HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA--Whole Foods Market will feature many local products when it opens its first store here at 9am, Wed., Oct. 13, 2010 in the east end of Bella Terra Mall, near Edinger and Beach.

The 30-year-old company, known for natural and organic foods, offers more than 50 products from HB and the Orange County Region, ranging from flowers (lilies, daises), plants (succulents), produce (baby celery), beer (from Brewbakers and The Bruery), cheese (sourced locally), gelato (Mangiamo), honey (packaged by Honey Pacifica) and organic breads made fresh daily, like French baguettes. Two California olive oils are also sold here.

Even the photos of babies on the diaper bags for sale are employee kids.

The business offers a lot of bulk bins, where you can get a smaller portion of dried fruit, spices, detergents and shampoos before buying larger amounts. Whole Foods also has a comprehensive, science-based sustainability rating system (green, yellow and red) for wild-caught seafood. There are 'Low Price' or ' Sale ' tags on some items but officials say the company's '365' brand products, including cereals and a lot more, often are the best value.

There's a gluten-free zone, a Pizza and Beer Bar, which features a live feed of current surf conditions in HB, and Beach Bar 405, that rotates foods from around the globe, from Venezuela and Columbia flat cornmeal patties stuffed with chicken, cheese or meat, to balls made with Jade Pearl rice, vegetables and herbs.

'We're very happy about opening our 300th store in Huntington Beach ,' said Store Team Leader Pat Cox. 'This is a vibrant, intelligent community that will appreciate the healthy foods we offer.'

Huntington Beach Mayor Cathy Green agrees. 'It's a delight having some of the leading organic and natural foods for sale here at Bella Terra,' she said. 'And Whole Foods also is employing 175 people in this location, which is great for the community.'

Heather Gordon, who was leading a tour through the store, explained that Whole Foods is all about interacting with the customer: 'We're here for you. We'll help you find just what you need.'

Whole Foods Market began 30 years ago in Austin , Texas . Its motto is, 'Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet.' There are more than 55,000 employees in the nation's first national certified organic grocer. In the last fiscal year, the store had sales of $8 billion.