This weekend we set up a new baby – toddler – kids end cap!

It includes the few old favorites we’ve stocked all along…

…And 6 shelves of new organic products – from junior juice boxes to smoothies to puffs -  including 3  additional recipes of Earth’s Best baby food jars which are on Co+op Deals sale through next Tuesday.

(We’ve also learned that “big kids” (i.e. Co-op employees) really enjoy those new smoothie things quite a bit, too!)

(Thanks to the Papin kids for stopping by the Co-op & playing along this afternoon!)

3 Month aged Manchego is at a special 10% off sale through the month of April!

This sheep cheese imported from the Mancha region of Spain is being sampled each Tuesday  this month!

That means only 2 Tuesdays remain after today (the 17th and the 24th.)

Today’s samples are making their way to the floor as I type!

New to the Co-op’s wine selection are Yellow + Blue’s  Monastrell (Spain) and Torrontes (Argentina)!

Yellow + Blue packages their organic wines made from hand picked grapes in one- liter “Tetra Paks”, for a versatile, well-crafted vintage.

Let’s say that again:  One liter (not 750 mL).  Tetra Pak.  Organic.  $8.99.

Good to know – Tetra Paks are now OK to add to the single stream recycling in the City!

Responsible and affordable.

Think of the possibilities!

Coming Soon:  Two new products from Amy’s kitchen should hit the freezers by Saturday.

(From Amy’s web site:)

Introducing Amy’s Vegan DAIYA Margherita Pizza!

We love that pizza is a comfort food you can share and make memories around. Our Vegan Margherita Pizza with Daiya Cheeze is a delicious vegan and dairy-free take on a classic, and is sure to bring your friends and families together.

Gluten Free Sandwich Rounds

Amy’s new Sandwich Rounds are light and tender, easy to toast or use for sandwiches, and delicious enough for all to enjoy . . .not only those who are gluten intolerant. Just thaw or toast and top with your favorite spread or sandwich filling.

The United Nations has declared 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives.  Keep up with our website throughout the year as we highlight other cooperatives we partner with to help “build a better world” through our collective social, economic and environmental impacts!

Co-ops & Coffee 101

There’s a lot involved the marketing of any crop, and coffee is no exception.  Growers, middlemen, exporters, speculators, roasters, retailers all have a stake in your morning cup.  Coffee is traded on the world market as a commodity.  The value of coffee beans is second only to oil as a worldwide export.

Arabica coffee as a crop grows in tropical regions at elevations from 1000-6000 feet in the Americas, Africa, and the Asian Pacific.  About 90% of coffee is grown in developing nations, while most of the beans are exported to the industrialized Northern Hemisphere.

Although coffee does not show up on your “dirty dozen” produce list of which conventionally grown crops to avoid, the application of pesticides on conventionally grown coffee plantations might rival the notoriously oversprayed cotton industry.

By purchasing alternative market coffees – fair- and direct-trade – you are supporting the locally organized and governed growers and exporting Cooperatives founded by the farmers themselves.

These cooperatives are the engine behind socially just, high quality coffee beans, allowing the farmers to grow without the use of pesticides and ensure sustainable prices for their beans by avoiding sales to “coyote” middlemen.

The work being carried out by these cooperatives is impressive, bringing their communities access to resources such as credit, information, and more sustainable markets in diversified economies – all working for something more than just coffee!

Learn more about your favorite coffee beans, roasts and blends by visiting MFC’s roasters on the web.  Many of the sites host interactive maps that allow you to “track your beans” from farm to cup!

http://greatnoroco.com/ of Traverse City, Michigan.

Roasting the unique directly-traded “super-eco” Birds, Bees and Trees roast from Nayarit Mexico.

http://highergroundstrading.com/ , a small-batch artisan roasterie, also in Traverse City.

http://www.justcoffee.coop/ of Madison, Wisconsin.

Delivered in their local area by bicycle and biodiesel!

http://www.peacecoffee.com/ crafting their coffee experience in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

http://www.equalexchange.coop/ , supplying us from Minneapolis, Minnesota; based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

An originator in the Fair Trade Market.

http://deansbeans.com/ making coffee and the world a better place

from Orange, Massachusetts.

http://www.cafemam.com/ from Eugene, Oregon.

Trading with native Mayan farmers in Chiapas Mexico and Guatemala.

“Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility.”

You may have noticed that we haven’t had our usual variety of sprouting seeds in the Bulk Herb and Spice section. Our supplier, Frontier Co-op, just issued a statement regarding the current situation on their supply of sprouting seeds:

“In our testing of the sprouting seeds – a disproportionate number of lots were being rejected due to quality issues. It was taking considerable time and resources trying to get ‘good’ shipments in that passed our stringent quality assurance tests. Unfortunately, it got to the point where the continual testing, rejection and reordering of the seeds were making this line unprofitable.

It was a very popular product line and we are very disappointed to have to discontinue it.”

We are looking for a suitable source for replacing the Frontier sprouting seeds. It may take some time to accomplish due to Frontier’s high quality standards. Thank you for your patience.

2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives!

In the Co-op world we often call it P6.  Referring to the sixth principle of the cooperative identity (http://www.ica.coop/coop/principles.html).  It’s Co-ops helping Co-ops.  People helping People.  Local, Regional and International.  As Co-op consumerswe contribute to economic resilience, ecological sustainablility and social justice simply by doing the business we do to fulfill our human needs.

The United Nations has tuned into the success of the Cooperative model and is promoting Co-ops as a way to ensure a stronger future for the world.  “International years are declared by the United Nations to draw attention to and encourage action on major issues. The International Year of Cooperatives is intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of cooperative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The Year will also highlight the strengths of the cooperative business model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socioeconomic development.”  (From http://social.un.org/coopsyear/index.html)

Check in weekly to learn more about the positive impact of the Cooperative model as we highlight other cooperatives we partner with to help “build a better world” through our collective social, economic and environmental impacts!

For those of you requesting a full ingredients of the Naturally Nutty products we carry, please visit: www.naturallynutty.com

We’re bringing the best of what’s around home to the U.P. and we love sharing it with you.  You do your part to support the local economy, while gaining access to a whole world of flavor.  Win-win-win.

Bulk

What’s old is new again!  Some of the oldest foods known are returning to the agricultural mix.  Recent additions to the Bulk bins uphold the importance of whole foods within the category.  Chia Seeds from Mexico, Shelled Hempseed from Canada, Amaranth from South America, Ground Flax from the USA are nutritional powerhouses – from fiber to omega-3s.  They’re truly deserving of their “superfood” reputations.

These along with the Quinoa (white and tri-color), Buckwheat, and other Bulk grains and seeds are tasty, versatile additions to your pantry.  They hold up well to your experimentation, but feel free to take a newly re-designed MFC Bulk Cooking Guide back to your kitchen to get familiar with basic preparations.

Coffee

Just Coffee Cooperative’s El Corazon is a blend of medium roasted Nicaraguan and dark roast Ugandan. The brightness of the African beans contrasts and compliments the Central American acidity for a substantial body and uniquely earthy taste profile.

Just Coffee Cooperative is a worker-owned coffee roaster dedicated to creating and expanding a model of trade based on transparency, equality, and human dignity. We strive to build long-term relationships with small-scale coffee growers to bring you a truly incredible cup of coffee.  (from www.justcoffee.coop)

All three of our JUST roasts are on a line drive sale through the month of December at $1 off per pound!

Beer & Wine

A dessert-style wine composed of three types of honey: alfalfa, sage and orange blossom.  CHaucer’s Mead may be enjoyed chilled, or heated slightly with the included spice bag.  It’s a delicious winter treat.

Also – we now have Bard’s Tale Gluten-Free beer brewed with 100% malted sorghum.  (Does Clare have some secret Medieval theme going on here?)

Cheese

The 12 month Manchego Piel de Toro has finally arrived from Spain!  Using milk only from La Mancha sheep, Manchego is Spain’s most famous cheese.  The aged version has a deeper color, harder texture, and nuttier flavor profile than the younger varieties.  If you already know and love the 3 month we have in the cheese cooler, be prepared for a paradigm shift.  In a really good way.  This cheese would be excellent with roasted vegetables and as part of a cheese plate for your holiday gatherings.  Pair with a Spanish Red Wine, like Marques de Caceres Rioja.  $16.99 lb.

Buyer’s notes:
This 12 month should satisfy the sheep cheese lover’s desire for a sheep cheddar!

FYI – The Cheese Fondue kit we’ve had in the past is no longer available from our supplier, but we have Emmentaler & Gruyere on hand to make a classic Swiss Fondue.  For an Italian twist, Fontina works well, too.

Grocery

Introducing Natural Desserts Jel Dessert to the MFC.  Gluten free and Vegan with no artificial colors or flavors.  Natural Jels are created using a proprietary blend of vegetable gums (not gelatin) for a quick setting dessert great to eat on its own or to use in festive molds.  $1.69 / 3 oz pkg.

Sindyanna of Galilee Organic Olive Oil distributed by SERRV and produced by a nonprofit organization of Israeli and Palestinian women working together to advance the ideals of cooperation among their communities.  The facility in Galilee is the only place in the area which employs women, and SERRV has been widening the market for their traditional olive products since 2003.  $7.49 / 250 ml.

Learn how to prepare your garden soil in the fall with this easy layering method.  See how this method has worked in the Hoop House at NMU that started with very sandy soil.
Where: The Hoop House at NMU
When: August 24 at 6p
Cost: Free!
Preregistration is required! Call Kelly at 225-0671, ext. 26 for more information or to reserve your spot.

Eliminate garden pests naturally, without chemicals, and learn which bugs you want in your garden and how to attract them.

Place: The Hoop House at NMU

When: July 27 · 6p

Cost: FREE

PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Call Kelly at 225-0671, ext. 26

The Marquette Food Co-op is hiring a Wellness Buyer. Click on the links below for more information, or stop in at the store’s customer service counter.

Click here for job posting

Click here for a detailed description

Click here for an application

Marquette’s CommonPlace is an online bulletin for people who live in Marquette, designed to make it really easy for you to share requests, offers and other information with your neighbors and to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in Marquette. The Marquette Food Co-op will be using this as an avenue to communicate with our owners.

To learn more about CommonPlace, visit www.Marquette.OurCommonPlace.com.  We encourage you to sign up and get involved.