Customer Appreciation Day At 'Native Roots Market'

For a town of 105,550, does it surprise you that Norman has three sustainable health food stores?

Would it surprise you more to know that each one has something a bit unique to offer the Norman community? It's true, but perhaps that's a subject for another time. What I wanted to do tonight is profile Native Roots Market, a cool, hip-looking market on Main Street in Norman.

Love Main Street in Norman. Steadily, it's becoming one of the coolest parts of town. Perhaps I should walk to The Diner in the morning for breakfast. Perhaps I should have bought some groceries at Native Roots, and I wouldn't be so hungry right now!

When I visited there last week, I talked with a guy who worked at the store, and he was super eager to tell the Native Roots story. I particularly appreciated this aspect of it: They exist at least in part to promote Oklahoma-raised and produced products.

In fact, this Saturday, Native Roots will be hosting a "customer appreciation" day. Part of that event will be to explain to patrons just how much money they have helped to keep in the Sooner State.

Unfortunately, I am not a big fruit person. Native Roots had fresh blackberries and grapes, and that just isn't my bag. I'm a veggies guy, and I would have liked to have seen more in the way of fresh vegetables. Native Roots did have its fair share of organic beef and poultry, too.

Again, that's not my thing, really. I like chemicals and hate salmonella.

Nevertheless, I really appreciate the go-Oklahoma concept behind this store. Furthermore, they had a pretty fair selection of gluten-free product and a really impressive collection of spices. For example, $2 would buy you some ready-to-go homemade taco seasoning.

They had homemade soap and cloths made from hemp and all sorts of vitamins and herbs, fare that both Dodson's and The Earth have. While Dodson's is uber-corporate looking and The Earth is very much kind of a hippie shack, Native Roots' building comes straight out of coolville.

Totally reminded me of something out of Dallas, particularly appealing to young adults living in the Norman area.

Now, I was going to suggest a coffee/tea bar to get folks to hang out a bit, but I think they had one. It was 137 degrees last week, and I seem to recall having no urge for a hot drink. This leaves my only suggestion for these folks to work on getting more fresh veggies there, salad material that is, and to update their blog.

No worries there. I'll dedicate a post to stuff they could write about, a public service from this blogger to our local, Oklahoma-friendly grocer.