News for Charlotte South Park

Charlotte, NC, April 26, 2008- Earth Fare, market & café, proudly welcomes a new local vendor, Grateful Gower Farms, to their two Charlotte stores. Currently both Earth Fare locations, 721 Governor Morrison Street in Morrison at SouthPark and 12235 North Community House Road in Torrington at Ballantyne, are carrying Grateful Growers delicious breakfast sausage and prosciutto. Both of these products, just like all of the meats sold at Earth Fare, are free from synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, hormones, and antibiotics.

Grateful Growers Farm is committed to using humane and sustainable farming techniques. Their animals are raised outdoors on rolling pastures which are not treated with chemical fertilizers or herbicides. Grateful Growers Farm uses animal husbandry practices which ensures that the animals are safe, free from stress, and are able to behave naturally.
Grateful Growers Farm stems from frustration with the increasing industrialization of our Nation’s food system. After a year-long search, 10 acres in Lincoln County, North Carolina was chosen as the land where a family could begin to grow and produce more healthful, nutritious, minimally processed foods. Eventually that farm grew and now offers its products to the public so that all families in our community can have access to clean, conscientiously grown food. Cassie Parsons, co-owner of Grateful Growers Farm says, “we are excited to have our products in Earth Fare, where consumers can find many natural products which complement our amazing pork. Given how close geographically we are to the two Charlotte stores, our products do not have to travel far and therefore are outrageously fresh. We applaud Earth Fare for taking a stand to offer locally produced, clean, food which is so important to the economic and physical health of our community.”
At Earth Fare, our Meat and Seafood Department features all-natural meats that are raised above and beyond the USDA’s standards. That’s because while the USDA’s current definition of “all natural” applies to what is done to the meat during and after processing, our definition of natural includes how the animal is treated during its life.
Whether its beef, lamb, pork or poultry, our meats are raised without the use of added growth hormones or antibiotics, these animals enjoy a natural diet of quality grains and forages – with no animal by-products ever. With nothing artificial and minimal processing, you can rest assured that Earth Fare’s meats are naturally good for you and your family.
At Earth Fare we work to empower people to make healthier choices for themselves, their communities and generations to come. Grateful Growers Farm has done the same for their customers so this is a natural partnership.

Every year many of us feel truly blessed for all that we have; family, shelter, food and friends. But in stark contrast there are people right here in our community that have very little. Earth Fare, market & café, has participated in the Food For All Program for 5years and in that time has raised over $15,000 for local food banks.

The Food For All program is a point-of-purchase fundraiser that uses $1, $3, and $5 donation coupons. The program began Sunday October 21st, 2007 and concluded Sunday January 7, 2008.

Earth Fare’s newest Charlotte location in the SouthPark area on the corner of Sharon and Colony in Morrison rose over $1100 for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina through this national campaign.

“We are thrilled to have the support of our customers in our various community outreach efforts. Combined with our Benefit Party back in August we have raised over $16,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank. We could not have picked a better cause,” says Dani Goldfischer, community coordinator for the Morrison, SouthPark store.

Earth Fare was founded in Asheville, N.C. in 1975 and has grown into a premier chain of natural foods supermarkets located in N.C., S.C., G.A., and T.N. All Earth Fare supermarkets provide customers with real food that tastes better – fresh, locally grown organic produce, artisan products such as raw milk cheeses and specialty wines, traditional hard crusted bakery breads and pastries, as well as antibiotic and hormone free meats and poultry, and sustainably harvested seafood

Asheville, NC – Earth Fare Market and Café is the winner of the 2007 “Best Dish in North Carolina” annual competition, sponsored by the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its Goodness Grows in North Carolina program. The competition was created to recognize and reward the efforts of restaurants and chefs who use North Carolina products regularly in their menus.

The dish that won Earth Fare this prestigious award was Carolina Chicken Roulade with Sweet Potato Salad & Sesame Kale made with local ingredients from North Carolina farms, including Alison’s Family Farms in Troy, NC; The Goat Lady, Climax, NC; Latta Farms, Hillsborough, NC and Ward Brothers’ Farms in the Piedmont.

Mitch Orland, Earth Fare’s food service director and executive chef, along with the assistance of Stewart Moore, food service specialist, created the unique recipes for the award winning dish. “The inspiration for this dish is traditional Southern but with an haute cuisine twist,” says Orland. “It was crafted to add creative flavor to fresh, local ingredients and allow them be the true standouts of the dish.”

Earth Fare Market and Café competed against several larger chain restaurants across the state for the title of “Best Dish in North Carolina.” Entries were judged based on the featured dishes’ use of North Carolina products and ingredients, creativity, feature and promotion of the dishes, presentation, and of course, taste. “Given that we were the only supermarket retailer in the competition, it’s a huge honor to compete and win against larger, chain restaurants,” says Orland.

The “Best Dish in North Carolina” award was presented October 17, 2007 during the Paula Dean Show in Dorton Arena at the North Carolina State Fair in Raleigh. Representatives from Earth Fare were present to serve up samples of the “best dish” and accept the award from Paula Dean herself. “It was a wonderful opportunity for Earth Fare to showcase how local, natural and organic products are just as delicious and fresh as those purchased elsewhere,” says Orland. “And meeting Paula Dean in person was amazing. What a vivacious, talented woman!”

Charlotte, NC August 16, 2007- Earth Fare celebrated the opening of its second Charlotte location by hosting a benefit party for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina Tuesday, August 14. Thanks to the generous donations from partygoers, Earth Fare, and Grubb Properties, Second Harvest was able to raise $15,000 in approximately three hours.

The benefit party started at 6pm with an official ribbon cutting by Donna Ragan with Second Harvest Food Bank, Marlon Nesbeth with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce and Tom Seay, Earth Fare Store Manager. “We truly appreciate all of Earth Fare’s support and dedication. To be able to partner with them for the kick-off event for their new store is an amazing opportunity,” said Ragan, Marketing/PR representative for Second Harvest.

As soon as the ribbon was cut, the large crowd gathered around the entrance poured into the store to enjoy an evening of live music, decadent food, and wine sampling, as well as getting a sneak preview of the store prior to its grand opening on Wednesday, August 15.

The partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and Earth Fare is one Charlotte can expect to see grow stronger. Both work to donate, advocate, and give time. Earth Fare supports the community through healthier and more delicious food choices while Second Harvest supports the community by striving to eliminate hunger.

“Tonight, I have to say, in my two years with Second Harvest Food Bank, was one of the most amazing evenings that I have experienced,” said Ragan. “We look forward to future partnership opportunities with Earth Fare. They are a wonderful community partner.”

The following day customers were welcomed at 8am by eager Earth Fare team members. Each customer received a free Earth Fare recyclable tote for their groceries as a way to reduce the use of plastic and paper bags. Grab and go breakfast items like muffins and coffee were a huge hit.

Troy DeGroff, Earth Fare’s Director of Sales and Marketing was really thrilled with the turn out for the opening; “Customers flowed in throughout the day, with oceans of people around the deli and food bars at lunch and dinner. South Park was literally hungry for a real food experience at Earth Fare. Best of all, our Ballantyne store didn’t miss a beat.”