Local Vendor Profiles: California
Arizona | California | Hawaii | Nevada
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All One (Nutritech)
Santa Barbara, CA
Doug Ingoldsby learned his business philosophy from his late father James, a pioneer in the supplement industry - stay focused and provide the right combinations of the highest quality ingredients in a form that is pleasant to take, and success is sure to follow. Now, Doug, his son Peter and other family members keep their small company with a big heart running with the same commitment to excellence. They listen carefully to their customers, and have expanded their well-loved line of multi-vitamins to include supplements for kids, seniors and even special formulations to promote weight loss.
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Aviara Farms
Carlsbad, CA
Jimmy Ukegawa learned how to grow strawberries from his parents and grandparents, who settled in the Oceanside area in the 1940s and started the family operation. Today, Jimmy runs Aviara with his brother Joe and still welcomes eager groups to come pick their own strawberries! The temperate climate in Carlsbad and the proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes for ideal strawberry growing conditions. In fact, the cool marine layer allows for berry harvest long into the summer, sometimes as late as July.
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Begley's Best
Studio City, CA
Ed Begley's cleaning products are an extension of his lifelong commitment to living a green lifestyle. His home runs on solar power, his backyard features an organic garden, and both he and his wife drive "green" vehicles. Begley's Best All Purpose Cleaner, Glass and Surface Cleaner, and Spot Remover are safe to use throughout the house and are completely biodegradable. Inspired by other companies that give back, Ed gives all his profits back to environmental charities.
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Bennett's Honey Farm
Piru, CA
Red and Ann Bennett produce pack, and distribute their Topanga Quality Honey from their 100% solar-powered facility, which Red personally designed with his background in engineering. When they started 28 years ago, Ann took on the task of head beekeeper. Instead of filtering their honey, they use a process called "gravity straining," which allows the honey to retain more minerals. Although it takes longer, the Bennetts believe it's necessary to create the highest quality honey available.
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Be Wise Ranch
Escondido, CA
Bill Brammer's passion for organics began in college, where his revolutionary theories on farming without the use of harmful chemicals were met with questions and more than a little resistance. He now oversees 200 acres of organic crops, including strawberries, heirloom tomatoes, cabbage and cucumbers. Self-educated on agriculture and microbiology, Bill co-founded the Organic Farming Research Foundation in 1990 to develop educational programs and support networks for other sustainable farmers.
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Carlsbad Aquafarm
Carlsbad, CA
John Davis and his son Andy raise the highest quality seafood while improving the marine ecology around them. A family-owned business since 1990, this local aquaculture lagoon is just north of San Diego. Their farm houses not only Black Mussels and Manila Clams, but a living reef which is helping to replenish some species of fish. Because they naturally purify the water their shellfish live in, the water returns to the ocean cleaner than when it washed into the lagoon.
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Chuao Chocolatier
San Diego, CA
Chocolate is more than just a job for brothers Michael and Richard Antonorsi — it's a family tradition! Their ancestors owned a small farm in Venezuela in the early 20th century. The company's name is derived from the city of Chuao (pronounced "Chew-WOW") in Venezuela, which is known for producing the best quality cacao in the world. In 2002, they opened their store in San Diego, with Michael in charge of making delicious chocolate concoctions and Richard handling the business affairs. Their unusual flavor combinations are sure to delight and surprise!
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Cuyama Orchards
Cuyama Valley, CA
Jean and Howard Albano grow their apples organically at their family orchard in Santa Barbara County. Warm days, cool nights and ample native water make this unique little valley the perfect place to grow sweet, crunchy apples bursting with flavor. The Albanos are famous for their Fuji apples, a cross between the Red Delicious and the Ralls Genet varieties prized for its excellent flavor and crispness.
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Collective Wellbeing
Los Angeles, CA
Ellen and Jack Davies started Collective Wellbeing in 2004 with the purpose of making beauty products that enhance the wellbeing of those who use them. Today, the line includes 60 different products for use from head to toe. As part of their commitment to social responsibility, Collective Wellbeing offsets all CO2 emissions created by its activities, from production to shipping and everything in between.
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DVF Organics
Bakersfield, CA
Don Valpredo has been farming at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley since 1962. His grandparents were pioneers to the area back in 1944, before water, electricity or any other modern luxury. Don's father John was the first to drill deep enough to find water-making farming a viable option on the valley floor. Today, the 4th generation of Valpredo farmers continues their legacy - Don's son Michael recently joined the team. The Valpredo family farm takes great pride in growing conventional & organic carrots, melons, onions, potatoes, yams, tomatoes and peppers. Look for their seasonal best throughout our produce departments!
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Follow Your Heart
Canoga Park, CA
Two of the original founders of the beloved Follow Your Heart® Market and Café in Canoga Park, Bob Goldberg and Paul Lewin created Vegenaise® as part of their mission to provide delicious, high quality groceries for vegetarians and vegans. Bob and Paul built a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly manufacturing facility that relies on solar power, where they produce their line of products, which today includes other dairy alternatives and salad dressings.
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Forbidden Fruit Orchards
Lompoc, CA
Born on a 16 acre chicken farm in Red Bank, New Jersey, Sandra Davis learned her passion for gardening from her grandmother, who helped her plant her first vegetable garden at age 2. After pursuing college and graduate degrees in agricultural sciences, Sandra purchased 100 acres of land in northern Santa Barbara County, which had been severely neglected by past owners. The cool, temperate climate in the area that produces such amazing pinot noir grapes for wine also helps Sandra grow amazingly flavorful organic blueberries.
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Giovanni Cosmetics
Los Angeles, CA
A Hollywood hair stylist, Arthur Guidotti started Giovanni when he was searching for gentle hair care products that would not harm his skin due to constant daily use. Arthur was a true pioneer in the natural body care industry, and today his son James (seen here) carries on his tradition. All Giovanni products are cruelty-free, paraben-free biodegradable formulations made with certified organic botanicals. The company lives by their Rule of Balance: make each product as pure and natural as possible without sacrificing exceptional product performance.
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GT's Kombucha
Los Angeles, CA
Inspired by his mom's battle with breast cancer, GT Dave started his beverage company out of his parents' kitchen when he was just a teenager. Laraine Dave made a remarkable recovery from her cancer with an intense regimen that included drinking the beneficial microorganism kombucha every day. Similar to a probiotic, which promotes health and well-being, the kombucha is fermented for up to a month in an organic tea base, then carefully mixed in with natural fruit juices to produce a delicious drink that's good for you too.
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Green Kingdom
Bakersfield, CA
John Vartanian left his office job behind in the late 90s to cultivate grapes just outside Bakersfield. He now has 65 acres on which he grows a variety of grapes, including Thompson Seedless, Natural Flames and Black Grapes. He takes great care to let the grapes ripen naturally, which enhances the flavor and he weeds his fields by hand, making sure to treat the vines delicately. He looks at the whole process of farming as a natural cycle of life. Though he often finds birds snacking on his grapes, he doesn't mind since it's all part of what he views as Mother Nature's plan.
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Golden Farms
Canoga Park, CA
Mike Santoro has been in the natural meat industry for over 30 years, running a full service butcher shop in Van Nuys and teaching vocational agriculture at a variety of colleges, focusing on the benefits of raising animals naturally. Today, you'll find Golden Farms' sliced meats, sausages and turkeys in our Meat, Specialty and Prepared Foods departments. It's a family affair, with wife Sue keeping the books, daughter Angie overseeing day to day operations and longtime business partner Jeff Briggs at the helm. Several of our store Meat Team Leaders attended his classes to learn their trade and he introduced us to a former pupil who excelled in raising animals naturally - David Pitman, of Pitman Family Farms, where we get Mary's Free Range Chickens!
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H2OM Water with Intention
Studio City, CA
Founded in 2006, husband and wife team Lex Lang and Sandy Fox run this natural spring water company dedicated to serving the greater good and the betterment of the planet. Their mountain spring, bottling facility, and offices are all located in California. Through their partnership with Carbonfund.org, they offset their carbon footprint, and Lex and Sandy donate a portion of their proceeds to organizations that educate consumers on recycling, world water issues and our environment.
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Johannes Produce
Carpinteria, CA
Founded by their father almost 40 years ago, brother and sister Wilbert and Josina Persoon operate and manage this hydroponic farm where they produce the juiciest, most flavorful seedless cucumbers and cluster tomatoes. They use predatory insects instead of pesticides and their irrigation system uses recycled water to give the plants the exact amount of moisture they need. Packed in the hothouse in which they grow, these tomatoes and cucumbers get to our stores within a day!
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Kenter Canyon Farms
Fillmore, CA
Robert Dedlow and his wife Andrea first explored their love of food in the restaurant business in the Bay Area, but discovered that growing food was a healthier and more interesting way to pursue this passion. After growing fresh herbs, wild arugula and a wide array of baby greens on small plots around the valley, they discovered an old orange grove along the banks of the Santa Clara River in Ventura County. Here they cultivate their wide variety of herbs and lettuces which are harvested and delivered to market six days a week. They established 5 acres of permanent conservation easement along the banks of the river, providing a sustainable habitat for the native birds in addition to their farm.
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La Cubana
Glendale, CA
After emigrating from Cuba, Anacleto and Eneida Fernandez opened the first La Cubana location in Glendale in the early 1970s. Their daughter Maria, now runs La Cubana, which moved to a larger location in 1988. Customers still flock there for traditional Cuban flavor, including their famous Mojo de Ajo garlic marinade, which can be used to flavor meats, vegetables, salads and even serves as a dipping sauce for breads.
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Mary's Free-Range Air Chilled Chicken
Fresno, CA
Mary Pitman, believing that chemicals in food were causing her own serious health problems, convinced her husband to raise their chickens, ducks and turkeys with no chemicals, no antibiotics and no added hormones. Now their son David carries on her mission as the third generation of Pitman ranchers. Pitman's free range chickens live in spacious houses (with outdoor areas to roam), kept comfortable by a unique cooling system that reacts immediately to temperature changes.
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Nagatoshi Organic
Southern CA
With 350 acres growing over 29 organic items, Nagatoshi Organic is one of our largest suppliers of organic produce. Steve Shiratori oversees fields in Piru and Oxnard where he grows daikon, kale, chard, beets, squash and other organic vegetables. They use crop rotation to keep the fields healthy - first, they grow vegetables, followed by barley, and then the field rests for a few months before starting the cycle again.
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New Union Mushroom Farm
Riverside, CA
After learning the basics in his native Hong Kong, Andy Quach emigrated to California to try his hand at farming organic shiitake and oyster mushrooms. His farm in Riverside now houses over 500,000 mushroom beds. Since mushrooms are extremely sensitive to temperature, growing them is an arduous process. He starts with a soil mixture made from sawdust, limestone, organic cornmeal and organic soybean meal, then heats the mushroom spores to kill any bad bacteria. With just a small crew of 8 people, Andy still personally delivers his fresh, flavorful mushrooms to our produce facility every day.
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Organiks
Vista, CA
Tim Wada, a second generation grower and nurseryman, established his company in 2006. Located in the San Diego Coastal Mountains, the clear sunny days and nights cooled by breezes blowing off the Pacific create a unique microclimate. He and his team grow USDA-certified organic herbs, vegetables, and heirloom varieties, all grown without harmful pesticides. Their plants come in biodegradable pots made of rice hulls - you can re-use the biodegradable pots for starting your own seeds and as grow pots for other plants. Break them up and use like pottery shards to improve drainage in your container gardens. Speed up the pots' decomposition by adding the shards to your compost.
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Perfectly Sweet
Alhambra, CA
As a child, Mary Aqleh would watch her grandmother bake all sorts of sweets. Mary started making desserts and baked goods as a hobby in the 1980s, crafting custom cakes and gift baskets for her friends. She and her 26 employees keep the bakery running 24 hours a day to turn out delicious cakes, pies, cookies and confections. She believes in supporting local vendors too - Mary goes to the local produce mart three times a week to pick up fresh ingredients from farmers she's been buying from for years. Mary prides herself on her open bakery, where customers can watch her bake while enjoying a sweet treat.
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Salads Galore
Granada Hills, CA
As a child, Abe Orr's father told him he was a born businessman and he took that to heart. While living and traveling all over the world, Abe would whip up recipes for friends and family. In 1988, he and his family opened their shop on Chatsworth Street. Although his wife finally retired last year, Abe and his daughter Goldie continue to make his delicious spreads and salads with just a small crew of dedicated employees. From grilled eggplant tapenade and roasted red pepper spread to hummus and spinach pesto, Salads Galore makes it all.
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Sambazon
San Clemente, CA
In 2000, founders Ryan Black and Ed Nichols first experienced AçaÍ on vacation to Brazil. Amazed by the incredible flavor and pure clean energy they felt after eating it, they learned that the berry has a long history in the local culture. Ryan and Ed formed Sambazon shortly thereafter, bringing Ryan's brother Jeremy and other close friends on board to run the team. Their goal — to introduce this nutritional powerhouse to the US while providing work for small family farmers in the Amazon and promoting sustainable harvesting techniques to preserve Brazilian rain forests.
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Sis' Meliss
Los Angeles, CA
Husband and wife team Melissa Marks and Richard Knafelc created their "little ma & pa company" in 2005 to share the deliciously healthy salad dressings and marinades Melissa's mom made while she was growing up. They started selling their products first at local farmer's markets, and soon made their way to Whole Foods Market. Made from the purest extra virgin olive oil and with no added sugars, their condiments are perfect for a variety of dishes. You'll still see Melissa and Richard in our stores sharing their product with customers!
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Sun Grown
San Diego, CA
For 20 years, Robin Taylor has been perfecting the art of growing micro-greens, wheatgrass and distinctive sprouts. He grows his products in 25 different greenhouses right outside of San Diego, where he can control every aspect of the environment to produce the highest quality product. By using this greenhouse method, he can closely monitor temperature and eliminate wind, which often increases water usage. Look for his remarkable products throughout the year!
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Vivi's Original Sauce
Los Angeles, CA
Vivian Poutakoglou makes her tangy Classic Carnival Mustard using an old family recipe passed down from her grandparents. They took their secret recipe sauce to carnivals and fairgrounds all over the country. Vivi is still taking her show on the road — you'll see her quite often in our stores sampling her products for all to enjoy!
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Zhena's Gypsy Tea
Ojai, CA
Zhena Muzyka, the "mistress of tea," blends her aromatherapeutic teas in Ojai and Los Angeles with ingredients sourced from farmers worldwide. An enthusiastic supporter of the Fair Trade Model, Zhena's Gypsy Tea works directly with small growers and out of the way tea gardens, providing their workers with healthcare, guaranteed maternity leave, childcare, educational programs, better working conditions, and autonomy.