Columbus, Ohio USA
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Ring in a Greener New Year in 2008
at the Greener Grocer
Michael Jones, Martha Balint and Susan Weber
© Photo/ Darrren CarlsonThe Greener Grocer, a locally owned, sustainably oriented produce stand, will open in the historic North Market on January 8, 2008. The operation will replace North Market Produce and focus primarily on locally and sustainably grown produce.
New owners Michael Jones, Martha Balint and Susan Weber are hoping to utilize the high profile of the stand, located in the heart of the North Market, to promote the benefits of buying local, provide access to sustainably grown food, and to stimulate opportunities for local farmers, urban farmers and gardeners.
“We hope to offer the community an alternative way to think about their relationship with food and its impact on our lives and to demonstrate a different business model that speaks to social, environmental and economic factors,” says Weber.
According to Balint, who has worked closely with the farm community for the past three years on how to sell directly to restaurants and increase overall market opportunities, “it’s really all about the triple bottom line: people, planet and profit.”
While The Greener Grocer emphasizes local sustainably grown produce, they also carry lemons, limes and other items that, while not locally grown, allow North Market shoppers to have a complete shopping experience for the preparation of their meals.“Yes, we will have non-locally grown items and some conventionally grown produce as well,” says Jones, “but we will strive to purchase “Fair Trade” non-local items as we can and our display signs will indicate farming techniques as well as prices.”
Friendly, knowledgeable service, frequent cooking demonstrations (both Jones and Balint are trained chefs) and value-added items like cold salads, soups and “a killer salad dressing” are all part of The Greener Grocer’s concept.
All three owners of The Greener Grocer are also partners in Local Matters, a local nonprofit organization whose mission is the creation of a local food system and that works closely with the farm community, urban and community gardeners and the local schools systems to achieve its goal.
According to Jones, the executive director of Local Matters, “The Greener Grocer, which is operated as a for-profit business, is a “real time” expression of our overall philosophy in our nonprofit work and provides us with a public face to put our beliefs into practice and have some fun conversations with folks at the same time.”
You can learn more about The Greener Grocer at their Web Site www.thegreenergrocer.com or by calling 614-223-1512. You can learn more about Local Matters at www.local-matters.org or by calling 614-263-5662.
the
greener
grocer
At the Historic North Market
Fresh Seasonal Products
• Local, Ohio & Sustainable
• Friendly, Informed Service
• A Fair Deal for Our Producers
• Environmentally, Economically
and Socially Responsible
Call 614-223-1512
©2008 Short North Gazette. columbus, Ohio. All rights rerserved.
Return to Homepage www.shortnorth.com