Natural Market — Local services in Land O' Lakes

Hesitated posting anything but could not after the owner repeatedly insinuating my husband and I are liars. Have been coming here since they opened and will never return.

Two days ago, I bought a tropical fruit from my country with which I am very familiar with. Given its tropical nature, it is very hard to find. It also does not need to be refrigerated since it is a tropical fruit (think bananas). In fact, when I bought it, it was sitting on styrofoam in a box with a box labeled at $9.99 a pound alongside many other fruits outside of the fridge. It cost $30.

Letting the fruit ripen until soft (cannot be eaten before mature) on my kitchen counter, I cut it open to find it had rotten inside. However, there was no way to know for me to know this without letting it ripen and then cutting it.

I returned in good faith asking if anything could be done and would have been satisfied with even partial store credit. Instead, the owner affirmed the freshness of the fruit they sold (implying it was impossible and that I must have done something wrong).

I showed them they fruit and said I cannot have cut the fruit today when I cut it that very morning, insinuating I was lying for no good reason. It was full of black mold.

They pointed to the sign with a 24h return policy, but it was sold moldy inside and I could not have known as it was not soft in 24h.

Then, they reiterated the fault must lie with me and claimed the fruit had to be refrigerated when this fruit does not since it grows in my country. Who has heard of uncut fruit going moldy in two days flat? When I bought it, it was not even being refrigerated at their store.

I hate shopping at big box stores but I refuse to shop here again after disrespectful behavior over knowingly selling...

Although the store is convenient, their policy for returns of items that are not edible stinks. I purchased grape tomatoes the day before Christmas and tried to use them (they were mushy) on Christmas day (and of course they were closed then). When I brought them back today (Dec 26) I was told they had a 24 hour return policy!!!! I said I wanted my money back and they said I had to get an item instead...I went for more grape tomatoes and was told they were the same as the (rotten) ones I had purchased on the 24th and new ones would not be in until...

This little farmers market has a great selection of produce and flowers. I am especially fond of it because it carries asian groceries such as fresh kimchi, asian vegetables, bulgogi marinade, sesame oil, the "good" ramen noodles, and lots of other things that are hard to find with driving all the way to Tampa. A real hidden gem, stop in and check it out. Also I noticed the prices on much of the produce are lower than at other local...