![Drivers search for parking spots on Saturday, March 7, 2015, during the grand opening celebration for New Pioneer Food Co-op's new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-cars-1024x681.jpg)
Drivers search for parking spots on Saturday, March 7, 2015, during the grand opening celebration for New Pioneer Food Co-op’s new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
CEDAR RAPIDS – In case you missed its opening in December, New Pioneer Food Co-op celebrated its new store today with a ribbon-cutting and grand opening.
The new store, at 3338 Center Point Rd. NE, was packed for the celebration, with traffic at a slow crawl for those looking for parking. Shoppers don’t have to be members, but since opening in Cedar Rapids, New Pi has welcomed more than 1,200 new co-op owners.
I brought along a member of my household who has become interested in eating healthy, so it was a perfect time to sample local, natural and organic foods during the event, which also featured music, seed-planting, giveaways and more.
His verdict on a favorite food: Mount Vernon Confections’ chocolate truffles. He definitely has good taste.
See photos from the December opening here: New Pioneer opens in Cedar Rapids and more from today’s celebration, below:
![A ribbon-cutting was part of the celebration at New Pioneer Food Co-op's grand opening on Saturday, March 7, in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-ribbon-1024x681.jpg)
A ribbon-cutting was part of the celebration at New Pioneer Food Co-op’s grand opening on Saturday, March 7, in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Customers discuss carrots from Grinnell Heritage Farm during the grand opening of New Pioneer Food Co-op in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-grinnell-1024x681.jpg)
Customers discuss carrots from Grinnell Heritage Farm during the grand opening of New Pioneer Food Co-op in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Cheese samples from Milton Creamery were a popular item during the grand opening for New Pioneer's new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-cheese-1024x681.jpg)
Cheese samples from Milton Creamery were a popular item during the grand opening for New Pioneer’s new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Iowa Choice Harvest offered samples of their frozen apples and frozen sweet corn. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-harvest-1024x681.jpg)
Iowa Choice Harvest offered samples of their frozen apples and frozen sweet corn. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![New Pioneer Food Co-op's tuna salad was among the many food samples offered during the grand opening celebration of its new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-tuna-1024x681.jpg)
New Pioneer Food Co-op’s tuna salad was among the many food samples offered during the grand opening celebration of its new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Mickey Miller greets a young customer eager to try a sample of Mount Vernon Confections' chocolate truffles. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-truffles-1024x681.jpg)
Mickey Miller greets a young customer eager to try a sample of Mount Vernon Confections’ chocolate truffles. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Eco Lips was among the local businesses represented at the grand opening celebration of New Pioneer Food Co-op's new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-ecolips-1024x681.jpg)
Eco Lips was among the local businesses represented at the grand opening celebration of New Pioneer Food Co-op’s new Cedar Rapids store. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Samples of Shaktea Kombucha are poured for customers during the grand opening of New Pioneer Food Co-op's new store in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-kombucha-1024x681.jpg)
Samples of Shaktea Kombucha are poured for customers during the grand opening of New Pioneer Food Co-op’s new store in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
![Cashiers kept busy during the grand opening of the New Pioneer Food Co-op store on March 7, 2015. (photo/Cindy Hadish)](http://homegrowniowan.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/new-pi-checker-1024x681.jpg)
Cashiers kept busy during the grand opening of the New Pioneer Food Co-op store on March 7, 2015. (photo/Cindy Hadish)
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