Strathmore opens doors to better living

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

Shortly after reaching their 40s, Leigh and Nicole Cordes noticed a change in their lifestyle and weight, and activities that once seemed effortless quickly became a struggle. In an effort to regain their active way of life, the couple soon placed their diet under the microscope. With a background in agriculture, a nutritionist education, and partnerships with local and Alberta-based producers, the Cordes decided to answer the demand from Strathmore residents to open a market and deli dedicated to providing the community with health-conscious, nutrient-rich foods.
“That was kind of the evolution for us, or the transition, as we started to get into our 40s, my weight was going up every year and I couldn’t ski, I couldn’t bike, I couldn’t do those things that I really wanted to do at the age I was at,” said Leigh Cordes, co-owner of Back to Good Market and Deli.
“I found that my physical health was starting to deteriorate. So we started to look at our diet. I tried to do my own grocery shopping and found there was so much in the store that I wasn’t even using. That was part of where we started to come from.”
Back to Good Market and Deli opened its doors on Nov. 2, stocking items for which Strathmore residents were previously required to shop in Calgary. The business and its staff, which also includes another nutritionist and a local cook, cater to specific individuals and their health concerns, including gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options, no MSG, and alter their recipes to substitute coconut sugar, natural honey, or maple syrup to replace refined sugars.
In partnership with numerous Alberta farmers and producers, such as Poplar Bluff and Organic Matters, the owners are not only supporting local businesses, but are reflecting on their own former farming experiences.
“What got me interested in this, was when we used to farm, I always wanted to have more value added products, because … a loaf of bread, you take a little bit of wheat and you figure that back to what the farmer actually gets for that wheat, and it’s such a huge mark-up,” Leigh said. “One of the other important factors too, is to have an outlet for local producers to sell their product. For them to get into the big grocery stores is sometimes something the stores won’t even look at because it’s too small. It’s a good way to create an economy in our own community. It’s quite neat how many little things you can find once you start looking.”
While Back to Good Market and Deli is not intended to grow into a grocery store, the move of the Calgary Co-op to the highway inspired the Cordes family, whose two teenage children also help out in the store, to set up shop downtown and fill some of that void.
“They don’t have to run to the city, and for me, I’m a believer in eating healthy and I just think it’s important to eat healthy yourself and teach your kids to eat healthy,” said Nicole Cordes, co-owner and a certified nutritionist, who visits the local operations on how their food is produced.
“We knew that the Co-op was moving, and we knew that a lot of people were upset that there wasn’t going to be any sort of a market down here. Nowhere to go for a cup of coffee, or a bowl of soup. So for us it would be nice to provide that for people down here.”
Although the business is still in its infancy, the Cordes are already envisioning a sitting area in the summer with baskets showcasing various fresh produce for sale, are planning on offering more grab-and-go items, and in the future plan on expanding their greenhouse to grow herbicide-free and pesticide-free produce. For information on the menu, it is posted daily on the Back to Good – Whole Foods Market and Deli Facebook page.