. "2011-07-05T00:00:00"^^ . "Yes, I found a place for me.\n\nI am not a hippy. I am not a Yuppy. I don't own a touring bicycle, ironic t-shirts, or a stupid hair cut. I eat red meat and watch sports on the weekend. But this place is awesome no matter who you are.\n\nI understand that there is a place many say is \"Identical\" to Earth Fare less than an 1/8th of a mile away that I never shop at. But I refuse to go there because their restaurant makes terrible food and the employees pretend they're too cool to help me decipher my way through the store. Yeah, that gets you return clientele.\n\nEarth Fare, you do it right. I walk in, and there are people working. Working in full view of all of the patrons, and they smile. Why is that so hard? At other grocery stores the employees look like they want to die standing up or would rather be sucking exhaust from a Hummer. \nYeah, these people smile and look like they genuinely like being there. I'm not talking hyper-annoying car-salesman friendly, but they're nice and relaxed and don't look like suicide risks. \nI also like walking in to a store and being greeted by fresh, vibrant fruit that is fresh and vibrant because that's how it grew, not how it was dyed or genetically altered. Nothing has that strange waxy film or is surprisingly odorless.Sure, there is stuff with bad spots and all that, but at least the people working there are willing to help you get to the good fruit and veggies and aren't pushing stuff you don't want.\n\nRight behind the fruit is a meat counter that is my new home. Sushi-grade everything and cuts of meat so pretty it's a shame to cook them. Scoop your own shrimp or ravioli? Why I think I will. All of our fresh food is locally grown or butchered; why yes, you have me sold, sold, sold.\n\nThis place is not the cheapest, the patrons are...widely pretentious, and many of the packaged items are laughable(I was unaware eating organic coco-crisps was saving the environment), but when it comes to the food I am going to cook, serve, and consume, Earth Fare has the freshest and the best."^^ . . "4"^^ . "6"^^ . "10"^^ . . "2"^^ .