The Connings family journey
For the Conning family, Nelson Tasman isn’t just a place to do business; it’s where their roots run deep.
Photos by Lumiere.
More than 40 years ago, Robbie and Cheryl Conning began growing cabbages, carrots and potatoes on the fertile Waimea Plains. What started as a simple commitment to producing fresh, affordable food for their community quickly became something much bigger. With hard work, long days and a deep respect for the land, they built a reputation for quality produce grown with care. That dedication led to the opening of Brightwater Country Fresh, a much-loved local produce store that became a staple for families across the region.
Their three sons, Simon, Toby and Ben, were raised among the crops. In 2017, the brothers took their own step forward, opening a small fresh produce store called Farm Fresh. It was a natural evolution grounded in the same values they’d grown up with but shaped by their own energy and vision. After experiencing such a high demand for fresh market produce, two years later, they expanded into Connings Food Market, creating a vibrant space that reflects the abundance of Nelson Tasman and celebrates the region’s growers and makers.
As their loyal customer base grew, so too did their ambition to make fresh, locally grown produce even more accessible. The opening of a pop-up store in Nelson City brought Connings Food Market closer to urban customers, strengthening the connection between paddock and plate and meeting people where they live and work.
Today, the family grows between 40 and 50 different crops across their farm, bringing produce directly from the Waimea Plains to their stores. Their hands are still in the soil, their connection to the seasons remains strong, and their commitment to freshness, value and community continues to shape a legacy proudly connected to the place they call home.
