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Business & Tech

Local Health Foods Store Gears Up for Easter

Krieger's Market undaunted by escalating gas prices.

With the Easter holiday right around the corner, Kriegers Health Foods Market is determined to provide their Cuyahoga Falls clientele with a steady supply of fresh and organic products despite consistently increasing fuel prices.

“We’ve seen the heightened prices across the board,” said Mike Anderson, a Krieger’s manager for the past 22 years. “Our weightier produce – celery, oranges, potatoes, and onions, to name a few – are especially affected by the higher gas prices.” The price of celery, for example, more than doubled as a result of the increased oil costs. “Celery used to run about $20 per case,” Anderson continued. “Now we’re paying $40 or $50.”

Jibau Harvey, a Krieger's customer for more than five years, says the increase in produce prices has not deterred him from shopping at the health foods store.

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“I prefer to eat organic,” Harvey said. “The price is what it is. I prefer [to eat] grass-fed beef, and that's why I come here. I expect to pay a little more for such a high-quality product, and I usually find the produce here to be much fresher.”

Sandy Shilling, another die-hard Krieger's customer has also noticed changes throughout the grocery store.

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“The prices have gone up a little, but not everything has increased,” Shilling said. “Radishes, for example, are still 99 cents a pound. You can't find that price anywhere else.”

But some produce rates have remained surprisingly consistent in spite of the gas price escalation.

“Our Florida-grown strawberries have stayed cheap throughout the year, even after several freezes destroyed a number of crops across the country,” Anderson stated.

Beginning in June, Krieger’s will once again begin selling local Ohio-grown produce, which is much cheaper than out-of-state fruits and vegetables.  Less travel time means fresher produce, and shorter distance traveled means less gas consumed.  Selling local produce enables Krieger’s to deliver a higher-quality product at a lower cost to the consumer, while supporting local farmers at the same time.

“It’s always a good idea to purchase locally-grown fruits and vegetables,” Anderson said. “Here at Krieger’s we offer a variety of Ohio-farmed produce, which is often less expensive and much fresher than the alternative.” 

Although known mostly for their fresh produce and organic options, Krieger's also has an extensive deli and offers a large number of bakery items. Easter bread, an annual top seller, will be available for purchase two weeks before Easter Sunday and is only available during the holiday. Additionally, cherry season is right around the corner; Ohio farmers have produced a robust cherry crop so far in 2011.

“It’s going to be a good year for cherries,” Anderson said.

Krieger’s Health Foods Market, a locally-owned business in operation more than 40 years at the intersection of Graham Road and Wyoga Lake Road, is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The store specializes in fresh, organic produce but also sells a variety of herbs, vitamins and mineral supplements, grass-fed beef, free-range eggs and a large selection of wine and micro-brewed beer.

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