Sprouts Farmers Market

I will say that I am sad to see this Sprouts location on the chopping block after the Henry’s/Sun Harvest/​Sprouts merger.
I like the location of this store. It is in the heart of a retail center with other establishments which are all convienent to each other. You can go shopping and run your errands in the same location– and parking is nearly infinite.
The prices at Sprouts have always been alright by me when it came to in-​ad specials. The rest of the store, not so much. However, you could find really nice deals on meat and produce. Sometimes things were hit or miss while other times it would be hard not to go crazy over cheap, well kempt produce.
Another aspect about this particular location that I enjoy is the openness of the facility. The aisles aren’t crammed into each other and you can easily find things you want.
I know several people (besides store employees) who will be saddened when this store officially closes on Dec. 18^th. I will be one of those most definitely.

Ah, another Henry’s clone! Actually, Sprouts, Sunharvest, and Henry’s have all merged, so they’re basically the same store. And that’s ok with me!
I love this particular location. The store is very spacious and bright, and I just feel good shopping here. Irish Soda Bread available all year? Why, thank you! Nitrate-​free cold cuts? Ok! A huge selection of organic juices and teas? Right on!
There is also a huge selection of frozen foods, and more varieties of gourmet frozen burritos than I’ve ever seen.
My only complaint is that the organic produce section is rather limited. But hey, not everyone can be Whole Foods, right?

I started going here in hopes of finding a organic/​natural store closer to home. Sprouts is an interesting mix of natural and not.
They claim to sell produce of mostly local farmers, when they can… Unfortunately, I have attended many a farmer’s market here and have yet to see half of those farmer’s produce or product for sale here. So, I usually end up finding regular produce, not organic and not particularly cheap either.
As for the ‘other’. They do sell a great selection of sprouted breads, maybe that’s because of their name sake? :) The meat selection is ok. I would expect more nitrate free… They do have one of the best protein powder selections around. That IS no hormones, pesticides etc… I LOVE that. The beauty supplies are pretty good as well. Good variety and selection. The frozen foods are almost non-​existent. So if you want pizza, you can find it, but might not have the variety you are looking for. And again for ice cream and other frozen treats. Ok selection, but not much variety that I think most people are looking for.
They do have a good selection of natural cleaning products. But they’ve quit carrying the «Cow» line. One of the best natural cleaning lines out there, which made me sad.
The service: It’s ok as well. Most people who work here are pretty great. Nice, helpful, friendly. But there is one lady, no idea what her issues are, but every time I check out in her line, she’s in the nastiest mood. (you can identify her by her drawn on brows). I warn to stay away. She really hates life.
So, while most of the store I don’t visit, I am totally in love with the few things I can get here and no where else.

The illusion of Organic shopping…
Most if not all of their meats have the «all natural», ‘Hormones free”, «vegetarian fed» label, which with a little bit of research you will come to realize it means absolutely nothing in terms of «health». Their organic fresh vegetables section is smaller than the one at my HEB and looks like the veggies have been sitting there for a week.
If you are going there under the assumption you are getting better/​healthier products… you have Zero guarantee of that.
It may be local, but it does not mean it healthy!

Sprouts, did you say? You mean, my second home? I love this store. It’s the only grocer I know where I can truly stockpile certain ingredients and prepare them for later use. Corn for .10? Eggplant for .88? My typical system is to buy quite a lot of the special vegetable and prepare it for the freezer. When corn was a dime, I bought 70 ears, shucked them and stripped them from the cob and stuck bags and bags of them in the freezer. When eggplant were .88, I bought 5 and breaded them for future eggplant Parmesan dishes. And when watermelon are a buck… oh. don’t get me stah-​ted!
I have admit that when I enter the parking lot and see the empty store front next to Sprouts, I get nervous, thinking that IS the sprouts. Then I come to and realize I still have 100 feet to go before I shop. Phew! It’s scary.

Ugh. Why can’t Austin catch a break when it comes to organic grocery stores?!
Totally kidding. We’re the freakin’ mecca of organic hippy dippy grocery stores. Wheatsville, Whole Foods, Central Market, Wildflower and now Sprouts.
First big win for Sprouts? They were grilling some mouth watering ribs out front. Win! Second big win for Sprouts? The barrel o’ gummy fangs. That’s right, you heard me. A barrel of gummy fangs.
But I wasn’t there for gummy fangs, oh no. I was there for ear candles. Which they have in several varieties. That said, don’t listen to the stocker dude when he tells you that you can ear candle sitting up. Also, keep the ear candles lit otherwise both the cops and the fire department will show up from the smoke the candles make.
So, ear candle 101. Don’t listen to stocker dude. Candle with your head down and practice fire safety, kids,

So, I have now really come to like Sprouts. The biggest reason you might ask???
Answer — the white yogurt covered pretzels.
Crazy — maybe… but I swear, they have the best yogurt covered pretzels in town… HANDS DOWN!
Last…I found this really great whole wheat sourdough bread from California that is to die for. They also typically have their organic milk on sale for a reasonable price which I get for the munchkin.
I’m a fan, and I certainly go now a few times a month just for these things!
I still do not touch the lunch meat after our first experience there!

This is the only place we buy groceries from now. Great prices and great products. They always have what is in season and pack things for non wastage especially for a family of two.
Always courteous people working in the whole store.

meh… Nothing outstanding.
The loss leaders are a fantastic deal and get you in the door for the 69 cent cucumbers and 99 cent strawberries… But if you want to shop here for the majority of your goods, beware, I have found Central Market to be competitive to them.
The wine selection is anemic and just o.k. if you are into the 2/​$ 10 or 3/​$ 10 specials… I prefer more obscure white varietals and sparklings… they do not fit the bill for me.
It is NOT like Trader Joe’s … contrary to what people may say, because Trader Joe’s is price competitive and so much more interesting. Unfortunately, they are not in Texas yet :(
The ambiance is very much like Sunflower Farmers Market married Sun Harvest and «sprouted» a baby… not feeling real original, but more like another store I have already been to without the competitive pricing.
If you have the time to do the super hot good deal sale items and then go to HEB or elsewhere for your mainstays… it is not bad.

I was a little crazy one day, craving something sweet and succulent. In my madness, I found myself in Sprouts, surrounded by brightly color fruits and vegetables.
Yes! Fruit! This was exactly what I need to satisfy my craving. As I bagged a few nectarines, a golden-​green object caught my eye. And there it was, topped with a green-​leafy crown, stood a sweet and succulent pineapple. I had to have it! I gently placed it in my basket and carefully brought it home. It wasn’t a large pineapple, but instead was smaller, cute almost, and most importantly, Mmm, it was delicious.
Although I only purchased a few things this trip, I noticed that the fruits and veggies looked very fresh and their prices pretty reasonable. I will be back to try out some of these other fresh foods.
I especially appreciated Sprouts because it wasn’t packed with people, knocking into you, and blocking the aisles. It offers a great selection of snacks, nuts, etc… to bag yourself… in a nice, open area. This petite girl thanks you Sprouts.
I’m crazy for your pineapples, Sprouts. :-D

I really wanted to like this place. There is one up in Plano, TX that is awesome. Everything there is super fresh, great selection, and tons of people shop there despite there being an Kroger/​Albertsons/​Walmart nearby.
So when they opened this one in Austin, I was thrilled. Only problem is there isn’t enough people shopping here for good turnover. My produce always seems not as fresh as HEB and starts going bad a day after I bring it home. I have learned not to buy anything that isn’t a weekly special in the ad because more than likely it has been sitting there for a few days.
I was willing to let this slide, as other places like Sun Harvest have the same issue.
But this past week, I have gotten so frustrated I doubt I will be shopping there again.
1. I bought a box of brownies to bring to work. Several of them had pieces of RUBBER inside of them.
2. Instead of getting a frozen meal for lunch, I wanted to try one of their ‘freshly’ prepared options in the deli fridge. I bought a pork chop with stuffing and vegetables. I wish I hadn’t been in a rush and looked it over first, because when lunch came around, I opened it up and fresh is definitely not a word I would use to describe it. The pork chop looked like it was scraped off the bottom of a buffet tray, 2 days ago. I was starving and tried to eat it anyways, but knew something was off, stopped, and got a PopTart out of the vending machine instead.
Then my coworker pointed out the lid I had sitting on the table. Lo and behold, someone had partially ripped off the sticker with the ingredients and sell by date and put another one on top of it. How much do you want to bet the original sell by date was different?

OK, here’s my thing: I love grocery shopping and dislike crowds. Some grocery stores are laid out very funny, and do not facilitate the flow of traffic through them (S. Congress HEB, WHY must the produce section contain so many angles? It does not make for easy shopping for hungover people!) So when I heard about Sprouts opening just off my route home, I decided to give it a shot. And boy am I glad I did.
First of all, very friendly service. The cashiers are, without failing, right in the sweet spot that exists for the service industry. I’m talking about the people who portray happiness but without the annoying Target Lady-​like (see: Kristen Wiig on SNL) persona going on. That’s a big draw for me.
Now, for the main reason you go to a grocery store: the food. Sprouts just misses the five-​star rating because of some odd pricing structures. It’s one of those stores that has some outstanding deals for the stuff that’s on sale, but some of the staples are insanely expensive. Example? Yeast. $ 2.95 for a 3-​pack of yeast that’s no different than the yeast I buy for $ 1.95 at other stores. Insanely expensive, you may ask? Yes, it’s great than a 50% price increase. That’s nuts, and I accept it. But the sale flyer is what you go for here.
Here’s my typical shopping trip to Sprouts:
1) Cheese. They always have some good deal on cheese. Whether it’s the giant block cheese or a special on brie, I’ll pick up something.
2) Meat department — Sometimes yes, sometimes no
3) Wine! Stock up on that stuff, they have some outstanding deals of perfectly serviceable table wine.
4) Fruit & Veggies — Again, the prices are hit & miss. I try to catch the sale stuff
5) Yogurt — Always a good sale on yogurt here. Not sure why, but darn if I care. Give me some of that tangy tasty stuff!
6) Bulk — Oats, fruit, nuts, beans… surely something there is on sale and well priced.
Then I bundle up my packages and heave ho over to see my favorite cashiers (Hey hey, Roxy! You’re awesome!). I get in and out for around $ 30, but even better is I get to retain my sanity and not snap in the middle of the store. There’s nothing worse than being hauled off to jail for beating people into submission with a baguette… and this has never happened at Sprouts.
I’m rating this price range based on the sale offerings and my typical shopping habits. There are still some staples I will usually make a monthly trip to HEB or Fiesta for, but this place wins the nod for ‘pick up a few things on the way home from work and throw them together’.

We like Sprouts and visit there about once or twice a week to get veggies and groceries. In some cases they are cheaper than places like HEB, Whole Foods, and Central Market.
I like their selection of bulk foods, and the veggie and fruit selection varies but you can always find something you like. Their dried goods are pretty wide ranging and they have a lot of brands the other stores don’t They also have a huge selection of vitamins and protein shakes if thats the kind of thing you are looking for.
The staff is very friendly and always helpful if you can’t locate something. Overall I also like it because its not as crowded as the other stores and that makes it easy to get what you need and get out.
So if you haven’t been to Spouts check it out, they even gave me a free shopping bag when I told them it was our 1^st time.

First, lets talk about truth in advertising.
This is not a Farmers Market, or anything vaguely close to a farmers market. I think its rather deceptive, but if you are able to fool yourself that you’re getting local produce or meat here, well… you’ve got bigger problems. (Speaking of fools… why is Sarah Palin doing their commercials? These have to be the worst commericals in the universe «the big red store, you betcha its crowded, ay?» Argh. Like nails on an effing chalkboard.)
In spite of everything that turned me off to Sprouts, I was in the area shopping at petco and needed to get a grocery item or two, so I stopped by. First impression: Like Trader Joes. On closer inspection: Not so much. poorer selection, higher prices. Did get a good deal on wallaby’s organic yogurt. But their organic produce? A miserable selection relegated to a very tiny corner of the store. And still– I repeat: a farmers market with no. local. produce. Not one item. The bulk selection did seem extensive as did the beer and wine, which is good because there is a pretty slim bulk selection at any of the southward food stores other than CM.
Beyond the advertising falsities and foibles I’ve already mentioned, the whole sense that they are catering to a demographic mindless to the notion that they are being played to faux-​populism just drove me bonkers. «Honest john» sweet potatoes. Fake chalkboard signs. For effs sake! If I’m gonna shop in this vicinity and miss the *real* farmers market, I may as well just hop on over to the HEB at Circle C and rub elbows with some real soccer mom palin fans. At least I can look at myself in the morning.
It occurs to me I am again writing a review under the undue influence of PMS, so maybe I’ll give Sprouts another shot in the future when I need to pick up some stuff at Petco.

I always try to avoid Sunset Valley as the traffic is a nightmare, but now that I found out I’m gluten intolerant (and chicken, turkey, blueberry, tuna, salmon, milk, grape, tomato intolerant– yes life sure can deal a hard blow), I was told to go to Sprouts as they have a nice selection of gluten free products. While it is no Whole Foods, it has a pleasant, small town feel to the store and a very helpful list of Gluten Free items carried in the store. My pantry is now fully stocked with surprisingly tasty and AFFORDABLE gluten free products. I also loaded up on some fresh bison and filet mignon that were ¹⁄₃ less than at CM or WF. Tomato free Bison chili for me!
I’m really looking forward to the opening of the Rollingwood location October 16 in my area. Above all the easy to use Gluten Free selections will keep me a loyal customer for years to come.

Time of shop: @2:30 on Sunday. No probem parking and not too crowded.
Hmmmmm…I have mixed feelings about this place. While it’s no Central Market or Whole Foods, they do have a large selection of not-​your-​typical-​store pantry items that probably made the trip worth it in and of itself. I’ve got two kids, so having an array of snacky, healthy, low sugar, some gluten free items without breaking the bank is always a challenge and Sprouts has got this covered.
There were also some great sales going on which allowed me to stock up on some basic items at great savings.
Not overwhelmed with the produce, but a little better than ok. The quality was not quite as good as I was expecting on some items (all of the asparagus looked a little past its prime as did some of the grapes) but again, decent selection and some great prices.
Meat counter was disappointing, plain and simple. Very small selection and half of that was taken up with sausage or ready to cook items, such as shis-​ka-​bobs and stuffed meats.
We took a chance and bought some cheap wine. So far, so good. Picked up tubs of blue cheese and shredded parmesan for an amazing price.
Layout kind of weird. Lots of zigging and zagging, back and forth. But I can be kind of manic in my shopping method so this isn’t particularly a bad thing. I like that I can «see» the whole store as there is nothing higher than shoulder level.
There is a HUGE selection of bulk candy. (Wish they’d focus on more bulk food items.) Friendly staff, didn’t blink an eye when I insisted on having refrigerated items grouped together (much to the chagrin of my hubby).
All in all, I’ll go back. But I’ll be hoping for more.

There were several things I found enticing. The frozen fish was a really good deal; however, I haven’t eaten it yet so I can’t speak to the quality. I was also excited to find frozen pizza dough.
The hopes of local, organic fruits and vegetables were what took me to Sprouts in the first place, but my friend and I were extremely disappointed. Much of the fruit seemed old and the signs said simply «U.S.A.» The organic section was very small and lacked variety. Because of these, my choices were limited. However, the gala apples and organic carrots I purchased were delicious. The oranges were tasty too, nice and sweet. However, the grapes and raspberries expired more rapidly than I would expect. Which makes me wonder how fresh from the farm these things really were.
They had great deals on bulk items which are hard to resist. The chocolate-​covered cherries were great. I highly recommend them.
They made an excellent choice with the location. When in Sunset Valley, you are in a large maze of strip mall shops, most chains. I can definitely see people spending the day shopping with their families and then realizing they still needed to go pick up dinner or somethings at the grocery store. Therefore, the location is convenient.
I had been excited about shopping here due to the comments about its similarities to Trader Joe’s. I had shopped at TJ’s for years; I still visit it once or twice a year, and, Sir, Sprouts is no TJ’s. Seriously folks, stop getting people’s hopes up with the T.J. comparisons; the disappointment hurts too much.

Updating the score from 2 to 3 stars. I wanted to upgrade it to 4 stars based upon the quality of the food we got, but after considering how bad the traffic flow is in the store I couldn’t.
All-​natural chicken breast was great, and much less expensive than HEB. (it was on sale) The prime sirloin is sitting in my belly right now, and my mouth is making «mmm, mmm» sounds. (It’s not the natural beef since it looked like it was butchered with an axe) The chicken parmesan sausage was really good, too. I’m a sausage fan, but try to stay away from it because it is full of fat, but this sausage was lean and tasty.
If you can suffer bad parking, bad traffic flows in the store, and settle for veggies that are about what you can get at your local HEB give Sprouts a try. We shopped from the sale flyer and didn’t suffer the sticker-​shock you get at Central Market or Whole Foods.

Insert Hallelujah Chorus here, please…
I had no idea that this was open. it has only been open since last Friday, and it still has the new store smell!
I love that!
It is so refreshing to walk in here and stand in just one area but yet be able to see what the contents of each aisle are because there are HUGE ceiling signs around the entire area so that you literally do not have to guess where to find things.
The bulk aisle was clean and fantastic! Sea salt was .49 per lb, buying rice in bulk there is much cheaper than buying it pre-​bagged.
Nice, small section of Boca products, all at good prices.
Also, the Sprout’s brand organic apple sauce (which is delicious) was buy one get one free today…$ 2.99
One pound of strawberries was on sale for a dollar today!
They have two coffee pots with flavors already brewed that you can help yourself to sample…(that area smells phenomenal!)
The fruits and veggies are delicious and competitively priced.
Their french bread is super cheap but super Texas sized!!!
I actually had someone point out where the french bread was because it is over by the deli rather than with the loaves of bread… it is in large white bags with all different varieties…
They have take home meals that were made there (in the store) like mac and cheese or pot-​roast with veggies in the back wall by the deli… they all looked very good and affordable.
I also got some cheese danishes with mocha swirls (3 dollars for a 2 pack) and they were excellent!
The staff is so nice and you can tell that they are proud of their new store!!! It really shows!
The spice bins are just as terrific and clean as the bulk section. I was overly impressed with how they use the nice clean square white bins…
I actually think it is a tad nicer than Newflower.
I love the location because you can get right back to Ben White easily from Brodie… if you are headed South, that is…
This store was so nice that I browsed the entire thing first… then left, and then went back to make purchases so that I would not go overboard… it was all worth it!
They also had a nice cereal aisle… and nice bath/​aromatherapy products much like what Sun Harvest or Central Market would carry.
I was mostly impressed with the aisle full of the Clif bars and Larabars… and similar energy bars like that… what a selection! What great prices!
As if it couldn’t get any cooler, I got a nice book of coupons and a nice magazine about the store when I completed my easy transaction with the very nice staff! They sold small tubes of honey for snacks… neat! If you listened closely in here, too, you can hear songs of the 1950’s (LOVE THAT :)
They had several drinks like mineral water or tea bottles 5 for $ 5, too.
I look forward to going back!

Sprouts is clean, open, well lit, comparatively inexpensive, diverse, well run, neat, full of good cheap wine, full of organic fruits and vegetables, busy, and populated by happy people.
Sprouts isn’t full of itself, laid out like a maze, expensive, dark, stocked with organic handmade soaps and bath towels, and the answer to all your organic and whole food shopping.
You cant be all things to all people. Sprouts does a good job delivering a Trader Joes-​like shopping atmosphere to a population used to the high priced and proud of themselves institutions like Central Market and Whole Foods. This type of store is a good all around natural grocer that adds to the local choices like Sun Harvest, Farmers Market, CM, and WF.
I hear they have a good insurance plan as well.