Mountain View Market Co-op & Kitchen 1300 El Paseo Road – Las Cruces, NM 88001 Open everyday from 8 AM – 9 PM Phone: (575) 523-0436 Fax: (575) 541-0814 Email: mountainviewmarketcoop@gmail.com Mountain View Market Kitchen Downtown 120 S. Water Street – Las Cruces, NM 88005 Monday – Friday: 8 AM – 5 PM Saturday: 8 AM – 2 PM Phone: (575) 556-9856 Email: mountainviewkitchen@gmail.com MVM Farm 2653 Snow Road - Mesilla, NM Volunteer Days Wednesdays & Saturdays: 8:30 - 11:30 AM Email: ocleyf@yahoo.com Mission Statement “The Organ Mountain Cooperative promotes good food, good company, and good health for all.” Staff Mission Statement “We are diverse in our backgrounds, but united in our goal to serve and empower local and global communities and increase the quality of life for all.” The Co-operative Principles 1. Voluntary and Open Membership 2. Democratic Member Control 3. Members’ Economic Participation 4. Autonomy and Independence 5. Education, Training, and Information 6. Cooperation among Cooperatives 7. Concern for Community Board of Directors Shahid Mustafa, General Manager Hollis Train Paul Heiberger, President Lori Kae Schwab Claudia Piper, Vice President Caitlin Karrenberg Carolyn Gressitt, Secretary Randy Harris Stella Field, Treasurer Karen George Our monthly Board meetings are held in the MVM Administrative Offices (just south of the main store), starting at 6 pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The first portion of each meeting is reserved for a Member Forum, and we welcome visits from our fellow Members to hear your concerns! [MVMBoard@mountainviewmarket.coop]
News from the Kitchen! By Caitlin Karrenberg, Kitchen Manager The Kitchen has been in full swing this Spring. We saw four record-breaking sales weeks in a row. We’ve seen several $1000+ days, and we continue to increase and expand our options and offerings. News of the upcoming store expansion and renovations has begun to spread, and we’re especially excited about what that means for the Kitchen. The completion of the renovations will give our members access to a larger selection of local, organic, healthy prepared food options. We’ll feature a full hot bar, cold salad bar, and burrito station, and we’ll continue to offer juices, smoothies, espresso drinks, Grab & Go options, and made-to-order sandwiches. Throughout the expansion we will maintain our focus on local, organic, and sustainable foods and work with MVM Farm and other regional producers and suppliers to bolster our menu. With the expansion of the store’s fresh meat department, we’ll have access to more local meat which we will feature in our rotating hot bar menu. Our cold salad bar will feature fresh produce from the MVM Farm and other regional farms. You can also start looking for some of our made-from-scratch sauces in Aisle1. We’ve started offering our Basil Pesto, Arugula & Walnut Pesto, and Vegan Caesar Dressing in 8 and 16 oz sizes. We make these sauces using organic and local ingredients and never include preservatives or GMO ingredients. We’re pretty excited about the upcoming expansion. If you have any questions or concerns about what will be going down in the Kitchen, fill out a comment card or find one of our knowledgeable Kitchen staff. As always, eat healthy, be happy, and don’t forget to participate in Bike to Work Week! MountainViewMarketKitchen
Down on the Farm
By Lori Garton, Farm Manager
May at MVM Farm is going to be another whirlwind of a month. Besides the on-farm activities, we are trying to raise funds to continue into the future as a Non-Profit. We are taking off our work boots and putting on running shoes in hopes that others in the community will join us for a 5K “Turnip Trot” on May 10th to support MVM Farm. If you’re not a runner, walker, or jogger, that’s ok - you should still come! The run begins and ends at the Farm, so check it out while your friends run around it! Instead of our usual Saturday Ardovino’s Farmers’ Market, we’ll also be selling our harvest at the MVM Farm that day. I’m envisioning a great event where people are exercising, meeting and greeting, and munching on freshly harvested veggies. Please join us!
We are officially in our second month of our expanded Farm Share program. If you don’t already know, Co-op members can order a MVM Farm share each week - a box full of the best veggies from the Farm harvested Friday mornings, which also includes recipes for inspiration. Box pick-up is now available at both the Farm in Mesilla on Fridays from 3:305:00pm and at the Ardovino’s Farmers’ Market in Sunland Park on Saturdays from 9am to 12pm. Order a farm share online through the Co-op website, but place your order early in the week because we have limited quantities! Our Aquaponics systems have warmed up, and they are just bursting with life. It truly is a sight to see - basil, watercress, cucumbers, tomatoes, sprouts, and wheatgrass are all flourishing! It’s amazing how much food you can grow in a small space without soil.
We are sad to be losing two great NMSU interns, Deb and Ben. Their hard work, dedication, and quests for knowledge will be missed. They have done so much for the farm while they have been here! Deb planted a new section of perennials and conducted research on the prickly pear cactus. Ben supplied us with more on-site produced compost and conducted composting experiments. We hope we’ll see them again in the future. Thank you for all of your hard work! The May workshop will be on Vermiculture, also known as worm farming. If you’ve been curious about raising worms please join us! Our red wiggler worms are active again and are for sale - 50 worms for $5. You can come to the workshop, learn all about how to care for the decomposers, then take some home with you the same day. You’ll be producing amazing compost in no time. The farm is breathing. It’s producing vegetables, more people are coming out, and it’s evolving into a new being. We’re really concentrating on education and outreach, and we’d love for you to be a part of it. Feel free to visit every Wednesday and Saturday from 8:30 to 11:30am. See what we’re up to and maybe pull up a weed or two to give a snack to our sheep. I’m excited for planting, for new vegetables to harvest, for our Aquaponics system, for Summer, and for new educational opportunities! This Season is gearing up to be a great one! Hope to see you at the trot, at the market, at the workshop, at the co-op, or at the farm! Weeding in Running Shoes, Lori Garton, MVM Farm Manager
MVM Farm 2653 Snow Road (Mesilla)
MountainViewMarketFarm MVMFarm
BODy + Soul By Stella Field, Board Treasurer Mixing business with pleasure, great food with great company, Mountain View Market Cooperative’s 39th Annual Meeting Saturday, April 12, was a rousing success. Contributing to the evening’s enjoyment was a marvelous dinner, vendor freebies, gift basket raffles, music, socializing and desert. Yet, amidst all the fun was the serious business of planning for the future of our Co+Op. More than 250 members attended the event. Following MVM board president Paul Heiberger’s welcoming comments, general manager Shahid Mustafa laid out the challenges ahead. “We can’t compete with stores like Natural Grocers. We can’t just reduce our margins to remain competitive. What it comes down to is values,” he said. As an example, Shahid noted the operation of the MVM Farm on Snow Road. “The farm is one of the best things we could have done for our community.” He noted that buying similar organic produce at competing stores boasting lower prices is not really a consumer benefit because said produce may have been on the road seven days before going on sale. “Plus, there’s the cost of fuel to haul that produce.” Because the MVM Farm provides community access to freshly harvested, delicious, chemical-free, and organically-grown vegetables, as well as offering a variety of community workshops and education initiatives, it demonstrates MVM’s commitment to the community. “So it comes down to values,” he said. “Agriculture is one of the main areas for a growing economy in this region; once again, this is for you.” Although Wal-Mart and Target have announced they will soon begin selling organic produce, MVM offers its customers the added value of local Las Cruces delivery, as well as delivery to satellite locations in Truth or Consequences, El Paso, Deming & Alamogordo. You also can place your order online at http://www.mountainviewmarket.coop (you must have an account to use this feature). There’s even more added value coming to your Co+Op in the form of an enlarged and remodeled facility featuring a meat market. “Members are being asked to invest $250,000 in the form of a member loan that will be paid back at 3 percent interest over either five or six years,” Shahid said. The Co+Op intends to invest a total of one million dollars for the expansion. “I think it’s hard for anyone else to replicate our community work,” Shahid concluded.
“Last year MVM experienced 6 percent growth,” Paul Heiberger said in presenting the financial report. “Basically, we broke even. Actually, the Co+Op is doing very well, although this year there will be no patronage rebate to distribute because that money is going to the Co+Op initiatives. A lot of money has gone to members already - $60,000 has gone to you, the members.” (According to the Compiled Financial Statement, $63,417.39 was distributed last year to members in the form of Member Appreciation Days and other discounts.) Paul said that members and customers can pick up a complete information packet regarding the Member Investment Initiative at the store. Promissory Notes will also be available. Informational meetings concerning the Member Investment Initiative are scheduled for public input. Dates and times are listed at the end of newsletter. MVM Board elections are underway and ballots are due no later than May 11, 2014. (Only one vote per membership.) Ballots are available at the Co+Op Courtesy Desk. Board candidates are: Doug DesGeorges, ddesgeorges@yahoo.com Danielle Lapiano, danigirl175lap@gmail.com Claudia Piper, cpiper@nmsu.edu Siddeeq Shabazz, smshabazz@gmail.com Mark Uchanski, uchanski@nmsu.edu Theresa Westbrock, twestbrock@gmail.com A very special thanks is in order to the following restaurants/caterers who provided the delicious food. Please be sure to patronize these restaurants/caterers in appreciation of their support of Mountain View Market Co+Op: Alma D’Arte Culinary Arts, and student servers Habaneros Fresh Mix Lorenzo’s Catering Si Bistro and Bakery Let Them Eat Cake Mountain View Market Kitchen Floriography for the beautiful floral arrangements Hubbard Family DJs for the music and entertainment.
May Events @ MVM CO+OP All events are free, open to the public, and located in the MVM Co-op Community Room unless noted otherwise.Want to host an event in the Co-op Community Room? Just contact Jennifer at outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop or call (575)523-0436.
Member Investment Informational Meetings in May Sunday, May 4th – 12 to 1 pm Saturday, May 10th - 10 to 11 am Tuesday, May 13th – 12 to 1 pm Wednesday, May 28th - 5 to 6 pm Our Member Loan Informational Meetings will take place in the Co-op Community Room. Investment Packets are available for pick up at the Courtesy Desk or for download from our website. Members of the Board of Directors will be available at this meeting to answer questions about this investment opportunity for current Co-op members, accept investment payments, and sign Promissory Notes. Additional Informational Meetings are scheduled in June. Download an Investment Packet here: http://mountainviewmarket.coop/content/member-investment-initiative [INFO: mo.valko@mountainviewmarket.coop] Wednesdays, Thursdays, & Fridays in May – 8 am to 1 pm The Sidewalk Nursery: Robledo Vista Nursery specializes in low water use native and adapted plants, as well as select fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables. Visit RobledoVista.com for current availability and call ahead if you would like to purchase a specific plant. Please note that days and hours are subject to weather conditions. The Sidewalk Nursery is located in front of Mountain View Market. Call Jimmy for more info. [INFO: 915.203.4385] Wednesdays & Saturdays in May – 8:30 to 11:30 am MVM Farm Volunteer Days: Interested in organic farming and local food production? Want to find out more about composting, vermiculture, aquaponics, laying hens, and crop planning for our region? Come and volunteer at the MVM Farm located at 2653 Snow Road in Mesilla. Contact the Co-op for details and directions. [INFO: 575.523.0436 or ocleyf@yahoo.com] Wednesdays & Fridays in May – 12 to 1 pm Lunchtime Yoga: Calling everyone, beginners or experienced alike, who would like to make the most of their lunch hour with a tailored and exclusive 45 minute yoga class, followed by a lunch from the MVM Downtown Kitchen. $12 cash or check for yoga and express lunch from Mountain View Market Kitchen. No pre-registration necessary: Just show up to Downtown Desert Yoga (303 S. Alameda Blvd), fill out your lunch order, and your lunch will be ready for pickup at the Downtown Kitchen after your yoga class. [YOGA INFO: 575.647.9642 or www.downtowndesertyoga.com] [MVM KITCHEN INFO: 575.556.9856]
Saturday, May 3rd – 9 to 11 am Vermiculture Workshop: Vermiculture is the process of composting with worms. Learn to recycle kitchen waste and create your own vermicast! In addition, you’ll learn to create a safe, healthy habitat for your worms. Worms will be available for purchase - 50 red wiggler worms for $5. The workshop will be held at the MVM Farm in Mesilla (2653 Snow Road). Cost is $15 for members/$20 for nonmembers and space is limited. You must register online, over the phone, or in-store before attending the workshop at the farm. [INFO: 575.523.0436, www.mountainviewmarket.coop, or outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop]
Saturday, May 3rd – 12 to 1 pm DIY Mother’s Day: In this do-it-yourself class, we’ll teach you how to make your own lip balms and body butters! This would be a wonderful treat for your friends, loved ones, or yourself. Each participant will receive a lip balm to take home. This class is $3 for members/$5 for non-members. Sign up in store, over the phone, or online. [INFO: 575.523.0436, www.mountainviewmarket.coop, or outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop] Tuesday, May 6th – 6 to 7:30 pm Trap, Neuter & Return: Feral Cat Care: Join nationally recognized expert on feral cat care, Joe Miele, who will explain some simple things we can do to make the feral cat population more comfortable, and learn how to humanely reduce the population by preventing new litters. The class typically occurs every first Tuesday of the month. [INFO: 575.523.0436] Thoughts, questions, comments? We want to hear from you, so please let us know how we're doing! Fill out a Customer Comment Card at the Courtesy Desk and drop it off in the Customer Comment box by the front door of the Co-op. If you leave your email or phone number, we’ll be able to respond to you!
May Events Continued... Saturday, May 10th – 7 to 9:30 am Turnip Trot 5k: MVM Farm will hold a 5k run (walkers welcome!) to provide community members an opportunity to show support for MVM Farm – their community farm – and local food system. During the past six months, MVM Farm staff has provided over 1,193 hours of instruction and hands-on experiential learning time to high school students, college interns, and community members. Registration will begin at 7 am, the race will start at 8 am, and all runners will clear from the course no later than 9:30 am. Awards will be given to top runners and t-shirts will be given out to all participants. The race will begin and end at the MVM Farm (2653 Snow Road, Mesilla). Registration is $25. You can register online, over the phone, or by emailing Nicole Fuchs (Farm Administrator) [INFO: http://mountainviewmarket.coop/outreach/events/turnip-trot-5k, 575.523.0436, or ocleyf@yahoo.com] Monday, May 12th – Friday, May 16th Bike to Work Week: Mountain View Market is proud to participate in National Bike to Work Week! Since we love bikes so much, we want to encourage our customers to hop on their bikes that week too. Any customer who bikes to the Coop (1300 El Paseo Road) or the MVM Kitchen (120 S. Water Street) anytime this week will receive a free coconut water and a fresh-baked Bumble Baby Bar from the MVM Kitchen. Friday, May 16th is National Bike to Work Day: Anyone who bikes to one of our above locations can also be entered into a raffle to win a free juice or smoothie. Simply bring in your bike helmet (as proof that you rode) and we’ll give you the goods. No helmet = no goodies. Sorry, but we encourage safe riding only! Offer valid once per day. That means you can come in every day that week and get free goods 5 times! For more information on safe riding tips and National Bike Month, visit: www.bikeleague.org [INFO: 575.523.0436] Thursday, May 15th – 5 to 6 pm Eat Smart Live Well – Energy Wellness Class: Rosario and Trish of our Wellness department will lead a class detailing the ways you can boost your energy throughout the hot summer months. Don’t let the heat slow you down, and it’s easier to do than you think. Classes are free for members and $3 for non-members. Sign up in-store, over the phone, or online. Don’t forget about the corresponding Cooking Class the following Thursday. [INFO: 575.523.0436, www.mountainviewmarket.coop, or outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop]
Thursday, May 15th – 7 to 8 pm Vegan Support Group: This is open to Vegans and those who are curious about the Vegan lifestyle. The discussion will be informal and will focus on information and practical applications shared by those in attendance. Learn about the aspects and advantages of eating vegan, as well as the difference between eating a vegetarian diet and a vegan diet. Bring your questions. Share your story. Meetings take place the third Thursday of each month. [INFO: 575.523.0436] Saturday, May 17th – 10 am to 12 pm Desert Baby-wearers: Learn about safe and comfortable baby-wearing, practice new methods, try different carriers and meet other baby-wearers at this monthly meeting. This monthly event meets every third Saturday. [INFO: 575.312.1974 or leslieh1206@yahoo.com] Thursday, May 22nd – 5 to 6 pm Eat Smart Live Well – Energy Cooking Class: Our Outreach department will lead a cooking class featuring easy and delicious ways you can boost your energy throughout the hot summer months. Don’t let the heat slow you down, and it’s easier to do than you think. Don’t forget to attend the corresponding Wellness Class the Thursday prior. Classes are free for members and $3 for non-members. Sign up in-store at the Courtesy Desk, over the phone, or online. [INFO: 575-523-0436, www.mountainviewmarket.coop, or outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop] Wednesday, May 28th – 6 to 9 pm MVM Board of Directors Meeting: The MVM Board of Directors Meetings are held in the MVM Administrative Offices (just south of the main store), usually from 5:30 to 8:30pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month. The first portion of the meeting is reserved for a Member Forum, and we welcome visits from our fellow Member/ Owners to hear your concerns! [INFO: 575-523-0436 or MVMBoard@mountainviewmarket.coop] Saturday, June 7th - 9 to 11 am Organic and Homemade Pest Control Workshop: Pests are constantly bugging the grower. Learn how to deter pests and disease in your garden or farm naturally. This workshop will cover pest identification, preventative measures, and what to do when you’ve got a real problem. You’ll learn the surprisingly easy and cheap ways to combat pests, all without harmful synthetic pesticides that can pose more threats to your family and the environment. The workshop will be held at the MVM Farm in Mesilla (2653 Snow Road). Cost is $15 for members/$20 for nonmembers and space is limited. You must register online, over the phone, or in-store before attending the workshop at the farm. [INFO: 575.523.0436, www.mountainviewmarket.coop, or outreach@mountainviewmarket.coop]
We Co-operate! These Local Businesses Offer Special Discounts to CO+OP Members! Just show your current Mountain View Market Co-op Membership card at the time of purchase. +Acupuncture Crossroads Community Acupuncture 312-6569 +American Sign Language Sandi Zielinski MA, LPC 202-4076 +Animal Care & Services Anthony Animal Clinic (915)886-4558 The Agile Animal 649-3193 +Art Galleries The Potteries 524-0538 +Auto Repair German Auto Repair 382-9705 +Bakery Let them Eat Cake 649-8965 +Chiropractor Chiwawa Chiropractic LLC 520-2318 Hawkins Chiropractic Care 520-6002 +Clothing & Textiles A Perfect Fit Clothing Alterations 523-2565 +Computer Services Advanced Computer Repair 523-2565 +DJ’s & Entertainment Hubbard Family DJs (617)733-3466 +Fitness Services Gold Medal Taekwondo 526-4429 Pi Pilates 526-0977 Tai Chi 382-8978 Tranquility Fitness Studio 571-8446 +Gardening & Landscaping Natura LLC 805-6559 Picacho Peak Trees 571-0195 +Health Products/Services Alpha Center for R&R 621-3195 A Next Step 382-8771 Be Nourished 650-6264 Beyond Envisioning LLC 571-1345 Delia Z. Gaskins 233-2534 From the Ground Up 523-2652 Full Circle Health Center 525-3700 Kari Hinojosa, Weight Management 525-1384, Radiant Lights Polarity Therapy 522-1199, Ruth Romo, Family Nurse Practitioner 525-3700 Tesoro Integrative Health Center 541-5660 Sound Healing Therapy 520-4477 Transformational Light Designs 233-1108 +Counseling/ Hypnotherapy Integrity Counseling 373-1163 Jane Grider 526-5620 Phoenix Transformational Services 382-2078 +Homeopathy Katherine Hannan 647-3744 Wendy Robin Weir 650-7543 +Jewelry Elkin Studio Jewelers 568-6828 Healing Crystal Jewelry 520-4477 Riffraff Jewelry (850)559-3476 +Massage Therapists Let It Go Massage Therapy 640-1591 Marie Mathewson, PhD 915-2155 Patricia Gray, Body Synergy 636-3456 Pecan Valley Massage, Sue Styer 647-4468 Vincent J. Ortega 642-3157 +Midwives All Natural Birth 636-4627 Heather Rische 743-0439 +Solar Power Positive Energy Solar 524-2030 Sunspot Solar Energy Systems 541-3533 +Tarot Reading Linda Marlena Carr 312-3040 +Self Defense Innovative Defense Strategies 405-4917 Las Cruces Self Defense 621-0230 +Yoga Downtown Desert Yoga 647-9642 Yin Yoga (805)559-3476 Please visit our website to view the co-op member discounts offered by these participating local businesses: http://mountainviewmarket.coop/content/we-co-operate
co·op·er·a·tion - noun
1.the process of working together to the same end.