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Health See other Health Articles Title: Well Fed Neighbor Market sells locally grown food Ruell Chappell's store wasn't even open yet, but future customers were already clamoring last week for 50-pound bags of wheat harvested from Theodosia. "This is non GMO (genetically modified organism) wheat," said Chappell. "This is heirloom seed that hasn't been altered. One person already asked me to hold back four bags for them." The bulk wheat -- and hand grinders to turn it into flour -- are a few of the dozens of locally grown and produced items Chappell will sell at the new Well Fed Neighbor Market. Located at 1925 B E. Bennett St., the store opened this weekend. It will be open today from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. It's the newest of several small stores that have opened in Springfield, aiming to provide Missouri farmers and ranchers a place to conveniently sell what they grow, raise or preserve. Chappell, perhaps known to music fans as a member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils band, said he was inspired to open a local-foods store by friend and sustainable gardening guru Galen Chadwick. Both advocate the need for "food security" -- having a steady supply of food that's grown nearby instead of being shipped and trucked from thousands of miles away. "If we can grow more food here it will help the local economy by providing more jobs," Chappell said. "Eating locally grown food improves health and it conserves fuel, since it doesn't have to be delivered from long distances." A feasibility study zeroed in on the kind of customers the store likely will appeal to. "Those that want to live healthier, those that want to build a local sustainable economy, those that want to preserve the environment and those that believe the current system is going to crumble and they want to be prepared with their own food system before it does." Chappell said he has 10 Missouri food suppliers lined up so far who will provide fruit, vegetables, grain beef, pork and poultry. He'll supplement the product line with vegetables from his 15-acre Gateway Farm north of Fellows Lake. Chappell said he approached larger grocery stores with the idea of opening a small local-foods business within their stores. The idea didn't get much traction. "They didn't really see it as part of their business plan," Chappell said. "Why take a risk on that?" Instead, he searched for a business location that he could turn into free-standing local-foods store. He acknowledged locally grown food will probably cost a little more, estimating 10 to 15 percent more than at major grocery retailers. But he said his customers will be getting fresh food from local sources, knowing their dollars are staying in the local economy. "I want to pay producers more than wholesale prices," Chappell said. "As demand from customers builds I think more people will go into the business of providing that product." One of those is Drew Bradley, a farmer and dairyman from Fordland who will help supply the Well Fed Neighbor Market with vegetables. Having a store where he can sell his sweet corn, green beans, butternut squash and other produce "means I'll plant more," Bradley said. Chappell said he'll have a map in his store showing where every item comes from in Missouri. He plans to run his business with help from friends and family. "Right now I'm really just flying by the seat of my pants."
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It looks like I have a new place to buy groceries in addition to the farmers market. If people are serious about their opposition to corporate agribusiness then they need to spend their money in places like this and at farmers markets.
I have no idea the permitting/licensing that is required in MO, but I pray to God he got whatever it may be. Otherwise, he'll be swatted within the first month. This venture should be wildly successful.
That's where "innieway" hangs his hat these days ... and he's talked some about this "well fed neighbor market"
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