Top marks – A+ and then some — to Gentle Harvest where the prices are surprisingly fair and competitive and many items substantiate their Locovore™ mission to source as much food locally as possible.

Since opening a little over a year ago in Marshall, a cozy Main Street USA town that offers two convenient interchanges to I-66, Gentle Harvest has become a one-stop shopping destination for organic and non-GMO vegetables and fruits, humanely raised and harvested meats, outstanding options for vegans and vegetarians, along with all the other staples such as flour, spices, juices, everything dairy, and "good for you" foods-to-go.

If you ever shopped at the Home Farm Store in Middleburg, then you're familiar with some of what Gentle Harvest offers. You'll be surprised at how much both menu and market have grown. Many items merit special mention: Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake, Carrot Cake, Bone Broth, Kombucha (many flavors on tap with Ginger a personal fave). Two daily soups, made from scratch and just right for this time of year, might feature chicken, vegan or beef chili and cream of broccoli that's full of flavor yet delicate. Those who like chicken or beef noodle, potato or vegetable soup will be pleased by the rich flavor of the broths. There's also Gentle Harvest's French Onion Soup Special. You can call to find out exactly what's on offer.

Build-a-Burger allows individual creativity with your choice of beef, turkey, chicken, veal, or vegan patty with a tasty array of fixings. The menu includes Ayrshire Farm beef/pork hot dog, Ayrshire sausage, baked and oven-fried chicken. Breakfast items include savory sausage muffins, egg sandwiches and wraps. There are chicken strips and children-sized entrées and sides. You'll find a mind-boggling selection of real fruit juices, coffee, hot and cold teas, lemonade, wine, Kombuchu, and soul-satisfying desserts and cookies.

Gentle Harvest offers great customer service. "We have a great staff —they're eager to be the best they can, and it really shows once they get to know each station and become familiar with everything we offer," said Brooklynne Kiley, the Assistant General Manager, who's very hands on with every aspect of Gentle Harvest, including special orders.

Don't see what you need? Just ask. Deliveries take place on weekdays, so it's just a matter of Brooklynne knowing what you need and when you want to pick it up. With the holidays coming, special orders are an everyday occurrence, and Gentle Harvest will get you set up with whatever your feast might need.

"We have our standard holiday catalog with organic ham, turkey, beef and pork roasts as well as a variety of entrée and side dish options for vegans and vegetarians, such as Vegan Ancient Grains Salad and Roasted Stuffed Butternut Squash," Brooklynne said. "Another major favorite side dish is Gentle Harvest's creamed kale with smoky bacon."

Gentle Harvest does all sorts of magic with produce, including Roasted Root Vegetables with parsnips, potatoes, carrots, celeriac, beets, turnips and marble potatoes with roasted garlic, honey, and hemp oil. The Holiday catalog can be accessed online or picked up a hard copy when you stop at Gentle Harvest. Each item offers pricing, how many you can expect to feed for each side, etc.

Ayrshire Farm® Heritage Breed Turkey stars on its own and also leads a delicious trio in their Turducken — a mouth-watering roast comprised of boneless chicken inside a boneless duck inside a turkey. It weighs 26 pounds and feeds 30 hungry guests.

Crave dressing? The most finicky palates will be pleased with flavors that range from Sourdough, Hot Italian Sausage & Chestnut Dressing (be still my heart) to Traditional, Vegan Traditional, Wild Rice & Mushroom, and Southern Oyster & Cornbread Dressings. The Holiday Guide specifies the sides' sizes, usually 1 and 3 quarts along with how many you can expect to feed.

Gentle Harvest's desserts, cookies, muffins, cupcakes, pies, and cakes are non-pareil— for example, Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting, and gluten-free Pomegranate Molasses Poached Pear & Frangipane Tart. Again, the Chocolate Cake (flourless) is a winner if you enjoy dark chocolate. Pies include deep-dish double crust apple pie made with five pounds of apples as well as pecan and pumpkin with a whole wheat crust.

"We're already seeing orders for pick-up closer to Christmas — and not just from our Holiday Catalog," said Brooklynne. "Our fresh and frozen meats are very popular day-to-day sellers, and many people seem to like the convenience of our individual Chicken Pot Pies, Shepherd's Pies, and macaroni and cheese. Scotch eggs are another popular item. They make a substantial meal for one or two people, as part of a salad or in a sandwich. When cut into wedges, they make great party canapés. We have a pretty impressive array of both fresh and frozen options, and there are always entrées and sides in our fast food area."

That term "fast food' is uniquely applied here and actually means fast-casual fare. Gentle Harvest offers real food ingredients – nothing processed, nothing artificial, nothing microwaved – simply wholesome quality foods that you would be proud to cook at home. While it doesn't have the vast array of inventory found in chains, this community market makes excellent use of the space in its refitted bank building. It's a sure bet that you will find something essential, be it everyday comfort food or a gourmet treat, specialty food or a gift item.

For more information, stop in at 8372 West Main Street, Marshall: Gentle Harvest is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Virtual visitors can click into www.gentleharvest.com
Phone: 540-837-4405 Email: info@gentleharvest.com

Please call to verify their hours on Christmas Eve. Closed on Christmas Day.

[Please note: The author of this review is a devout DIYer when it comes to food — a healthy omnivore who prefers to eat at home because she loves to cook from scratch: bread, pasta/noodles, soups, stews, all sorts of Italian dishes, poultry, beef, bison, wild game, wild sockeye salmon, desserts such as dark chocolate triple layer brownies, sour cream apple bundt,, etc… That said, she's a regular at Gentle Harvest.]