The old adage — you are what you eat — is the basis for a passion of Judy B. Johnson.
Johnson owns Living Well Down East, a full-line health food store downtown. She opened the business in March 2010 — the culmination of a dream she had for years.
“This was a passion of mine,” she said. “I wanted to do this my whole adult life.”
After spending a number of years developing and “tweaking” a business plan, her husband Wyles convinced her to work at a local health food store to find out if that’s what she really wanted to do.
“It was great advice,” Johnson said, “and I took it and I loved it, and here we are.”
While Living Well carries a full line, Johnson specializes in special needs, such as gluten-free, dairy-free and other sensitivities. She also focuses on organic and local grown and handmade items.
“I have always been a personal consumer of natural and whole foods, supplements and herbs,” she said. “Going organic came later. … I don’t want pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and fertilizers sprayed on foods or fed to animals.”
Organic means no synthetic or sewage sludge fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, bioengineering or ionizing radiation are used on produce and no growth hormones or antibiotics are given to animals, according to the USDA National Organic Program. Farmers use renewable resources and soil conservation.
Johnson said, to her, organic food tastes better and she eats less because it fills her up sooner.
“I feel better eating organic foods,” she said.
She recently purchased a peanut butter machine, after looking for a good price for nearly two years. She uses dry roasted, organic peanuts.
“It is unbelievable how fresh organic peanuts are,” she said. Customers can buy small tubs of the freshly-made peanut butter. Her next venture is to make almond butter from California almonds.
Many of the items she stocks are grown by local farmers — produce, honey, pecans, eggs, coffee, meats and prawns, in season. She also carries pottery, candles, soaps and greeting cards from local artisans.
There are bulk bins of spices, herbs, teas, nuts, grains, dried fruits and granolas, as well as 14 varieties of bulk dried beans packaged in 1-pound bags.
Periodically, the shop offers wine tasting and food samples — there are organic wines, too — and guest speakers.
Customers can save money by purchasing community-supported agriculture, or CSAs. Purchases are made at the beginning of a six-week period and customers pick up locally-grown produce or meat once a week at a cost savings.
Brothers Farm in Institute and Nooherooka Natural in Shine are participating growers. Their products are also available to purchase individually, as well as chicken from the Amish country.
The store also carries supplements; health and beauty products; and distilled, spring and reverse osmosis bottled water.
“I think more and more people are finding,” Johnson said, “they are what they eat.”
Living Well Down Under, 127 W. Gordon St., is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call 252-522-1100.
Margaret Fisher can be reached at 252-559-1082 or Margaret.Fisher@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @MargaretFishr.