World Harvest Foods, Champaign Illinois

When you walk into World Harvest, you are immediately greeted with an aisle of olive oils from at least four continents to your right, and an assortment of about 100 pieces of gourmet and international chocolates to your left. The store offers cheeses, olives, teas, coffees, jams, pastas, sauces, spices and more, from countries such as India, China, France, Germany, England, Greece, Egypt, Australia, Turkey, Morocco, Mexico, Argentina, Columbia, Brazil, and beyond. World Harvest gives Champaign-Urbana a taste of the world. And what makes World Harvest special aren’t only the products on the shelves, but the effect of these products on customers. 

Everyday, people from around the world shop at World Harvest. They find certain products that no one else in Central Illinois (and often beyond) offers, and these products are special because they bring to these individuals a piece of home, a far way home that they miss. 

In a town with a university, a college and several companies that attract people from across the world to Champaign-Urbana, the touch of home to be found in a Middle Eastern falafel sandwich or a slice of Italian piave cheese or a glass of Argentinean yerba mate tea is priceless. And when someone doesn’t find that piece of home that they crave, the owner will write down the name of the product and ask each of his suppliers if they sell it. As a result, the store’s line of products grows and changes daily to reflect the tastes and ethnicities of CU’s residents.