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Local elected officials and community organizers helped Hart’s president Glenn Kellogg (third from right) with the ribbon cutting.
While Hart’s received some financial assistance from the city of Rochester, Sparks said, “The bigger thing was just they’ve been so helpful — the city, the county, even the state has stepped in to help us through the process, get us through all the permitting and all the things that were required to get the building up and running, for sure.”
The retailer plans to stock local produce year-round, but options will obviously vary greatly by season.
“And opening on August 15 we’re about peak season right now on corn and a lot of things. So we’ll do a ton of local product this time of year and then as we tail off through the holiday season obviously that’ll slow down and then we’ll have to supplement here,” said Sparks.
Rochester residents have already shown their enthusiasm for Hart’s. The retailer signed up 1,500 people for its loyalty card before the store even opened.
See related article: Hart’s brings local food to downtown Rochester, N.Y.
