FINDLAY, OH (Toledo News Now) -
A
Findlay grocery store is working hard to bring organic foods to its customers.
They're even willing to grow it themselves!
There
aren't many grocery stores in northwest Ohio with a greenhouse in the parking
lot, but Great Scot Community Market is doing what it takes to bring the term ‘fresh
produce' to a whole new level.
Merchandising
Director Benji Ballmer grows most of the produce sold in-stores through the ‘Grow
for It' campaign.
"It's
been incredible," Ballmer said. "There's so many people we've reached beyond
what we thought we would."
One
of those people is shopper Jeff Freeman, who says he suffers from several food
allergies, so finding produce that's grown chemical-free is a necessity.
"It's
not worth it to be constantly sick all the time, and I got tired of that, so I
finally just had to learn," Freeman said. "I got a hold of my diet and avoid
certain things."
Know
who is growing their food isn't the only thing customers are excited about.
Those willing to get dirty can volunteer to help maintain the garden and receive
produce for free.
"They
come in and I show them what to do," Ballmer explained. "One day it might be
watering, one day it might be weeding. Every week when we pull whatever's
coming off, I put in a big basket for them."
Ballmer
says the store also donates produce to area food banks.
"They're
doing good things," he said. "They're handing out food to people who don't have
access to it."
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