Community Co ect

with Barry Haynes

We’re well into one of our favorite times of the year here at the Co-op. Our locally produced, organic o erings expand significantly as the local growing season kicks into high gear.

You can find a wide selection of organic leafy greens and vegetables throughout the Produce section. There’s so much satisfaction when you can taste the freshness and know that you are investing in your local community! Local at the Co-op means that it has been produced within 100 miles of the store. Southern Oregon’s small family farms rely on customers like you to keep our local agricultural community thriving.

As the weather continues to warm up, my mind turns to one of our all time favorite local products; Peaches from Dave Belzberg’s Rolling Hills Farm. It was 28 years ago when I began working in the Produce department at the Co-op and tasted my first Rolling Hills peach. It was something I’ll never forget, unlike anything I have ever tasted. I quickly learned that you have to stand over the sink when biting into these gorgeous globes of

The juice rolls down your chin, down your arm, drips onto the ground. Your eyes go wide and your taste buds sing. The Rolling Hills peach is a perfect example of the di erence that you experience with local produce.

It’s amazing to think that Dave has been growing his remarkably delicious peaches at Rolling Hills for nearly 40 years. The love and care that he puts into his crop is evident with every bite. Dave waits to harvest until peak ripeness is achieved. During peach season, Dave harvests and delivers to the Co-op nearly every day. Don’t delay in picking these up as the season will be over before you know it, leaving you only with the unforgettable memory and longing for next year.

Barry Haynes, Interim General Manager