Kent Natural Foods brings a “small town feel” to the community
The front of the Kent Natural Foods store found in downtown Kent, taken on Jan. 31, 2023.
February 5, 2023
Kent Natural Foods, a small co-op food business since 1971, values eco-friendly products, healthy food and a home feel experience in downtown Kent.
“It’s an honor to be part of a community that wants to support something like this, which is an alternative business model,” Jeff Ingram, outreach coordinator, said. “I’ve loved watching it grow from where it’s been, and now it’s grown to include shelves with just about every product you would find anywhere that’s sustainable and eco-friendly.”
Ingram said Kent Natural Foods’ relationship with its local farmers is an asset to creating a healthy, organic environment.
“To be around this good food and meet so many good organic farmers and people working in the field of green economy…I think that’s been one of the best rewards of this job,” Ingram said.
Ingram said that the healthy food in the store is beneficial in several ways.
“The more local and organic fruits and vegetables I can do, I think the better it is for everybody, because you’re not spending the money on all the trucks and the transportation, the congestion and the extra pollution,” Ingram said.
Julia Fouty, a devoted customer turned staff member of Kent Natural Foods, eventually started working in the business because of its eco-friendly ideals and welcoming environment.
“I love that I can bring in my own containers to get bulk herbs. That was really what drew me in because I’m trying to minimize the plastic waste,” Fouty said. “They have a lot of local food, especially in the summer, and it’s just a good place to hang out and meet people, honestly.”
Fouty said the “small town feel” of the store is what separates it from grocery store giants in the area. Because Kent Natural Foods is a co-op, people have a say in the business.
“It’s a cooperative, so the people actually kind of have a say in what’s in the store and how it’s run,” Fouty said.
Ingram points to the community as the reason for why the business has been around for so long.
“There’s no way we could survive without the customers coming in shopping…even during late last year, when the prices just skyrocketed, we’ve got a really steady base of customers in the community,” Ingram said.
Ingram said he believes Kent Natural Foods has impacted the community for such a long time because it feels grounded to customers.
“I guess they just like to see something small in the world of so many big things,” Ingram said. “A lot of us are knowledgeable, and we can offer a lot of our experience in this world. So, it’s not just walking through a line, it’s getting to know the products and the people too.”
Aaron Cousin is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].
