Harvest Market is a family-owned business started by Tom Honer in May 1985. Well known and loved by customers up and down the Coast of Mendocino County, what began as one traditional grocery store and has evolved into three stores that reflect a unique blend of conventional, specialty, organic, domestic, international, and local products. As early as 1995, Harvest made a commitment to stocking local and organic products and has a strong commitment to solar energy and removed single use plastic bags back in 2011, with LED lighting in all three stores as of this year. Their ever-popular “In the Bag Program†donates paper bag sales to local charities of customer’s choosing, and in 2015 Harvest Market became a Certified B (Benefit) Corporation, meeting and maintaining rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. We’re proud to have Harvest Market as a Startup Mendocino Sponsor and we talked to Jennifer Bosma, Vice President of Harvest Market, about her thoughts on entrepreneurship in Mendocino County.
What part does your organization play in the economic development of Mendocino County?
Harvest Market provides 140 local jobs that pay a living wage. For our full time employees we also offer medical and dental insurance and put up to 25% of our pre tax profits into a retirement account and/or matching 401k contributions. We purchase from as many local Mendocino County suppliers, wine growers, and food producers as we can. We also support many local non-profits in Fort Bragg, Mendocino and beyond. Finally, we carry a variety of goods from organic to international to the basic staples, all in a friendly and clean environment – so much so that realtors bring clients looking to move here from out of the county to show them they what a great place they will have to buy groceries!
What good things do you see happening in the next decade in Mendocino County?
With the Mill Site property in Fort Bragg finally having interested buyers and completed sales of parcels, there will be more housing and jobs in Fort Bragg. The first two purchasers being local is a great sign of good things to come.
What’s your favorite place to be or eat or visit or stay in Mendocino County?
The Mendocino Headlands or Todd’s Point at Sunset! Nothing beats a great sunset over the ocean.
Tickets for the Startup Mendocino Competition Gala Are Now on Sale
This family-friendly event takes place in Ukiah at the Mendocino College theater on August 25th. Tickets are $10 and include beer, wine, refreshments, local food and prizes — and most importantly, a chance to cast your vote to determine who will win the grand prize for Startup Mendocino. Click here to buy tickets now.
Startup Mendocino is a Business Bootcamp and Pitch Competition designed to spark new thinking about what is possible in Mendocino County through entrepreneurship. Startup Mendocino is sponsored by the West Business Development Center, America’s SBDC, The John and Sandra Mayfield Economic Development Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Adventist Hospital, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Economic Development and Financing Corporation, Mendocino College, North Coast Brewery, Harvest Market, The John Pack and Linda Francis Family Fund at the Community Foundation of Mendocino County, Ukiah Chambers of Commerce, Mendocino Coast Chambers of Commerce and Willits Chambers of Commerce and The Coast – KOZT, and the California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity.
Startup Mendocino is supported by the Small Business Administration and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Office of Business & Economic Development.
As always, to sign up for free business advising from WestBDC go here
Our Sponsors
