In 2015, Dan and Angie Fern opened their organic food store on Spooner's south side. It was a slow beginning, but today they have established a growing clientele excited to be able to have such a wide variety of organic foods such as 150 bulk spices, along with 160 bins of bulk nuts, beans, oatmeal, snack mixes, and popcorn. All of which you measure out yourself, so you buy only what you need.
Since opening, they've added take & bake pizza, grass-fed beef, organic pork, and chicken.
They've always had bulk olive oil from Greece, Louie's Meats, a cooler full of cheese and lots and lots of fresh vegetables.
Last year Dan, who stills does vocational counseling on the side, built 40 raised beds in an area next to the store they had fenced in. All the beds were full of vegetables like green and yellow beans, tomatoes, green and jalapeno peppers, kale, swiss chard, beets, carrots, and broccoli.
The mixed lettuces were a big hit this past summer as well as the banana peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, zucchini, squash, green onions, and radishes.
"Our customers appreciated the fact that they could see their produce growing in the garden next to the store, and to know exactly where their food was coming from made a huge difference. The fact we never use any chemicals on the garden makes a huge difference in our finished product.
By growing our own produce, it also allows us to pick what we need daily and not have to harvest a week's worth, package it, and put it on the shelves.”
This summer the Ferns added a 20 x 30-foot greenhouse to the garden that will enable them to start plants earlier and extend their harvest further into the fall.
North Crossings have always carried Dan's fresh-roasted coffee beans he gets from Africa, Colombia, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil. El Salvador, Nicaragua, New Guinea, and Peru. Half of the beans are organic, there are several blends available and 20 coffees options available each and every day.
The shelves are filled with packaged products, vitamins and supplements, and baking supplies.
There's fresh coffee every day by the cup and hand-dipped ice cream to go with it.
They're open from 9a to 7p Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.
Even though they're located south of downtown Spooner next to the State Patrol Headquarters, more and more people are finding them, and it's becoming the go-to place to shop for quality products.
For further information, Google North Crossing Foods to get to their website and Facebook page.
- Also See: Wiener Schnitzel, Jaeger Schnitzel, German Meatballs, And Homemade Gyros, What's Not To Love?
About the Author
Diane is a features writer for DrydenWire.com. She started her fifteen-year career as a features writer for the Washburn County Register and has written for assorted newspapers and national magazines. She has also just released the third novel in her Chicago series of books – Scott Free in Chinatown. You can visit Diane's website at www.dianedryden.com or her facebook page at facebook.com/authordianedryden.
Last Update: Nov 20, 2018 10:00 am CST
