Our columns are typically about food, and while this column is no different, we would like to make it a little more personal.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce The Red Rooster Grocery will be closing at the end of November.

We decided to open the store five years ago based on our interest in food, eating locally and supporting our local economy and we are happy to say that it has been a successful venture in those respects.

Becoming part of the grocery industry – even as small as we are – has provided us the opportunity to view a world that most people give no more than a passing thought; the corporate food industry.

It has been shocking and disheartening, and we can certainly understand why most people choose not to look too closely. Unfortunately, our collective deliberate naiveté is exactly what allows it to thrive.

Food produced with chemicals, whether toxic chemical fertilizers, noxious chemical pesticides, or harmful chemical additives, dominate supermarket shelves.

It is small, independent grocers such as The Red Rooster Grocery and Nash’s Farm Store which exist as a haven from conventionally produced food for those motivated to seek it out.

Organic-minded

For those not raised on organic food, with little regard for the environment, with no discernible food allergies, illnesses or other health issues, there is simply no motivation to learn about the benefits of organic and locally produced food.

Supporting organic and local food takes a change of habit by making the effort to shop at local farmers markets and locally owned independent grocers. And our small community has made a difference.

In fact, Red Rooster Grocery customers alone have supported the purchase of nearly $500,000 worth of locally grown or processed products. This may not seem like much, but it has meant a lot to our small, local producers.

During the four-and-a-half years we’ve been in business, The Red Rooster Grocery has purchased inventory from over 150 different local vendors.

We’ve watched vendors just getting started become common household names among those who buy local food and others already popular among Saturday market-goers increase their visibility by selling their products to multiple retailers.

We recall with great fondness meeting José and Angee Garcia. They brought us a big tub of homemade salsa, asking us to give it a try. A month or so later we were proud to be the first retailer to carry José’s Famous Salsa.

We also were among the first retailers to carry Clark Farms’ grass-fed beef. These days you can find their beef and pork at eight retail outlets, six local restaurants and two farmers markets.

Running The Red Rooster Grocery has allowed us the chance to meet many incredible people who are trying to do something really amazing: Provide good food the old-fashioned way – from the ground up.

It also has given us the honor of getting to know some very special people — our customers. We are thankful to each and every person who ever crossed our threshold, even just to look. But we owe particular gratitude to those of you who had a regular presence. We could not have continued without your support and constant encouragement.

Lastly, we would like to thank our staff. It was a first job for some, and extra income for others, but we could not have been more fortunate to have people dedicated to helping us in our venture.

Our last day of business will be Wednesday, Nov. 26, and we will be closing the doors at 3 p.m. We will miss The Red Rooster Grocery, but we will continue to eat well, and be well; we hope you will, too.

Mark Ozias and Lisa Boulware are owners of The Red Rooster Grocery. Reach them at columnists@sequimgazette.com.