College towns have a universal profile they strive to fulfill. Bike shops, used book stores, noncommercial coffee houses and ethnic restaurants are all included in such a profile.

One area DeKalb lacks in is organic and whole foods retailers, said DeKalb Economic Development and Policy Administrator Paul Rasmussen.

A look at the statistics, Rasmussen said, shows many college students are interested in healthier food options.

The House Café, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, offers organic lunch options from its in-house chef Chuck DeMaio. DeMaio, who also distributes wholesale baked goods for Duck Soup Coup, 129 E. Hillcrest Drive, has discussed with city officials the possibility of opening a vegan restaurant and bakery.

“It’s something that is missing in this college town,” said Rasmussen.

DeMaio is looking for property that will allow him to have a restaurant area with eight to 10 tables, as well as a bakery and carry-out section.

The only strictly organic food retailer in the area at this time is Duck Soup, which offers a wide variety of organic products.

Once a members-only organization, its members voted to open up to the public in 1990.

It remains a cooperative outfit with about 500 members, said General Manager Peggy James.

This means the store is run as a democracy, with its members given a vote in the management of the store.

Members who donate a couple hours of work once a week or once a month are eligible for a discount.

The store sees a good mix of students and county residents, said clerk Cheryl Wieczorek.

Duck Soup carries many traditional grocery items such as pasta, milk, chips, soda, candy, ice cream and even frozen pizzas. The difference’ Organic — whole foods — are grown naturally, without chemical treatments and additives.

Organic produce is not tainted with the synthetic fertilizers or pesticides most other grocers use to grow products.

Many experts believe organic products are more nutritious and eliminate many of the health risks associated with foods not made from all-natural ingredients.

Although the selection is much smaller and not guaranteed to be 100 percent organically produced, grocers in DeKalb such as Jewel and Wal-Mart do shelve some organic-labeled products.

In the meantime, DeMaio continues to work with DeKalb and Rasmussen toward establishing another option for its health-conscious residents.