MyBiz: Marion business sells bulk food, gluten-free products

Teri Whisenhunt moved from teaching autistic children into the bulk food industry eight years ago.

“I was helping a girlfriend in Phoenix and we were doing gluten-free at the time," Whisenhunt recalled. "It wasn't that big of a thing like it is right now."

The Long Grove native understands all too well the need for gluten-free products on a personal level.

“I found out I was a celiac about seven years ago,” Whisenhunt said.

Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley.

Martin's Country Store, the business Whisenhunt runs with her sons Jesse and Clay Martin, sells pastas, flours, spices, nuts, a wide variety of baking mixes and candies, in addition to a full range of gluten-free products.

Whisenhunt oversees the administrative part of the packaged bulk food business, while her sons run the storefront retail operation. When supply trucks arrive, a crew of 12 women help weigh and package the foods for sale.

While the mixes Martin's Country Store sells are produced in Arizona and South Carolina, Whisenhunt points out that the recipes are her recipes.

“We  are no longer producing here because we don't have that type of facility," she said.

Whisenhunt worked with the University of Nebraska as well as the Celiac Sprue Association to develop gluten-free recipes.

"We buy a lot of our other products from the same Mennonite companies that Stringtown Grocery in Kalona does,” Whisenhunt explained. “There are two big Mennonite companies that we all buy from, but we also carry a lot of different products than Stringtown Grocery does because they don't carry as much gluten-free as we do.”

Whisenhunt contends Martin's Country Store has the largest selection of gluten-free mixes in Iowa, but the business also sells organic and natural products as well as candy.

“We buy products from the Hazelton Bakery, such as their fresh noodles, and we carry a lot of jams and jellies from Kalona," Whisenhunt said. "Our popcorn comes from an Amish company in Ohio.”

Martin's Country Store recently introduced a new product.

“We are excited to offer a line of organic flours that are milled here in Iowa,” Whisenhunt said.  Early Morning Harvest products come from the Sioux City area and Martin's Country Store also plans to offer the company's honey.

“We try not to have any GMO (genetically modified organism) products in here,” Whisenhunt added. “All of our gluten-free products are non-GMO, and we also are known for our low sodium products.

“Coconut oil is another very big draw for us. We sell a ton of it in one-gallon containers.”

Martin Country Store's customer base covers a broad spectrum.

“Our average customer is probably late 30's on up to the elderly,” Whisenhunt said, adding that homeschooling mothers are among their frequent customers.

“We have a special area for those who like to do long-term storage foods,” she said. “We can special order in bulk for anybody and we sell a lot of 50-pounds bags to people.”

Martin's Country Store also offers gift baskets and delivery and Whisenhunt said the store will soon offer another service.

“We will begin accepting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) cards on Dec. 15." Whisenhunt said.

AT A GLANCE

• Owners: Teri Whisenhunt, Jesse Martin and Clay Martin
• Business: Martin's Country Store
• Address: 1436 Twix Town Rd., Marion
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MartinsCountryStore