Baking Healthy at Great Harvest Bread Company

Marty Linderborg has run the Great Harvest Bread Company in Palos Park for the past three years and while she has learned to love kneading and baking, her initial draw to the shop was the business opportunity.

“My daughter was considering a trip to Australia and I said, 'if you take the trip I'll take over the bakery,'” said Linderborg, in an interview at the bakery on La Grange Road, across for Sandburg High School.

Her daughter had worked at Great Harvest before she took it over, and has since returned to help out as one of eight part-time employees. She did take her trip to Australia as well.

Linderborg referred to the Company as a “freedom franchise” and said that individual owners have a say on what types of bread they create, even using original recipes, and are not required to carry any specific selections.

“In the Southwest almost all the breads have hot peppers in them – up here it's just one, so each owner caters to his or her customer base,” she said.

There are some stipulations however, such as using all whole grain products, all of which come from a dozen family farms in Montana.

Linderborg said she believes in the health benefits (more fiber) and better taste that comes from using the whole grain and it is the driving ideal behind the foods they sell.

She has come to appreciate the bread as an art form, not just food.

“It a science, but the smallest things can drastically change the finished product – a pinch too much of this or that, a change in temperature, humidity – things are so easily changed that it can be a daily challenge.”

It's a challenge Linderborg enjoys and is worth the finished product that she gets to share with her customers.

“I really enjoy educating people on eating healthy,” Linderborg said. “But my favorite part of the job is by far the customers.”

Not long after her comment about the customers, some of the younger regulars stopped in for the free samples. A common occurrence, she said, but also a welcome one.

“Kids stop in after school all the time – usually for the free samples – but that's great,” Linderborg said. “Many times parents will come in and say, 'my kid said I have to buy this bread,' so it drums up business too.”

Linderborg also does tours of the bakery for local schools and said she really likes being involved with the community.

“We have those customers that are in a hurry and just want the coffee in the morning or some bread on the way home from work to have with dinner – and that's fine and we serve them – but I do enjoy getting to know all the people that come in,” she said.

Breads at the bakery do change, so stopping in is the easiest way to get an idea of what's available.

She said currently apple scrapple is a very popular seller and one of the sweeter selections on the menu.

She also said that despite the whole grain ideal of the store, they do carry a gluten- free bread for people who are allergic.

Linderborg says she often hears the bread is so tasty customers just eat it as is, but for those looking for some toppers, Great Harvest also has a selection of its own jams and spreads.