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Recently this Mama of 3 little ones took her first solo rode-trip (ever!) to visit New Seasons Market in Portland. After featuring so many local farmers here on NW Healthy Mama, it was a dream come true to be in a store where the local grower/creator/small business owner is celebrated. My eyes darted up and down the isles, landing on the names of local companies I recognize and feel privileged to support as a shopper. My heart was so happy because this is the essence of the Northwest: Healthy, organic, local and friendly…. Everything I experienced at New Seasons.Image may be NSFW.
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Over lunch, I heard a story of a local PTA Mom who had dreamed up an idea for some incredible salsa. With the help of New Seasons, her product is now flying off the shelves. Stories like this are plentiful and when you’re in New Seasons, you’ll find the shelves decorated with the highest quality (and mostly organic!) products created by people from all over the northwest. Of course, you’ll also see recognizable brands that you and I would find in other grocery chains as well.
Community is everything and New Seasons Market is a West Coast neighborhood grocer with a people-first culture that builds and sustains relationships for the greater good. When you walk into a store where the people naturally gather, employees glow because they are in love with their jobs and local products line the shelves, you can’t help but want to stay all day. Good thing New Seasons Market is coming to Mercer Island on November 10th!Image may be NSFW.
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So before anything else….Here’s what needs to be on your calendar!
The region’s best produce, meats and sustainably caught seafood, a friendly staff, delicious tastings, special grand opening deals and a celebratory “Bread Breaking” await Mercer Island residents with the Nov. 10 New Seasons store opening at 2755 77th Ave. S.E.
CEO Wendy Collie, New Seasons’ executive team and store leaders will be joined by local producers and nonprofit organizations to welcome the community to the B Corp certified company as it opens its first “ultimate neighborhood grocery store” in Puget Sound.
Opening Week Festivities
Thursday, Nov. 10
7 a.m.- Doors open; the first 200 customers receive a $10 New Seasons gift card towards their next purchase and the first 1,000 shoppers receive a free New Seasons Market reusable shopping bag.
9 a.m.- Bread Breaking ceremony; CEO Wendy Collie, Store Manager Jennie Lea, local producer Seven Red Tagines and Mercer Island Youth & Family Services leader share remarks and break a loaf of fresh challah bread to share with all.
11 a.m.- Apple farmer Denny Jones of Jones Farm (Granger, Wash.) offers free samples of fresh Washington-grown Jazz, Envy and Pink Lady varieties while supplies last.
All day- Sample delicious products exclusive to New Seasons Market, including a variety of fresh baked organic, non-GMO breads and spreads from New Seasons’ Partner Label line.
All day- Reserve holiday meals, turkeys, specialty meats and tasty chef-prepared side dishes in-store and also online at www.newseasonsmarket.com/reserve.
Friday, Nov. 11
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.- New Seasons Market staff nutritionists offer healthy snacking ideas and answer questions about New Seasons free nutrition education programs.
Saturday, Nov. 12 – Sunday, Nov. 13
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.- Rare chance to get a taste of Portland cult favorite Salt & Straw artisan ice cream at a parking lot pop-up shop scooping four flavors, including best-selling Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and a dairy-free option; $1 per scoop sold will be donated to Mercer Island Youth & Family Services.
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.- Chocolate tasting featuring more than 20 varieties of fair trade, organic and local chocolate.
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A New Community Gathering Place
Designed with the Mercer Island community in mind, the new store includes comfortable indoor seating and a covered outdoor dining area for family and friends to gather. At the “Sips” counter, customers can enjoy New Seasons chef-prepared snacks along with featured wines by the glass and rotating taps of eight draft beers. Natural materials like reclaimed Douglas fir from Seattle’s historic 1909 Union Stables add warmth and character to the fresh, renovated space.Image may be NSFW.
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Along with peak of season regional, organic produce, sustainably sourced meat and seafood and abundant grab-and-go deli options, Mercer Island residents can look forward to:
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40,000 unique items with natural, non-GMO and organic options offered alongside everyday grocery classics;
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Organic and non-GMO artisan breads baked fresh daily in the store;
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Delicious discoveries like inventive sauces, pasture-raised yogurt and bakery treats from emerging local vendors supported by New Seasons’ Local Finds program;
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Regional favorites from long-time New Seasons’ partners such as Lummi Island Wild fishery and Olykraut;
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A variety of fresh kosher meats, bakery items and kitchen staples.
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The new Mercer Island store will be featuring these Washington vendors when they open. Like me, I’m sure you’ll recognize many of these names! This list is sure to be ever growing!
- Black Sheep Creamery, Chehalis
- Botany Bay Farm, Brush Prairie
- Botsford Valley Farm, Olympia
- Cascadia Creamery, Trout Lake
- Flying M Livestock, Ellensburg
- Inaba Farms, Wapato
- Jones Farm, Granger
- Lummi Island Wild, Lummi Island
- Marnies Foods/Four Seasons Gourmet, Seattle
- Miss Marjorie’s, Seattle
- Mt. Townsend Creamery, Port Townsend
- Native Harvest, Olympia
- Nuflours, Seattle
- Parfait Ice Cream, Seattle
- Pure Country Pork, Ephrata
- Pure Eire Dairy, Othello
- Reister Farm, Washougal
- Rusty’s Famous Cheesecake, Seattle
- Seven Red Tagines, Mercer Island
- Tiny’s Organic, Wenatchee
- For floral: Seattle Wholesale Grower’s Market which is a cooperative of Washington Growers.
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When you visit New Seasons, make sure you stop by the Wok Station. I am CRAZY about this feature!
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When I visited the Portland store, I had the Coconut Curry Sauce with chicken and ALL the veggies. I highly recommend this!Image may be NSFW.
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With lots of flower farmers as personal friends, I’m thrilled that New Seasons works with the Wholesale Grower’s Market which is a cooperative of Washington Growers. Their flowers are gorgeous and you can feel good about where they’re sourced from.Image may be NSFW.
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And what do I love most about all of this? I love the way New Seasons has our Seattle community in mind. New Seasons commits 10 percent of after-tax profits back to the community,
Partners: benefiting local organizations including:
• Mercer Island Youth & Family Services • Mercer Island School Foundation • Mercer Island Parks & Recreation • Sound Generations • HopeLink • New Horizons
When you stop in, be sure to snag a free piece of fruit for your little ones. You guys are going to love this store!
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