Wheatsfield Co-Op Review

Wheatsfield is a well run, high quality, friendly, grocery store and Deli. I highly recommend the Buffet which has great tasting healthy selections.

Great food but terribly inflated prices comparitavly to other similar markets. Good selection overall.

Amazing store for local, organic, foodies. Expensive tho

Their selection is great you can become a member and get discounts but when you leave the area your membership fee acts like a deposit and they refund it to you.

Always knowledgeable people to answer your questions or help you find something

Amazing selection and super friendly employees! I can always find great vegan options there!

Shop here often. Great selection of organic and whole foods, good selection of canned goods, great cheeses, and lots more. Pickett Fence cream! Love this place.

Very nice , people were very helpful.Fair prices , will come back.

Friendly customer service and good selection of produce and other food.

The best place in town if you re looking for the healthiest and freshest food around. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the freshly made meals are always delicious!

Long time ago this was called MAFA, the first food co-op in Ames. Today it is a large store with a great selection of organic foods.

Fantastic place to get groceries or a quick coffee, meal, or smoothie; there are attractive, comfortable tables to eat, study, meet a friend for coffee, etc. Wheatsfield recently expanded and did a fantastic job keeping the appearance fresh, friendly, and updated, while adding more customer services like a meat counter, smoothie bar, wider cheese selection, etc. The store is accessible, has plenty of bike and vehicle parking, and the recently expanded parking area includes a rain garden with native plants. Overall, Wheatsfield offers fair prices on quality food and builds community.

COST:
Before I experienced Wheatsfield, I thought "health food stores" were expensive, but that is not the case overall. Yes, some rare, speciality items (not found at a generic grocery store) may seem costly, but that is reasonable when you consider the cost of producing and transporting those items. When I compare the exact same product (e.g. a bag of chips, package of bacon, a Lara bar, or pre-washed lettuce) across stores, Wheatsfield is often lower. As a cost conscious shopper I find it worthwhile to shop the sales, bulk section, and local produce; prices are competitive yet quality is higher overall than at other grocery stores. To stay informed about their frequent specials (and occasionally receive coupons), sign up for their e-newsletter.

PRODUCT OFFERINGS:
Food wise, Wheatsfield has a wide and appealing array of fresh, frozen, refrigerated, shelf stable, and deli items. (By the way, there are plenty of snacks, chocolate, ice cream, etc. so if you've never been to a coop before, it's not all lettuce and tofu!) The wine and beer selection expanded with the store and they almost always have a sale on one or both. The produce is fresh and diverse (e.g. I got my first Romanesco broccoli and kiwiberries from Wheatsfield). You can get fresh-ground peanut butter, coffee, maple syrup, teas, herbs, grains, beans, and even gummy bears all in bulk. You can also find a broad selection of bodycare and supplements such as fish oil. You can grab a quick greeting card or gift such as a Klean Kanteen bottle or beeswax candle. Seasonally the store will feature local seedlings, plants, and/or bouquets.

EVENT OFFERINGS:
In the summer, be sure to check out their Friday night "Tiny Deck" concerts! Year round, they offer classes on everything from fermenting kombucha to flower arranging to Italian cooking.

WHAT'S MEMBERSHIP?
FYI, anyone can shop, even if they are not a member; however, it's easy and reasonable to join, and members (who are co-owners of a local business) get special benefits such as extra discounts, a yearly member meeting dinner, and dividends based on patronage. As a member you are essentially loaning the coop capital to run and improve the business you co-own. Membership is also refundable if you move or decide it's not for you, so there is no risk in trying it out.

ARE YOU BIASED?:
Well, sure--I want Wheatsfield to succeed, and I want everyone I know to know how awesome it is It's a pillar of the downtown community and provides so much local flavor to Ames (literally and metaphorically). I could go there every day and find something new and delicious.

WHY ELSE SHOULD I SHOP AT WHEATSFIELD?
Wheatsfield genuinely cares about its community. For example, for the safety of its customers and employees, Wheatsfield replaced the common BPA-containing receipts with more costly but safer BPA-free paper long before I heard of any other store doing that.

In today's competitive economy I feel it is important to vote with my dollar, and I like that shopping at Wheatsfield supports not only this local business, but the many local businesses Wheatsfield supports. You'll also find a welcoming and inclusive community, and start to recognize staff and regular patrons. I always feel uplifted after a trip to Wheatsfield!

Tip: Bring a reusable shopping bag (or three...) for your haul--otherwise, you can get a bag at the register for a small amount or use one of the cardboard boxes along the wall behind the registers.

Management is very friendly and knowledgeable of there products.

Very positive visit, helpful employee knew exactly different kinds of bees wax the store had and took me right to the one I wanted.

Peace Loving, Birkenstock wearing, patchouli smellin, granola munchin,Hippie Food! Vegan and Vegetarian options are a lot of what they offer. Amazing salad bar, bakery and deli, spectacular organic produce, non-vegan meat counter and other eclectic items.

Love this place for something unique. Organic and rare things for Iowa. If you're looking for something that you typically don't find in the main stream grocery, you can usually find it here, but you will have to pay the price, which typically a little high. Give it a try!

The best things about this store are hot bar with several soup types and the eating area, where we get together weakly for conversations. Sometimes they organize events with live music. Also there are various classes offered. It's a community place.

Very nice coop, with nice selection of grocery items and craft beers

I love Wheatsfield! For being a smaller store they have plenty of options! If you're mindful of what you consume this is a must stop! You can buy a membership, or simply shop!

We went to a thing for the refugee church st wheatsfield

Pretty expensive, but offers a variety of vegan options that some other stores don't carry.

Excellent selection of specialty, local and vegan food you can't find very easily elsewhere. Also natural cosmetics and cleaners. Great produce, fresh bread, vegan baked goods and local brews. Prices reasonable. So glad to have a store like this in Ames!

Wonderful alternative to big chain shopping. A whole range of healthy foods including frozen meets and fresh breads. A delis section is perfect for a quick lunch of savory food. Try it.

Good selection of probiotic beverages & dairy products.

Great place to shop, food is always fresh, and the staff is amazing!

Friendly staff. Products were difficult for me to find. More selection elsewhere.

Wonderful selection of organic and local produce. Fine deli

Organic real food. Organic energy drinks. Organic Beer! Fresh food daily! Sushi prepared by a master!
Many great lunch choices. Prices are really high. 6 bucks for a tuna sandwich is too much. 10 bucks for a whole chicken is ridiculous, but muh organics! Staff is always cool, its all worth it I suppose because its real food, not infused with garbage. Excellent real food in every isle. Worth the extra buck or two. Fresh salads and great vegetarian food. Real milk. Great coffee and pastry/morning snacks, made fresh. Sit down or carry out. Open til 9pm everyday. Check it out!

Absolutely love the selection of organic food and health products. The atmosphere at Wheatsfield makes me feel at home. Everyone who works there is so kind and helpful. Plus, their new smoothie/juice/coffee bar is AMAZING! Highly recommend.

Normally I would give them a much better review however, if you ever order gift bags and leave it up to them to fill it with whatever they want...you can count on the people receiving items that don't sell very well as well as a couple popular items. The fruit is not edible...very bruised and damaged. Other items are things that don't seem to sell and it is a way to get rid of it. If you do a gift bag, you should know what you are sending to people...don't leave it up to them to throw in the garbage fruit and unwanted items.

Clean store for niche items or all your needs. Great bakery and deli.

Absolutely my favorite place to pick up anything organic be it from food, detergents, body products, just about anything you can imagine that has a guaranteed organic label. Very clean since their food is so wonderful!

Friendly atmosphere with the best products in town!

I like to go in, explain what I need and be able to have a kind, knowledgeable employee help me. Their buffet area/food service also looks great and very clean although I've never eaten there.

Nice to have a place like this in town. But some times i find it too pricey.

Great selection and service. Only been there a couple times but those left a good impression on me. Hope to get out here more often.

I'm always happy to find myself in Ames and able to stop by this local gem. The co-op offers grocery items and fresh produce with locally-grown and raised veggies, meat, eggs, and dairy to name a few. The deli also offers hot and cold meals ready to go. The beer and wine selection isn't massive, but very complete.

Good local grocery store with gf, vegetarian, organic, and vegan foods. A bit overpriced for groceries. Yummy take out options.

It's clean and organized. Prepared food is very appetizing.

Great selection of groceries, most of it locally sourced and organic.

A little gem in Ames, great food and great prices. Currently under remodeling and I'm sure it will be even better when it's done. Take advantage of the local produce and healthy treats.

It can be a little pricey, but I love how accessible buying from locals is here.

A well-known and well-loved co-op featuring locally produced and organic foods. Super tasty offerings at their deli as well.

Great organic stuff and produce and good sevice, but the food is mehhh

Lots of cheese and tomatoes here folks. Good place to go if you're looking to stick it to the man (walmart)

Where all my favorite tastes come from. A safe place for vegans to find real good food. Not dooschy like other co-ops.

Love the variety of healthy food. Lots of vegetarian and vegan options. Can be pricey though.

The Wheatsfield Coop is a great reason to visit (or move to) Ames.

Ames is a fun college town. The young people in this town are nice, energetic and fairly respectful. This store has a nice little selection. A little bit of everything.

shop with a large variety of choices. A bit pricy. They have a nice wine and cheese events on Fridays.

Shopping was quick and easy. Found what I was looking for and the checkout was fast. It was a pleasure shopping there for the Holiday meals.

This is a great little whole foods store. I plan to stop in as frequently as possible. I am highly considering a membership here.

Wheatfield is an Ames staple. A little spendy, but if you want high quality groceries from local farms and ranches, it can't be beat. Additionally the bakery, deli, hot bar, etc makes for a good lunch or dinner venue.

Very nice selection of gluten and dairy free foods, along with great selection of organic, positive atmosphere, friendly staff

I love the co-op! Wish we had one just like it in the Des Moines area. Amazing selections, great deals for members, affordable membership pricing, and lots of cooking classes. I love the selection of vegan friendly food.

Very wheelchair accessible! The bathrooms even have automatic door buttons. The van accessible parking is in a great spot! #a11y

Fantastic organic foods and excellent service. Also they have great deals on beer!

Quite possibly the most awesome store in Ames. If they dont carry it, they can probably get it. Newly remodeled, extra friendly staff, places to lock up bikes, hot food bar, indoor/ outdoor seating, meat and seafood counters, etc.

Very nice after the addition and remodel. Well planned layout. Friendly employees and other member owners.

Best grocery in the area! The freshest food I have seen by far and all locally sourced, organic and fair trade! A must

Best place to shop it has all your good organic veggie vegan healthy food

Love the wholesome food, the free smells and the wonderful people working and shopping there. Also love the informative classes and answers to my questions when I shop!

Its very clean,cooperative staff, organic vegetables and most important coffee is very good.

Clean and organized, they were making fresh bread!!

Non-gmo paradise in the middle of GMO-Merica! Thank you Wheatsfield for selling healthy food to the people!

I wonder if the bugs in the food was included in the price? I am sorry but if your stuff is supposed to be local then you can t tell me with all this snow that someone is producing avocados.

Love the hot bar, good food made from scratch. Good atmosphere. They are always bringing in new items. Nice staff.

A friendly staffed store full of very high quality foods and products. With samples abound try not to fill up before hitting their deli or salad bar (amazing vegetarian and vegan sandwiches) where you can sample just about anything. The bulk section was great, I was hoping there would be more non-food stuffs there like soaps and the like but it didn't detract from the selection and quality. Everyone here from employees to the shoppers had a genuine and pleasant disposition that made the experience that much better. Support your local community and definitely go. This is an awesome place. Plus they had free stickers and WiFi when I went!

Edit (10/01/17) There is a section of bulk soaps (like Dr. Bronner's) located at the end of one of the aisles near the vitamins, I hadn't noticed it before.