Webcompostaprilmay16 by Just Food Coop

s t o P m o C The

April/May 2016

Fertiliz er Fo r

The Min d

Who Will be the Next General Manager? Page 4

Wide Variety of NEW Classes! Page 10

Living Our Cooperative Principles Page 17

Contents Who Will be the Next GM? ��3 Why Join? ��5 Board of Directors 2016

From the Interim General Manager ��6

Dirk Peterson - President Penny Hillemann - Vice President Clark Ohnesorge - Secretary Adam Hoffman - Treasurer Matt Berg-Wall Dan Forsythe Doug Hiza Ann Iijima Kathy Zeman

Healthful Variety of Classes ��10

board@justfood.coop

College Connection ��14 Living our Cooperative Principles...........17 Membership Application ��19

Management Team

Sherri Meyers, Interim General Manager Stephanie Aman, Marketing and Member Services Manager Sara Payne, Human Resources Manager

Membership Benefits

• Supporting a locally-owned, sustainable and socially responsible business. • Email Subscription to The ComPost. • Profits returned to members as patronage rebates, at the discretion of the Board. • Member-only prices on Co-op classes. • Check writing for up to $20 over the amount of purchase. • Member-only specials on selected items throughout the store. • 10% case discounts, some exclusions apply. Membership application on page 19.

About The ComPost

Fertilizer For The Mind

Editor: Stephanie Aman

The ComPost is a bimonthly publication of Just Food Co-op and is published for the benefit of our membership and the community. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Just Food Co-op or its members. For information about submissions, contact Stephanie Aman at 507.650.0106 or outreach@justfood.coop. Letters to the editor are welcome and may be sent to the same email or 516 Water St. S., Northfield, MN 55057. Just Food Co-op is a proud member of the Twin Cities chapter of the National Cooperative Grocers (NCG).

The ComPost

What’s Now? In Produce - Local: •

Asparagus

•

Vine-on Hydroponic Tomatoes

•

Radishes

In the Deli: Made Fresh! •

Cilantro Lime Rice

•

Pico de gallo

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Cheese Sauce

In Grocery: •

Honest Tea by the case

•

Vita Coco Coconut Water

•

Kettle Chips - Kettle Castle!

In Wellness: •

Gaia Supreme Cleanse

•

Alaffia Baskets

•

Inesscents Organic oils

•

Supernutrition Multivitamin

April/May 2016

Board Update

Who Will be the next General Manager of Just Food Co-op? Dirk Peterson Board President Co-op Member

As many of you are aware, our last General Manager, Pat Neily, left Just Food Co-op in January for the next challenge in his career. Hiring a General Manager (GM) is one of the top responsibilities for the Board of Directors. We need to find the right person to ensure healthy food is available for our members by supporting farmers in our local foodshed, to ensure the Co-op is an employer of choice, to work towards sustainability in all of our actions, and to provide education opportunities about healthy lifestyles.

GM. The survey asked respondents to rank over 35 qualities such as previous retail experience, experience supervising staff, knowledge of trends in the natural foods industry, commitment to cooperative values, computer literacy, ability to communicate clearly, strategic planning experience, and ability to articulate a vision for the Co-op. Important values like emphasizing the local foodshed, and supporting local farmers, were stressed by respondents. Survey-takers could also add comments about other characteristics they felt were important.

As Board President, I want to make sure our member-owners are aware of the actions and progress we are making in filling this critical position. The first step in the process was to make sure interim leadership is in place so the board can conduct the GM search in a deliberate and thorough way. We are fortunate to have Sherri Meyers, our Center Store Manager, step up to the role of Interim General Manager and provide capable leadership until our next GM is hired.

The Board was gratified with a very high response rate from staff. With 58 employees working at the store, 36 filled out the survey – a 62% response rate. We compared the responses of board members with those of staff and found very close alignment between the two groups. We were looking for the same type of person!

We chartered a Search Committee to do the basic work of developing a proposed budget and timeline, updating the job description, contracting with necessary consultants, and researching recruiting tools and sites. They will be reviewing resumes, ranking candidates with necessary qualifications, and conducting initial interviews. The committee is comprised of three board members (Dirk Peterson, Penny Hillemann, and Doug Hiza), one Co-op owner (Jay Johnson), and a Co-op manager (Sara Payne). Sara was asked to participate to provide a broad store/ employee perspective and because she adds a valuable skillset as Human Resources Manager, including a professional commitment to the confidentiality that is absolutely critical for the privacy of any candidate (external or internal) seeking the job. We also wanted input from Co-op employees about the type of person we should seek to be the next General Manager. We asked all Just Food staff and Board members to participate in a survey to determine the “necessary and preferred” qualifications of our next

The characteristics measured in the qualifications survey were used to update the job description and create a screening matrix. We went “live” with the job posting on February 24. As of this writing, in early March, we are receiving applications, and the committee has started screening potential candidates for additional consideration. We will continue this process until we have identified highly qualified candidates for full Board consideration. When finalists are invited for on-site interviews, staff will have the opportunity to meet with them and provide advisory feedback to the board. We have a robust and inclusive process in place to determine which one of the best candidates will become the next General Manager of Just Food Co-op. This process may take up to 6-8 months. We will keep our owners updated when possible through the website, the Compost and in other ways. Stay tuned…

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Why Join? Our April membership drive is fast approaching, so before I reflect on the several benefits of ownership in Just Food, I’ll mention that the store is offering a Co-op bag stuffed with products and high-value coupons totaling $50.00 for anyone joining during April! There are several types of benefits to co-op ownership, the first is the social benefit of participating in a memberowned business focused on ethical practices. Food co-ops strive to source organic and locally produced foods which enhance both health and the local economy. Co-ops also partner with socially-positive groups in several ways. Just Food provides education and healthy snacks for the PLUS Program and the Greenvale Community School. Just Round Up at our registers provides a mechanism for patrons to contribute to community partners like Friends of the Library, Riverbend Nature Center, Laura Baker School, the Food Shelf, and Ruth’s House of Hope, with a monthly average of more than $1100.00. Of course you don’t have to be an owner to pitch in, but as our member numbers increase we are able to extend the range and impact of community activity. Another important benefit is use of the Community Room by members. It may not seem like much, but when you are looking for meeting space for personal use or a private gathering, in a town as bustling as Northfield, it can be a great benefit. Another sort of benefit is more surprising. Membership in the co-op confers financial benefits to owners. One example is the patronage refund. At the end of the fiscal year, the store’s net profit is calculated and a portion is returned to owners, about $25,000.00 in each of the past 3 years. Each membership’s refund is based on their purchases during the year and averages about $10.00. People who spend more get more back; last year several members received refunds of over $80.00. In other words, your membership pays for itself each year; the more you spend the faster that payoff occurs.

benefit. Every month, products in each of the store’s areas (e.g. dairy, produce,) are offered for sale at a reduced price (about a 20% reduction). Members can also purchase products by the case at a discount of 10%. According to Marketing and Member Services Manager, Stephanie Aman, about 50 owners per month take advantage of case discounts for products ranging from kefir and shelf-stable milk, to Clif and chocolate bars. The two specials stack so the canny shopper can realize a combined savings of almost 30%.

Clark Ohnesorge Board Secretary Co-op Member

Co-op principles include cooperating with co-ops. Just-Food membership confers member rates at almost all other Minnesota food co-ops. Possibly you commute to the cities and want to drop in at Lakewinds or Linden Hills for a little shopping or snack before fighting the traffic; maybe you have gone for a drive and find yourself in St. Peter, Hastings or Rochester. Perhaps you are doing a little leaf-peeping and find yourself in Grand Marais or Duluth. At the co-op identify yourself as a Just Food member to receive member benefits. In addition, Just Food owns a share in most of these co-ops, so a small part of what you spend there (effectively the patronage refund) will be returned to Just Food at the end of the year. Finally, it’s important to remind folks that we are different from a buying club; your membership fee is a one-time investment that purchases stock in the co-op with no additional yearly fee. If you move, or decide the co-op is not for you, it is easy to redeem your shares for their full value. To me, membership in Just Food seems like a classic win-win situation, so if you are not currently a member, consider joining. If you have friends who enjoy the Co-op but have not joined, consider reminding them that April is a great opportunity to join and get a bit extra in return. Application materials are available at the register or customer service desk. Happy shopping.

Monthly member specials are another

April/May 2016

From the Interim General Manager

Planting Seeds

Sherri Meyers Interim General Manager Co-op Member

My grandfather could raise a tomato support a candidate this election plant into maturity with nothing cycle? Have you begun volunteering more than some love and an occafor a cause? If you are not plantsional watering from a rusty can. He ing something, sowing the seeds would tend to those plants carefully, of some type of enterprise, I would singing to them softly in Italian as encourage you to ask yourself why he pulled a leaf here or watered a not? We are all pressed for time and plant there, always certain to give struggle to balance our work and each plant a little love to grow on. home life. But if we cannot take He was not to be time to plant something, rushed through the then we cannot expect ritual, much to the anything to grow and consternation of certainly cannot expect his grandchildren. anything to be harvested. When it was time to pick the fruit, his Planting is not only about tomatoes were so the action of putting the juicy and succulent seeds into the soil - but all that neighborhood the work that leads up to children would that moment! Planning, bite into them research, investment in like apples and infrastructure, are invalulet the juice run able parts of the process down their chins. that cannot be left out. My grandmother When a seed is planted, would tire of canit is not the end of the Henry David Thoreau ning the tomatoes process, but it is hardly and the pasta the beginning either. As sauce she made a co-op, we are in the from his bounty and eventually just process of planting seeds for future gave away sacks of tomatoes to the growth. We are hiring a new general neighbors in her quest to be rid of manager, we have launched co-op the chore of cooking them! There basics, we are ensuring the right mix must be no better feeling that being of items is on our shelves to maxiable to plant a mize sales opportunities and we are seed, cultivate planning a path to expansion. it, care for it, watch it grow These steps are planting the seeds of and then reap our future prosperity. If we want to the rewards of remain a viable cooperative business your work. So that can compete in the ever changas we enter this ing retail landscape of the modern growing and era, we need to plant new seeds. planting seaIf we want to remain a relevant, son, members robust organization focused on selland cooperaing more good food, creating more tors, I ask you, good jobs and doing more good in what are you planting? the community, then we must plant the seeds of change. We cannot sit Are you planting something in your by and conduct business as usual. If own backyard garden? Is it somewe do not plant seeds, how can we thing you have grown before and expect to harvest anything later on? are famous for cultivating? Or will you try something new â&#x20AC;&#x201C; venturing Members, co-operators, what are to grow a plant variety you have not you planting? mastered? Could you be planting something in the garden of life? Are you taking a class perhaps? Learning a new skill? Developing a talent you recently discovered? Maybe you have chosen to take on an issue or

I have great faith in a seed. Convince me that you have a seed there, and I am prepared to expect wonders.

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Comment Card Feedback Comment: Miss the free coffee! Let us pay for it! This is actually something we have been looking at as we phased out the free coffee. As a growing store, we are balancing the time and labor dollars it takes to make coffee (grind, brew, stocking cups & lids, creamer, sticks and sugar) and still have our shelves stocked. It’s a balance and we’re working on this! It isn’t a matter of not wanting to offer the coffee, we know it was a great perk; it’s a matter of balance and making sure we can do this well.

Comment: Do you give donations to small groups? We do! Our donation request form is available to non-profits (nonreligious or political based) and the requests are considered on a monthly basis. Turn in the request form at least 3 weeks in advance of when the donations is needed.

Comment: Getting better all the time. Love the specials! Thanks for taking the time to comment! We hope our shoppers are loving the specials deals our buyers are securing. Good affordable food that’s our goal! Thanks for the kind words!

Comment: There is serious concern about the proliferation of Field Day products and the homogenization of products offered.

our member surveys over the years, one major area that we know we do not meet our shoppers needs is in the price category. Field Day is a private label brand, only available to independent retailers and cooperatives. Many Field Day products are organic, which means we can offer organic foods to everyone at an affordable price. We still offer many of the brands our Co-op shoppers of many years have grown to love. We want you to have a choice in what you’re putting in your cart. We have high quality budget friendly items, or we can offer speciality items. And the best part is - we offer both!

Comment: Parking continues to be an issue. Three times in the last 2 weeks there was no spot in the lot. It can be frustrating! We’re glad that so many folks want to shop here and we are working on efficiencies within the store to ensure that our shoppers have a place to park. We love when customers gather and see Just Food as a meeting place, and we also understand that many want to be able to get in and out. We installed the new express lanes a year ago to help move those shoppers that want in and out through more quickly, and thus freeing up some parking. It has alleviated the issue, but hasn’t solved it yet. Still a challenge for sure, just know that we are aware and we trying our best to make sure everyone that wants to shop, has a place to park!

Our goal in offering affordable food to everyone, is that we can offer a high quality affordable food to everyone while still offering the products that many shoppers have come to love. Just Food is here to serve the community and through

April/May 2016

Defining Terms

What Do all the Words Mean?

Kathy Zeman Board Member Local Farmer Co-op Member

As a farmer who has certified organic land, crops, produce and as much livestock as possible, I am always amazed at the amount of information I have to analyze, the paperwork I have to complete, the money I have to pay in order to maintain the integrity of the “certified organic” (CO) label. So I often wonder how on earth consumers ever figure out what all the words mean…and what impact those words have on us and our planet! Following, then, is a brief primer on “all those words” from the meat / egg /dairy (livestock) perspective. Since we all vote with our dollars, it’s probably a good idea for us to understand exactly what we are supporting in our local foodshed when we buy certain foods. Certified Organic: a product that follows the National Organic Program (NOP) standards from start to finish. • For poultry, that starts with a 1-day old chick, that eats CO feed, has access to CO pasture, slept on approved bedding, and was processed at a CO processing plant. • For goat, the mama doe had to be on a CO diet by at least her last trimester of pregnancy for that kid to be considered CO. That kid then has to follow the same CO feed / bedding / pasture requirements as poultry (and all other livestock). That means no drugs, no hormones, no GMOs, ever. If a CO animal gets sick enough that it requires drugs, NOP requires the animal must be treated with drugs BUT then it cannot be sold as CO; it must be sold on the commodity market. In Minnesota, there are few CO feed

sources available to livestock farmers. Even though I have a feed elevator just 3 miles from my farm, it does not make or sell CO feed. My feed travels 150 miles to get to my place. CO feed usually is 2.5 times more expensive than commodity feed. (CO livestock feed contains many more ingredients than commodity feed because it’s main purpose is to maintain a healthy immune system through nutrition.) Interestingly, one of the requirements for CO livestock also leads to its high price to the consumer: they must have access to pasture during the growing season, but that requirement also leads to a healthier animal. Even more scarce in Minnesota, are CO processing meat plants. Even though I raise CO poultry, I cannot sell a CO frozen broiler because my local processing plant is not CO. The closest CO processing plant for us was 2 hours away, and as of 2016 they are no longer CO. Certified Organic means non-GMO. Organic or following organic protocol: theoretically, it means the food product was raised / grown following the entire NOP standards from start to finish. Legally, a producer can only use this description if they sell less than $5,000 annually in ‘organic’ food sales. If they sell more than $5,000 annually, then they either cannot use the ‘organic’ description or they have to get certified organic. Natural: This is not an FDA regulated nor defined term. It holds no value. Grass-fed: the USDA maintains a voluntary definition for grass-fed. It requires that ruminant animals be fed only grass and forage, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain by-products and must

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have continuous access to pasture during the growing season. Non-GMO: theoretically, it does not contain a genetically modified organism. Products not verified are not tested to verify it does not contain a GMO. It could mean it may have been raised / grown with chemicals, drugs, etc. Look for the Non-GMO Verified seal if you want to ensure you are not consuming GMOs. Non-GMO Verified: tested both by process and product that it truly is NOT a genetically modified organism. However, even though a food is non-GMO, it does not mean it is certified organic. In fact, it may have been raised / grown with chemicals, drugs, etc. Non-GMO verified means is that it doesn’t contain a GMO. Non-GMO Verified Certified Organic: Many companies who sell CO products are now also verifying they are non-GMO as well. For example, Cashton Farm Supply tests each load of grain it buys to grind for certified organic livestock feed, for the presence of GMOs. If found, that load of grain is rejected and then must be sold on the commodity market (for a much lower price). This is actually a hardship for certified organic corn farmers; they might have followed all the CO protocols, but the GMO pollen from neighboring corn fields may have blown on their corn, thus contaminating it.

their building. Beyond Organic or Organic 2.0: an unofficial term that people use to describe their production methods that do NOT include CO-approved inputs or go above and beyond CO protocol. Examples: • PyGanic is a CO-approved insecticide because it is made up of pyrethrins derived from chrysanthemums (thus it is plant-based, not a synthetic). But it does kill bees, so many CO farmers will not use it. • Livestock farmers who actually raise their livestock predominantly on pasture, not just give them “access” to pasture. • People who practice biodynamics, permaculture, ecological food production practices, that focus even more on soil and water health; and the nutrition in food. • Beekeepers who use CO sugar when feeding their bees, even though their honey can never be CO (CO honey must come from bees surrounded by 2 miles of CO land).

Cage-free eggs: the hens producing these eggs are not kept in cages; they have the ability to walk around

April/May 2016

REGISTERING FOR CLASSES Pre-registration is required for classes. You may register online or at our store at our customer service desk. Class fee(s) are due at time of registration. Registration closes 48 hours prior to the class. Visit justfood.coop for more information and to register.

Classes

Cooperative Cooking Join us in a fun community cooking class with community partner, Growing up Healthy. We’ll cook together and feast together. All are invited to this great inter-generational class. Adults and kids alike have a blast cooking and chatting together while the meal is prepared. Come and connect with the community and join in the fun! Monday, April 11 ��5:30-7:30 p.m. Free!

Popping the Question: Getting Corny with Young Chefs

In this lesson, students will engage with the phase changes they see every day in the kitchen. Through popping stovetop popcorn, students will explore physical phase changes, discuss evaporation and water vapor, and gain a better understanding of the relationship between pressure and temperature. In addition, making delicious popcorn on the stovetop offers to opportunity for further discussions about the nutritional benefits of whole grains versus movie theater popcorn, as well as price comparisons between the two. Lastly, by creating unique toppings for their popcorn, students will be able to better conceptualize and invent their own flavor combinations at home.

Weight Loss with Chinese Herbal Medicine

Spring is the natural time for detoxifying and losing weight. Don’t beat yourself up if you didn’t keep your new years resolutions. Instead come and learn about what makes losing weight so difficult and some things you can do through lifestyle and Chinese herbal medicine. Hint: the health of your liver is a major player in this and looking at your tongue can help point you in the right direction! Being overweight is one of the most common causes of chronic disease. We are told the standard advice ‘eat less and exercise’ in order to become healthy, however the reality is we need to become healthy to lose weight. Spring into action! Jenny Gamer has been helping people become balanced, healthy and happy using Chinese herbs, acupuncture, bodywork and lifestyle coaching since 2003. She holds a Master of Oriental Medicine from Northwestern Health Science University. Monday, April 4................6:00-7:30 p.m. Cost: Member, $10; Non-Member, $15

Young Chefs is an organization that uses hands-on cooking education to empower the next generation with culinary skills and scientific knowledge. We develop free open-access lesson plans and teaching resources for cooking-science education, and support educators to implement our curriculum in diverse programs across the globe. Our innovative approach enables students to succeed in the kitchen, classroom, and beyond. Saturday, April 2...........10:00-11:00 a.m. Cost: Free!

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Nourishing the Elements Within

In the dawning days of springtime, we will take a moment to honor the cyclic seasons of nature as they reside within and without us. This class offers an opportunity for each individual to explore and gain an experiential understanding of their own unique relationship to the elements they embody. From the ground of this personal awareness, we will explore practical ways to bring about balance between the elements of our body and that of the environment of which we are a part. This class will focus on dietary adaptations and herbal allies to help facilitate individualized balance that holds the potential to bring about blossoming vibrant energy, inspiration and health. Pictorial handouts, herbal tea and light nutritious snacks will be provided. Isabeth Schulz seeks to cultivate harmony and radiant health for herself and the collective through lifestyle that honors the elements and the Earth. As a student of both Western and Traditional modalities of medicine, teacher of yoga and visual artist, Isabeth strives to weave threads of unity between the directions through embodiment in the new and ancient present moment. The flame of her inspiration is fueled by dance, rhythm, melody, global folk-art traditions, storytelling, adventure and observation of nature. Monday, April 11 �� 6:00-7:30 p.m. Cost: Member, $7; Non-Member, $10

Shopping the Co-op on a Budget

Stretching your grocery dollars can sometimes be challenging. We often hear that shopping the Co-op is just ‘too expensive’ or that it’s just ‘not affordable’. Shopping the Co-op on a Budget will teach you some tips and tricks to stretch your grocery dollars and provide meal plans and ideas on how to feed your family affordably. We will focus on feeding a family of 4 for around $100 for a weeks worth of meals. Participants will also be treated to some fun budget conscious snacks and receive a $5.00 Gift Card upon arrival. Thursday, April 14..........6:00-7:00 p.m. Cost: Member/Non-Member, $5

How to Shop Bulk at the Co-op Join us on our 10% Off Bulk Day at Just Food Co-op to learn all about shopping bulk! You will learn the most efficient ways to go bulk, reducing grocery bill costs while minimizing packaging consumption and waste. Friday is Earth Day, and what better way to commemorate and celebrate the Earth than to learn a more planet-friendly way to shop! You will also learn how to sprout your own seeds and nuts, how to make your own nut-milk, and all the tricks and tips to make shopping bulk at the Co-op easypeasy, creative, and fun! Attendees will receive handouts, a BulkStart-Up-Kit, and a $5.00 Just Food Co-op Gift Card! Sat., April 23.....12:00-1:00 p.m. Member & Non-Member: $5

April/May 2016

Classes - Con’t 12

Elderberry: Grow and Enjoy! Chris Patton from the Minnesota Elderberry Cooperative will share the rich cultural and horticultural heritage of elderberry. His talk will include how to propagate and grow elder for your home garden or farm production. This native bush plays a number of supporting roles in the Midwest’s range of biomes, and it just might help solve some of your own environmental or soil management challenges. Its potently aromatic flowers and sweet neutral fruit have been used in traditional health treatments for centuries, and Chris will present a quick survey of some of the more recent research efforts on how elder flowers and berries can contribute to better health. Tuesday, May 3 ��6:00-7:30 p.m. Cost: Free!

Fermentation with Real Food Minnesota

In this 2 hour class about lactofermentation, we cover the history, health benefits, safe practices, and the actual ‘how to’ of making them. This is a fun lecture and participation class where you get hands-on and create your very own fermented food. You walk away with your very own airlock jar and personalized sauerkraut, detailed handouts, and confidence to successfully prepare fermented foods at home! We also provide a smorgasbord of fermented items to sample during the class. Cost includes supplies. Take your health into your own hands and register today! Saturday, May 14 ��11:00a-1:00 p.m. Cost: Member/Non-Member: $50

Yarn Dyeing with Harvest Moon Yarn Join us in a small group of fiber enthusiasts to learn the process of yarn dyeing. You will be guided step by step through two dyeing methods: hand painting and kettle. Participation in the class will provide you with two 300 yard skeins of Cormo sheep yarn, from Harvest Moon Yarn in Lonsdale, and dyed by you. You will also receive instructional materials to take home. There is an opportunity to order additional fiber and dyes for future creative ventures. Dye colors are chosen by you at the beginning of the class. Get ready to be inspired and creative! About Instructors: Chelsey Burdt lives in Bloomington with her husband and two children. She creates beautiful and inspiring colorways using professional acid dyes. She sells her finished product in Twin Cities area shops and has an Etsy shop, DarnYarnMN, where she sells her indie dyed yarns, project bags and other finished fiber products. Stacy Dresow lives on farm in Lonsdale with her husband and four children. She has a small flock of Cormo and CVM x Corriedale cross sheep which are known for their superfine to fine fleeces. Harvest Moon Yarn is milled locally in Hastings, MN. She has been selling in local yarn shops since 2013 and started an Etsy shop, DresowFamilyFarm, this year. Saturday, May 21.....10:00a-12:00 p Cost: Member/Non-Member: $75

Thinking Outside the Box About Your Health Real creativity is about living a daily life of innovation.To be human is to be inclined to create and we are all imagining and innovating every single day. In this class you will learn more about what you can do to focus on your health in order to nurture your body, mind, and spirit so

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that you can best support your ability to envision, focus, adapt and create. You will learn very simple and practical, yet also powerful, steps toward better health and creativity. About the Instructor: Bekah Rieke is a certified Integrative Nutrition Coach trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition’s cutting edge Health Coach Training Program and holds a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Bekah coaches clients in the Twin Cities to achieve their health goals (e.g., weight loss, digestive concerns, emotional eating) through real food and sagely rediscovered body intelligence. She uses her passion for whole foods and her expertise in the kitchen to help intelligent, creative, beautiful, and in-need-of-nourishment folks to transform their health and care for themselves by turning on the stove and learning to cook wholesome healthy food. Monday, May 23 �� 6:00-8:00 p.m. Cost: Member $12; Non-Member $15

YMCA Healthy Kids Day! Join us for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 30 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Bridgewater Elementary. This will be a great morning complete with fire trucks, safety vehicles, other local organizations and of course - Just Food! We will have a healthy snack and an interactive activity for the kids. Stop and see us!

April/May 2016

College Connection

Carleton College Preparation for Earth Day Celebration: Bringing the Greater Northfield Community Together Sarah Goldman Environmental Studies Major - ‘17

What brings people together better than a fresh batch of kombucha, a walk in the Arb, and homemade cheese? For the past couple of years, Carleton students and Northfield community members have worked collaboratively to call fellow neighbors, students, and friends together for a festive spring celebration and skills sharing workshop during the annual Northfield Earth Day Celebration. For Carleton students, this event represents an opportunity to align themselves with folks in the community who are interested in similar environmental causes. As Clara Hobbie, a Carleton student involved planning in this year’s celebration states, “I wanted to create an event that would positively impact everyone in the community.” This year, four dedicated Carleton students, Clara Hobbie, Alejan-

dro Gallardo, Pallav Kumar, and Will Loner, have taken a lead role as Carleton Earth Day liaisons, and each student is contributing unique skills to the event. Will Loner will be leading a Nature Walk for kids, while Alejandro and Clara will be teaching young people how to make origami from recycled magazines, and helping planning the kids booth at the community supper. Pallav and a campus zero-waste Carleton committee will also be sharing tips about how to reduce waste in dorms and in households, and helping lead a composting workshop. Earth Day attendees have come to love the local music, homemade soup, bread, and informal community get-together that happens at the end of an extensive day of Earth Day events. Carleton students will also be working to help prepare for the festive soup supper and commu-

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nity entertainment to conclude the day of celebration on the 23rd. Students have found this to be one of the most fun parts of the planning process - cooking with friends in the UCC kitchen has a way of solidifying new friendship. For Carleton students, Earth Day preparation and celebration has a unique ability to bring different folks together. As Alejandro Gallardo states, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I decided to help with Earth Day because I wanted to appreciate the Earth with local members of the Northfield community.â&#x20AC;? Through this fun event, and collaborative planning process, students and community members alike are able to share skills and similar interests, creating a more inclusive and environmentally friendly community for all. Stay tuned for more information about Northfield Earth Day 2016, April 23rd. Check out the info on page 18 of the ComPost and also at http://northfieldearthday.com

April/May 2016

Living our Cooperative Principles ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES.

Stephanie Aman Marketing & Member Services Manager Co-op Member

Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the association is to operate a financially sound retail grocery to provide the Northfield area with natural and healthful foods and other household and personal items and services at the lowest possible cost, and to serve as a marketing distribution point for area food producers. We will provide a model of responsible business practices based on co-operative principles, giving consideration to the needs of all members and recognizing the right of workers to participatory management. (taken from the beginning of Just Food’s Bylaws: www.justfood.coop)

As your local community owned grocery store, we have a responsibility to our community, to the earth, to our farmers and to our cooperative business model. As a cooperative, we are guided by a set of principles the seven cooperative principles. Just Food gives back to the community in many ways that we often do not talk about. We are glad to do it, it is part of the reason we exist so it just feels like it’s the right thing to do without ‘tooting our own horn’! I also think that this community and our member have a right to know what we’re up to. Let’s take a little trip down a few of those paths and look at how your locally owned grocery store is supporting the community that supports us. About two years ago, Just Food developed and implemented our Just Round Up program that has given over $14,000 back to our community partners just last year. That’s you, our customers and community donating to these non-profits. We simply serve as the conduit by collecting the application, choosing the partners, asking you to Round Up your purchases and then giving those funds to the non-profit for the month. We have a diverse pool of applications from non-profits and the funds raised vary, but the goal is to provide our customers with

options that fit for them. Some of our community partners have included Ruth’s House of Hope, River Bend Nature Center, Greenvale Park PTO, Friends of the Library, the Skateboard Coalition and the Northfield Fireworks display. Our community partners serve very different sectors of our community. All non-profits are welcomed to apply and we choose community partners on a quarterly basis. Education. We provide educational opportunities to our community, whether it be onsite classes, cosponsoring classes with the YMCA, Northfield Hospital or the Library; there’s always something going on that you can be a part of - member or not! Did you know that we have an education coordinator that participates weekly in afterschool programming at all three elementary schools in town? We provide a fun activity on behalf of the Co-op and also a healthy snack for the children. Young Chefs, a Carleton College middle school program, receives substantial food donations from the Co-op to help defray costs of teaching our middle school youth about food and science. Additionally, Just Food has been providing snacks to the Greenvale Park Community School snack cart for evening programming. In February, Just Food donated 1000 apples to Bridge-

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water’s Apple and a Book Event that encourages reading, and getting to do so while eating a healthy apple and sharing the reading with a trusted adult. Feeding our community - mentally and physically - it’s good stuff! Just Food participates in community events like Winter Walk, Taste of Northfield and Jesse James Days. We also have held stand-alone events like our annual Dairy Days in June and Harvest Festival in September, which are great opportunities to meet your farmers and thank them for the work they do to provide our community with good food! As part of the larger cooperative community, Just Food, along with all the Twin Cities Co-ops, provide everyone an opportunity to get out and meet your farmers at the Eat Local Farm Tour held every July. In April, Just Food will hold our member drive and we would love for you to consider joining us. It’s not a special club to join, you are actually purchasing stock in a business that you can believe in. Your $125 one-time investment will garner many member benefits including member only pricing on products and classes, use of the community room for personal or privately held events, case discounts on products and the ability to say - “Hey, I am part of that!” So those cooperative principles that we talked about earlier: 1. Voluntary, Open Membership 2. Democratic Member Control 3. Member Economic Participation 4. Autonomy and Independence 5. Education, Training And Information 6. Cooperation Among Cooperatives 7. Concern For The Community They guide us, they make us better and they help us to serve you to the best of our ability. We strive daily to put good affordable food on our shelves so that everyone in our community has access to the food they want to eat. If you haven’t been to Just Food within the last six months, I’d personally like to invite you down. There has been a great deal of focus put on food access and affordability for our community, and I know you’ll like what you see. Everyone can shop. Anyone can join. Member or not, you’re always welcome at Just Food. I hope to see you soon!

April/May 2016

Proud Community Sponsor of Earth Day

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April is Membership Drive Month. It’s a Great Time to Invest! Member Name 1: �� (Other members of the household are welcome to use the member number)

Street address: �� City: �� State: ____ Zip:__________ Phone: �� Email: �� Would you like to receive the weekly email updates? __Yes __No I agree to buy 1 Class A (voting) share for $25.00 and 20 Class B (non-voting) shares at $5.00 each in the Just Food: Northfield Community Co-op (the Co-op) for a total of $125.00. I understand that this application is subject to acceptance by the Board of Directors of the Co-op and that my membership is subject to the Co-op Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and membership provisions. I have received a copy of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws and acknowledge the statement of membership provisions. I am paying for these shares as follows: ____ $125 payment in full with this application. ____ $ 25 down payment + $10 processing fee ($35 total initial payment), with a $25 payment quarterly for a total of $135 (1 year payment option). ____Other terms arranged on request. �� Please tell us how you learned about the Co-op: �� Referred by: �� Member #1 Signature: �� Member #2 Signature: �� Date: �� Please give this application to a cashier or send it along with your payment to:

516 Water Street S Northfield, MN 55057 507-650-0106 justfood.coop

April/May 2016

Membership

Member Name 2: ��

516 Water Street S Northfield, MN 55057 507-650-0106 justfood.coop

Save the Date! Saturday, April 30 YMCA Healthy Kids Day at Bridgewater Saturday, May 7 Gluten Free Sampling Day Sunday, June 26 Dairy Days Saturday, July 16 Twin Cities Co-op Sponsored Eat Local Farm Tour Cooperatively Owned by our Members. Open to EVERYONE! Member or not, you are always welcome at Just Food Co-op.