There’s a good reason it’s so hard to find a space in the Berkeley Bowl parking lot. It’s got the most delectable and expansive produce section in the East Bay, a sea of greens, citrus, melons, and mangoes for those enlightened consumers who like their tomatoes free of fish DNA and genetically enhanced flavor molecules. Unlike other admirable shops — like the aforementioned Farmer Joe’s — the Bowl is a fully functional supermarket, not a boutique. There’s even a deli. Reestablished a block from the location where it began in 1977, the Bowl is progressive, affordable, and philanthropic — a business that appears to be modeled after the mottoes on a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s shampoo, minus the religious fervor. It’s also a good place to people-watch. Never mind the parking lot — there’s room on the bike rack.
