A new health foods supermarket opened in Auburn Wednesday. Earth Fare, located on Opelika Road, strives to educate people about the importance of healthy eating and show them that it really can make a difference, said Jack Murphy, CEO of Earth Fare.

“It’s what you put inside that has a very dramatic impact on people,” Murphy said.

The store offers all the items found in a conventional grocery store, but has distinct restrictions on their food. These restrictions include no added trans-fats, no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors and no antibiotics, among others..

“We’re one of the strictest grocery stores out there,” said Kristi Kanzig, media relations manager for Earth Fare. “There isn’t anyone else that bans that kind of list from their store, but can still offer this variety.”

Another unique aspect of Earth Fare is the juice bar where customers can bring any item they wish to have juiced.

“We tend to be the only juice bar in the area where you can get fresh juices,” Kanzig said. “We literally cut up whatever you want, and we have a juicer where we juice those items for you.”

The produce at Earth Fare is all local, which they consider to be anything from the five states they operate in.

“We offer things you normally find in a grocery store, but items that you may not be able to find fresh at a normal grocery store, we also offer,” Kanzig said.

Not all of the produce is certified organic, but it is all free of pesticide spray, Kanzig added.

Earth Fare offers a free pantry makeover. It allows customers to bring in normal pantry items which the store will replace with organic versions.

“One of the really cool things I think we’re doing is if you bring in an unopened container, we actually donate it so it doesn’t go to waste,” said Nicole St. Charles, an employee of the store.

The store offers a bulk section where customers can get as much, or as little, as they want of various nuts, trail mixes, grains, rice, candies and flour.

Kanzig said this is a really unique item for the store and allows people to try something new.

Earth Fare also offers a wide variety of cheeses, wines and beers.

All of the wines have indicator labels to provide customers with information for pairing the wine with food and general flavor descriptions. The middle section of the wine area is for bottles on sale for $15 or less.

The meat offered at Earth Fare is free of antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones.

“If you start anywhere in the store, start at the meat. It’s really a lifestyle change,” Kanzig said.

She added the price of fresh meat may be higher than meat offered at a conventional grocery store, but the difference in taste makes the cost difference worth it.

Earth Fare has food to accommodate every food allergy and has special labels for gluten-free items.

“You’ll be able to see those items predominantly on any isles,” Kanzig said.

“What makes us full service is not only can you buy your groceries here, you can eat here,” Kanzig said.

The store has pizza, sandwiches and fresh sushi as well as a sitting area for customers to eat.

There is also a bakery with freshly made sweets.

Employees are present throughout the store to provide samples of whatever a customer wants to try.

The prices at the store are comparable to conventional grocery stores, and Earth Fare strives to keep its prices as competitive as possible.

“I think (the prices) are what will surprise people,” Kanzig said.

For more information on Earth Fare and the products and programs it offers, visit https://www.earthfare.com.