Red Apple Market

This market has been in the Heights since I was a kid and went by many names (i.e. Big Ben, Produce Market). I used to live just down the lane and this was our go to grocery for basics and produce. It was great then and is still great now! I now live in PoCo but we still come here because they have a great selection of fresh fruits and veg and it’s not too expensive. They also have San Marzano canned tomatoes that normally go for $ 4 to $ 5 per can in fancy hipster groceries. Here you can buy them for about $ 2.25 per can (or if you buy the 12-​can flat you can get more discounts!) They have a seemingly strange mix of Mediterranean and Asian grocery items but the market just reflects this eclectic neighbourhood. The checkout clerks are also very friendly and will even help you take your groceries to your car. Nice!

Organized market with a very good selection. Prices are fair. I got a lot of my fruits here for this weeks smoothy.

Every chance me and my partner get to go out together, depending on area, there are always groceries to buy, and while being in this neck of the woods, and her in search of leeks, we ended up here. I’ve known about this place a long time, from always crossing by it while shopping at the former Blockbuster across the street, to driving by it, not really caring, as it is a grocery store afterall. So since we were here, and she needed produce I finally had the chance to stop in here.
If you have been to any older/​aged produce store, get used to the old long halogen tube lighting, the yellowish walls, old style signs of what items there are, everything is nicely aged here. The have isles of dried and canned products here, and the price of everything is cheaper than the big boys, you’ll save money, just remember that you aren’t paying for the décor, and neither the selection. Parking is not a problem, as they have their own lot, it’s a good sized community grocery store even though there’s a Safeway not too far from here.

Cheapest groceries I’ve ever found.
Being a chronic poor person, that’s really all I care about.
However, I do love that they get BC grown, seasonal produce. Right now they have every variety of apple available from the Okanagan at amazing prices. Yes, you have to pick through them a little bit but who cares when they’re that cheap and delicious?
If you shop here regularly expect produce prices to fluctuate with availability but compared to other stores they’re ALWAYS low. As far as other grocery items go, their selection varies weekly so they may or may not have what you’re looking for. If they do, though, it will certainly be at a better price than anywhere else.

Ever get the feeling that a market or grocery store is there to provide quality goods at an attractive price with the bonus on their part if they dont have to converse?
Tonight (Feb ²⁷⁄₁₂) I overfilled a shopping basket, and while lugging it to and fro, went in search of soy milk. Having only spotted a refrigerated $ 3.99 version, I tracked down a mop pusher and asked if they had any other soy-​he answered «last aisle at the end». Twice i unsuccessfully walked up and down the last two aisles. Seeing the cashier alone I then asked her (to only be met with a blank stare). I simplified and asked again to which she says to go in the back and find someone even though said mop pusher was then within speaking range. I ask her to ask the mop gut and she then clarified that she won’t ask. Getting angry I ask why not (she’s doing nothing) and she again says to go ask someone else. Fed up I left my over burdened basket on the checkout area by the cashier and stated something about customer service

I love this market. It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty good for this area. And it’s wayyyyyy cheaper than Safeway or Save-​on. Yeah, I wouldn’t consider going here for cheese, milk, crackers etc. They have some non-​veg things cheap, such as pastas. But I’d rather make it over to Cioffi’s next door and pick up my non-​veggie groceries.
Red Apple is really good for fresh produce. The only thing I don’t like is that they keep their produce in cold storage, including their bananas. Bananas, if kept in cold storage, undergo chill damage, which make them go brown faster. And sometimes their apples aren’t the best. However, if you go there often enough, you know that most of the times you’re getting good products. Only when it gets close to them getting their new shipments of produce should you be cautious of what you’re purchasing because by that time, it might be getting close to expiration.
That being said, the money I’ve saved with Red Apple is incomparable to any other produce store I’ve been to, and the majority of the things I’ve bought are of decent quality. So, I can’t really complain too much.