Auburn’s Fresh Finds produce back on West Valley Highway

The boys are back. The popular produce stand along West Valley Highway – Fresh Finds: Fresh Fruit & Vegetables – is open with a larger inventory of fruits and vegetables. “The main reason we came back is the relationships we created. We had many people asking us to come back,” said Joe Brandt, one of the stand’s chief operators who introduced the business to Auburn-area customers last spring.

The boys are back.

The popular produce stand along West Valley Highway – Fresh Finds: Fresh Fruit & Vegetables – is open with a larger inventory of fruits and vegetables.

“The main reason we came back is the relationships we created. We had many people asking us to come back,” said Joe Brandt, one of the stand’s chief operators who introduced the business to Auburn-area customers last spring. “Last year exceeded our expectations. We were accepted to being a part of the community.”

Fresh Finds officially opened last weekend at 34266 W. Valley Highway, Auburn, the same spot it occupied a year ago. The large stand will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, offering a wide assortment of produce from Yakima Valley and elsewhere.

There is a second location at 2010 Meridian Ave. E, Edgewood.

New to the selection this season is tropical produce, including mangos and pineapples. The stand also offers a customary selection of other fruits, such as apples and plums, lemons and limes, cherries, strawberries and watermelons.

The vegetable lineup is deep with potatoes, corn, carrots, asparagus and rhubarb.

A cold storage has been installed to accommodate inventory and customers.

“This isn’t work for us because we enjoy the customers so much,” said Lull Mengesha, who returns to help run the stand along with Brandt and Paul Arambul.

Fresh Finds also is looking to work with summer and fall meal programs with interested school districts.

On her own

Studio Cuts (4220 A St. SE., Suite 102; phone: 253-939-6545) recently opened under the guidance of Joanne Champi, who has been in the business for 23 years.

“I was getting tired of working for somebody else, so I decided go into my own business,” Champi said. “I like coming to work these days.”

Champi is joined by Bee Van Sickle, a stylist for six years.

Studio Cuts specializes in haircuts of many styles, and also does colors, waxing and perms. It is open 9 a.m.

to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 to 6 on Saturday

and 10 to 4 on Sunday.

Elsewhere

Petosphere – specializing in holistic, grain free and specialty dog and cat foods, toys and apparel – is open at 14 Auburn Way S. Owner Victoria Logan’s business places a heavy emphasis on treating the needs of dietary challenged animals and those with allergies and sensitive systems. Petosphere (www.thepetosphere.com, 253-737-4118) is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. It is closed Mondays.

… A One Japanese

Engine Inc., specializing

in Japanese engines

and transmissions, is open

at 131 30th St. NE,

Suite 8. Chris Z. Carter is the operations supervisor. More information is

available at www.aoneegine.com or 253-333-9800.

Submit your business news to khenry@reporternewspaper.com, or fax 253-833-0254.