Roots Natural Organic Health Foods

Everyone knows that smell when they enter a natural food store — that homey mix of nuts and beans and fresh produce blended with the aroma of spices. For Tammy Miller, co-owner of Roots Natural Organic Foods in Maple Ridge, it’s a comforting smell.

Roots Natural Organic Foods has been on Dewdney Trunk Road since 1971, and Tammy and her husband Jeff have now run it for more than 25 years. They have watched customers come in with their small kids over the years, and, over those years, some of those kids have become staff members.

The clientele that used to frequent Roots the most were mainly women aged 30 to 50 but their customer base is changing rapidly with a good mix of men and women, older and younger, Tammy explains. Young adults are especially concerned about where their food comes from, what it contains and how it is grown, and they come to the store looking for everything from organic produce to additive-free laundry soap and natural deodorant.

“The next generation is becoming more educated — they are more concerned about the environment,” Tammy says.

Families shop at their store because they are looking for healthier food for their children — like healthier treats.

“I think people are more concerned about the quantity of sugar their children are consuming but they still want them to have treats,” Tammy says.