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Organic Grocery Taking Root

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By JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 13, 2007

TAMPA - About two years ago, Oscar Campos wasn't satisfied with the results of a medical exam and vowed to eat better.

The 31-year-old mortgage broker became interested in organic foods produced without pesticides, additives or other chemicals. However, there weren't many organic food stores close to his home in The Eagles, a subdivision in northwest Hillsborough County.

Campos and his friend Lina Rincon thought about starting an organic grocery store.

"We saw in this part of Tampa that there wasn't this type of store," Campos recalled.

After months of planning and work, Saturday was the grand opening of Organic & Gourmet in the Westchase Town Center off Linebaugh Avenue.

About a year before the store was set to open, Campos said he began learning about organic merchandise and attending trade shows in Baltimore, Las Vegas and California.

To get feedback, Campos and Rincon, 35, let children sample some of the store's food to make sure it tastes good.

Rincon said her 10-year-old daughter, Maria Jose, particularly liked the ice cream.

With Campos responsible for running the store, Rincon said she is planning a service where parents can buy organic lunches online for their children, which can then be delivered to their schools. The service is being developed.

Meanwhile, the cozy bodega sits within walking distance of many of the more than 500 homes in West Park Village.

Campos said he hopes residents will be drawn to the convenient location and be open to buying organic products.

"You can find everything you need on a daily basis on the organic side," he said.

The store stocks standard fare, such as meats, vegetables and fruit. Also on shelves and in freezers are lesser-known organic offerings: french fries, chicken nuggets, frozen burritos, lollipops, macaroni and cheese, toothpaste and shampoo.

A section devoted to infants and mothers features organic products including baby formula and cloth diapers as well as "tummy honey butter" for stretch marks.

Customers searching for something sweet and organic can buy pints of ice cream, packages of cones and bottles of caramel and chocolate syrup. They also will find organic sprinkles colored with extracts of seeds, vegetables and fruit.

Kathryn Allen, manager of nutritional therapy at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, said organic food has become more popular.

Some people buy organic foods and products as ecologically friendly alternatives, she said.

Allen said people should focus on eating less processed food, whether they use organic ingredients or not. She recommended people eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, at least five servings a day.

"If you're going to buy organic, it makes more sense to buy those types of foods," she said.

The Westchase store's inventory of more than 8,000 products has a large supply of organic produce, including carrots, apples, oranges, grapes, pineapples, potatoes, peppers, broccoli, onions and celery.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Organic & Gourmet

HOURS: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

WHERE: 9546 W. Linebaugh Ave. within the Westchase Town Center

INFORMATION: Call (813) 926-7006

Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.

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