Sprouts

[Roadhawg]

I went to the new Sunflower Market yesterday and looked around. It was still pretty well crowded and the parking lot was full. I was impressed with the meat section as well as the produce. It's not a real big place but they have a lot of stuff in there and lots of organic foods. I picked up some hamburger alone with some fruits and veggies. Prices wern't all that bad and I'll go back.

[tburn]

the peanut butter press is near the bulk bins, maybe the coffee.

I love the bulk bins but they need more room in the store! the bulk bins are closest to the registers, so if you have more than 3 people in line, they are now crowding in the bulk coffee/nuts/grains areas.

I do love the all natural meats - I only wish they would tell us where they get it. I used to shop at Crest for Premium Natural Beef from Hinton? or Hobart, OK. When crest stopped carrying it, I thought I read that Sunflower would -- but they don't advertise it as such. I would prefer to know. They also have a difference between "Natural" and "All Natural" that is confusing and they need to be more open about that.

I love the prices on the Organic fruits & vegs - beats Akins or Forward Foods by alot!

[Martin]

the peanut butter press is near the bulk bins, maybe the coffee.

thanks! i thought it should be around there but must have just missed it.

I used to shop at Crest for Premium Natural Beef from Hinton? or Hobart, OK.

if it was sandy springs farms, that's out of hinton.

-M

[soonerguru]

thanks! i thought it should be around there but must have just missed it.



if it was sandy springs farms, that's out of hinton.

-M

No. It was Premium Natural Beef from Hobart. I visited the ranch myself and met the owner. I was told by Crest (probable lie) that Premium "couldn't meet demand" at Crest stores and that's why they stopped carrying it. Not sure what they use now. No matter, I've pretty much quit buying beef from them.

[mrktguy29]

what part of the store is that located? didn't have time to search for it when i visited sunflower last saturday. -M

If you saw where the "fill your own honey" station was, its around the corner to the left right at the end. Red machine if I remember right. I didn't see the Peanut butter one but someone said there was one. It has a gritty texture to it but nothing terrible. The freshness and taste supersedes the texture.

[FritterGirl]

The peanut/almond butter machine is on the bulk bin aisle where the flours and nuts are. It's on the north side of the ailse, facing towards where the bakery is, and is on the end furthest away from the registers. (Hope that helps).

I went again yesterday. They were having a sale on Kashi frozen meals, and their Wallaby yogurts were on sale for 97 cents per. I got a nice haul of lunch items, fruit and other various things for about $60, which is what I would spend at Crest on the same amount of groceries.

Their peppers (red, green, yellow AND orange) looked spectacular. I grabbed some of those as well.

[Roadhawg]

I got some of the salsa, just before the meat section, and it was very good. Not sure if it's made by them but it was very good.

[Urban Pioneer]

Went yesterday. Awesome store! Protesters present but there were still tons of people. If the protesters are from Homeland, then they should take note what Sunflower is doing. If local places actually carried significant numbers of healthy food, locally produced, then I would shop there. Since they don't, I'll shop at Sunflower.

[Martin]

ok... i've been twice now. i really like this store but my only gripe is that they're still stocking the place past 9am. all the extra palettes, boxes, etc. in the aisles make it difficult to navigate the store... especially given how busy it is. -M

[Larry OKC]

I did buy some grapes (47 cents/lb) and some other stuff that seemed to be a good deal). The half-slab of coked ribs looked great ($4.99) but were rather tasteless. Havent tried the cooked Turkey Roast i bought yet but the Cheddar potatoe soup I had before was tasty and doctored up is an excellent soup base.

I've been in there twice now and seemed to have missed it both times (halfway looking) but didn't really see that much "local" stuff. Sure they had a sign on the front wall touting the benefits of buying local and all but esp the produce I was looking at was from out of state or country just like every other grocery store. I certainly expected more local produce at a place that has "farmer's market" as part of their name. I honestly saw just as much MIO stuff at Buy 4 Less and Wal-mart. Shoot, even McDonald's is promoting their sausage biscuit as MIO...LOL

[Dustin]

ok... i've been twice now. i really like this store but my only gripe is that they're still stocking the place past 9am. all the extra palettes, boxes, etc. in the aisles make it difficult to navigate the store... especially given how busy it is. -M

Thats just it though. This place is ridiculously busy all the time. If they didn't restock throughout the day, there would be no product for you to buy.

[Martin]

Thats just it though. This place is ridiculously busy all the time. If they didn't restock throughout the day, there would be no product for you to buy.

yeah, but don't you think they could at least finish the first round of stocking before the store opens? minor gripe; overall i really like shopping there. -M

[AJDePriest]

So what is the deal with the "dont shop Sunflower" protesters out by the street?

Here is some INTERESTING information about Homeland Stores. Interesting that they would protest the fact that Sunflower is NOT an Oklahoma-owned company...

http://ajonlybetter.blogspot.com/201...d-grocery.html

[Dustin]

From their facebook:

BREAKING NEWS: Sunflower Farmers Market is blooming in Edmond, Oklahoma in 2012!!! The new market will be a free-standing store located at 24 E. 2nd St., on the southeast corner of E. 2nd and S. Broadway, and will bring at least 100 jobs to the area, along with serious food, silly prices and smiling faces! Spread the word to your friends in Oklahoma!

[Steve]

There goes my dream of that old Homeland becoming a bookstore... all in all, though, a very good use for that corner. Almost as good as the last tenant, Smith Tile and Carpet (I kid! I kid!).
PS> The value of the building that is home to Subway, etc., just went WAY UP.

[Celebrator]

They are going to kill it in that location...close to UCO's neighborhood...lots of student shoppers within walking distance....very smart location for them. I love the way they are rehabbing old spaces and making them an asset again for the community. I actually just told my wife that they should go into that space to take advantage of the students close by.

[mrktguy29]

I think they should convert the empty space where Ultimate Electronics was at Penn and Memorial. Busy area and would give Wal-Mart and Target a nice run for competition.

[ljbab728]

http://newsok.com/sunflower-farmers-...ad_story_title

Evidently they are looking at other areas as well.

[rjstone208]

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, the manager said they were finalizing the Edmond lease (which happened) and were looking for a location in Norman for their next store.

[lasomeday]

This is awesome! Just think in a few years with Sunflower and Whole Foods being huge successes what other stores will be coming to OKC.

[foodiefan]

Can't wait for the Edmond location to open (and maybe Norman too!!). . . . . then maybe I can actually get IN the parking lot at MY store!! (lol!!)

[OkieHornet]

No. It was Premium Natural Beef from Hobart. I visited the ranch myself and met the owner. I was told by Crest (probable lie) that Premium "couldn't meet demand" at Crest stores and that's why they stopped carrying it. Not sure what they use now. No matter, I've pretty much quit buying beef from them.

i believe on premium's facebook page they said crest wasn't making enough of a profit on selling the beef, so they quit carrying it. may have been a blessing in disguise, since premium beef is now going to be carried by whole foods nationwide.

[foodiefan]

i believe on premium's facebook page they said crest wasn't making enough of a profit on selling the beef, so they quit carrying it. may have been a blessing in disguise, since premium beef is now going to be carried by whole foods nationwide.

Before Sunflower opened, I shopped Crest regularly (and still do for some things), but what you stated is their standard operating procedure. I think they are a little like some of the stories about Wal-Mart in that if they can't strike what they consider an "acceptable deal" with the manufacturer, they won't sell it. Frequently you will see signs advising why they are no longer carrying something (that you have been buying for several years!!). . .although it is couched in verbage that makes it sound like the producer is being unreasonable.

[Hondo1]

I was off work on Friday afternoon and thought I would run by Sunflower hoping it would be less busy than my previous visits but that wasn't the case. It was crazy busy. I was visiting with a produce employee who said the store's meat sales are tops in the chain. Makes me wonder why OKC is only now a desirable market for this store (and Whole Foods). Seems R & D would have concluded some time ago that the concept would be well received (although I'm not a marketing guy). Am I wrong?

[mcca7596]

I think that previous grocery studies had concluded that we didn't have enough dense areas of necessary income thresholds within 5 mile radii of potential store locations. They didn't take into account Oklahomans' willingness to drive everywhere.