Sprouts Farmers Market — Attraction in Sarasota

I can't stand to leave a bad review but my experience this afternoon at the Fruitville Rd/Washington location was horrible. This has been my first and last visit.

The shopping experience, itself, was perfectly fine. Not too busy, especially so close to the holidays. HOWEVER, the $80 worth of groceries I JUST purchased unfortunately had to go right into the trash - allow me to tell you why.

I was called over to a register by a sweet older lady. After a few moments, I could tell she wasn't feeling well...and I was proven correct in my assumption, as she began to rattle-cough violently all over my groceries as she bagged them. Now, this is not her fault in the slightest as we all have to make money to survive, and she was really very sweet, but management should 100% have acknowledged that this woman was not in a state suitable for working with the public. Understaffed or not, this is a hazard to your customers.

To make matters worse, there was a young tattooed gentleman who I can only assume was assigned to help her with bagging. As soon as she began to check out my items, he told her he would "be right back", walked 5 feet over to a doorway for some unknown reason, and proceeded to watch her as she had this violent cough attack on my groceries. She walked over to him in an attempt to cough away from me and get his help with the bagging, and she explained that he knew she "couldn't breathe" - he nodded at her, but instead of immediately doing so, he walked to my other side (away from her), placed a divider between myself and the next customer, and just stood there for a few moments. It appeared to me he did not want to be near this woman, either.

It wasn't until she was on the last two or three items that he finally asked her "would you like some help?". It seemed he had done everything he could to avoid it up until that point. And honestly, I don't entirely blame him.

Long story short, I just threw away 80 dollars worth of mystery-illness-contaminated groceries, had to make a second trip elsewhere to replace them, and will be overdosing on vitamin c for the next few days, desperately hoping not to catch whatever that poor woman had and spread it to my family who have autoimmune disorders. Management,...

I attended the Grand opening both Friday and was the 1st in line Saturday to receive gift bag of goodies. Every one was so nice and I purchased mostly fruit and vegetables unfortunately my watermelon was fermented and not able to eat at all. So I came back today to return it and I didn't have me receipt and oh my goodness how quickly the attitude change on day 3 without all the razle dazzle Female Check out cashier with dark hair and glasses and female blonde manager with glasses was so nasty frowning acting they look like bitter sour old hens, then she yells I need my ID I'm like calm down I don't deserve this anger over a bad watermelon and I spent a lot of money both days and again today, you ruined my shopping experience because you decided to try and belittle me over a return and a shopping bag I asked to replace as the watermelon rot dirty my bag and then she yells it's not dirty when you could see that it was ans then the cashier tells me to was it because they don't have any more free shopping bags, I said only a few words and they immediately became defensive with me, they need to be removed acting crazy like that, it makes you look bad. I give 3 stars because the other crew members were working hard on day 1&2 but today ladies you need to treat customers better and handle a simple refund better I am not the blame for a fermented watermelon and a simple response would have been nice, not yelling with an attitude that I need an ID just ask for it and...

I have been shopping this Sprouts since we moved to Sarasota Springs 8 months ago. There is much to love! I am inspired to write this review today since one of their staff was exceptionally helpful and kind today! I have found Sprouts staff to be routinely helpful and friendly and today was truly delightful. Lisa went out of her way to make this shopping trip a big success for me ( long story). Good service seems to be the ruke here in Sarasota, but this Sprouts is extraordinary. The other cashier was also very professional and helpful. I find it consistently easy to get in and out of the store in a short time as there are routinely plenty of staff available to help us!

I love the selection of organics! Truly outstanding: organic frozen Brussel sprouts- not available at any other store in this county!! nice to see a selection of fresh organic tomatoes including some grown in the US, organic kiwis, and a rare find - stokes organic purple potatoes- delicious and healthy sold at a wonderful low price! This is one of the few places that sells a variety of the Ezekiel 4:9, Food for Life breads - including the wrap tortillas. Sprouts has been the only place to find date sweetened chocolate chips if that is a thing for you!

I also appreciate the availability of bulk spices- a big savings over the little jars! Lots of coffees to choose from

This is an easy, warm, quick and affordable place to find outstanding products!

Thanks Lisa...