In an inconspicuous little shop in a tiny suburban shopping centre in Parkwood you’ll find a butcher who sells only organic products: GJ’s Organic Meats.
While there are several Gold Coast butchers who sell organic meat, GJ’s is only one of two butchers where every single product in the shop is from certified organic producers.
Gary Hooper, GJ’s proprietor, has been a butcher all his working life.
“You couldn’t go into this business [organic meat] without years of experience in the industry,” he tells me. It has taken many years of dedication and commitment for Gary to build up his present business, developing direct contacts with certified organic farmers, his network of contacts built through mutual respect and trust earned during his forty years in the industry.
Gary’s produce comes from far and wide: pork from Goondiwindi, beef and lamb from Roma, organic and preservative free meats, free range eggs and duck, chemical free fish, salami and stir fry mix. There’s other organic produce as well: Barambah and Wallan Vale Dairy yoghurt, milk, feta and quark; organic bread; stock and soups; ready to go cooked meals such as beef burgundy, stroganoff, curry and stews, all reasonably priced.
Besides the impressive range of produce, you’ve got to love the old-fashioned service with a smile, as your heavy box of purchases is carried out to your car. Oh, and there’s parking right outside the shop…What’s not to love!
Shop 5, Clocktower Centre, Cnr Olsen Ave & Central St., Parkwood, Queensland 4214 Ph: 07 5591 2423