Pacific Health Foods Celebrates 25 Years

Carpinteria’s Pacific Health Foods is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with exciting renovations, including a new website featuring customizable orders, a remodeled storefront, and, most exciting, the beach town’s first and only organic bakery. But while the market is evolving, the husband-and-wife ownership team of Nathan and Whitney Noll are keeping consistent with the family mission of advancing good health. “We really want to promote clean eating and a healthy lifestyle,” said Whitney.

Nathan’s parents, Chuck and Millie Noll, opened Pacific Health Foods in 1991 with a passion for nutrition that was inspired by their family history. Chuck was really sick as a boy and, according to Whitney, nutrition “pretty much saved his life through natural medicine.” So Chuck and Millie founded the market to showcase regionally sourced produce, ethically raised and hormone-free meats, whole-food-based vitamins and supplements, probiotics, and cruelty-free and chemical-free household essentials.

The store has tripled in size with an organic juice and smoothie bar that also serves sandwiches, açai bowls, vegan soups made daily, salads, coffees, and teas. Stand-out smoothies include the Cinnamon Flax Monkey, a nourishing blend of coconut water, freshly ground almond butter, honey, cinnamon, banana, flax, chia milk, and gluten-free granola from Ocean Ranch Organic Granola in Goleta, and their home-brewed kombucha features fruit from the Carpinteria farmers’ market. Careful ingredient selection is evident across the menu, such as in the turkey and avocado sandwich, which includes house-made sourdough, stone-ground mustard, vegenaise, lettuce, tomato, turkey, Swiss cheese, creamy Sage Hill Farm avocados, and a flavorful nut-free pesto. “It’s made with sunflower seeds, so that way anyone with nut allergies can have it,” Whitney said.

The secret weapon to all of their breads and pastries is Paul Macias, who bakes everything fresh daily. The unmistakable taste of homemade bread infuses all of his goods, including the rosemary garlic bread, which is baked in a cast-iron pot to maintain moisture. “It’s how bread is supposed to be,” said Whitney.

All baked goods are organic, except for the fluffy gluten-free blueberry scone and gluten-free paleo bread. The quality food speaks for itself, but Whitney explains that Nathan’s personality truly sets the store apart. “He really does care about helping people,” she said, noting her husband’s vitamin knowledge, insightful advice, and desire to listen to the community about products they want in the store.

“We really try to find staff that is living a healthy lifestyle so they can contribute to providing for the community,” Whitney said.

Pacific Health Foods is located at 944 Linden Avenue in Carpinteria. Call (805) 684-2115 or see pacifichealthfoods.com.