FROM WHENCE WE CAME

Our family has been a part of the Hayward community for well over 40 years, starting when Cindy Rice, the family matriarch, moved here with her family as a young girl.

Over five years ago our entire family starting switching from a reliance on the conventions of modern convenience to a more complete, natural approach to life. At this time, it became starkly evident that Hayward was in sore need of an organic and natural grocery store... a place where all of our grocery shopping could be done.

In late 2005 Bailey and Chase, two of Cindy's oldest grandchildren, and Bailey's husband Jason worked with Cindy to cultivate ideas and lay the initial groundwork for an organic and natural foods store.

Joining the Hayward Area Chamber of Commerce in early April of 2006 officiated the swap of paper and pen for hammer and nail!

At this point responsibilities were divided; Chase became outsourcer and manager for organic produce, essential oils and other herbal products. Bailey and Jason teamed up to tackle the large task of managing grocery and general merchandise. All the meanwhile, with unmatched energy, grandma Cindy worked towards and oversaw completion of the store in all regards (she ran laps around everyone else involved!)

 

As tired as we were excited, the doors we opened on the 8th of July, 2006. A week later saw our grand opening celebration, and the rest is history. We couldn't be more thrilled to be here and plan on sticking around for quite a while!

 

GET TO KNOW US!
Meet the 2nd St. Market family; people who walk the talk.

 

	CINDY RICE Owner, Grandma "I was never taught about the intrinsic relationship between food and body as a younger person, now I have the opportunity to share with others what I wish I knew then." Yes, Gram is still going strong after 5 kids and 14 grandchildren. Becoming a business owner has not slowed her down one bit. She even has energy to care for her naughty blue parakeet at the end of each day. How does she do it?
	WENDY SPRECKELS Retail Sales Associate When I walk into this store, a sort of serenity washes over me. I think it's because I truly believe in what 2nd Street Market stands for. Our purpose here is to enable men and women to live clean, normal, natural lives as nature intended. I believe that the future of the planet depends upon what we do today for others as well as for ourselves.The exchange of knowledge, experiences, and joy makes for greater health, happiness and peace. If in some small way we can assist with that here at 2nd Street Market... we have achieved our purpose.
	JIM LUND Son in-Law and Manager Jim has been trying to lead a healthy lifestyle for the last 7 years, by using more organics and natural remedies. His wife Natalie is an accomplished herbalist, and was instrumental in helping him to follow that path.  Jim loves talking with people, and his self appointed mission at 2nd Street Market is recommending products, sharing information and educating customers in ways to better care for themselves. As manager, he is responsible for the ordering and bringing in new products to add to the inventory. Jim is also a busy father of six children: Burkley 27, Chase 25, Kenyon 16, Addison 16, Lilia 7, and Sage 4… and drives school bus in his spare time.
	LIZ BECKWTIH Daughter in-Law and Asst. Manager Liz has been extremely health conscious since she was in her 20’s, and has always tried to incorporate a daily fitness routine somewhere within her schedule. In addition to helping Cindy with making the soup and sandwich entrees for the deli every day, she is also a busy mother of three (Bailey 23, Aubrey 13 and Jordan 12) and a wife (Bruce). Liz feels that “good friends, family, and good food and drink” are an important part of life, and strives to feed her family wholesome and nutritious meals, with a great emphasis on organic and locally grown produce and wild harvested meat.

FOOD, HEALTH & OTHER ISSUES

 

The greatness of getting back to the earth is something we want everyone to experience. Choosing organic and natural products has an effect that reaches far beyond the general horizons of perception. Not only is organic food generally denser with nutrients than its conventional counterparts, it also promotes bio-diversity, healthy soil and water ways, local economy, and the peace of mind that comes from making the right choices.      The downloadable document of enforced standards for organics from the USDA is 554 pages long (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards.html). Below is a more brief definition of organic practices.     

Organic Food is produced according to certain legally regulated standards. For crops it means they were grown without the use of conventional pesticides, artificial fertilizers or sewage sludge, and that they were processed without ionizing radiation or food additives. For animals, it means they were reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones. It also dictates the ethical and humane treatment of animals while they are alive. At all levels, organic food is produced without the use of genetically modified organisms.