Great Harvest Bread Co. – Maplewood

Great Harvest Bread Company is a national franchise that leaves ownership up to the locals. In Maplewood, Great Harvest is run by Steve Jawor, who has been environmentally conscious since starting his business. Great Harvest reduces their waste by ordering what they need, carefully measuring ingredients, and resusing everything they can. They even mill their own flour with a stone mill in the back, which grinds bulk bags of wheat delivered from Great Harvest’s collective of farmers, creating fresh, nutrient-rich flour for the breads. Great Harvest makes sure to never use preservatives or artificial flavors in their breads and desserts, focusing on real food and nutrition.

They do more than bake bread – they also offer breakfast, lunch, and boxed lunches. During the growing season, the owners use their relationships they’ve developed selling at local farmer’s markets to provide fresh, local produce in their lunches and breads, and they use local eggs from the market for their breakfasts!

Great Harvest goes above and beyond the average baker to reduce their impact; they recycle, compost, and even donate to Pure Power, reducing supporting renewable energy!  They reduce waste in big ways, like donating extra bread to food pantries, and in little ways, like re-using gift cards – all are meaningful, and all contribute to their overall sustainability. Drop in for a quick treat, like a fresh Great Harvest muffin, a FREE slice of bread, and a cup of single-origin coffee from La Cosecha, the coffee roasters who share the space.