A spring opening appears on target at the new Earth Fare grocery store under construction on U.S. Hwy. 27/441 in Lady Lake.

Meanwhile, the chain has announced an expanded partnership with Instacart, a North American leader in online groceries.

“Our partnership with Instacart to provide our customers with a convenient pickup option, in addition to delivery, is one more way Earth Fare makes it easy to live a healthier lifestyle,” said Frank Scorpiniti, president and CEO of Earth Fare.

A new Earth Fare grocery store could be open as early as this spring.

The new Earth Store store at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 27/441 and Fennell Boulevard has been a beehive of construction activity in recent months.

The arrival of the popular health-conscious grocery is generating plenty of excitement in The Villages.

Stores are constructed with sustainability in mind. Reflective roofing reduces cooling costs, LED lighting reduces energy use, while skylights throughout the store bring in sunlight. There are recycling stations in the Earth Fare Café to allow for composting and recycling. The Café also offers compostable to-go containers made from plant-based, recycled materials.

The Earth Fare grocery store construction site has been a beehive of activity over recent months.

Other tenants announced for the shopping center include a Goodwill Superstore, Miller’s Ale House and Mission BBQ.

Earth Fare’s first store opened in 1975 in Asheville, N.C.

Earth Fare was lured here by the Benchmark Group, which also brought to that same retail area Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Texas Roadhouse and Stein Mart, among others.