Whole Foods Market Inc. announced today its first Iowa location.

The 30,000-square-foot store, which will offer organic fruits and vegetables, meats and poultry, and specialty items, will be located at Water Tower Place, 4100 University Ave. in West Des Moines.

“At Whole Foods Market, we strive to offer the freshest, most flavorful natural and organic foods available, and we are overjoyed to finally announce our entrance into Des Moines,” said Whole Foods’ Midwest Regional President Michael Bashaw, in a press release. “We greatly look forward to expanding our brand and offering our wide selection of high-quality natural and organic products to our new customers in the area.”

The Austin, Texas-based company, which for 14 consecutive years has been named by Fortune magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in the United States, estimates it will hire approximately 125 people in the metropolitan area.

It is expected to open in spring 2012.