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Independently owned, organic grocery store. Our Annex serves prepared foods and offers a selection of wine and beer. Our florists are here to help you with fresh local cuts and dried bouquets.

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10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-1155
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10387 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
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Home / Archives for Know Your Farmer

Philippine Chocolate Talk & Tasting – Tuesday, November 18, 2025

November 4, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

Calling all chocolate connoisseurs!

Come learn about Philippine Chocolate at 7pm on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, with The Natural Grocery Company Founder, Bob Gerner.

We will be featuring Auro Chocolate, which is an internationally awarded tree-to-bar chocolate brand that promotes sustainability by working directly with local Filipino farmers.

The name originates from the combination of “Au” which is the chemical symbol of Gold in the periodic table, and “Oro” which is the Filipino and Spanish word for gold.

Auro represents the pursuit to refine Philippine cacao and elevate the lives of local Filipino farmers who are as precious as gold.

One of the most exciting things about single origin chocolate is discovering the unique flavor profile that each bar would be able to offer. A 70% chocolate bar from two different origins could taste entirely different and at times, bars from the same origin can also vary in flavor notes because of the different protocols followed.

Join us to learn about sourcing, processing and quality!

This is a free community event at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530, (510) 526-5150.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Chocolate, Events, Know Your Farmer, Organic farming, Organic foods, Special Events, Sustainability

Hoes Down Harvest Festival at Full Belly Farm – October 4, 2025

September 17, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

Over 30 years ago, the Full Belly Farm “Hoes Down Harvest Festival” was started to bring people out to the country and deepen their connection with food and land.

Today, Hoes Down is a festival fundraiser focused on educating people first-hand about the positive impacts of farming. At Hoes Down, guests experience activities like pruning trees, milking a cow, making compost and seasonal cooking. They eat local organic food and dance to the tunes of bluegrass and contra dance with one another. Attendees camp under the stars in their walnut orchard and wake up to a farm fresh breakfast.

Full Belly Farm invites you to join them in celebrating farming and rural living with your two feet in the soil!

Saturday, October 4, 2025

https://www.eco-farm.org/hoes-down

Filed Under: Berkeley Store, Blog, Eating Well, El Cerrito Store, Farm Visits, Know Your Farmer, Local Producers, Organic farming, Produce Notes, Special Events, Stores_both, Sustainability

Know Your Farmer: Full Belly Farm

September 16, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

Did you know that organic farming practices can support healtheir soil, ecosystems, and communities?

 

This organic month, shop healthy produce grown right here in your community at The Natural Grocery Company stores!

 

We’re proud to partner with Full Belly Farm to bring you a wide variety of locally grown veg and other products like their jams, tea cakes and fresh flower bouquets. Each carrot, onion, or radish was grown sustainably on their organic farm! 🚜

 

“Full Belly Farm is a certified organic farm located in the beautiful Capay Valley of northern California. We are committed to fostering sustainability on all levels, from fertility in our soil and care for the environment, to stable employment for our farm workers. We strive to be good stewards of this farm, so that this generation and future generations may continue to be nourished by the healthy and vibrant food that we produce. Our farm has been certified organic since 1985, and we strive to continue to support local food systems and create a strong local food economy.”

https://fullbellyfarm.com/

 

Want to visit and learn more about Full Belly Farm? Attend their Annual Hoes Down Festival on October 4. Information and tickets available at

https://www.eco-farm.org/hoes-down

Filed Under: Berkeley Store, Blog, Eating Well, El Cerrito Store, Farm Visits, Know Your Farmer, Organic farming, Organic foods, Produce Notes, Special Events, Stores_both, Sustainability

Mini Wine Tasting at The Annex: Guelbenzu – Thursday, September 11, 2025

August 29, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

Please join us at The Annex, 10387 San Pablo Avenue, El Cerrito, to taste and learn about Guelbenzu Wines from Spain with Felix Jimenez on Thursday, September 11, 2025, 5pm-6pm. There is a $5 tasting fee and you must be 21+ to participate.

 

Guelbenzu is a historic winery founded in Navarra in 1851.  Guelbenzu won its first international competitions in 1880 and is currently in consideration for the highest quality distinction in Spain – Vino de Pago status.  Their location is unique with many climatic influences – the Mediterranean, the Moncayo mountain and the prevailing “Cierzo” wind. Guelbenzu wines gracefully blend native varieties Tempranillo and Graciano with international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Events, Know Your Farmer, Special Events, Wine Spotlight

Chocolate Trail Mix Bars Recipe

February 10, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

These delicious chocolate trail mix bars are perfect whenever you’re on the go!

Plus, they’re made of pantry staples you probably already have on hand – including oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. And if you don’t have them on hand you know you can get them at our stores!

 

Chocolate Trail Mix Bars

Makes 8

Total time: 35 Minutes

Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

 

Ingredients

 

1 cup gluten-free rolled oats

½ cup trail mix

½ cup mixed roasted nuts, roughly chopped

⅓ cup chocolate chips

½ cup roasted sunflower seeds

¼ cup sesame seeds

¼ cup currants

½ cup honey or brown rice syrup

⅓ cup creamy peanut butter

2 ounces chocolate, chopped

¼ teaspoon avocado oil

 

Directions

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine oats, trail mix, nuts, chocolate chips, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and currants.
  2. Heat peanut butter and honey in a small saucepan and stir until bubbling. Pour over oat mixture and stir until well blended and everything is coated.
  3. Line a 9”x9” baking pan with parchment paper. Add mixture to the pan and with wet hands, press mixture flat.
  4. Bake for 15 minutes. Allow bars to cool before removing from the pan.
  5. Cut into eight bars and place on a cooling rack.
  6. Fill a medium-sized pot with two inches of water and place a heatproof metal or glass mixing bowl on top. You want it to fit snugly without touching the water. Bring the water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Add the chocolate and avocado oil to the bowl and stir until melted and combined. Drizzle the chocolate over the cooled bars.

Filed Under: Blog, Chocolate, Eating Well, Farm Visits, Know Your Farmer, Non-GMO, Organic foods, Pasture Raised, Recipe Ideas, Stores_both

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2025 by The Natural Grocery Company

Filed Under: Annex, Berkeley Store, El Cerrito Store, Farm Visits, Know Your Farmer, Non-GMO, Pasture Raised, Special Events, Stores_both

Holiday Hours

December 6, 2024 by The Natural Grocery Company

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Business Practices, Farm Visits, Holiday Tips, Know Your Farmer, Non-GMO, Pasture Raised, Stores_both

Chocolate Tasting: Auro Chocolate – 7pm, Tuesday, October 15, 2024

October 8, 2024 by The Natural Grocery Company

Calling all chocolate connoisseurs!

Join us for a lecture and chocolate tasting of Auro Chocolate on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 with a presentation at 7:00pm at the Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex, 10387 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 526-5150. There is not a charge for this event.

 

Auro Chocolate is an internationally awarded tree-to-bar chocolate brand that promotes sustainability by working directly with local farmers to create fine Filipino cacao beans, ingredients and retail products with unique and bold tropical flavors.

The lecture will include a tasting of samples.

Learn about sourcing, processing and quality!

 

About Us – Auro Chocolate

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Chocolate, Events, Know Your Farmer, Organic foods, Special Events, Sustainability

Chocolate Tasting: Auro Chocolate – 7pm, Tuesday, August 13, 2024

July 29, 2024 by The Natural Grocery Company

Calling all chocolate connoisseurs!

Join us for a lecture and chocolate tasting of Auro Chocolate on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 with a presentation at 7:00pm at the Natural Grocery Company Prepared Food Annex, 10387 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530 (510) 526-5150. There is not a charge for this event.

 

Auro Chocolate is an internationally awarded tree-to-bar chocolate brand that promotes sustainability by working directly with local farmers to create fine Filipino cacao beans, ingredients and retail products with unique and bold tropical flavors.

The lecture will include a tasting of samples.

Learn about sourcing, processing and quality!

 

About Us – Auro Chocolate

Filed Under: Annex, Blog, Chocolate, Events, Know Your Farmer, Organic foods, Special Events, Sustainability

Far West Cider – Get to Know Your Farmer

July 1, 2024 by The Natural Grocery Company

The family founded Far West Cider in 2016, making and blending their product in a former Naval ammunition warehouse in Richland on the east side of San Francisco Bay. (TJ Mullinax/Good Fruit Grower)

Every cider that Far West Cider creates is a product of their fourth-generation family farm in San Joaquin County, California. All of their apples and sometimes other fruit (hello cherries, pluots, & citrus) are harvested, and pressed into juice on their 100 year old ranch. That juice is then cared for throughout fermentation, cellaring, and bottling at their cidery on the waterfront in the city of Richmond CA. Their ciders are available for purchase in The Annex and at The Berkeley Natural Grocery Store

“One California fruit farm is doing everything it can to keep it in the family.

To make room for all three siblings of the fourth generation, Chinchiolo Family Farms has diversified business outlets with a cidery, U-pick orchard and stalls at some of the state’s best-known farm markets to capitalize on the San Francisco Bay Area’s locally sourced ethos.”

Check out this article from Good Fruit Grower Magazine to learn more.

Filed Under: Annex, Berkeley Store, Blog, Cider, Know Your Farmer

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EL CERRITO STORE
10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-1155
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10367 San Pablo Ave.
(510) 526-5150
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