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Quick Review: Newflower Farmers Market in Plano

Posted on July 10th, 2009 3:29pm by Nancy Nichols
Filed under Groceries, Mistakes I made, Reviews

: Lots of cheap cheese at Newflower Farmers Market in Plano.

Lots of people are talking about how much they love, love, love Newflower Farmers Market. Yesterday I had a chance to take a quick stop at the shop in Plano.

Short take? If I passed this market on my drive home from work, I would stop in for some groceries. However, I will not drive to the store. Why? I discovered several rotting items on the shelves. And I was only in the store for ten minutes.

First the good news: I bought a bunch of five big sunflowers for $6.99. Blue Bell vanilla ice cream is .20 cents cheaper than my Albertson’s. Romaine lettuce was only .88 cents. (Last week I paid $1.59 at same Albertson’s.) Cheese is cheap but the selections are basic and not sourced—huge chunks of generic cheddar, Jack, peppered Jack, and Swiss, etc.

On to the downside: Most of the produce was ABT (anywhere but Texas) and you had to have powerful reading glasses to find the source. I’d heard that the prepared food was the great thing about Newflower—cheaper and better than Central Market and Whole Paycheck Foods. I wanted to compare the chicken salad prices but, at noon, they were out of it, so I settled for a small container of egg salad ($1.57!) As my nieces say, “Yuck-a-doo.” Well, unless you like runny mustard with hard bits of hard-boiled eggs.

: Bad picture of rotting lettuce. Click it, it gets bigger.

I picked up a family-size container of Organic Girl Spring Mix baby greens and turned it over to read the label. Streams of brown water flooded from front to back. The lettuce near the edge was rotten and soggy. The “sell by” date was July 2. (Yesterday was July 9.) There were 8 more packages in the refrigerated case. When I started to unload my cart at check out, I realized that a pint of whole milk mozzarella packed in liquid had leaked all over my National Enquirer other groceries. I looked closer at the tiny balls of cheese—they were all brown and stuck together.

White cheese was brown and stuck together.

I’d like to go back and price the whole foods, nuts and meats. Maybe I’ll go later today—after I toss out my drooping sunflowers.

Even Vincent would not be happy.

13 Comments to “Quick Review: Newflower Farmers Market in Plano”

Worzel Gummidge @ July 10th, 2009 at 3:55 pm

Also their bread. The baguettes bend in the middle. The French term would be ‘reject’.

No crust. Better to go up the road to main St. at The Shops at Legacy.
Mark @ July 10th, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Definetly a Sprouts knock off. Some of their sale items are deals, but the rest is above average price.
I agree the produce is of poor quality and the wine prices are absurd.
Jay Jerrier @ July 10th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

If you’re in Plano, go to Allen and Voila Bakery for baguettes, croissants, etc. So much better.
TLS @ July 10th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

I wouldn’t say that Newflower prepared foods are better than Central Market (better than Whole Foods..yes as they apparently don’t know the benefits of basic salt and pepper). Central Market prepared foods are often quite good. Duds abound for sure but it is worlds better than Newflower. Market Street has some good prepared foods as well.

I’ve tried to shop at Newflower several times but I’m giving up for many of the reasons already cited.
AB @ July 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Agreed. I went to the Henderson one last weekend for the first time and at first was in heaven at the low prices compared to Central Market where I basically live. Cooper Farms peaches for $.89/lb! Canned tomatoes for $.79! Cheap, cheap, cheap.

Then I got to the frozen stuff (cause sometimes I’m lazy) and the Amy’s meals were TWICE the price of CM. Craziness.

Then I brought my food home and started eating, and the produce just isn’t as good as CM’s. Cherries had less flavor, strawberries had worse texture.

I may go back because there were some really good deals and not everything was lesser quality, but I’ll stick with CM for most things.
Twinwillow @ July 10th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

I’ve found Newflower Market to be a Sprout’s clone.
With I might add, very few bargains. They were stocking Rosie’s organic chickens but, lately I have not seen them in the store. So, I doubt I’ll return.
And, judging from the lack of customers at the Henderson store, I’m apparently not the only one that thinks that way.
phil @ July 11th, 2009 at 7:43 am

we leave a few miles from this store. we’ve only been once, to see what it was like. all i can say was that i was a bit underwhelmed–by prices, selection, local produce, etc.

i only gave this place about 6 months, but surprisingly, it’s still open. I only give it 6 months more.
Paul P @ July 11th, 2009 at 12:10 pm

Wow- sounds like a bashing contest with all of you. I found the pricing to be in line with all others in the area (wf,sprouts, cm, kroger, ms, ect) As far as produce quality Newflower is superior to all others. 3/10 wines, 4.99 hot chicken, 2.99 24pk water, seriously you cant beat there prices anywhere in town and there products are great. Its very easy to go into any store and find a few things that need attention.
Robbie @ July 11th, 2009 at 12:16 pm

I shopped in this store months ago and found some things that you all have stated to be true. I recently returned to find much better quality and selection. All employees seem to care about my needs and I appreciate that.
Sophia @ July 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

i read this persons opinion and went to the store to see if what was said was true, being a hard core foodie i like options. first thing i saw was burgers for a buck then bing cherries were 2lbs for a dollar. when i was in the store an employee came and gave my 2 boys balloons, what a good idea. it gave them something to concentrate on instead of being a pain in my back side. i will go back to Newflower, i fed my family lunch for 4bucks and left with a basket full of groceries that was less and 100.00 it seems the person that wrote this artical does not like Newflower or works for another store like it.
Twinwillow @ July 11th, 2009 at 10:55 pm

I don’t think I’d trust a (raw) burger that only cost a dollar.
However, a dollar for 2 pounds of cherries is something else, indeed.
I’ll give them (Henderson) another try tomorrow.
nancy @ July 12th, 2009 at 7:51 am

I have been shopping at Newflower on Henderson since they opened and have not found any problems with my purchases. I can’t stand the crush at the new WF in Lakewood and can’t afford CM (formerly an addict of CM…)

It is not a store for those who want every selection, but for a basic grocery trip I still like it. If I need something specialty I just go down the street to Jimmy’s.

It may not be packed like WF but it is certainly busy when I go there.
bj @ July 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm

I guess I’m one of the Newflower lovers and I am glad that they are here, I cannot affort WF or CM I was in the store on Wednesday and want to know about how a product tasted. they gave me the item to try for free. The people are very nice and helpful it is nice to have a choice on where you want to shop. If this isn’t you’re kind of place well…..