When Studebakers ruled the road, and apple pies cooled on window sills, mom and pop run corner stores displayed pesticide-free fresh fruits and vegetables where granny wandered the aisles seeking the perfect melon.

Organic Sandy, located at 39750 Hwy. 26, Sandy, has created such a place
after its modest debut in the summer of 2013 when it offered local produce
from a $60 popup tent on a corner in Sandy.

“I just wanted enough food for us to eat, I was not intentionally wanting to
start a business,” owner Jennifer Davis said.

Since the humble beginnings of the corner tent, Davis has succeeded in
creating a welcoming store selling produce which is mostly organic and where
her goal is to have 80 percent organic goods available.

Fifty percent of her produce comes from local farmers and the remainder from
the Organically Grown Company in Portland. She pointed out that some
produce is certified, and some is not, as local farmers don’t always have
means for organic certifications, but there is no use of synthetic fertilizers,
pesticides, or GMO seeds in any of her produce.

To pass Davis’ muster, products sold in her store must meet those high
standards.

Products include honey, eggs, milk, various dry goods, meats, cheeses, wine
and local brews, with growler fills available.

To quench your thirst, try some Kombucha, a sparkling probiotic tea, or an in-
house made smoothie blended with anything that takes your fancy in the
store. And remember to take your own jar if you want to buy honey.

Organic Sandy also hosts a Friday night market where people who may not
otherwise have tried organic food or produce before can give it a go.

“There are a lot of first timers at the market,” Davis said. “They can come,
try it out and not be intimidated, and once people realize organic food is not
so expensive, they come back to the store.”

The outdoor Friday night Farmer’s Market runs from 4-9 p.m. and continues
through the end of August.

Offerings include fresh local produce, food and crafts and a different live band
plays each week. It’s a good place to simultaneously tap your toes, browse
the crafts and sample nutritious food.

“Everybody meets where there is food, and conservatives and liberals all
agree that good food is important,” she said. “Food, art and music are an
essential part of nourishment.”

Davis’ future plans include “to just find more local stuff and keep doing what
we’re doing. You get up every morning and do it again, and you keep trying
until you find what works, you’re not going to get it right the first time. We’re
still growing,”