Greenlife Grocery appreciates the feedback about the change in our opening hours. We are sorry for any inconvenience. We know that, for many people, the morning routine is an important part of the day.
The decision to open the store later resulted by unanimous vote of the Greenlife leadership team (not a corporate edict) because so few customers shopped during this hour. Equally weighted, we believed the change would be better for team members and our ability to best serve our customers.
However, after considering feedback, we will be opening our doors at 7:30 a.m. starting Monday, Nov. 21.
Greenlife remains as committed as ever to Asheville, and during the past year our contributions to the community have amplified. We thank our customers for this. Together, we have achieved a lot.
For example, we thank all who shopped during our quarterly “5 percent day,” which recently gave 5 percent of sales to the Asheville City Schools Foundation. We are excited and gratified, too, for our customers who utilize our bag-donation program. Brother Wolf Animal Rescue just benefited from this initiative (as does a local organization every month). In addition, we encourage local food producers to take a look at our Local Producer Loan Program – a program that has already helped North Carolina producers.
Our expanded services and product offerings are consistent with our allegiance toward a healthier environment, more compassionate animal husbandry practices, sustainability, good health and food marked by quality, great taste, affordability and safety. Inquiries about Whole Foods’ initiatives aimed at achieving these goals are more than welcome.
As the community’s market on Merrimon Avenue, we celebrate wonderful customers and purveyors. Together, we create a place where we all enjoy the special uniqueness and local flavors, talents and artisans that have defined, and will continue to define, Greenlife.
— Sherrie Sterken
Greenlife Grocery
Asheville
I went to Greenlife this morning with my dutiful Thanksgiving list and was immediately struck by how festive it was. The store is filled with holiday fare and flair. The natural trimmings are impressive, especially those pieces created by a local floral artist. Check out the two large wreaths as you go in and then look up to see the gorgeous entry piece over the door – all collections of woodland treasures from WNC. I shop at Greenlife all the time, but the holiday vibe there is especially fun!
Whole Foods is a wonderful food store and a great addition to Asheville. I’m so glad they are trying to make a profit and stay in business. Thanks.
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So a business being open an profitable is your qualification for ‘wonderful’? Wouldn’t that make all grocers wonderful? Just wondering.
Whole Foods is wonderful on its merits. I have shopped in many of its stores for about 15 years. During this time, I have come to know that Whole Foods has always – for over two decades – provided insurance coverage for its employees’ domestic partners; thus, I suspect there are a number of gay, lesbian, and non-marriage straight couples who work at Greenlife that are more than a little bit happy that Whole Foods has come to Asheville. Whole Foods encourages more humane standards for its meat and eggs through its “5 Step” program – by buying products that achieve a “5” consumers cast their vote for small, and totally free roaming animals that will never endure the rigors of long transport. Whole Foods banned products containing partially hydrogenated fats (a cancer promoting ingredient) around 2003. I remember this because the popular Pepperidge Farm line was suddenly gone from its shelves. When I learned that it was because Whole Foods banned the ingredient I was more than a little impressed with the store. Because of its size, it can, and does, do good things, such as lending money to local farmers, providing micro loans to impoverished individuals, and it ensuring the sustainability of its products through third party auditors … Whole Foods may be big, but it is also awesome.
I wish they made a better effort to source all their produce seasonally and locally.