A Natural Choice
GreenAcres is on a mission to make Wichita healthier.
Sarah Jane Leming
ATMOSPHERE: GreenAcres Market has served healthy eaters for 15 years in a large shop at Bradley Fair. Inside is a deli, salad bar and dining area. Everything at the store is natural or organic, so highly processed provisions don’t exist.
KEY PEOPLE: Barbara and John Hoffman carved their livelihoods out of healthy living after one too many back surgeries got the best of Barbara’s health. Before GreenAcres, the couple had an interior landscaping business, but the constant lifting was hard on Barbara. “I got into alternative health, and we started educating ourselves about what you put into your body,” she says. They started with “Health Talk,” a radio show hosted by the Hoffmans’ daughter, Shannon, Matt Murray (now manager at GreenAcres) and broadcaster Mike Lamb. The show was at one time syndicated in 40 markets. “That’s how we really got into education,” says Barbara. They also had a significant online business that sold vitamins. Then, they decided to expand GreenAcres by opening a grocery store in Bradley Fair, where they bring coastal health trends to Wichita with seminars and events.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND: Even if you don’t feel like cooking, GreenAcres is ready to help. The deli serves made-from-scratch quiche, wild rice salad, tofu and more. The buttery bierocks are delicious. Barbara says nearly 95 percent of the deli food is organic, and there’s a noticeable difference in taste, especially in meats and fruits. “The taste is better, and it doesn’t have the junk in it,” she says. A salad bar and fresh soups complement the organic offerings. If you wish to create your own healthy meal, you’ll find plenty of options among aisles of free-range chicken and soy milk. “We have everything everybody else has. The only things we’re missing are pesticides, antibiotics, hydrogenated oil, refined flours and sugars,” jokes Barbara.
GreenAcres has organic alternatives to almost every type of food. There are milk substitutes like Almond Breeze ($2.79) and Rice Dream ($2.29). There are also snacks like Milton’s crackers ($2.49), Endangered Species chocolate bars that benefit endangered animals ($3.19) and Barbara’s favorite item, Pamela’s Cookies ($4.19). Other than edibles, the store offers dietary supplements like hoodia concentrate ($13.98), ZumBar goat’s milk soap ($4.69) and lozenges ($20.95).
Although a bottle of the store’s finest maple syrup can cost upwards of $20, Hoffman says the prices aren’t what determines GreenAcres’ customers. The key factor, she says, is her customers are educated about their health. “It’s just where you put your priorities,” she says.
WICHITA VERDICT: GreenAcres Market offers a healthy alternative for health-minded shoppers. The prices are a tad higher than other grocery stores, but it’s worth it considering the health benefits. The deli and freshly made sandwiches at the back of the store are a great option for quick lunches and dinners. With a variety of tasty and healthy options, GreenAcres makes it easy to eat well.
