Organics Come to Rural Communities

I live in a small, rural community 100 miles from the capital. For many years, the nearest organic food store was 8 miles from my home. When you don’t work anywhere near these kinds of stores, spending the money in gasoline to shop there doesn’t make a lot of sense does it?

Organic foods are a healthier way for people to enjoy foods without worrying what they are ultimately putting into their bodies. Many people in rural communities often have the misunderstanding that organics are expensive and only available to the rich and elite. And until recently, organic foods were only available in specialty stores, such as Wild Oats Markets or Whole Foods, further feeding that notion. Now, many major chains, such as Safeway and King Soopers, are now offering more selections of organic foods.

Safeway and King Soopers both are just minutes from my home and both have started to carry organic products. Both chains now have an entire sections devoted to organic juices, soups, and soy, rice and almond milk. You can also look for Safeway’s own brand of organic products at a slight lower cost than brand names. King Soopers also offers a section in which you can purchase natural herbs such as Echinacea and cranberry and St. John’s Wart. Both stores carry a quality selection of organic meats, cheese, and produce. And since these stores excel at saving people money, these products are offered a lower price than traditional organic stores.

Another way organic foods are available is farmers’ markets. Most communities have farmers markets on the weekends, and more farmers are offering organic produce. There is one I like that offers the biggest organic tomatoes you have ever seen.

People in rural communities now have increasing access to organic products and they can take comfort in knowing what they are feeding their families.