Walking into Earth Origins in Ocala feels less like entering a grocery store and more like stepping…read moreback into my childhood. Long before Whole Foods existed... before wellness influencers... before every grocery store suddenly discovered "organic"... my parents owned health food stores in California and New York during the 1970s and 80s, back when most Americans barely understood what a health food store was. I grew up carrying whole wheat, avocado, mayo and sprout sandwiches in my lunchbox when other kids had processed snacks and white bread. My mother was giving health and nutritional talks decades ago and still does to this day. The funny part is the kids at school loved my avocado sprout sandwiches so much that they would trade me their Twinkies for them. Twinkies were absolutely a no-no in our household, which of course made them feel like pure treasure whenever I could get my hands on one... even though I knew they were terrible for me. Healthy living wasn't a trend in our household. It was simply the way we lived. And contrary to what people think now, this knowledge is not new. Ancient cultures understood the connection between food, health, longevity and lifestyle long before modern America rediscovered it and turned it into branding. Tibet is a perfect example. Entire cultures have understood preventative wellness and intentional living for centuries. Back then, health food stores were different. They were deeply personal places. Independent. Passion-driven. Families built them around education, community, and a genuine belief in helping people live healthier lives. Then the industry began to change. During the 1980s and 90s, large corporations started buying up independent health food stores across America. Chains like GNC expanded aggressively through acquisitions, converting many small family-owned stores into standardized retail locations. In fact, GNC actually bought one of my parents' stores years ago and turned it into a GNC. Later, companies like Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe, and major investment groups helped transform what had once been deeply local, community-driven businesses into national chains built around scale, branding, and mass-market wellness. That's why Earth Origins still feels special to me. It still carries echoes of the old Mother Earth health food store that once existed here in Ocala. The scent in the air... the supplement aisles... the atmosphere... even the energy of the store instantly brought me back to childhood memories of standing inside my parents' stores decades ago. There's something comforting about walking into a place that still feels connected to the original spirit of the health food movement before it became mainstream. For me, Earth Origins doesn't just feel like shopping. It feels like home.

I was meaning to stop here for months after moving to the area and finally made myself go during an…read moreerrand run. I have been here several times over the years. I have shopped here so specific items and also just to browse. Since we do not have a Whole Foods or Fresh Market, and Sprouts is on the other side of town, Earth Origins is the next best thing. I have been exploring plant based products for the last couple of years and attempting the more holistic route so Earth Origins definitely assists with that. I will say, the prices are astronomical for many products but reasonable for other products. The produce department is super small, with only organic options, and not many options for vegetables or fruits. They have a small salad bar, which is measured by the pound. There is also a hot soup bar, with I think 2 options but they close that early-maybe around 5pm? There is also a deli/ seafood/ sushi counter where you can purchase a la carte items, with premade options already packaged for grab and go. They also have ramen you can order! Next is a bulk area with a huge selection of nuts, coffee, seeds, legumes, snacks, etc. I finally purchased some during my last visit. I was a little slow in figuring it out. You put the items in a bag, then tie it with a wire tag, then write the UPC code # on the tag so the cashier can type it in. There is also fresh nut butters and honey and pastries in the same area. There are aisles of dry goods, supplements, vitamins, personal care, snacks, beverages, and treats. There is also a small wine section, with a lot of local wines. Lined up against the back of the store and the last aisle are refrigerated and freezer items. I always purchase items in the area! If you join their membership, you receive special deals daily. If you bring your own bags, you receive a 5 cent discount.

Terrible management. Poor customer service. Have no idea on inventory or pricing. Slowest check…read moreout. Literally 5 minutes for a single item Check out. Pathetic.

A great place to go get your vitamins and supplements. Dr Hall (next door) adds them to my daily…read moreroutine when my bloodwork comes back lacking. I've purchased a new one today prescribed for my Fibromyalgia. They say it helps some in amazing ways. I've got my fingers crossed and hoping I'm one of those lucky ones as I've been suffering from Fibromyalgia among other things for about 15 years.

From the owner: it is our mission to determine what system or systems in your body have become dysfunctional and…read morewhether it is possible to return it to normal function by finding the cause of the dysfunction.

I have been going to Earth Fare in Ocala since it has opened ! Sometimes I go in and shop for a few…read morethings as they have products that many stores do not carry. For instance the in house homemade sourdough bread. Literally the only place that makes fresh organic sourdough bread with only a few ingredients! Plus it tastes wonderful. There are day's I'll go in and sit and eat something or meet a friend and have a casual meal and know that I can trust that my meal will be made with quality fresh ingredients and are always delicious. The meat section is great as are the other areas and there are weekly , monthly and daily specials and day's of the week where they have discounts for seniors , military, veterans, teachers and students. It's a very casual store where you can walk around freely and there is always an employee asking if you need any help finding anything. There's an abundance of different options for all different lifestyles focusing on natural and organic foods and goods focusing on health and wellness. They don't sell food that contain high fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, preservatives, fats and antibiotics. Earth Fare was found in 1975 they are community focused and follow a very strict food philosophy to ensure that their products meet a high health standard. The Ocala Location has always been clean, welcoming and there they keep their customers in high regard. Phone: (352) 484-1710 Address: 2405 SW 27th Ave Ste 101, Ocala, FL 34471 Hours: Monday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m - 9:00 p.m Wheel chair accessible **** Website: Earthfare.com/weekly-ad/

So this place looked exactly how Lucky's looked when they were still open. I am not sure if this…read morewas a Lucky's in the past because when we moved to Ocala, it was Earth Fare. I had this place bookmarked but I try to stay away from College Road as much as possible. We were at a nearby store and it was evening time so I figured that would be a perfect time. The store was dead. It is huge inside. We didn't know what to expect so we just browsed the store, aisle by aisle. We started by the entrance, through the beverage section. It did not take long to notice the severely overpriced items. The meat section was not big and there was not much to select from. There was not much we were impressed with throughout the aisles but when we arrived at end of our browsing, we wound up in the bakery and deli section. That is where I shopped! I found a bleu cheese that is difficult to find. I picked up a premade chicken salad sandwich on a croissant, which was so delicious! It tasted fresh and pure. We checked out after that and the cashier was not enthusiastic. That's okay, they were not rude either. I wound up spending more than I wanted to. I might visit again if I am in the same plaza again but I do not envision myself intentionally shopping here.

Manager is like a (bad) used car salesman. Seems to be allergic to truth as well. Considers GNC…read moreproducts to be better than sliced bread (they aren't).

10 stars amazing ladies in there beyond helpful with any questions they know everything about…read moreeverything do all you can to keep those 2!!!

I love this Vitamin Shoppe their Health Enthusiasts are always very knowledgeable and try hard to…read moresteer you in the right direction according to your needs. They are friendly and will not try to sell you items that you do not need. When I have gone into other stores similar I have often found that the staff will try to promote products that aren't in my best interest. I went in today just looking for my Legendary Protein Donuts so I would have healthy portioned desserts on hand ( I love these ) ! No one tried to persuade me to buy anything I wasn't looking for which I really appreciate! Before I go I usually look for a promo code on the app and if I forget they often remind me and this I find very thoughtful. When you give your phone number you build up rewards so you can save money over time often getting a large portion off of a purchase or sometimes paying next to nothing at a given purchase. If you go often you can really reap the rewards of being a customer at The Vitamin Shoppe! This location is a favorite of mine! Go Phone : (352) 873-9012 Address: 2701 SW College Rd Ocala Florida, 34474 Hours: Wednesday 9AM-8:30PM Thursday 9AM-8:30PM Friday 9AM-8:30PM Saturday 9AM-8:30PM Sunday 9:30AM-7:30PM Monday 9AM-8:30PM Tuesday 9AM-8:30PM Mondays- 20 percent off military & vets Http://locations.vitaminshoppe.com/

The store has great selection, the products were decently priced and the representatives were…read morecurious and very helpful.