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Behind the Counter: Nature's Pantry

Organic foods for everyone from vegans to those on raw food diets are the order of the day at this Harford Road bodega

 

Since we started the Visions for Vacancies feature on Patch three weeks ago, a common suggestion among our readers has been an organic food store like Trader Joe's, but did you know we already have a place to get organic flour, sugar, spices, and even produce right in Parkville?

Nature's Pantry owner and Parkville resident Sam Walters has been providing healthy food to the Parkville area from her store at 7984 Harford Road for the last 36 years.

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"I cater to everybody: vegans, vegetarians, people doing raw foods diets, people with celiac [disorder]," Walters said.

"If you come and and I don't have it, I'll get it for you; I'm like your personal shopper and I love buying for the store," she said.

The store is evidence of her passion for natural foods — organic nuts, pastas, spices and more are available and stacked floor to ceiling.

"I do a little bit of everything," Walters said.

She explained that recently she's ordered vegan donuts for one customer, and Naked juices for another.

She also gets deliveries of organic produce — everything from onions, kale, baby spinach right on through to fair trade bananas at least once a week.

"If you're a cook, I've got spices 95 percent cheaper than a grocery store," Walters said. She sells them from huge jars on the wall in paper bags and reusable jars.

Lou Stewart, a Bel Air resident by way of Essex, has been shopping at Nature's Pantry for "15 or 20 years" for the raw wheat bran his diet requires.

"This is the only place I could find — I think I found her on the internet. I walked in and asked if she carried it, the price was right and that was good enough for me," Stewart said. "I think only once or twice I've come in and she hasn't had what I needed. I always call ahead and she can make sure to have it."

A customer from Bel Air isn't altogether uncommon for Walters — she said she has customers from all over Harford and Baltimore Counties.

"When we opened we were the only store like this from here to Towson," she said.

"If you're looking for something, you can give me the list — all at once — and I'll get it for you. Just make sure that you pick up what you order," she said.

About this column: Behind the Counter is a twice weekly feature on Parkville-Overlea Patch that takes a look at the awesome people who work in Parkville-Overlea. Behind the Counter runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Related Topics: Behind the Counter, Nature's Pantry, and Parkville Small Business

Ruth Baisden

7:35 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Parkville's best kept secret. Great place to shop if you have a healthy recipe and can not find the spices or ingredents you need. She also has a Glutent free section.

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MaryLynn Swartz

8:40 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I save a lot of money when I visit Sam for all my spices. Her inventory is extensive and the shop is fun to poke around in. She has items I didn't know existed and I hope she stays for another 36 years.

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Joy Piscitelli

3:56 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I love the variety and the personal service. If she doesn't have it she will get it. Great place to shop and right here in Parkville. Thanks for the article Nick.

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Claude Call

4:51 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012

I found this place through this article (which, incidentally, Ms. Walters has heard about but hasn't read because she doesn't have Internet access) and was immediately charmed by it. You don't have to be an organic/Vegan/Granola Freak/Hippie/whatever to enjoy this place; you just have to have some desire to eat a little bit healthier. Check it out.

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