HELENA — Fifty years ago this week, Real Food Store (Real Food Market & Deli) opened in Helena. The store was ahead of its time; the health food trend that we know of today hadn't come into its own. Real Food was a first for Helena, but it came together by chance.

Laughing Water, the founder of the health-forward grocery store, came to Helena for a yoga retreat at the Feathered Pipe Ranch. The MIT graduate and self-proclaimed hippie had arranged to cook in exchange for a spot at the retreat, but he never left. India Supera, the Feathered Pipe Ranch leader, had asked him to stay, and they soon would marry. With her last $2000, Real Food Store was opened.

The Real Food brand was developed on the foundation of Laughing Water's life mission of providing healthy food.

"Pretty much all my lif

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