News for Greensboro, NC

Dog Days of Summer Cook-Out and Adoption Fair was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who came out to support us and who worked hard to make this event happen. And a special thanks to the weather for holding out for us. All in all we rasied $600.00 for Red Dog Farm. Horray!!!!

As the FDA continues to investigate the source of the 17-state salmonella outbreak Earth Fare has removed all produce in question. “Due to the ongoing investigation by FDA we have voluntarily pulled any and all tomatoes grown in areas that the FDA has not cleared in their investigation. We value the health and safety of our guests and our team mates. We will continue to monitor and act proactively to the findings from the FDA”. Says Shaiyu Chandarana Category Manager of Produce and Floral at Earth Fare. Customers who have purchased tomatoes in question may return product for a full refund.

Cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold with the vine still attached and homegrown tomatoes are likely not the source of the outbreak confirmed FDA officials. Also not associated with the outbreak are raw red Roma, red plum and round red tomatoes from Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands and Puerto Rico. The following tomatoes remain on the sales floor at Earth Fare and have been cleared by the FDA: Red Cluster Tomatoes – Canada, Hydro Beef Steak Tomatoes – Canada, Campari Tomatoes- Canada, Strawberry Tomatoes – Canada, Roma Tomatoes on the Vine – Canada, Yellow Tomatoes – Florida, Organic Grape Tomatoes – Florida, and Organic Cherry Tomatoes –Florida.

Consumers looking for detailed information can visit www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html. Earth Fare Market and Café was founded in Asheville, North Carolina and has grown into a premier chain of natural and organic markets located in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Thank you to all who entered our Green Spring Art contest. Everyone submitted creative and fun art work that will be on display in our community room through the end of May.

Congratulations to our winners:

1st place–“Green & White” by Stephanie Fischer
2nd Place–“Butterfly at Dusk” by Ceclie Scarpato
3rd place–“Happy Couple” by Loretta Sidabrene

Earth Fare Market & Café kicked off the New Year by raising $2000 for Greensboro Urban Ministry through their Food For All Campaign. Food For All is a national non-profit organization with a 501©(3) status just like the food banks and other non-profit agencies that Earth Fare funds. Food For All funds international anti-hunger programs and other charities. The campaign ran from October 21, 2007 through January 7, 2008 and Earth Fare customers had the opportunity to donation money to the program at the checkout by choosing a $1, $3, or $5 ticket to be added to their order.

On March 17, 2008 Earth Fare Market & Cafe presented a check to Mike Akin, Executive Director of Greensboro Urban Ministry to help battle the ever-present hunger epidemic. "Greensboro Urban Ministry deeply appreciates the partnership with Earth Fare in serving the hungry of our community,” says Mike Akin. Last year, Greensboro Urban Ministry was able to provide emergency food orders to more than 26,000 men, women, and children. In addition to emergency food orders, Urban Ministry provides more than 600 meals each day to Greensboro's hungry and homeless through our Potter's House Community Kitchen.

Calling all artists! Submit your artwork to our “green themed”
art contest!

All media is welcome & art work will be judged on originality, “green” (eco friendly) concept, & creativity. Please include your name, phone number, title of work, and media used on all submited entries. All art work will be displayed in the Earth Fare Community Room and the winner will receive a $100 Earth Fare gift card & will be announced
April 18th during our opening night art reception and Wine & Beer Tasting. All proceeds from the event will benefit NC GreenPower.

Deadline to submit art work: April 1, 2008

The recent meat recall of over 143 million pounds of beef in California, the largest recall in U.S. history, once again underscores the importance of humane and natural practices in maintaining the health and quality of the meat we consume.

The natural beef sold at Earth Fare markets, for instance, has higher standards than the USDA for animal health and safety. Earth Fare beef comes from small family ranches in Montana and the mid-west. The natural cattle ranchers and processors that are part of the Montana Ranch Co-operative do not use growth hormones, antibiotics, or animal by-products in their feed. They also strive to treat the cattle and the land used for grazing with respect and care.

Earth Fare beef cows spend less time in feedlots, an environment where illness and injury are widespread. Processing of the animals occurs in much smaller batches, resulting in a cleaner and more humane method of slaughter. Sick or injured animals are removed from the herds before processing and not sold as natural. Animals from cloned or genetically modified stock are not permissible.

“The quality of life an animal leads from birth to slaughter does matter,” says Earth Fare Marketing Director Troy DeGroff. “How you treat an animal in life reflects in the quality, flavor and safety of the meat that ends up on your plate. It makes sense that an animal that can’t move to get into the slaughter facility could pose a greater risk for disease than a healthy animal.”

DeGroff continues by stating, “Fortunately, at Earth Fare, we work with suppliers who ensure their animals are healthy at the time of slaughter. We also only sell meats that are free of added growth hormones, antibiotics, genetic manipulation including cloning, and animal by-products in the feed. You only need those things when you are raising sick animals as a commodity product, not as a living food source fit for human consumption.”

Earth Fare Market and Café was founded in Asheville, North Carolina in 1975 and has grown into the premier Southeastern chain of natural and organic markets, with locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Earth Fare is excited to announce that we will now be offering WiFi in our cafe to all our customers. So, come by and surf the internet, have a business meeting in an fun location, or work on that paper you have been trying get done while enjoying our delicious fare from our hot bar & salad bar, or a fresh made to order juice, smoothie or latte from our coffee bar.