Nature's Food Patch Natural Market & Cafe (est.1987) is a community grocery store dedicated to offering a complete selection of quality organic and natural products. Nature's Food Patch is also a founding member of SIBA. Inside our 14,000 SF store (currently expanding!), we carry north Pinellas County's largest array of organic produce, bulk foods, groceries, herbs, vitamins, body care, aromatherapy, pet supplies & books. Our popular cafe & deli serves international food cuisine made from scratch with fresh & pure ingredients.

Sustainable Holiday Tips from Nature’s Food Patch

• Buy local & organic food at Nature’s Food Patch for your Holiday meals.  Buying local not only means that you are supporting your community, but it cuts down on the cost of transporting the items (which means they are fresher too!)  Buying organic ensures that there were no chemicals used in producing that food; whether it be fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides…whatever; it was not used!  This is not only better for your long term health, but also for the long term sustainability of our environment.
  
• Buy in bulk at Nature’s Food Patch.  This is more economical and cuts down on all that pesky packaging, which goes where?  In ever-growing landfills, that’s where!  The Patch has an extensive bulk department with many typical holiday items on sale.  Buy nuts for snacks & baking and herbs & spices to bring the best flavors to your table.
  
• Buy the gift of health!  Instead of buying gifts that you are not sure if the person actually wants or needs, and will ultimately add to landfills; why not buy a gift certificate to Nature’s Food Patch?  Everyone needs to eat and who wouldn’t want the chance to eat healthier?  Your friends and family will enjoy the quality & freshness in addition to the friendly atmosphere that gives the Patch the reputation we have earned in our community.

The Health-minded Community and Friends of the Earth Embrace Natures Food Patch

The store has been enthusiastically embraced by our health minded community and has continued to grow; going through a major relocation and remodel in 1996.  "The Patch", as it is affectionately called by the locals, is a friendly gathering place, known for its commitment to organic foods, quality natural products, sustainability, community involvement and health education.

Not only does Nature’s Food Patch sell earth friendly, sustainable products; we make every effort to use them behind the scenes as well:

• Biodegradable cleaners & recycled paper supplies are always used
  
• We use PLA compostable corn plastic containers for the café, bulk & produce packages whenever possible.
  
• Salad bar & some deli products are packed in biodegradable paperboard.
  
• Our disposable utensils & straws are made from corn.
  
• We reuse & offer, when available to our customers for their use:  cardboard boxes, freezer packs, bubble wrap & Styrofoam peanuts.

The Patch is also pleased to report our commitment to global responsibility by banning plastic shopping bags and also by doing our part in the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle movement.  To date, we participate in the City of Clearwater’s recycle plan with a dedicated cardboard dumpster & six 90 gallon containers for plastic, aluminum or steel cans & mixed paper.  In the office and around the store, our employees always look for ways to satisfy the first 2 steps of the 3 R’s as well.  We reuse paper by printing on the back, we cut up old flyers for scrap paper to replace post-its & we bring in our own coffee mugs.  We also continually educate our customers by supplying Recycle Guides and playing videos in the store such as “The Battle of the Bag” & “There’s no Such Thing as Away (throwing it “away”)”.  Additionally, we’ve had representatives from the Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste Operations come talk at the store on several occasions.

Nature’s Food Patch has numerous awards for our dedication to humanity and the planet.  Doing the right thing has never been so satisfying.  Joining SIBA is one more step towards realizing our goals.  Our vision is to serve and inspire our community in order to build a healthier world!