The New Look of Grocery Shopping Near Akron Ohio

Chris Colley and Paul Marschik were working at a local farmer's market near Akron Ohio when they began exploring opening their own store, with local produce that met the needs of the farmers and the community alike. So in early 2011 the two young men rented a small corner store and worked hard day and night to turn their dream into a reality.

In April of 2011, they opened "Natural Abundance", located at 4167 Wilson Ave in Ravenna, Ohio.

Now in the summer of 2011 they have a large following of customers and farmers alike. Their farm stand is like no other. They grow their own vegetables and fruits and buy from the local farmers as well. They have local honey, baked goods, Chris Colley and Paul Marschik were working together at a local Farmer's Market near Akron jams, jellies, meats, cheeses, and other organic or homemade items.

A person may walk into their farm stand with less than $20 and leave with a week's worth of fruits and vegetables for their family. This is unheard of! How do they do it?

Paul, an Ohio native, has always been interested in horticulture and farming. He believes that people have few opportunities to consume truly delicious local foods on the tight budgets that most Americans are now tied to. The reason for the retail prices of the produce is tied to the cost of shipping and gas, as well as having the added expense of farmers picking and washing the vegetables for the store. "We go to the farms and pick everything ourselves", says Paul, adding that "many of the local grocery chains go to the same farms we do. They just charge a lot more". Paul cares a great deal about his community and it shows. He donates an entire truckload of food to a local food bank every week. Any food that has begun to spoil he sends to a local animal rescue farm. For Paul, it is about watching his community thrive, stimulating the local economy, and selling quality foods to everyone.

Chris hails from Michigan and has always enjoyed gardening. After becoming a father he realized the true importance of feeding your family quality foods that taste good and are rich in nutrients. You can find his fianc©e Tara and both of his children working by his side on any given day at the store. Chris worked in the stock market for years before realizing that his true passion was farming. He also wanted to have a family business that could be passed down to his children. Chris and Tara are very "grass roots" people and care about eating healthy foods. Tara has a degree from Kent State University and is looking forward to using that education to home school her children, whom are now 1 and 4 years old. "It's all about sustainable living and keeping your body healthy", says Chris, as he works with his daughters to create a better watering system for his tomatoes in the greenhouse. "Helping people do that and stay within their budget is important, and one day we want to be the food hub of Portage County".

Chris and Paul make a great team. Paul has a sense of urgency about him that speaks to his dedication to his work. At only 23 years old Paul has a strong work ethic and a passion for bettering his community. He likes the idea of bartering with his customers that can offer services or quality foods that other customers will enjoy. Paul will stop and chatter for a moment before moving quickly and purposefully to his next task, and he always seems happy to do so. Paul spends a lot of time transporting the food to the needy and brainstorming projects for the off season. Some of those projects are running programs at local churches, schools, and libraries to educate people about healthy eating and why local foods are better for their health and the local community. Chris, at 28, is more social and loves to talk to his customers. He is always smiling and seems very carefree. But don't let this fool you. His mind is always working hard and he is frequently working on projects and ideas to expand their new business. Tara and the kids also frequent the store, and Tara is looking forward to teaching her children how to be "self sufficient in all areas of their lives" as they grow.

Because they have the greenhouse to grow their hydroponic produce, they will have the ability to offer fresh local produce (especially tomatoes) well into November and December. The bakers that they work with will also provide delicious homemade baked goods for the holidays.

Stop in at the store, talk to these friendly people, and enjoy some fresh local produce! Their hours are Thursday through Sunday 10 AM to 6 PM. You will love it!