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There’s now a taste of Ukraine in the middle of NW Iowa’s Dutch country

News

June 13th, 2024 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – A new grocery store in downtown Orange City is named Schedryck which means “bountiful” in Ukraine. Natali Valyanska — the store’s owner and operator — says it’s also the name of a popular Ukrainian song. “All American people know this song. It’s like ‘Carol of the Bells.’ It’s Ukrainian song,” she says. “It’s like treasure. It’s like Ukrainian treasure.”  She says there are a variety of foods and beverages in stock to give Ukrainians who’re living in the area familiar tastes. “We have candy, chocolate, cakes, cookies. We have juice from Ukraine,” she says. “We have pickled tomatoes, pickled cucumber, some baked beans, but a Ukrainian recipe.”

The store has Ukrainian meats, mainly sausage, for sale — and the kind of ice cream that Valyanska prefers. “I think that it’s more tasty,” Valyanska. “I don’t know how to explain. You need just to try.” Valyanska says opening this store has fulfilled a dream. “In Ukraine, I worked 18 years in a bank, but I worked with big companies,” Valyanska says. “My favorite and best company, my best customer, was a retail company in Ukraine, so I know how it works from inside.”

Natali Valyanska

Valyanska has a small gallery in the store featuring paintings by an artist who still lives in Ukraine.