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| - For years, C-U residents have debated the need for a large-scale, ethics/eco-conscious health food chain such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, with various rounds of petitions being submitted to corporate offices. During that time Common Ground has evolved into a true force to be reckoned with--enough to convert even the most avid lover of the national brands. Once a modest selection of vegetables and granola, the co-op has expanded into a full-service store boasting an espresso bar, salad bar, bakery, bulk food section, stock of local produce/meats/dairy, and beer/wine.
People with dietary restrictions and health preferences can find all prepared foods labeled in detail (and organic ingredients clearly indicated). A special shout-out to my deli favorites: forbidden rice salad, Cajun spiced tofu, Asian-baked tofu, and sesame noodles. I find a lot of the soups to be under-seasoned, but there are tasting cups set up for you to sample items before buying. If you stay and eat your meal on the patio, there's access to free Wifi.
In the bulk foods aisle, you can bring your own container from home to fill up (if you don't want to waste a plastic bag). I am obsessed with the nut grinders, which allow you to make your own fresh almond or peanut butter (akin to the coffee grinders you find in most groceries).
While products seem expensive compared to the standard Midwestern grocery store, you'll likely satisfy every flavor of "alternative" food fad: local, organic, sustainable, gourmet, vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free, fair trade, etc. By virtue of the kind of people who are interested in ethical/eco-friendly food, you'll likely pick up some of the Portlandia vibe, but the co-op also tries to restrain the snobbery (kids get stickers at checkout, most staff are openly warm/helpful, there's an area where you can pick up/donate canvas bags for people who want a re-usable sack, etc.).
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