PG March Store of the Month: Harvest Market, Champaign, Ill.

Niemann Foods’ new concept Harvest Market in Champaign, Ill., is rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy to connect consumers with the farmers and producers who make their food, by telling their stories and sharing knowledge about the production and growing process.

By making store-made and specially sourced products the stars of the show, Harvest Market’s unique highlights include the company’s first-ever restaurant, The Farmhouse, featuring farm fresh ingredients and seasonal recipes, a butter churning station, a diverse line of Midwestern heritage baked goods and in-house made deli meats, all exclusive to Harvest Market. By highlighting special handcrafted products made on-site, the store strikes a precise balance time-honored traditions and new food trends.

“We began with the idea that we wanted our customers to have a connection that is unique in the industry and allow them to understand who the producers and makers are, because that allows them to understand where their food came from, what’s in it and what’s not in it,” explains Rich Niemann, president and CEO.