram home with my bag full of fresh and delicious things.

Christmas, however, is a big shop. At least my Christmas is! Instead of doing the shopping the old fashioned way, this year I went online. Yes QV does online ordering now! You put your shopping list together, pick your favourite traders and then drive down to the old carpark and there’s a special “Click and Collect” spot. Drive up and drive off.

I have to say this year I feel so much less stressed than usual. Not wrestling strangers for a pomegranate is possibly one factor in my current mood of calm.

Shopping online was certainly easier than lugging around 6 kilos of potatoes! Not every trader is on the website, but a lot are and most of my preferred traders. They do the shopping FOR YOU; which means you save all that time and avoid all them pointy elbows. This shop I ordered Dutch Cream Potatoes, Oranges and Lemons, Yellow Peaches, Pomegranate, Cherry Tomatoes, Red Onions, Zucchini, Blueberries, herbs, Buffalo Mozzarella, and Salmon Roe.

I even thought about ordering my Christmas Panettone but someone already told me I bought too many! (waves in direction of husband). I’ll go back on Christmas Eve and get fresh flowers and bread, not sure yet if I’ll walk the market or just order online as well.

Shopping online at Queen Victoria Market also avoid plastics. Your order comes in a big cardboard box and most produce is in paper bags. It’s funny how this old way of doing things often turn out to be the best!

https://qvm.com.au/shop/