Photos by TARA KOTHARI
Text by SEBASTIAN BONNARD and TARA KOTHARI
Art by LAUREN YAN
REAL PRODUCE market 46 APRIL 2021
NEW PALO ALTO STORE OFFERS MULTICULTURAL PRODUCTS
W
ELCOMED BY shelves the third grocer to open at the location laden with a vast selection since the closures of College Terrace Market of ambrosial, foreign and and Khoury’s Market. The excitement that local produce along with followed the announcement of a new marboxes and crates labeled in languages from ket opening was palpable as many residents Cyrillic to Urdu, shoppers quickly realize eagerly awaited the empty space to be filled. “A lot of the customers really enjoy the that Real Produce International Market is not the average grocery store. Vibrant different foods … it’s just very convenient chatter fills the market as customers — for them because the prices are really good,” distanced and sporting their masks — go Paly senior and Real Produce International Market employee Esme Villalobos said. “It’s about their shopping. a very open place Located at to shop at … and the College Ter- It’s a joy to witness very the owners are rerace Center on 501 Oxford Ave., often when folks just pop in ally sweet.” Real Produce Real Produce In- here … and find something International ternational MarMarket also carket has caught the unexpected that makes ries a multitude attention of many them nostalgic or ecstatic.” of items to cater since its opening on Dec. 28. In — KHALED TAFFI, CEO of Real to those who celProduce International Market ebrate festivities addition to offersuch as Nowruz, ing fresh produce, Ramadan and the family-owned grocery store carries halal meats and a va- Passover, as well as to those who are simply riety of prepared foods for reasonable pric- exploring their diverse offerings. “Nothing brings people together like es. Perhaps the most unique aspect of the market is the extensive selection of interna- food does, and we are happy to be the tional products with many Middle Eastern place for that,” Taffi wrote. “We also have and European items that cannot be found cooking enthusiasts come in looking for ingredients they have never cooked with but elsewhere in Palo Alto. “There isn’t a store like ours in this area. would like to try … Ottolenghi’s recipes … This is a very diverse community and seem to be particularly popular.” While the market offers locally sourced to cater to this diversity, we bring different products,” Real Produce International seasonal and organic products, foreign Market CEO Khaled Taffi wrote in a mes- goods are imported from a variety of counsage to Verde. “A lot of these are comfort tries ranging from Peru to Saudi Arabia. “We bring different products such as foods that take them [the customers] back to their childhood … It’s a joy to witness Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Persian, very often when folks just pop in here … East European, Indian, Turkish … some and find something unexpected that makes produce is also sourced from other countries like Mexico, Chile, etc.,” Taffi wrote. them nostalgic or ecstatic.” The market’s family atmosphere has The Palo Alto City Council apdrawn customers in since their opening. proved Taffi’s request to open the Taffi hopes to foster a strong sense of market on Nov. 16, making community through the market. Real Produce Interna“We are so grateful for tional Market the opportunity to serve this community and hope to become a ‘Real’ member of the neighborhood for years to come,” Taffi wrote. v
“
