A families mission to spread healthy life styles in the QC is taking off

Chad Summers felt like he didn’t have a choice. 

“I was just sick and tired of them trying to give more and stronger meds, and i’m like there’s had to be a different way,” says the owner of Healthy Harvest Urban Farms.  

After medications couldn’t control his autoimmune disease, Psoriasis, summers decided to change his diet. 
Going a holistic route, eating only plant based organic foods. 

“After about six to eight months everything started to clear up. I have more stamina than I did when I was 18 years old, I heal faster,” says Summers.  

His family joined him on his journey.  
“I remember my first smoothie was actually hot, and I made the kids drink it. They were like no way dad, there’s no way we’re going to drink this,” says Summers.  

After years of research and perfecting recipes, in 2014 Summers opened Healthy Harvest Urban Farms in East Moline with his son Neiko, offering organic smoothies and locally grown organic produce. 

“I picked peaches at 8 a.m. this morning and they’re down here in the shelf, so it’s fresh food today,” says Cindy Heilmann. 

This year, the Summers’ opened a second location in Downtown Rock Island. 

The shop includes a retail grocery store, whole food plant-based cafe and a warehouse with a large walk in cooler for produce. 
Summers says they currently work with 30 local farmers, who have the same health mentality. 

“I had been through cancer a long time ago and I just decided to keep on going with organic food,” says Heilmann.

“I believe in pharmacy, spelled PH only it’s FAR, cause I think you can heal yourself with good food.”

Summers says his goal is to turn more people onto healthier options. 

He says it changed his life, why not help others. 

“I put so much of my own research as far as what it did to my own body, and now i’m just trying to share everything that I know with anyone who’s willing to listen,” says Summers.