Health food business growing in the Ozarks

The desire to eat wholesome foods has grown so much in recent years that even mainstream supermarkets like Albertson's have jumped onto the health food bandwagon to carry organic produce, milk, cheese and canned goods.

Other places specialize in health food, like Evan's Health Studio at 500 Mt. Vernon, the oldest health food store in Springfield.

Started in 1954 by Ruth Evans, then sold to Phyliss Harper in 1982, the store offers in its 2,500 square feet a full line of supplements, vitamins and minerals. The store also carries a full line of nutritional books, packaged organic foods, organic milk, cheese and eggs from free-range chickens.

"We do bake fresh cookies," Harper said. She will also, at customers' requests, special-order organic food items.

Springfield's newest locally owned health food store, Whole Health Natural Foods, already has expanded once and will grow again this summer, according to owner Scott Pace.

Opened just last April, the store, located in Kelly Plaza at Walnut Lawn and National, will expand its existing 3,300 square feet to more than 5,000 square feet in June. This will allow Pace to carry "more of what we carry a full selection of all supplements, vitamins, herbs, books," as well as adding a juice bar.

Whole Foods offers organic produce at cost and a full line of groceries and bulk foods.

"We guarantee the lowest prices in town," Pace said.

Pace hosts the Whole Health Hour on talk radio on 560 AM at 9:30 a.m. each Monday.

Winslow Health and Diet Foods at 1501 S. Glenstone opened a few years after Evans, said Sharon Trent, who has worked at the store for 26 years with owner Katherine Winslow.

Winslow bought the store from the original owner in 1968.

She plans to more than double her space this spring from 2,000 to 5,000 square feet and will add a cafe serving organic hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads.

For the tofu fan, it will feature ice cream, shakes and sundaes made from soy products.

Trent said Winslow also caters to those who like locally-produced chicken eggs and ground beef, and it carries organically grown chicken from California.

Linn Gray, co-owner of Country Cupboard Health Foods at 1727 E. Division, worked in the store slicing bread as a teenager in 1963.

"We still sell the same (kinds of) breads," she said.

Two years ago she and her daughter Tracy bought the store. Tracy Gray also offers massage therapy in an adjoining business.

"It's always had two businesses side-by-side," said Linn Gray, noting that a chiropractor was the original companion business.

She, too, is expanding the store and plans to fill the gap created by the closing of Au Naturel Market and Cafe by carrying more grocery items and a bigger selection of nutritional products.

Country Cupboard takes special orders, such as bulk items, and stocks some bulk foods, since prepackaged items such as flour are pricey.

"I think we may have the largest meat substitute section in town," Gray said.

Betty Samples and her sister, Janice McNealy, began Parkcrest Health Food and Herb Shop in the Parkcrest Shopping Center five years ago this June.

Located at 3855 S. Campbell, their store offers seminars and health fairs to help educate customers.

The store also carries vitamins, herbs and minerals, as well as some frozen and canned organic foods. "We carry all major brands," Samples said.

Massage therapy is also available on premises.

"We try to spend time with our customers and do special ordering for them," Samples added.

Spring Valley Herbs and Natural Foods at 1738 S. Glenstone offers customers outdoor picnic tables where they may enjoy ready-to-eat items the store offers.

It also carries supplements and herbs, including bulk herbs, vitamins and minerals, as well as natural and organic food.

Owner Ken Ellwood has operated the store for 26 years, according to Rebecca Elliott, who orders all the food, juice and tea.

Unlike many other health food stores, Spring Valley doesn't carry organic milk. "Most of our customers want soy milk," she said.

Spring Valley also carries a large assortment of tea and bulk foods such as flour, rice, bran, nuts, granola and coffee.

Akin's Natural Foods Market at 1344 E. Battlefield offers natural vitamins and herbs, 100 percent certified organic produce and milk products, natural cruelty-free cosmetics, a selection of natural foods and special dietary foods, athletic and body-building supplements, homeopathic remedies, and juicers and appliances.

Other places to obtain health food items include General Nutrition Center, 2825 S. Glenstone, a corporate store and two GNC franchise stores at 2703 E. Independence and 2703 N. Kansas Expwy.