Locally grown and organic produce from Pensacola and beyond fill the aisles of Ever’man Natural Foods all year long. We believe in supporting local vendors in the Pensacola region who focus on organic produce. Our large selection of organic produce not only retains nutrients, but also preserves the fresh flavors that nature intended.
Visit our produce section to experience the sweet smell of fresh apples and bananas lingering in the air next to year-round supplies of crisp lettuce, beans, broccoli and tomatoes. Springtime strawberries from nearby farms find their way into every shopping basket. Bins of fresh corn and plump blueberries imply summer is around the corner. Just when the summer fair begins to fade, the fall season fills binds with comforting pumpkin and squash.
All produce is grown without pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, whenever possible, including:
- Fruits (apples, bananas, dates, lemons, etc.)
- Vegetables (onions, carrots, broccoli, lettuce, etc.)
- Herbs (garlic, cilantro, ginger, etc.)
- Specialty items from around the world
Visit www.foodnews.com for a shopper's guide to buying organic produce.
Produce News
Our New Produce Manager
All about Steve Cochran
Steve comes to Ever’man from 30 years working for Winn Dixie. Steve has been a manager of over 26 produce and floral departments for Winn Dixie. He drove 3000 miles a month to keep up with all these departments. He has also been a store manager, so he really knows his way around a grocery store. Steve is the cook in his family and he is a huge advocate for fresh fruit and vegetables as part of his family’s diet.
Steve was born in Sumter, SC and was raised in an Air Force household. He has travelled and lived all over the US, but considers himself a southern boy. He is married to Teresa and has two children; daughter Jenna, age 12 and son Jesse, age 4.
In his spare time, Steve plays with his computers, calling himself a computer geek. After work, he loves to play with his kids and then cook a great dinner for his family. He was raised on meat and potatoes; but he knows the value of veggies for nutrition. So being a produce manager, he loves to bring home fresh produce every day. Steve especially loves to cook southern greens. His number one motto for produce is “it’s all about presentation and freshness.” He really knows his produce, so ask him questions and introduce yourself.
Steve, Welcome to Ever’man.
FAIR TRADE IN PRODUCE
One of the many things that distinguish us from a conventional grocery is that our shoppers care deeply about the story behind what they eat.
With that in mind, we switched several months ago to stock Fair Trade bananas when available—bananas purchased from small farmers who are given a fair price for their product and who offer healthy and just conditions for their workers. Some of those farmers have formed cooperatives that give them a say in the growing and marketing of their bananas, reinvest money in their communities for education and health care, and bypass the corporate farms that have a terrible history of exploitation throughout Central and South America.
The Fair-Trade label means that the banana growers are regularly inspected by outside experts—much like a team of auditors audit a business—to ensure that the operation is adhering to the fair trade principles. So feel good about devouring our certified-organic and Fair-Trade bananas!
More Information: Learn more about Fair Trade here
WHY BUY ORGANIC?
*Protects Our Health:
Organic food production limits the release of toxic chemicals into the environment and into our food supply. By eating organic foods you support a healthy lifestyle for yourself, your children, and for farm workers in the fields.
*Supports the Environment:
Organic agriculture positively effects the environment by creating a long term farming solution which sustains our land and water resources, as well as supports the balance of our natural ecosystems.
*Protects our Waters:
Organic agriculture does not use chemicals that will pollute our ground water, a primary source of drinking water.
*Creates a Diverse Ecosystem:
Organic farming practices respect and support of our environmental diversity by allowing a wide variety of plant species and wild animals to thrive in their natural habitats.
*Organic Farms Build Soil:
Organic agriculture builds the topsoil on the fields and keeps it from eroding into our waterways.
*Saves Our Energy Resources:
Because organic farming does not rely on petroleum based chemicals for crop production, it requires less non-renewable resources to operate. Instead, organic farmers rely on cover crops, plant rotation and natural insect control which does not involve the use of synthetic chemicals.
