New Local Green Biz to Love: MOM’s Organic Market in Bryn Mawr

This post is for my Mid-Atlantic readers! Do you know about MOM’s Organic Market? This regional chain of organic grocery stores is primarily in the DC/Baltimore area, but they’ve opened their first PA location this weekend in Bryn Mawr. MOM’s specializes in 100% organic produce, sustainable seafood, bulk groceries, and much more. They also offer Naked Lunch, a 100% organic and vegetarian/vegan lunch counter.

(Lucky enough to be nearby? There’s a Groupon going right now- $15 for $30 of organic goodies.)

Founder Scott Nash started MOM’s in 1987 out of his mother’s garage, and they are still 100% family owned and operated. Local, family owned, small biz, working to protect and restore the environment: check, check, check and double check!

Things to love about MOM’s Organic Market:

• the only grocery chain in the country to stop selling bottled water (seriously, wow!) and the first in the country to eliminate plastic grocery bags
• all produce is 100% certified organic and they only carry sustainable seafood (including canned tuna)
• they buy local whenever possible
• they offset customers’ carbon emissions from shopping trips to and from MOM’s through TerraPass
• all bulk/produce bags, coffee/sample cups, Naked Lunch to-go-ware, and re-usable MOM’s grocery bags are 100% compostable, and 100% of their electricity use is offset through wind power and renewable energy credits
• employees receive $5,000 when they buy an electric vehicle, $3,000 when they buy a hybrid
• they offer free electric car-charging
• recycling drop-off for wine corks, cellphones and ink cartridges, CFL bulbs, eye glasses, plastic bags, household batteries, and shoes (that’s in addition to paper and compost)
• host periodic free recycling drives for electronic waste, jeans, holiday & Christmas tree lights and more
• at the beginning of the winter, they check customers’ tire pressure and inflate their tires for optimal efficiency
• they do not sell products that use licensed cartoon characters to market to children
• partner with the Parent Encouragement Program and Childhood Alliance.

Holy cow, right?

My car is in need of a new timing belt so I’m temporarily grounded from long trips and not able to drop in for the Grand Opening. But I’m seriously looking forward to checking it out and love hearing about eco-conscious companies succeeding and expanding. It means we’re all doing something right!

Found a new green biz to love lately? Let me know!