Best Natural and Organic Grocery Stores in Central Oregon (Bend)

The best natural and organic grocery stores in Central Oregon are all located in Bend, which is the heart of Central Oregon. This being said, it is not that far for most of us to make the trek a half hour to an hour into Bend to shop because we have become accustomed to these grocery stores delivering consistently high quality natural and organic food.

It may be a tad inconvenient sometimes, (like when the snow flies) but most of us would rather shop at these stores steeped in nutrition rather than shop at some of the other retail stores available closer. At least in my case, I buy a lot of my foods at these grocery stores and buy staple and fill-in items at our regular markets.

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What is Natural and Organic Food?

There are many all encompassing phrases that come to mind when discussing natural and organic products – such as hormone-free, antibiotic-free; no artificial flavoring or coloring, grain-fed, range-free; no preservatives and no genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

In my book, the above paragraph says it all in terms of what I do not want in my food so the weekly or several time a month commute to Bend to buy groceries at these stores is well worth the effort. It just teaches you to plan ahead!

Come with me for a bit of a tour of Central Oregon’s best natural and organic grocery stores!

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Photo by Audrey Kirchner
53 Varieties Survival Seed Emergency Bank Organic Food Non GMO Heirloom Garden
Current Bid: $24.99
NOW FOODS BETTER STEVIA CERTIFIED ORGANIC EXTRACT POWDER – 1 LB.
Current Bid: $55.99
Assorted LOT of 6 NEW Sealed Earth’s Best 8oz Organic Baby Cereal 48oz Total
Current Bid: $5.00
GARDEN OF LIFE PERFECT FOOD RAW ORGANIC GREEN SUPER FOOD 8.5 OUNCE NEW SEALED!
Current Bid: $21.90
Organic Green Power Spirulina Wheatgrass Barley Kelp alfalfa Super Food Blend
Current Bid: $27.95
Cauliflower Seed ? 20 Purple Vegetables Delicious Natural Organic Green Food
Current Bid: $.99

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods as most of us know is the largest chain of
grocery stores specializing in natural and organic foods – and we were fortunate enough to get one in Central Oregon a few years ago.

Our Whole Foods Market was actually Wild Oats Market before and
that store was a wonderful place to go for the freshest organic produce
and butcher shop style meats such as grain-fed beef or free range chicken. However, since converting to Whole Foods Market, our neat
little organic market in Bend has only gotten better. To the shopper such as myself, things didn’t appear to have changed all that
much except that the products that I had been used to seeing in the Seattle
area or Portland area at other Whole Foods Markets started to show up here as
well. That is a great thing!

Not only will you find aisles and aisles of wonderful
natural and organic products but you will also find an in-store cafeteria/deli along
with a coffee section where you can also order up your favorite organic coffee lattes and a
dessert if you’d like, then grab yourself a
newspaper or your book and go have a seat in the inviting little dining area
and enjoy! There are slices of pizza to
enjoy (freshly made), salads, soups, a myriad of sandwiches, already made or
made to order, quiches, and even sushi ready and waiting for you! The dining part of Whole Foods here in Bend is on a much smaller scale than say Seattle or Portland as is the whole store – but we’ll take it hands down! (Check out the video for a look at a ‘regular sized’ Whole Foods Market – wow!)

Whole Foods is a top quality grocery store and has an extensive array of wines to suit anyone’s tastes – from inexpensive new wines to high end. The same holds true for beers. They have a great selection of most products
in fact – my husband dreads me going in because it usually takes me forever to shop as I’m so busy looking at
everything.

Whole Foods Market also sells an extensive line of household products, pet
products, and at least one aisle is devoted to books on nutrition, another to health
products such as vitamins, aroma therapy oils, organic soaps and skin products, etc. You can find anything you want in this store nutritionally wise – and for all ages.

There is even a kitchen section for great little gadgets for the cooking
minded person such as myself – like Asian vegetable steamers, teapots, and kitchen gadgets – and more handy books on healthy cooking techniques.

The produce department is a cook’s paradise. As we are located in Central Oregon, it’s sometimes
difficult to find something you really, really need for a recipe such as fresh
basil or saffron let’s say – in the dead of winter. However, I
can almost bet that if I’ve exhausted every other source, I can find it at
Whole Foods. From such unique offerings as yellow beets to yellow asparagus – everything
in their produce department is like it just came out of the garden. I have never made a bad purchase at Whole
Foods. All their produce has been of topnotch quality and superior in flavor and freshness.

Even though Whole Foods Market is a large chain (having almost 300 stores in North America and also the United Kingdom), they seem to truly care about the tenets of healthy eating, preserving the planet, and encouraging the principles that foster natural and organic methods of farming and food preparation – going back to the way it was.

The first Whole Foods Market opened in 1980 in Austin, Texas and they have been going ever since. They claim to care about great tasting food and like to
share it with the world – I believe that is 100% true!

Just some of the ideals that I admire about Whole Foods Market:

They evaluate every product they sell
Foods are free of artificial coloring, artificial flavors
and artificial sweeteners
Their foods are also free of preservatives and hydrogenated fats
Whole
Foods believes in offering customers food that is fresh and food that is safe in every
way possible
Organically
grown foods are their passion and their products are nutritionally sound
They advocate eating less refined products and nutrient-high foods and encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
Whole Foods sponsors salad bars in schools and thus far has sponsored 350!

Check out
their organic baby products such as chlorine-free diapers and organic baby
foods or browse their pet aisle for great products. Their household cleaning products are also environmentally kind.

Don’t miss their coupons on-line!

On-line you can check on search for items or information under Health and Nutrition, make grocery lists, check out their recipes for healthy eating and find out about culinary education classes such as Eat Right America and The Engine 2 Diet (both 28-day programs).

Whole
Foods in Bend is located on the east side of Bend on Highway 20 in the same
shopping area as Costco.

Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. 7 days per week.

Phone: 541-389-0151

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Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Newport Avenue Market

The
Newport Avenue Market has been a part of Bend for almost 20 years. Located on the west side of town, Newport
Market has always been a favorite spot of mine to shop.

I first
discovered it on vacation more than 10 years ago and this was my ‘go to’ store
for quality meats, produce, wine and anything else I could think of to throw
into my cart – before we had Whole Foods or I discovered Wild Oats.

Shopping
at Newport Market is like shopping in a gourmet supermarket because everything
looks wonderful, is of the highest quality in terms of freshness and it just
has that ‘gourmet’ feel to it.

Recently
when I couldn’t find veal shanks for osso buco, I stopped in at Newport Market
and sure enough, they were there in the freezer case.  They must have known I was coming!

They have an extensive selection of wine and
beer also. There is a video on youtube showing someone videotaping it and going on and on about how many beers.  (Of course, there are a lot of beers here in Bend).  They often have wine tasting in the store so be sure and check the website for times.

Along with their wonderful selection of wine and beer, they also have an extensive offering of different cheeses. Newport Avenue Market is said to be one of the best grocery stores in all of Oregon for their selection of cheeses – to include several from local well known organic producers such as Tumalo Farms and Juniper Grove Farm.

They also have a terrific bakery and deli section where you can buy just about any kind of artisan bread or roll and a myriad of freshly made desserts. You can also indulge in their service called On-The-Go-Gourmet and they will make up anything from dinners to boxed lunches for you  – all of the healthiest, freshest ingredients and saving you time when you most need it.

The produce section of Newport Avenue Market is also a wonderful place to pick up the freshest ingredients and herbs – some locally grown but all organic and as natural as humanly possible.

The meat and fish department boasts such wonderful things as organic chicken, grain-fed beef, New Zealand lamb and fresh wild caught fish – don’t miss out when it’s Copper River Salmon time!

If you are in the mood for flowers, check out their wonderful floral department where you can pick up anything from bouquets to flower baskets.

Ah, but they do not stop at mere food!
This is the part where my husband shakes his head and rolls his eyes.  They also have a huge selection of Le Creuset, All-Clad and Emille Henry pans and accessories. The gourmet portion of their store can trip you up for an hour! It is a great place to pick up gifts – for
yourself or someone else. It is also a
great place to browse for cookbooks and think about what you want to cook up
next.

All in
all, Newport Market is a spectacular place to shop if you are visiting or if
you live here – again those hard-to-find items you are looking for will most
likely be right there on the shelf or in the case waiting for you.

Check out the Foodie Feed RSS on line and don’t miss out on the Foode Flash Card – earn rewards for shopping at Newport Avenue Market.

They also have the Barket Report on line for store specials and offer recipes and nutrition sources on-line.

You can even get a flu shot at Newport Avenue Market!

Newport Avenue Market is open for your shopping convenience 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

Phone: 541.382.3940

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Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Nature’s General Store

Nature’s
General Store is located in a strip mall in the northern end of town in Bend and has been
there forever it seems. They are easily
forgotten simply because I think their location keeps them out of your line of
vision. However, again, when I’ve gone
into Nature’s, I’ve always found things to be tiptop in terms of quality of food, availability of products and they seem to be very reasonably
priced.

Nature’s is a family owned store that has been a hallmark of Bend and Central Oregon since 1983. They have received the Best Health Food Store award (voting via the Source) in Bend for the 7th year in a row!

They have
a great selection of frozen meats and fish which are all natural and they also
have fresh baked breads from the Village Baker – one of my favorite bakeries in
town. For a small store, they have an
amazing array of products that are all natural and organic.

Check out the extensive selection of health and beauty products. They have a soap called Cowboy Soap that we can’t find anywhere else in Central Oregon and we keep coming back for more!

Nature’s has an on-line program called BuyClub – you go on line, order your products,
and then have them delivered to the Nature’s store for you to pick up. Orders must be in by 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and orders will be waiting for pick-up by 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. Minimum order is $50.

Specializing in organic products, Nature’s also tries to offer as many local products as possible. You can check them out on-line and you can also check out the monthly specials there. The website will alert you to new products that have arrived and you can find recipes for delicious things like Asian Salad or Homemade Granola Bars.

Nature’s believes in the principles of natural and organic products and offers customers 100% cotton produce and vegetable bags for $1. They also donate 10 cents from every bag to the Environmental Center and the Humane Society of Central Oregon. The owner also matches every dime in donations.

You can find all kinds of useful nutrition information – don’t forget to check out the vitamins and supplements.

If you’re looking for quality products and a friendly place to shop, check out Nature’s General Store.

Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Phone: 541-382-6732

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Photo by Audrey Kirchner

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s finally made it to Bend a year or so ago and everyone I know couldn’t be happier! I was used to Trader Joe’s from living in the Seattle environs for many years and was ecstatic when they finally opened a store here. Joe’s has 344 stores nationwide and is one of the best stores to shop for natural and organic foods. As a little bonus, you can’t beat their prices!

I confess that since its arrival, Trader Joe’s has fast become my favorite hang-out.
They have such a variety of things all the time that I end up spending
more time than I normally would in a grocery store just because I owe it to
myself to know what’s new, right?

One of my
favorite things to buy up every year are the fresh basil plants. For a mere $2.99, throughout the late spring
and summer, I buy huge fresh potted basil plants and then use the basil for all my dishes –
finally drying any that I can’t use in cooking before I buy a new
one and start over.  What a great addition to my kitchen. In fact, this summer we had 2 fresh basil plants growing in the window.  I
used it to make all my sauces and salads – not to mention using it on pizza!  The cost of one plant compared to buying a packet of fresh basil with a couple of wilted pieces at $5.99 – priceless!

The
products at Trader Joe’s are also outstanding in terms of being natural and organic – and in my mind, so economical that it
just makes sense to shop there. Their
products such as organic broth or organic beans for instance are far cheaper
than at the regular chain store.  Most grocery stores mark up anything that is organic or ‘natural’ – at Trader Joe’s I feel that it is being treated as the way things should be in the first place.

I buy ham slices there that have no
artificial ingredients and no nitrites or nitrates – same with any bacon we
might use.  Their meats and poultry are
absolutely wonderful and again, at a reasonable price – with no hormones, no artificial color.

Trader Joe’s dairy products are some of my favorites as are their cereals. Many of their
cereals are lower in sodium than any other brands and no artificial ingredients. We also stock up on nuts and trail mixes at Joe’s at a
super low price!  If you’re looking for real maple syrup, check out their price!

I buy some
of my produce at Joe’s. I probably would buy more but some of their produce is
pre-packaged and there is just simply too much for a family of 2. If I can use it, I buy it.  Luckily, some of their produce is sold separately  – we’ve had wonderful organic
peaches, pears and plums all summer long as well as melons and apples.

Another of my favorite products at Joe’s is the frozen seafood. I buy wild caught salmon and whole albacore tuna in the frozen section of the store. It’s extremely reasonably priced and if we want tuna sandwiches, I grill the tuna and flake it, then use as regular tuna.

They also have a tremendous
selection of cheeses, crackers, all different kinds of chips made from vegetables or organic corn, cleaning products
and beauty products as well as some of the best (so they tell me) dog biscuits
my dogs have ever had!

Don’t miss their wine and beer section either! They have all kinds of great bargains from 3
Buck Chuck to wines from Chile or Spain along with distinctive brews for the beer minded such as Newcastle,
which is one of my husband’s favorite beers.

You can find Joe’s helpful nutrition facts on-line and can find fantastic recipes like Breakfast Casserole or Rumble Cakes there too. They have the Fearless Flyer to let you know about new products and if you go directly to your local store’s spot on-line, you can find what new products are there just for your area.

You will also find a wine guide on-line to help you decide what wine goes with what dish. You will also find tips on fish preparation for example, coffee questions, olive oil differences and any products of concern – such as the egg crisis right now.

Joe’s products have no artificial color, no preservatives, and no added flavorings. They also are not genetically modified.

Why are Joe’s prices so low? They buy private label brands and accent the value of the food. They also buy direct from the growers and thus are able to sell to us at a reasonable price.

Trader Joe’s started in 1958 and the markets were called the Pronto Markets. In 1967, the Pasadena store became the first Trader Joe’s and it has been history since. Trader Joe’s also believes in each store supporting their own community and you can find their donations and contributions on-line in your particular area.

All in
all, again not sure what we did without Trader Joe’s before it arrived! Make sure you pop in and
check out their seasonal stuff as well because they pull out all the stops around the holidays or any major event or time of year. Every trip is a new adventure browsing the store for me.

Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Phone: 541.312.4198

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Newport Avenue Market –
1121 NW Newport Ave, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Whole Foods Market –
2610 NE Hwy 20, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Trader Joe’s –
63455 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

Nature’s General Store –
1900 NE 3rd St #104, Bend, OR 97701, USA
[get directions]

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Natural and Organic Grocery Stores

Here in Central Oregon, we do have stores such as Safeway, Fred Meyer’s, Ray’s, Albertson’s and Erickson’s – in Prineville, we have only Erickson’s and Ray’s and have to drive at least a half hour to shop at any of the other stores. 

While their produce and food in general do hit the mark in some categories and we try and shop local as much as possible, we are sold on the above stores and usually weekly make a trip into Bend with our cooler and shop at these stores.  Why?  Because it is important to us to eat as healthy as possible and we do see a difference in the food that we buy at some of these chain stores as opposed to these natural and organic grocery stores.  Even though 2 of them are chain stores, there is a definite difference to our eye between organic produce at Safeway versus the produce at these stores.

We are fortunate to have quality stores that we are able to get to – and I daresay that we support all our stores quite admirably in one fashion or the other looking for the best bargains and the best quality of any product.  However, when it comes to nutritious food and quality food, I give these 4 stores 2 thumbs up and think you will too!

Look What You Can Find at Newport Market

Tour of a Larger Whole Foods Market

The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook: Over 100 “Tail Wagging” Recipes
Amazon Price: $99.60
List Price: $14.95
Super Natural Every Day: Well-Loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen
Amazon Price: $10.29
List Price: $23.00
Vogue Cuisine Vegetable Soup & Seasoning Base 12oz (Vegebase, Vege Base) – Low Sodium, Gluten Free, All Natural Ingredients
Amazon Price: $13.49
List Price: $15.99
The Working Class Foodies Cookbook: 100 Delicious Seasonal and Organic Recipes for Under $8 per Person
Amazon Price: $10.11
List Price: $20.00
If You Care Unbleached All Natural Waxed Paper, 75-Foot Roll (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $59.88
List Price: $61.42
Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonal, and Local Ingredients
Amazon Price: $6.99
List Price: $24.95
Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook (DK Organic)
Amazon Price: $0.01
List Price: $15.00
Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit
Amazon Price: $20.99
List Price: $37.95
Newman’s Own Organics Adult Dog Food Formula, 12.5-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $26.50
List Price: $30.02
Pacific Natural Foods Organic Unsweetened Almond Beverage, Original, 32 Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $35.46
List Price: $37.28
Wellness Grain-Free Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs, CORE Original, 26-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $49.95
List Price: $62.99
Happy Tot Organic Baby Food, Stage 4, Spinach, Mango and Pear, 4.0-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 16)
Amazon Price: $8.99
List Price: $27.74
NOW Foods Sweet Almond Oil, Moisturizing Oil, 16 ounce
Amazon Price: $6.68
List Price: $10.99
Jobe’s 09026 Organic Vegetable & Tomato Granular Fertilizer 4-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $6.55
List Price: $15.99
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet: Know What Goes Into Every Bite with More Than 200 of the Most Deliciously Nutritious Homemade Baby Food … More Than 60 Purees Your Baby Will Love
Amazon Price: $11.36
List Price: $19.99
Natural Balance Organic Formula Dry Dog Food, 25-Pound Bag
Amazon Price: $47.19
List Price: $48.99

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