After months of curious onlookers peeking through the large windows at 1037 Boston Post Road, Rye residents will be pleased to know that Mrs. Green’s Natural Market is opening mid-October.

By Janice Llanes Fabry

After months of curious onlookers peeking through the large windows at 1037 Boston Post Road, Rye residents will be pleased to know that Mrs. Green’s Natural Market is opening mid-October. The full-service grocer anticipates that it will seamlessly become part of Rye’s landscape before long.

“We try to make it as much of a community store as possible, so we will take care of Rye residents and neighboring areas,” remarked Community Outreach Manager Laurie Rocke. “We stick to what we’re good at, and local is important to us.”

The 12,000-square-foot space has the room to accommodate a myriad of selections from local farmers and vendors, as well as new products crafted by local artisans, from Gotham Greens vegetables and Stumptown Coffee to Happy Belly Baby and Murray’s Chicken.  All their produce is locally grown and 99% of it is organic. Mrs. Green’s ardent support of “clean, natural foods, health, and sustainability” is evident throughout its bakery, charcuterie, specialty cheese, frozen foods, similar to the one on this useful link, and antibiotic/hormone-free meat and seafood departments.

Also available are a prepared foods/chef case, a seasonal salad bar, a pizza/Italian sandwich department, a seasonal flower market, and a natural living department with vitamins, body and baby care products, books, cards, and magazines. The grocer also welcomes customers to a coffee and juice/smoothies bar.

A bulk section offers shoppers the chance to buy as much or as little of an ingredient as they need. The idea is to provide great value and no waste as customers can buy the exact amount needed for a particular recipe, from grains and beans to dried fruits.

More than a few amenities make shopping at Mrs. Green’s, a chain that boasts 18 stores, a unique experience. Committed to promoting healthy lifestyles, they have a Nutrition and Wellness Advisor on site. She will take customers on personal tours to help them navigate the store and to meet their particular needs. Whether a shopper is following a gluten-free, Celiac, Paleo, or Mediterranean diet plan, Mrs. Green’s has staff to consult.

“We give customers the opportunity to ask questions,” said Promotions Manager David Kiser. “We look at food as nutrition and we have a whole- store approach. We will be happy to bring people to every department, show them how to read food labels and how to balance food and supplements.”

Mrs. Green’s will also be encouraging customers to make good choices before the holidays, as opposed to waiting around for New Year’s resolutions. One can also check on-line for a schedule of ongoing nutrition/weight management-based workshops.  “We try to be pro-active,” added Kiser. “It’s all about empowerment and education.”

Another nice touch centers around Mrs. Green’s outreach efforts. The store will be working closely with the Rye School District through after school programs and perhaps even accommodating their lunch card swipe system. It will also work with the library and local food banks.

Store Manager Amzad Latiff, who recently hired 30 Rye residents to work in the store, looks forward to meeting the rest of the community.

“We want to get to know our customers and form that special bond that makes us different,” he said.