As Elena filled her basket with marinated tempeh and fresh sourdough, Marcus handed her a small, printed card. It was a list of and a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.
Elena exhaled, her shoulders finally dropping. "I thought I'd have to live on plain lettuce and sadness."
It was Marcus, the owner, who was currently stacking crates of purple heirloom carrots. He saw her confused expression and laughed. "Don't worry. This place is a 'safe zone.' No label-reading required."
The neon "Open" sign flickered as Elena stepped into the cool air of The Sprouting Seed , a tiny shop tucked away between two towering brick buildings. Just a week ago, she’d decided to go vegan, but her first trip to the massive suburban supermarket had left her staring blankly at labels for an hour, feeling like a detective hunting for hidden dairy. "First time?" a voice called out.