Fresh Thyme Markets adding suburban stores

Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets, a specialty grocer featuring healthy and organic value-priced offerings, said Wednesday it's opening about 60 new stores and creating about 5,000 new jobs in the Midwest over the next five years, including six in the suburban region.

A store at 211 W. Rand Road in Mount Prospect is expected to open this spring while a location at 35 Waukegan Road, Deerfield is slated for summer. Locations set to open in 2015 include 6567 N. Illinois St. in Fairview Heights, 321 Ogden Ave. in Downers Grove and others in Naperville and Joliet.

The heart of Fresh Thyme Farmers Markets' 28,000 square foot stores will be bountiful produce, including locally sourced and organic fruits and vegetables.

Additional features of the markets include: more than 400 bins of natural and organic bulk items and small batch locally roasted premium coffee beans; a butcher shop featuring all-natural handmade sausage made daily in store, offering over a dozen varieties; specialty items such as gluten-free and dairy-free products, among others.