The Story of Native Roots Market

Two twenty-somethings, one summer of memorable road-trips, a well-timed retirement and dozens of grocery store reconnaissance missions: these were the ingredients that led to the founding of Native Roots Market.

In the spring of 2006, Matt and Sara began considering the idea of opening a business. The initial idea they had was to open a tiny spice shop, selling exotic spices from all over the world that they had personally hand-selected during their travels (nice dream, huh?).

At about the same time, they joined the Oklahoma Food Co-op and began sampling the many local delicacies offered by our state’s own farmers. Being both “dirt-worshipping, tree-huggers” and wanna-be foodies, they thought it was a shame that eating local food was the exception and not the norm. The average American meal travels 1300 miles to get to your dinner plate, but many of these items can be grown in your very own yard and are fresher, more nutritious, and much tastier! Also, buying from local artisan food producers stimulates your local economy and preserves regional food traditions. The Oklahoma Food Co-op does a fabulous job distributing local foods across the state every month, but Matt and Sara saw a need to expand this market and make it readily available every day.

Hence, Native Roots Market was born with a mission to provide the “best food for the world” to our local community. In our minds, this means seasonal, local, organic, ethical, and healthy foods. We also believe in the concept of slow food, in which the act of preparing and consuming your meals should be a ritual that is shared with family and friends, not merely rushed attempt to refuel your body.

Steve Kaplan

Steve is a native of Mobile but found his family relocated numerous times before settling in Baltimore for his high school and college years.  After service in the US Army, Steve's own career path in retail led to five relocations from one part of the country to another before moving to Norman, Ok with his wife, Joan, and children, Seth and Sara in 1989 to open a Subway Sandwich Shop.  After 17 years and with 10 Subway shops opened we sold our restaurants and paused to choose our future endeavor.  Fueled by the passion and vision of Sara and Matt, our business partners, we embarked on providing local and organic food and household products to our community.  The result is Native Roots Market.  It changes and grows everyday so you never know what new products may be in store for you today.

While a Norman resident, Steve has been involved in various civic activities.  Steve served seven years as a Junior Achievement consultant in Norman schools.  He has worked with the Norman Chamber of Commerce as a committee member, a committee chairperson, and as a member of the board of directors.  He served three years on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cleveland County and as the board secretary for two years.  As a member of the Norman Rotary Club, Steve has served on the board, held the office of club secretary, and club president.  Steve has also been a member of the Norman Society for International Affairs and served as its vice president.  

Joan Kaplan

Joan Kaplan is a native of Baltimore, MD and graduate of McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) with a BA cum laude in Socialogy. She is married to Steve Kaplan and the mother of two children, Seth and Sara. Joan was the general manager of Subway Sandwiches & Salads, Inc, overseeing nine restaurants in Norman, Chickasha, and Pauls Valley. She is a past president of the Norman Women Entrepreneurs Network and has served as secretary for the last 6 years. Joan is also a member of Altrusa International of Norman, currently serving as membership chairman and has been treasurer of the Norman Society for International Affairs for the past 6 years. While her children were in the Norman school system, she was active in PTA at Monroe, Whittier, West Mid-High, and Norman High School. Other interests include serving as a board member for the University of Oklahoma Theatre Guild. Her hobbies include reading and gardening.

Sara Kaplan

Sara Kaplan has lived in Norman since 1989 and is a graduate of Norman High School and the University of Oklahoma.  She received her bachelors and masters of science in geology, focusing on sedimentology/stratigraphy and environmental geology.  Sara’s thesis studied the origin and evolution of Unaweep Canyon in western Colorado and allowed her to spend countless hours exploring one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

After finishing college, Sara debated between getting a real job, pursing a PhD or volunteering internationally. In the end, she chose none of these options and decided to deepen her roots in Norman by opening Native Roots Market. 

Like her parents, Sara is also actively involved in the Norman community.  She is member of the Crosstimbers Rotary Club and is on the board of directors of Dreamer Concepts Studio and Foundation (a non-profit art organization). Sara is also involved with the Norman Downtowner's Association, the Norman Sustainability Network, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Healthy Communities Coalition.

Sara’s passions include reading, all things green, the great outdoors, animals (especially her own, Kenai the great white husky, and the three cats, Purl, Oyster, and Olive), and of course, food!

Matt Runkle

Matt Runkle is native of Norman Oklahoma, first graduating class of Norman North High School and the University of Oklahoma. He received his bachelors in sociology with a focus on the environment and consumerism. After studying various business models and watching how the industrialization of America after WWI and WWII he began to feel that something was deeply wrong with the “system”.

Before graduating he had plans to move onto Washington State University and pursue a masters of Environmental Sociology and continue the hunt for the ever elusive cultural creatives.