Related Pages: San Francisco, Food and Grocery, nuts
Rainbow Grocery
www.rainbowgrocery.org
Description: An independent grocery Cooperative, provides natural, organic, vegetarian food and environmentally and health conscious products.
Category:
Food and Grocery
Keywords:
nuts, grains, supplement, nutritional oils, herbal tinctures, athletic formulas, digestive enzymes
Address:
1745 Folsom St. map
San Francisco, CA
94103
Reviews of Rainbow Grocery
My favorite grocery store, regardless of reputation
I know what you're thinking - Rainbow Grocery? That overpriced joint? Full of sullen, unhelpful, pierced, tattooed employees? For the record, I've never worked there. Most of my customer service experiences have been ok -- but lately, I think some prices are getting out of hand (yes, they raised the price of Pacific Almond Milk to the same level as Whole Foods -- go to Trader Joe's).
They do have the best bulk food selection around -- and many organic products that are not found in Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. They have a gorgeous cheese selection for those who still eat cheese, and the best selection of raw sauerkraut ever (seriously!).
Rainbow Grocery will always be my favorite grocery store -- whenever I'm in San Francisco, with my car, I make sure to plan a shopping trip there for bulk spices, herbs, tea, pasta, dried fruit, olives, olive oil, wine and vitamins. And soap. And chocolate. Stop me before I start making a grocery list...
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Rainbow Grocery
This is my favorite place to shop: Lots of sustainable choices. The lowest prices in town for sustainable foods. Socially responsible and engaged with the community. Ecologically committed. A worker cooperative. My only complaint is that there is only one Rainbow Grocery.
Scott E.'s keywords: groceryDid you think this review was helpful?
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What else is there to say.
I shop at Rainbow, because it reflects my values. Unlike Safeway which only cares about making a profit for its shareholders: Rainbow workers are the shareholders, so they know that they are working in a community to help a community.
They have a huge bulk section, and have pleny of organic veggies. I am also a vegetarian, so it's easy for me to shop and not accidentally buy something that has meat.
I also like that everybody, both worker and customers share the same values. You would be hard pressed to find a pro war Republican here.
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Makes we want to move back to San Francisco
Every time I go into Rainbow Grocery, I wish I lived in San Francisco again. It is a wonder of fresh, organic produce, natural foods and body care products, and sustainable household products. But the best thing about Rainbow are the bulk bins. They carry over 800 bulk items: herbs, teas, spices, coffee, over a dozen types of rice, over 30 types of flour, all kinds of beans, whole grains, dried pastas & noodles, oils, cereals, dried fruit, a full olive bar, nut butters, miso, tofu, crackers and chocolate and trailmix, oh my! And on the other side of the store: bulk soaps, shampoos, massage oils, even washing soda. If you can't find something in bulk at Rainbow, it probably doesn't exist.
Recently, I discovered the wonders of Rainbow's bulk handmade pastas. That's right! Bring your own containers and fill them up with different kinds of fresh ravioli or gnocchi. No need for packaged frozen entrees when you can load up on these and freeze them for later. Rainbow rocks!
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Rainbow Grocery
This is my new neighborhood grocery store, and boy did I luck out.
I was scared at first because I had been warned off by those who think it is too pricey (I get the feeling they weren't exactly interested in the organic-ness of the products, which are cheap when compared to Whole Foods) but I decided that I couldn't pass up a grocery that's in walking distance of the new pad.
I am another gusher when it comes to my love for Rainbow, and if I wasn't a bit lazy I would probably go there every day.
I could be very happy living in their bulk foods section, sleeping in bins of organic rice and bathing in fresh-ground peanut butter....
Okay, enough of my fantasies, but really, I am impressed!
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Rainbow rules but not all of the time
I get burned out on Rainbow if it's the only place I shop, so I mix it up a lot -- Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Bi-Rite, other local shops. And I love Rainbow all the more for it, because every time I come back to her, I appreciate her for all of the things that she does best -- bulk wonders, fruit and vegetables (excepting my CSA and the farmers market), more esoteric options, cheese, coffee, vitamins. And there's certainly an art to shopping right at Rainbow that I'm only still working at perfecting. Sometimes the whole experience can be a bit extreme for my tastes, and that's why I parse it out. I'm also an avid meat-eater so I have to get my meat elsewhere, since Rainbow is vegetarian. However, I don't eat meat all the time, so Rainbow truly balances me out. Rainbow rules but not all the time.
Abendigo R.'s keywords: rainbow, vegetarian, grocery, natural, organic, san francisco, co-op, worker ownedDid you think this review was helpful?
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Rainbow Grocery is the main reason why I won't move from San Francisco!
It's true :) Rainbow Grocery is the main reason why I won't move from San Francisco!
To me, it's like the size of Costco, but everything is vegetarian and mostly organic.
The best part is the educational info they have, especially the chart that helps you choose eggs from a company that doesn't cut off the beaks of the hens.
Plus, no other grocery store I know of carries fresh, organic lemongrass.
I have lived in Santa Cruz, and thought about moving to Oakland or Berkeley but none of their grocery stores compares to Rainbow.
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is there really a better option? um, no.
these people have the formula down right. they even have a formula for parking in their garage. local produce and bulk items are usually what i go for, but they have an insane amount of alternative health products. they are extremely knowledgeable about each product, so when you need to know the difference between black cohosh and black walnut, they'll tell you.
Louda B.'s keywords: grocery, local, coop, bulk foodsDid you think this review was helpful?
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Rainbow Grocer
Great organic foods and products and is worker owned. Always has thoughtful events and is powered by solar on the roof.ainbowa
RJ H.'s keywords: grocerDid you think this review was helpful?
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Excellent worker-owned cooperative specializing in organic and local food. I go here to get items that I cannot get anywhere else. And the workers at Rainbow are eclectic, interesting, and show they care about natural food.
Gabriel A.'s keywords: Co-operative, GroceryDid you think this review was helpful?
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practice what they preach
No business can be 'perfect,' but rainbow grocery comes pretty damn close. from selling reusable bulk bags throughout their extensive bulk department, to keeping the produce department almost 100% organic and local, to keeping up to date talkers about pertinent issues (hydrogenated oils, child labour, etc) to not automatically bagging ones own groceries, etc. it's a comfortable place for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike to come and relearn the joy of grocery shopping.
Shelly P.'s keywords: rainbowDid you think this review was helpful?
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The best health food store probably in the country, if not the world. Smart, intelligent, helpful and knowledgeable store salespeople. If you have a question about vitamins, if they don't know, they will assist you in getting the answer. Best prices.
Victoria S.'s keywords: organic, health foodsDid you think this review was helpful?
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Rainbow Rocks!!
Ever since I moved to the city I've been shopping at Rainbow Groceries on, I think Folsom St. It's a friendly place that has healthy organic products. They even tell you where the produce has traveled from so you can opt out of buying fruit that has traveled cross-country. I love Rainbow.
Jared R.'s keywords: FoodDid you think this review was helpful?
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Great Green Grocer
Along with all my San Francisco greenies, I believe that Rainbow Grocery is one of the best grocery stores when it comes to conservation, recycling, and living gently on the planet. I love that I can go to the store with empty bottles and bags and fill them with items from their bulk bins. The herbs and teas section is comprehensive with options for organic versions (pricier but possibly worth it). I love that I can recycle old/dead batteries there (some of the most toxic items in our landfills). I love the products available to make my kitchen greener. I also love the book section, filled with books that offer ideas and solutions on living more harmoniously with the planet.
Monisha M.'s keywords: food, books, buy bulk, recycling, herbs, teaDid you think this review was helpful?
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THis is a great place to shop
The products are pure and the service is great. I go there once a month to get my supplies
Xasvier W.'s keywords: groceryDid you think this review was helpful?
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I love this store and feel good about it's coop business.
Lydia T.'s keywords: groceryDid you think this review was helpful?
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My favorite gorcery store!
I love Rainbow Grocery. They have the best selection of organic and fair-trade products anywhere in the city. And, while it's not cheap, the prices are really reasonable.
Karin T.'s keywords: grocery, organic, fair tradeDid you think this review was helpful?
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somewhere inside the raibow
smiles shine brightly as i walk through the door. sincerely helpful attitudes and knowledgeable advice are always available at a rainbow grocery store. my questions are answered and my needs are more than met after each visit. the selection and variety of products and produce are outstanding. above all, the company itself is committed to ethical practices and positive customer experiences.
Amy G.'s keywords: rainbowDid you think this review was helpful?
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Community, Consciousness and Co-op Sucess
Located in San Francisco's Mission District, Rainbow Grocery is a worker-owned and run co-op for more than thirty years. And I've been shopping there for almost twenty. Rainbow is the kind of place that sells all the latest and greatest types of organic, vegetarian and otherwise healthy products, and does so with eclectic and amusing style. The staff is friendly and interesting--many are artists, activists and other creative types. They always do great Halloween installations and costumes. All of the departments are run by committees--there are no bosses. And Rainbow grocery has annual sales in the multi-millions and makes donations of food and money to many Bay Area non-profits. Equally important, Rainbow shoppers are kept informed about the latest developments in government intrusions in to organics, supplements or other food additives, and about local political movements. Literature and flyers from every political, spiritual and creative organization can be found at Rainbow, along with places to recycle your batteries, cell phones and old eyeglasses. Rainbow grocery is a tremendous asset for the city of San Francisco and is truly a community service, in every sense of the word.
Marcia W.'s keywords: co-ops, grocery, San Francisco, politicsDid you think this review was helpful?
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