PROGRESS: Red Valley Natural Foods offers panoply of organic options

"We have been eating organic, as a family, for the past few years now," Vianna Hobbs told The Journal just before the store's opening in October 2023 at 600 Water St. "And we have just discovered how well it's been on our health, and how lacking the Siouxland area is in those particular products, and how hard it is to find certain things. So we decided, just this past February, to start this new journey, to basically open this organic grocery store."

Their plan was to offer meat, dairy, vegetables, fruits, soap, tea, flour, sugar, herbs and seasonings and other staples. Since opening, they've branched out in a number of ways.

Sioux City Chef Paula Khatchatourian came on in January to offer an array of made-fresh meals including spring rolls, falafel, enchiladas, lasagna, aloe lemonade, potato wedges and banana bread. A number of menu items have gluten-free options and Khatchatourian specializes in vegan cuisine.

"While I will cook meat for other people, it must be all-natural," Khatchatourian said in February.

"We get a lot of travelers off of the Interstate who discover our store," Hobbs said. "They'll ask if there is any place that offers vegan food and I'll say, well, we just happen to have a professional chef Paula who would be happy to chat with you."

To get the word out about the business and bolster the store, the Hobbs' have taken a few different approaches.

One recent Saturday, the near 100-year-old, single-story, red-tile-roofed brick building had an indoor rummage fundraiser to buy larger freezers for the purpose of expanding the frozen goods and locally sourced meat selection. 

On Feb. 3, the business had a presence at the Siouxland Holistic Health Expo, where the Hobbs' offered up games and free giveaways. Red Valley's also rolled out a loyalty program, put up billboards along Gordon Drive and Interstate 29 and hosted a talk about beekeeping and held a Christmas craft day.

And area residents keen on giving the grocer a try don't even need to browse the aisles of what was once an automotive tire and battery shop. Red Valley's website has details about shipping and delivery (within a 10-mile radius of the store). 

On that same website, under the "Our Story" tab, Red Valley has a kind of mission statement, in bold letters, right at the top: "Food that supports a body, soul and community."