What is possibly the world's leading retailer of natural and organic foods is not hanging a shingle near Franklin & Marshall College.

The developer of the $30 million College Row complex being built along Harrisburg Pike previously said one of the complex's three buildings would house a specialty grocery market.

Then Whole Foods Market advertised a day-long seminar in Lancaster to recruit county farmers to supply products for its stores.

That first-ever move made many wonder if the company with 187 stores in America and the United Kingdom would put a new one next to F&M's Alumni Sports and Fitness Center in Lancaster.

"It is not a market in our immediate scope," Sarah Kenney, Whole Foods Market's director of marketing for the Mid-Atlantic Region, said Wednesday of the city.

Campus Apartments, the Philadelphia-based student housing company developing College Row, could not be reached for comment.

Franklin & Marshall's Marci Dubroff said she did not know of any commitment yet by a specialty grocer for the property.

"Everyone's asking the question" around campus of what retailer will go into the building, she said.

The 200,000-square-foot project is expected to be completed this fall.

Two of the three buildings will house F&M students on upper floors and provide retail space on first floors.

The specialty grocery market was planned for the third building on the five-acre tract.

Whole Foods' free seminar Feb. 10 represents the company's "larger, concerted effort to engage small producers," Kenney said.

Since the company has become so big, she said many people think its suppliers are all large as well, and that is not the case.

Whole Foods is looking for farmers and small businesses to supply a whole array of products, including fruits, vegetables, stone fruit, berries, corn, greens, chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, bacon and natural deli meats.

Plus heirloom beans and grains, dairy products, cheese, yogurt, artisan cheeses, unusual jams, crackers, fish, shellfish, smoked fish, bulk fruits, nuts, grains, flour, seeds, soft pretzels, pierogies, pot pies, spatzle, potato chips, condiments and bulk honey.

Even body care items such as soaps and lotions, flowers, plants and hand-crafted gifts are sought.

Leon Ressler, director of the county's Penn State Cooperative Extension office, said Whole Foods presents a good opportunity for some farmers to join the growing trend of organic products.

Many seem to be at least considering it.

Kenney said more than 100 people will attend the seminar, and by the time registration is closed on Monday, it could be closer to 200.

The seminar will be at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

To register, call (301) 984-4874, ext. 2179, or e-mail your name, address and phone number with the subject line: "Lancaster Grower and Supplier Seminar" to vichelle.taylor@wholefoods.com.

Gregory Martin, county extension's poultry educator, said 30 to 40 farmers in Lancaster and Lebanon counties already grow organic chickens sold in Whole Foods stores.

Organic poultry commands a premium price, so some farmers have gone to great lengths to make changes required to become an organic supplier.

"It is a big deal," Martin said. "They have to cut holes in their (broiler) houses to provide access to outside pens."

They also must give the birds only feed made from organic corn and soybeans.

Whole Foods Market was founded in 1980 as one small store in Austin, Texas.

Last year, the company reported $5.6 billion in sales.

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