Whole Foods Market opened its newest store at 750 N. Krocks Road, Lower Macungie Sept. 28 with a bread breaking ceremony. Company leaders and store team members greeted shoppers and said a few words before the doors opened.

“Whole Foods Market is bringing an exciting new grocery shopping experience to the residents of Lehigh Valley,” Kevin Paoletti, store team leader said. “We’re providing more natural and organic options to this community and every item we offer meets our exacting quality standards, including our salad and hot bars as well as our in-store pub. Combined with our innovative dishes and talented culinary team, we think Whole Foods Market will be the best choice for dining out when you’re shopping at Hamilton Crossing.”

Everything sold in the roughly 44,000-square-foot store is made without any artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners or hydrogenated fats. The store sources from local suppliers, including Red Earth Farms in Kempton. The in-store pub, The Foundry, will feature a hyper-local menu including hand-tossed pizzas and seasonal salads made with ingredients from this local farm.

Giving back to the community is one of Whole Foods Market’s core values and the Lower Macungie store opening will support three local organizations:

•The Rodale Institute, a nonprofit committed to groundbreaking research and education on organic agriculture, received a check on opening day.

•Gear Up Academy, a program of the Lehigh Valley Health Network and Valley Preferred Cycling Center, promotes healthy lifestyles through inner city youth cycling and will be the beneficiary of 5 percent of store sales Oct. 5.

•The Caring Place, an inner-city youth development center for children at risk, will be the store’s first “Nickels for Nonprofits” recipient. Whole Foods Market will donate $.05 each time a customer uses a reusable bag (instead of paper) to shop.

Whole Foods Market is also proud to be employing a young person from The Caring Place’s Youth Development Program.

Regional President Scott Allshouse welcomed all to the bread breaking ceremony and said “we appreciate you helping us make the world a better and healthier place. Everything we do is all natural and organic.”

Paoletti and Allshouse presented a check for $3,500 to Diana Martin, director of communications, Rodale Institute as part of the grand opening. Martin said the money will be used to support honeybee conservancy.

Allshouse said 120 team members were hired from the Lehigh Valley for the store. Allshouse gave a welcome to the new team members and 38 team members who moved to this store.