Whole Foods Market is known for having a robust selection of organic food, but their commitment to the environment goes beyond produce; they also have a strong devotion to providing other locally produced food and the Walnut Street location of Whole Foods Market offers a variety of foods that come from New England.  

With the warmer months approaching, the Whole Foods Market’s Walnut Street store is getting ready to offer locally grown produce in greater quantities. Currently, you can find tomatoes and herbs from Maine, but over the course of the next few weeks you’ll find more locally grown fruits and vegetables.

However, when it comes to eating local, it’s more than just produce. Whole Foods also has other local items including local meats, cheeses, sauces, salsa, syrup, jams, spices, salad dressings, pickles, bread, pesto, pasta, ice cream, seafood and more.

Every Whole Foods Market in the North Atlantic region has a Forager and in Newton, Kathleen Connolly takes that role.

"Every Whole Foods Market in our region has a forager whose duties, in addition to their everyday responsibilities, are finding local companies whose goals and mission are similar to ours and helping them bring their product to sell at Whole Foods," Connolly says.  

One standout local item is Ooma Tesoro’s marinara sauce. From a small farm in Western Massachusetts, this marinara sauce is some of the most delicious jarred sauce you’ll ever taste. The marinara is free of preservatives, food coloring, artificial flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats. The ingredient list is refreshingly short with a list of things you can pronounce. Even my very picky toddler liked it!

Ooma Tesoro Founder and Chef Michael Tesoro is happy to be working with Whole Foods Market.

"Whole Foods Markets have been very welcoming of our Ooma Tesoro's marinara sauce that we make in small batches in the Berkshires of Massachusetts," Tesoro says. "We are now available in nearly every Whole Foods Market in their North Atlantic Region, so I can say from experience that Whole Foods Markets are committed to supporting local and healthy food."  

For the sweet-toothed locavore, some of Whole Foods Market’s most delicious desserts are from right here in Newton, including Giovanna’s Gelato and Sorbet. Their gelato is delicious (try the Dulce de Leche!) made in small batches with many local ingredients.

One other Newton-based food vendors are Bonnieville Cookies and to go with it, Lexington's Cocoa Metro, decadent chocolate milk that comes in glass jars. These items are available in many New England Whole Foods Market locations, as well as other smaller and specialty grocery stores such as Russo’s in Watertown.  

With the locavore movement thriving in New England, it’s wonderful not only to have access to local foods, but also to support businesses right here in Newton. Next time you’re at Whole Foods, grab a jar of Ooma Tesoro marinara and some fresh pasta for dinner and some fantastic Giovanna’s Gelato for dessert. A tasty Italian meal made by small companies right here in New England -- delicious!

Editor's note: Lexington's Cocoa Metro was incorrectly listed as Metro Milk in an earlier edition of this story.