Sunflower to Open Third Tucson, Ariz. Store

Sunflower Farmers Market continues its growth strategy with its third Tucson, Ariz. Location set to open January 21 -- its first new store in 2009 and 21st for the company.

"Our current Tucson locations have been extremely successful and well received by an abundance of health-conscious consumers," said Sunflower c.e.o. and founder Mike Gilliland, who will be greeting and thanking customers as well as lending a hand to bag groceries during the grand opening. "We are eager to be the source for those residents who want to save money by providing the freshest and healthiest foods for those who want to cook at home at the lowest possible prices. In today's hard economic times, Sunflower is the most cost-effective choice out there."

Sunflower operates its corporate offices and a distribution center in the Phoenix area.

The first 200 customers on opening day will receive a free reusable shopping bag filled with more than $50 of groceries. In addition, the store will give away 5,000 free reusable shopping bags during its first days of operation. Customers will receive a 10-cent discount for every reusable bag brought back to the store for future purchases.

Founded in 2002, Sunflower operates 20 stores in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. The company's format offers consumers a full-service farmers' market-style grocery store featuring natural and organic products.