JULY 2018
Skipping the Summer Slump: Exciting improvements and new arrivals around the store
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From the GM: Exciting changes in the store
Gary Taylor, General Manager
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Read Gary's full article
here.
Quick summary of updates:
- Central Illinois Bakehouse bread now in front of the deli instead of its old location by the beer
- Wine display moved to where the bread was
- Co-op branded merchandise now on an end display by the dairy department
- Freezer that was by the checklanes now by salad bar
- Kombucha cooler moved to by the checklanes
Coming soon:
- Freezer by salad bar will soon feature co-op made from scratch frozen pizza
- More cold drink coolers joining the kombucha that has already been moved by the checklanes
- Specialty cheese moving to cooler by beer & wine
- Current cheese cooler will be full of sushi
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What's Your Relationship to the Food You Buy?
Sam Ihm, Promotions Coordinator
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On industrial agriculture, being a "consumer", eating consciously, and working toward a local food system that meets our material needs.
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Board Elections are Coming Up
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Elections for CGFC's Board of Directors are coming up! There's a Board Candidate Info Session in the classroom Monday, 7/9 from 5:30 to 6 pm. You can find the election information packet
here and apply for the Board
here.
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Petition to Allow Staff on the Board of Directors
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One of the conversations we've been having in the store has been on allowing staff who are owners to run for Common Ground's Board of Directors. In order for this to happen, there needs to be a change to the Bylaws, which currently state that "No director shall be an employee of the Co-op."
To amend the Bylaws requires a
petition signed by at least 5% of owners, followed by a vote at the annual Meeting of Owners in September (by a quorum of at least 3% of owners) in favor of the amendment.
Click
here if you would like to sign the petition in support of the proposed amendment.
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Local Pancake Breakfast: $1 pancakes!
Sun, July 22, 10:30a - 1p
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Join us for our first
Local Pancake Breakfast
, Sunday July 22 in our Flatlander classroom! Meet local producers & enjoy a locally themed breakfast. Invite family & friends!
See you there!
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Community Song Circle
Sat, July 21, 9:30 - 11:30a
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Join us in a
Community Song Circle led by
Lyndsey Scott,
Saturday, July 21, 9:30-11:30am. All are welcome to participate in community song on our front porch during Urbana's Market at the Square and are invited to share their voice!
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We've Got the Meat!
Joanne Mierek, Operations Manager
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If you are looking for high quality, locally raised beef, pork, poultry or bison, we’ve got it. Arnold and Jessica in our meat and cheese department order from 6 local livestock farmers, so you’ll always find a nice selection of fresh and frozen local meat for your next grill-out.
Lieb Farm is our local source for 100% grass-fed pasture-raised bison and we are pleased to offer bison ribeye steaks as well as ground and New York Strip steaks.
New offerings from Stan at
Triple S Farms include smoked andouille sausage, Lil Hog Dogs and Lil Beef Wieners, all uncured and nitrate-free. All the animals raised by Triple S are fed on certified organic pasture. The dogs, wieners and new 100% beef sliders were featured at our first Chill and Grill event in early June and were delicious!
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We're thrilled to carry Ye Olde Donuts in our bakery, a C-U favorite since 1956! They have had the same donut baker for 35 years. An assortment of flavors for $1.75 a piece, available daily.
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More New Items You'll Wanna Try
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Loads of new
Prepared Foods items, always baked from scratch in our co-op kitchen:
- Vegan Drop Biscuits
- Cheddar Scallion Biscuits (with Local Ropp cheddar)
- Vegan Lemon Poppy Zucchini Bread
- CBD Pudding (coming soon)
- Pesto Swirl Rolls (coming soon)
- Streusel Coffee Cakes (coming soon)
Typical of this time of year, we have a bunch of new
local produce: s
weet corn, cucumbers (green and white), tomatillos, green kale, red kale, chard, purple peppers, r
ed cabbage,
gold beets, green peppers, celery, sweet onions, dill seed heads, & tarragon.
Fire Brew apple cider vinegar-based health tonics are now available in Wellness.
Terra Natural Designs fanny packs are making a splash, too! Check them out if you need some extra style and pockets.
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Featured Deli Drink: Iced Coconut Mocha
A summertime spin on our delicious Iced Mocha
- Made with coconut syrup and coconut creamer
- Topped with our house made whipped cream and chocolate sauce
Try one for $4.49. Don't forget your punch card!
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We Visited PrairiErth Farm
Anne Bargar, Produce Assistant Manager
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Read about our recent visit to PrairiErth Farm in Atlanta, IL, where we met up with our cooperative buddies at Green Top Grocery. We toured the farm and learned about their
Food Hub project, talked with farmer Katie Bishop (below), then visited Green Top for lunch and a quick tour there.
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Katie Bishop, Farmer, Human of the Co-op
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"
I talk to farmers all over the Midwest. We have wonderful connections with other farmers and what I’m hearing is that their contracts with Whole Foods, their relationships with CSA, their CSA numbers are declining and the only constant and steady business that they have is with their co-ops. These are co-ops in Minnesota and Wisconsin and all over the place and I feel like
the future of local food falls in the hands of the co-ops
to be able to continue to keep this going because of the transparency and honesty and the commitment that co-ops show towards their farmers verses these big box stores. So it’s super important that we continue to support our co-ops because they might be the only option that we have moving forward for real local food."
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July Recipient: Sola Gratia Farm
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This month, you can round up your total and support Sola Gratia Farm, a unique non-profit urban farm in Urbana dedicated to serving the community by growing fresh produce. They pledge to donate 10% of their harvest to local food pantries - as it happens, they've donated nearly one-third of all the produce they've ever grown to feed the hungry in our community.
Support the farm with your spare change in July and find the farmers in the store sampling on the following dates:
Saturday, July 7
@ 11a-2p
Sunday, July 15, 22, & 29
@ 12:30-2:30p
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The US Senate Just Passed a Cooperative-Friendly Farm Bill
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A couple quick points about the bill:
- Reauthorizes the Rural Cooperative Development Grant (RCDG) program, the only federal program dedicated to advancing the impact of cooperative businesses.
- Reauthorizes America’s flagship food aid program, Food for Peace.
- Includes the Rural Jobs and Investment Act, which creates a Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant program. Cooperative Development Organizations are expressly eligible to receive support under the RISE grant program, which is designed to grow regional economies.
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See what's new for the month of July in our
classes email. You can always sign up online or in-store and classes are listed on the
class calendar.
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Enjoy $2 off your next purchase of $15 or more
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Just bring in this slip, show it on your device, or mention the word "purple".
Valid through end of July. May not be reused or used for sale items, Basics, or alcohol.
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