Sunflower Farmers Market opened a long-awaited new grocery store in the Land Park neighborhood on Wednesday morning. Over 400 people waited at the entrance for the 7:00 AM ribbon cutting ceremony. The first 200 customers in line received a canvas grocery bag filled with food products. Steve Black, Vice President of Operations for Sunflower Markets, said the earliest customer had arrived at 3:15 AM. Several customers in the line were still wrapped in blankets. Sunflower Markets is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and has 37 stores in eight states. The Land Park store is their third store in California and the company is in the process of opening several more in the state this year. The n

Fresh Producers is the brainchild of Rabbi David Wechsler Azen.  Last week I had the opportunity to interview him about this project.  His mission was to get  "kids to eat better" especially in neighborhoods where fresh, healthy food is not always available or accessible.  Unique was his solution to use students to do the marketing and management thus giving them hands on, real life business experience.  His workforce also includes peer trainers. A central organization was established to do the ordering and financial transactions.  Along with Rabbi David, the central organization includes  Steve Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, who is retired from HP with 28 years of experience in globa