Earth Fare

Earth Fare is an American health and wellness supermarket with 36 locations in 9 states throughout the southeast and Midwest United States. It sells natural and organic food informed by a “Food Philosophy” and “Boot List”. All products are free of high fructose corn syrup, artificial fats, artificial trans fats, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, bleached or bromated flour, never administered antibiotics or added growth hormones.

Founded by Roger Derrough in 1975, the first store opened its doors in Asheville, North Carolina as “Dinner for the Earth”. Initially Dinner for the Earth offered organic dried bulk foods in wood barrels and wellness products on handmade shelves. Six years later the store expanded to a new location and began to offer responsibly-sourced meats and produce.

Dinner for the Earth became “Earth Fare” in 1994, after the team grew from a specialty store to a full-service store with expanded offerings of products, like craft beer and artisanal cheeses. This expansion was the catalyst for building a “healthy supermarket” accessible to everyone, which still informs the company’s present philosophy and expansion goals.

In addition to organic milk, Earth Fare sells grass-fed milk that is homogenized and is pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria while preserving vitamins and helpful enzymes. Meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals can produce 300-500% more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than those of cattle fed the usual diet of 50% hay and silage, and 50% grain.