Shop Local for the Holidays!

Shop local for the holidays and support our local growers, artisans, and food purveyors. Get a head start on your list with these ideas, and look for the local signs in our stores to find that perfect something for anyone on your list.

A gift of food is always welcome, but local businesses also make wonderful body care products, greeting cards, floral bouquets, and much more!

Something Salty

Harvested and dried by the sun at the San Juan Island Sea Salt salt farm.

Co-op Gift Cards

The universal gift for hungry humans. Everyone eats, right?!

Stocking Stuffers

Pamper your skin with quality products from Moon Valley Organics!

Spice Things Up!

We love these fresh and inventive spice packets from local favorite The Spice Hut!

Snack Essentials

Organic, direct fair trade chocolates from BIJA and apple chips from BelleWood Acres are perfect for those between meal cravings!

For Tea Lovers

Not only is the tea exceptional, but even the packaging from Flying Bird Botanicals is exceptional.

A Taste of Honey

Share something sweet from our upper left corner of the country from Upper Left Honey.

Blueberry Goodies

Spread on the organic heirloom blueberry jams and more from Bow Hill Blueberries.

2018 Farmer Award Recipients!

by Jean Rogers, Farm Fund Administrator

October 2018

Remember September? We can't stop reminiscing about the fun we had together!

To kick off Eat Local Month, the Co-op and Sustainable Connections hosted the Hootenanny to Benefit the Co-op’s Farm Fund at Boundary Bay Brewery.

All ages gathered together to celebrate community, dance, enjoy a delicious meal with ingredients specifically sourced from local farms, and to present the Local Farmer Awards.

photos by FotoMataio Fotografia on Instagram @fotomataio, courtesy of Eat Local First

We are thrilled to present the 2018 Local Farmer Award winners and tell you a little about each one.

As the late harvest season winds down it’s a perfect time to highlight the winners of the Local Farmer Awards, announced at the Farm Fund Hootenanny in September.

All the farmers who were nominated were fantastic, and selecting the recipients was a tough decision. As one nominator said, “pretty much all around classy group of people no matter where you turn.”

Congratulations to everyone who was nominated by their fellow farmers and local eaters.

2018 BRIGHT SPOT FARMER AWARD

Helen Solem,
Sumas River Farm

Some wonderful local farmers that add spark to our local food system were nominated, so we created a new award.

It is an honor to announce Helen, owner of Sumas River Farm as the recipient of the first Bright Spot Farmer Award.

Helen's many contributions run the gamut: delicious and unique produce and berries, participation and support for many food and farming events, sharing the history of Whatcom County farming, dedication to social justice, and the all-around warmth she brings to the work she does. Helen has worked tirelessly on her beautiful farm in Sumas, and brings dedication and positive energy to every project she is involved in. Well deserved, Helen, we appreciate you!

2018 NEW FARMER AWARD

Jen Finch & Colin Fischer,
Wanderwood Farm

If you’ve been to Wanderwood Farm’s booth at the Bellingham Farmers Market, you’ve probably seen or tasted their delicious produce and enjoyed a warm reception from these friendly folks.

Wanderwood got a big thumbs up from fellow farmers who nominated them for the New Farmer Award. One person said, “Jen has long been a part of the farmer and farmers market scene. They are a great addition to the farming community: active in the Bellingham Farmers Market board, and really have their act together.” Congratulations, Colin and Jen, and here’s to a great future for Wanderwood Farm!

2018 INNOVATOR FARMER AWARD

Griffin Berger,
Sauk Farm

Griffin has brought a unique, ambitious, and valuable new endeavor to our local food system and is bringing new products to the marketplace.

Specializing in apples and grapes, Sauk Farm just received its organic certification, which makes it one of the only organic apple growers on this side of the mountains. Griffin has also put a lot of effort into the infrastructure of Sauk Farm. The processing facility has a cider press and a certified organic dehydrator, which Griffin generously shares with other farms. Look for Sauk Farm ciders and dried and fresh apples (available seasonally) at the Co-op. Welcome, Griffin, and thanks for your creativity in bringing local, organic apples and grapes to our plates and glasses!

2018 MENTOR FARMER AWARD

Anna & Geoff Martin,
Osprey Hill Farm

Osprey Hill Farm is a mainstay of the local farming community and has grown steadily as a premier organic farm in the South Fork Valley.

Anna and Geoff have shared their expertise generously for many years with new farmers in Whatcom County. One nomination stated, “Anna is so generous with her time in supporting beginning farmers. Every season she teaches Cloud Mountain interns about the importance of business planning. Her passion for sharing her experience with young farmers is inspiring.” Anna has also been a mentor for Sustainable Connections’ Food to Bank On program for the last seven years, and is a participant and an original member of the Puget Sound Food Hub. Thanks, Anna and Geoff, for your stewardship of local farming!

Eat Local Every Month!

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

September 2018

Co-op shoppers love to eat local every month, but in September local food takes center stage in our community for Eat Local Month!

Sustainable Connections hosts a bevy of fun events all month long, and the Co-op was proud to partner with them to kick off the month at the annual Hootenanny to Benefit the Co-op’s Farm Fund in the Boundary Bay Brewery Beer Garden.

Throughout the month 19 local restaurants will each offer a $6 and $12 Eat Local Month Special created with the freshest ingredients from Whatcom and Skagit county farms. There’s no better time to eat out and discover a new local restaurant.

Visit the Sustainable Connections website to discover all the Eat Local Month activities and pick up one of their handy guides with coupons for local grocers, including the Co-op.

At the Co-op, the local love continues well beyond September!

We love working with local businesses and farmers every day, all year long.

Of course, September is the zenith of local farm production. In the produce section there is a bounty of fresh, local, organic goodness available from more than 50 Whatcom and Skagit farms. But the local love doesn’t stop there. We also carry products from more than 70 local food crafters and artisans.

more than 50 Whatcom and Skagit farms

The list at the end of this blog post is just a partial list of our local suppliers; there are simply too many to include!

To prioritize shopping for local items at the Co-op, simply look for the local symbol throughout the store.

How does all that local love add up? In 2017, the Co-op purchased nearly $1.5 million in goods from Whatcom County providers. When we add in goods from the immediate five-county area (Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, San Juan, and Island counties) the total jumps to more than $2.25 million in goods.

Not only do we buy local, we also keep dollars circulating in our local community. In 2017, we circulated nearly $8.5 million through wages and benefits paid to our staff and via donations to local organizations.

When we shop, eat, and buy local, our entire community benefits!

Look for Local in Every Department

The list below is just a partial list of our local suppliers; there are simply too many to include!

Acme Ice Cream • Acme Valley Foods • Alaska Wildsides • Aslan Brewing Co. • Atwood Ales • Avenue Bread • Barlean’s • BelleWood Acres • Bellingham Coffee Roasters • Bellingham Flat Bread • Bellingham Pasta Co. • BIJA Chocolates • Booda Organics • Boundary Bay Brewery • Bow Hill Blueberries • Breadfarm • Café Akroteri • Cascade Shrub Farm • Cauldron Broths • Cedar Grove • Chocolate Necessities • Chuckanut Bay Distillery • Cooperativa Tierra y Liebertad • DeWilde’s Nursery • Dirty Knees Nursery • Edaleen • Erin Baker’s • Fairhaven Organic Flour Mill • Flax 4 Life • Flora Inc. • Flying Bird Botanicals • Foothills Flowers • Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy • Gluten Free Angels • Glutenfreeda • Golden Glen Creamery • Gothberg Farms • Grace Harbor Farm • Hammerhead Coffee • Hempler’s • Holmquist Hazelnut Orchards • Hopewell Farm • Hosa Hot Sauce • Jackie’s Jersey • Kombucha Town • Kulshan Brewing • Lopez Island Creamery • Lynden Ice • Mad Cat Salsa • Maniac Coffee Roasters • Midnight Farmer Microgreens • Misty Meadows Farm • Moka Joe • Moon Valley Organics • Myshan Dairy • Nature’s Path • Nerka Sea Frozen Salmon • North Cascade Meats • Pangea Ferments • Pizza’zza • Pleasant Valley Cheese • PNW Farmers Co-op • Puget Sound Food Hub • Ralf’s Bavarian Bakery • Saku Tea • Salsa Mama • Samish Bay Soaps • San Juan Salsa Co. • San Juan Sea Salt • Sauk Farm • Sea Witch Botanicals • Seafood Producers Cooperative • Skagit Valley Family Farm • Spice Hut • Spring Time Farm • Sunseed Farm • Takaya • The Bagelry • The C Shop • The Growing Garden • Tony’s Coffee • Twin Brook Creamery • Uprising Organic Seeds • Wander Brewing • Wild Pacific Seafood • Wildroot Botanicals • Windy Meadow Nursery

Local Vendor: Erin Baker’s® You Can “Help Feed 1 Million Kids!”

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

September 2018

You can “Help Feed 1 Million Kids!”

"No reason we can’t do it. As sales increase, the program increases,” said local business owner Erin Baker. “If people buy more, we give more.”

Photos courtesy Erin Baker's.

In 1994, Erin Baker purchased her first Kitchen Aid mixer and, inspired by her mother’s wholesome baking, set her sights on creating a healthy grab-n-go breakfast treat. Since then, her business has blossomed and it would be a challenge to find a local resident who hasn’t enjoyed an Erin Baker’s® cookie or bowl of granola.

With her business successfully growing, Erin set her sights on a new challenge. She began to consider how best she could have a positive impact on the health of children. After a visit to the Boys & Girls Club on Kentucky Street, she found the answer.

Thus, the “Help Feed 1 Million Kids Program” was conceived.

On that first visit, she observed kids drawn to a vending machine full of junk food and sugary drinks. Kids were bartering and pooling their money in order to buy something. Unsurprisingly, the items in high demand weren’t exactly health foods. Thus, the “Help Feed 1 Million Kids Program” was conceived.

Erin Baker’s® established the “Help Feed 1 Million Kids Program” that distributes healthy snacks to 18 Boys & Girls Clubs in the region. The program has already distributed more than 650,000 Erin Baker’s Breakfast Cookies, and is well on the way to reaching its goal of feeding 1 million kids!

The first obstacle was eliminating the unhealthy vending machine options, replacing them with healthy foods, and getting kids’ taste buds accustomed to something other than salt, sugar, processed foods, and additives.

the vending machines are gone

It took time but the program has made tremendous strides since those early days, thanks to Erin’s tenacity and the dedicated support of Boys & Girls Club staff, administration, and volunteers. The vending machines are gone, and in their place are a variety of Erin Baker’s Breakfast Cookies made with simple, whole food ingredients. They are 100 percent free of any so-called “natural flavors” or additives, a fact that Erin is very proud of. And kids love ’em!

Approximately 50 percent of the kids at the clubs meet the criteria for free and reduced meals, and Boys & Girls Clubs staff reports an increase in families experiencing food insecurity and homelessness.

For kids who may not know when they will have their next meal, the healthful cookies at the club are a welcome relief. Cookies go home in backpacks and provide filling nourishment that doesn’t require a stove, refrigerator, or even a can opener; the things most of us take for granted but may be unavailable to a family without a stable home.

We make cookies and granola and we feed kids. That’s what we do.

“The clubs are a home away from home for these kids. Learning, living, laughing, loving, crying,” said Erin. “And I have a machine to make healthy food! So, we make cookies and granola and we feed kids. That’s what we do. We don’t have glossy ads or fancy vehicles. We feed kids; that’s where our marketing dollars go.”

If people buy more, we give more.

The program started with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County, but has since expanded to include 18 clubs located in five counties. “We aim to spread this program across the country. No reason we can’t do it. As sales increase, the program increases,” said Erin. “If people buy more, we give more.” Her business donates 3 percent, which is on par with the giant industrial food companies.

The Bellingham business employs 45 people. “What do I say about this family of mine? An amazing group of people dedicated to making food the old fashioned way. It’s a labor of love,” said Erin. “We are one of the few in the country that actually make our own product, and have everything under one roof.”

That old-fashioned way of doing things includes a fair amount of hand work, so food is minimally processed. And everything is baked-to-order to ensure freshness.

The past two hot summers have been tough with no air conditioning in the factory. “We have challenging days and we have great days. Everyone is passionate and dedicated to making it happen.

We’re like family. We’re doing something that makes a difference and that is what keeps us going,” said Erin.

Another ingenious way the staff keeps going is thanks to the Fun Committee. “They just do fun things for the whole staff a few times a week,” explained Erin. The fun can be providing fresh squeezed lemonade in the break room, providing origami kits for staff to unwind and get creative, or making tie-dye T-shirts.

“I have had, along the years, some amazing people with me on this journey. We are truly the epitome of a true team because all these people who’ve helped over the years, they were here because they believe in what we’re doing.”

Make more cookies, sell more cookies, give more cookies.

“Once we hit the 1 million cookie mark, that’ll be a huge milestone. It’s a goal for everyone here. Make more cookies, sell more cookies, give more cookies,” said Erin.

Erin Baker with her adorable dog, Cookie. If you dedicated your career to this amazing company, what else would you name your dog?

Erin mentioned that a lot of people don’t know they are located downtown next to Cash & Carry on Ohio Street. She invites everyone to “come in and sample every one of our products. Check out what’s new. Meet the team!”

see the progress toward the 1 million cookie mark

Can’t visit in person? Then visit the website. There you can see the progress toward the 1 million cookie mark, and you can also hover over a list of the whole food ingredients used in the company’s products and learn about each of them from A (almonds) to W (wheat).

Join in the effort to “Help Feed 1 Million Kids!” It’s easy, and delicious. Just buy more cookies and granola and Erin Baker will take it from there.

LEARN MORE

Learn more at erinbakers.com.

Hootenanny to Benefit the Co-op’s Farm Fund

6th Annual Hootenanny to Benefit the Community Food Co-op’s Farm Fund

Boundary Bay Beer Garden
$5 to $20 donation at the door.
All ages, everyone welcome.

> 6 pm: Doors open
> 6:30–7:30 pm: Square dance with caller John Hatten and “The Great Big Taters,” an ensemble of some of Bellingham’s best old-timey musicians. Join in or enjoy from the sidelines.
> 7:30–8 pm: Farmer awards and Farm Fund and Eat Local Month info presentation
> 8–9:30 pm: Dance to Sky Colony
> Eat and drink local goods throughout the night (available by purchase)—delicious local Boundary Bay BBQ!
> For the kids: Additional fun and entertainment with Frank and Beans from the Co-op’s Real Food Show from 6:15–8:15 pm

With the support of our enthusiastic community of local farm lovers, the Farm Fund continues to grow. Since 2000, the Co-op’s Farm Fund has distributed $383,825+ to more than 55 local farms, and food and farming organizations.

The Community Food Co-op is happy to co-sponsor this lively, fun community event with Sustainable Connections. Together we’ll kick off Eat Local Month in grand fashion—a month in which our community celebrates all the folks who work hard every day to provide us with local food. For info about other Eat Local Month events visit eatlocalfirst.org.

Blueberry-Orange-Coconut Swirl Popsicles

by Alissa Segersten, Contributing Author

July 2018

Three blueberry coconut swirl Popsicles.

Alissa's recipe (below) for Blueberry-Orange-Coconut Swirl Popsicles is not only delicious, healthful, and beautiful, it is also simple to make and kid approved!

Read more about the benefits of fresh blueberries and then swirl up a batch of these popsicles for a summer treat.

Photos by Alissa Segersten

Fresh Summer Blueberries: Eat your fill—and make sure to save some for use all year long!

How lucky we are to live in blueberry country—trips up to Mount Baker yield handfuls of tiny alpine blueberries each with a profound flavor punch, while our local food markets bring baskets overflowing with large, sweet, locally grown berries. Additionally, growing your own backyard blueberries is easy!

Check local nurseries in either the spring or fall (the best times to plant berry bushes) and find a sunny location in your yard. They take little to no effort to grow. I love walking outside my back door on a sunny summer morning to pick handful after handful of sweet summer blueberries.

For those wanting to invest some time and energy, you can take a trip out to the county where u-pick blueberry farms abound.

Every summer I take my five children out to some of our favorite organic berry farms for two reasons: to fill up our second freezer with numerous pounds of health-promoting goodness that we can utilize all year long, and so they can develop an intimate connection with their food by learning where and how it grows.

Luckily, blueberries at peak season are easy to harvest. We literally pick bucketfuls in a matter of hours. One trip to the berry patch usually gives us 60 to 80 pounds of blueberries!

No time for u-pick? No problem.

You can purchase local and organic blueberries from the Co-op produce departments.

What can you do with all of the fresh blueberries that summertime in the Pacific Northwest provides? Here are some ideas:

Make blueberry popsicles by blending fresh berries with orange juice (or use the recipe at right) and freezing the mixture into popsicle molds.
Freeze the berries in large containers to use throughout the year.
Eat as many as you can every day while they are in season. You really can’t eat too many.
Make blueberry jam. I use Pomona Pectin (available at the Co-op) to make a low-sugar or honey-sweetened jam. Then I can the jam in a boiling water bath and keep in my pantry so my children can use it throughout the year.
Add the blueberries to salads, on top of ice cream, or in smoothies.
Make blueberry crisps, muffins, or pancakes. I even have a recipe on my website for blueberry pancake syrup!

Blueberry-Orange-Coconut Swirl Popsicles

I like to make a few batches of these just after we go blueberry picking. Making popsicles with freshly picked fruit is an effective way to help preserve the harvest!

Sometimes I use apple juice in place of the orange juice and other times I simply blend up the blueberries with a little water or coconut water.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk

METHOD

Place the blueberries and juice into a blender; blend until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds leaving a little room at the top of each one. Top each off with a tablespoon or so of coconut milk, then take a chopstick or small spoon and lightly swirl it into the blueberry mix. Freeze overnight.

About the Author

Alissa Segersten holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University and is currently working on a master’s degree in Nutrition and Functional Medicine.

She is the founder of Whole Life Nutrition and Nourishing Meals, the mother of five children, a whole-foods cooking instructor, professional recipe developer, and cookbook author. She is passionate about helping others find a diet that will truly nourish them, and offers elimination diet recipes, healthy gluten-free recipes, and paleo and vegan recipes, as well as tips for feeding your family a nourishing, whole-foods diet.

Alissa is the author of two very popular gluten-free, whole-foods cookbooks and guidebooks: The Whole Life Nutrition Cookbook and Nourishing Meals. She is also the co-author of The Elimination Diet book.

Learn more at nourishingmeals.com.

Did You Know?

Blueberries are one of the healthiest foods to include in your diet!

Blueberries are not only a food for you, but also for the healthy bacteria in your gut. Eating blueberries can actually increase the levels of the all-important bifidobacterium species found in normal gut flora. This will not only help balance your gut ecosystem (boosting the good guys means not allowing room for the non-beneficial or more harmful species of bacteria and yeasts to take over and damage your gut), but also improve your immune system.

Blueberries have also been well-researched in both cancer prevention and cancer treatment. Some studies have shown that consuming blueberries can inhibit breast carcinogenesis and act therapeutically in established malignancies. Blueberries get their beautiful bluish-purple pigment from the bioflavonoids called anthocyanins. These compounds can act like antioxidants in our bodies, scavenging free radicals, thus reducing inflammation, among many other things.

Local Vendor: Lopez Island Creamery

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

July 2018

Bow Hill Blueberry ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery

Lopez Island Creamery makes super-premium ice cream and whenever possible they include ingredients from local suppliers including blueberries from Bow Hill Blueberries, coffee from Fidalgo Coffee Roasters, and dairy from Lynden.

Photo by Matt Curtis; styling by Habiba Sial

Ice cream is a popular item at the Co-op year-round; but in summer, ice cream achieves peak popularity. Luckily for us, we have an abundance of delicious local ice cream to satisfy our summer cravings for a refreshing frozen treat.

Among local favorites is Lopez Island Creamery.

I chatted with Alex Thieman, the owner of Lopez Island Creamery since 2011, to learn more about the creation of this indescribably delicious ice cream.

The business was founded over 24 years ago on Lopez Island by two women who started making ice cream in a tiny kitchen and sharing their flavor experiments with fellow islanders in exchange for feedback.

Eventually, the island-approved flavors made their way into local stores, restaurants, and events around the San Juan Islands. Since then, the business has relocated to Anacortes and expanded into marketplaces across Washington, Oregon, and Alaska.

Lopez is one of only a few small ice cream producers licensed as a dairy

What accounts for the expansion of Lopez Island Creamery? There are many factors, but one important distinction is that Lopez is one of only a few small ice cream producers licensed as a dairy.

Alex explained that most ice cream companies buy pre-made bagged ice cream mix as a base for their ice cream. Not at Lopez. Their process starts with fresh local cream, which allows for rigorous quality control from start to finish.

Lopez Island Creamery seeks out trusted local suppliers

Knowing where your ingredients come from and knowing the people who produce them is another aspect of quality control, so Lopez Island Creamery seeks out trusted local suppliers.

Co-op shoppers may be familiar with one of their favorite local suppliers, because it is also one of our favorites.

“We are very proud to call Bow Hill Blueberries a partner,” said Alex. “Susan and Harley run a 70-year-old farm that specializes in heirloom blueberries and have worked tirelessly to transition their soil and plants to create wonderful organic blueberries.

We also use coffee from Fidalgo Coffee Roasters in Burlington, egg yolks from Everett, and dairy from Lynden.”

At left: Susan and Harley Soltes accept the Innovator Farmer Award at the 2016 Hootenanny for the Co-op Farm Fund.

Lopez ice cream is designated as super premium. “Super premium ice cream is more dense and higher in butterfat,” explained Alex.

real berries, pure vanilla extract, and high-quality cocoa powder

“That, however, is just a small part of what makes our ice cream special. We also use only the best ingredients we can find including real berries, pure vanilla extract, and high-quality cocoa powder, while avoiding artificial flavorings and colors.”

committed to same process as when the company first started over 24 years ago

Five years ago Lopez was producing about 400 gallons of ice cream per week. Currently, during the summer months production is close to 3,500 gallons per week. Despite the company’s growth, it is committed to same process as when the company first started over 24 years ago using small-batch freezers that make only 10 gallons at a time.

Making ice cream at Lopez Island Creamery

Photo by Andrew Sternard

“This process allows us to add in ingredients by hand and keep a close eye on each batch that comes out. A commitment to producing a locally sourced, all natural, handmade ice cream is still our highest priority,” said Alex.

I wondered how they could produce so much ice cream in batches of only 10 gallons at a time.

The answer: they have three freezers that produce a batch every 10 minutes. “We keep our freezers very busy,” said Alex.

At peak season, Lopez Island Creamery employs 20 people to keep those freezers running smoothly.

“I have the great privilege of working with a wonderful group of people, all of whom can somehow still have fun on the busiest of days. Each day is new and different and we work together to figure out how to overcome the hurdles together,” Alex said of his staff.

Packaging Lopez Island Creamery ice cream

Production Manager Marcus Lum (left) and Anna Jenny fill, lid, and bag a batch of Decidedly Chocolate ice cream. Lopez Island Ice Cream has always been handcrafted, 10 gallons at a time, to allow the ice cream makers to add ingredients by hand and keep a close eye on each batch.
Photo by Andrew Sternard

The business is committed to supporting its local community and donates “tons of ice cream” to everything from local PTAs to food banks, said Alex.

Co-op shoppers can support Lopez’s current donation campaign by purchasing Brad & John Berry Bourbon Ice Cream, named for the local 92.9 KISM morning radio show hosts. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the Brad & John flavor will be donated to food banks in Bellingham and Anacortes.

Lastly, Alex wanted to share his appreciation for you.

“We can't thank our customers enough. Whatcom and Skagit residents understand how important it is to buy local, because so many of us are connected to a small business. Institutions like the Community Food Co-op have played such a big role in our business by believing in our product and giving us the opportunity to share it with their members and customers.”

Blueberry ice cream from Lopez Island Creamery

Take home a pint and taste the Lopez Island Creamery difference that comes from handmade, small-batch ice cream crafted with care and quality ingredients.

Learn more at lopezislandcreamery.com.

Ask the Nutritionist: Summer Produce

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Co-op News contributor

June 2018

Selva Wohlgemuth, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist

Dear Nutritionist: What are your favorite early summer produce options and why?

In season, locally grown, and organic fruits and vegetables are no match to the large-scale supermarket varieties. Summer is here and it is time to thrive on the bounty of goods it brings. Visiting the Co-op’s certified organic produce department, or a local farmers market, is a great way to get the biggest bang for your buck. Not only are you supporting the local economy and reducing environmental impact, but you are also getting the most vibrant, nutrient-rich foods possible.

Purchasing freshly harvested produce will ensure the highest quality. Not only can you see the difference, but you can smell and taste the difference too!

Did you know the color and smell of fruits and vegetables is due to their phytonutrient content?

The more vivid in color and the more aromatic a fruit or vegetable, the more concentrated the phytonutrients in the product. Phytonutrients are important compounds that have been found to have a wide variety of positive effects on the human body, including reducing inflammation, aiding in hormone regulation, encouraging the growth of good gut bacteria, and even playing a powerful role in preventing cancer.

Some phytonutrients decrease with food processing and are best consumed raw, while others increase with food processing and are best consumed cooked.

To get the most health benefits out of your summer produce, enjoy a variety of raw and cooked plant foods daily.

I hope you load up on the season’s best local, fresh produce! Remember, every color and every smell offers something special. May the natural beauty of your exciting produce discoveries transform into a delightful and phytonutrient-rich dish to share with friends and family.

Let’s get to know some of summer’s earliest rock stars!

Strawberries & Raspberries

Strawberries are amazing because they are in the top 5 produce items with the highest concentrations of vitamin C. Vitamin C plays a large role in eliminating free radicals and reducing inflammation. Just one cup of strawberries provides 100% of your daily vitamin C needs! Raspberries and strawberries are a rich source of polyphenols—phytonutrients that have far reaching health benefits. Phytonutrients, specifically in raspberries, have been studied for their ability to induce programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancerous cells. These polyphenols increase with each stage of ripeness. The riper the berry, the more intense flavor, and the more health benefits!

TIP: Make sure to buy organic strawberries. Conventional strawberries contain the most pesticides per weight out of any produce item tested by the Environmental Working Group.

Cherries

Rich in powerful anti-inflammatory compounds, anthocyanins found in cherries have been shown to act similar to NSAID drugs, dampening the inflammatory response within muscle tissue. Furthermore, reductions in serum inflammatory marker CRP (c-reactive protein) were found after two servings of Bing cherries. This is an indication that cherry consumption may help reduce systemic inflammation within the body.

TIP: Anthocyanins are more concentrated in dark and tart cherries.

Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens, especially raw, are unique because they are one of the richest sources of prebiotics (food for good gut bacteria) called inulin and oligofructose. One cup of chopped raw dandelion greens provides a whopping dose of about 7g inulin and 5g oligofructose. These prebiotics provide fuel to good gut bacteria like Bifidobacterium spp., which produce B vitamins for our absorption and short-chain fatty acids that help fuel colon cells and prevent colon cancer.

TIP: If you cook the dandelion greens the content of prebiotics decreases by a third, but it is easier to eat a larger volume. In Greece, they blanch dandelion greens and then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. So good!

Fresh Herbs (Oregano)

Oregano is one of the most concentrated food sources of polyphenols called flavonoids, with more than four times higher antioxidant activity than blueberries! Plus, it has potent antibacterial properties due to its high concentration of polyphenols. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria like E. coli and parasites like giardia and Blastocystis hominis.

TIP: Since many of the phytonutrients in herbs are fat soluble, make sure to pair fresh or dried herbs with quality oils like extra virgin olive oil for the biggest health punch.

Summer Squash

This abundant garden vegetable is not only rich in potassium and fiber, but also rich in phytonutrients shown to have many positive effects including reducing the risk of ulcers, promoting the growth of friendly bacteria, and supporting overall health via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. Plus, due to its rich fiber content, it can help balance blood-sugar levels and fuel friendly bacteria in the colon. It’s a win-win situation!

TIP: Turn zucchini into a delicate pasta by using a julienne peeler or spiralizer. Then toss with your favorite pesto or sauté with garlic and extra virgin olive oil.

A Recipe Suggestion

See Selva’s recipe for Summer Zucchini Pasta.

Photo by Selva Wohlgemuth

Ask the Nutritionist

Have questions? Send them to contact@happybellynutritionist.com. Selva Wohlgemuth is a registered dietitian nutritionist. Learn more about her approach to general health and well-being at her Happy Belly Nutrition website, and see her recipes and other kitchen tips at Poppies and Papayas.

Farm Fund Update: Next Steps Report

by Jean Rogers, Farm Fund Administrator

June 2018

The Community Food Co-op Farm Fund’s Next Step Project supports local farmers who are working to expand their farms and supply us with fresh, healthy food. Next Step gives a boost to farm expansion projects through grants and low-interest secured loans, and our 2017 recipients quickly made good use of the funding.

Congratulations to the 2018 Next Step recipients:

The Growing Garden, Terra Verde Farm, Wanderwood Farm, Foothills Farm, Mariposa Farm, Southern Exposure Family Farm, Wild Acres Family Farm, Boldly Grown Farm, and Ashmore Farm.

We look forward to following these nine farms through the growing season and will report on their accomplishments throughout 2018 as their projects progress.

Following is a snapshot of how the 2017 Next Step recipients have put the funds to use.

Spring Time Farm in Everson

Nick Spring and Sarah Robinson

Project: farm property purchase and infrastructure expansion

Accomplishment: invested in four new greenhouses, a walk-in cooler, and a wash station

Quote from the farmer: “It’s going to give us expansion potential and a more sustainable farm, with long-term control over managing the land. It feels amazing to build a long-term business. We have access to more land now, and the goal is to increase production and product availability. We supply the Co-op and have
a multi-year contract with the food bank.”

Terra Verde Farm in Everson

Amy and Skuter Fontaine

Project: farm property and equipment purchase (cultimulcher and mower)

Accomplishment: cultimulcher saved a lot of time and replaced rototilling; Skuter used to be out till 10 pm and now can be home in time to do deliveries

Quote from the farmer: “The cultimulcher saved a lot of time with field prep and I don’t even know how we’d get into the blueberries without it (the mower). It’s been fantastic, really been helpful for our operations.”

Misty Meadows Farm in Everson

Melissa and Mark Moeller

Project: infrastructure improvements and increase flock

Accomplishment: the farm has excess eggs for the first time

Quote from the farmer: “New chickens are busting out eggs all over the place!”

Osprey Hill Farm in Acme

Anna and Geoff Martin

Project: chick brooding infrastructure projects to enable poultry flock expansion

Accomplishment: now hatching 750 chicks every 3 weeks; preparing to add another brooder next year and increase that to 1,000 chicks

Quote from the farmer: “It (the new brooding room) is the core of the farm and hugely important, and knowing the Co-op has our back, we couldn’t do it without your support.”

Alluvial Farm in Everson

Katie Pencke and Matthew McDermott

Project: land and equipment purchase and upgrade to local custom bulk feed mix from Scratch & Peck

Accomplishment: increased from 10 to 50 animals (pigs) and sold all of them; signed first wholesale client

Quote from the farmer: “Without the Next Step grant and loan, it (purchasing custom feed) simply couldn’t have happened.”

Sauk Farm in Concrete

Carol, Jesse, and Griffin Berger

Project: purchase equipment (apple washer, automated fruit slicer, and heat pump dehydrator)

Accomplishment: only organic honey crisp producer in our area

Quote from the farmer: “The Next Step grant allowed us to purchase equipment that we use to make our grape and apple cider and our dried apples that are all available at the Co-op.”

Well Fed Farms in Bow

Well Fed Farms produce featured at the Co Op.

Erik Olson

Project: equipment purchase (seeder, cultivating tractor, disc harrow)

Accomplishment: started supplying product to the Community Food Co-op through the Puget Sound Food Hub; picked up sales to another local business and plans to add additional buyers

Quote from the farmer: “The increased production efficiency that I’ve gained through the tools purchased with the grant funds has definitely helped to move my farm in the direction necessary to grow larger volumes of produce with better consistency/quality and to find extra time and energy to market to new customers in Whatcom County.”

Lopez Bros. Farm in Mount Vernon

Feliciano Lopez

Project: purchased 1,500 berry plants; wholesale potential for other unique organic produce

Accomplishment: supplied berries to Community Food Co-op and Skagit Valley Food Co-op; recognized with the Innovator Local Farmer Award

Quote: “We were pleased to add the delicious berries from Lopez Bros. Farm to our produce departments and are eager to continue working with them.”
—Wynne Marks, Cordata store manager

Learn More

Learn more about the Farm Fund and see how you can donate and support local farms on our website.

We Won a Climate Award!

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

April 2018

Melissa Elkins (center), Co-op Sustainability Coordinator, accepted the Outstanding Company award at the 2018 Climate Collaborative Awards. Also pictured (from left) is Lara Dickinson, Climate Collaborative Co-Founder, and Robynn Shrader, National Co+op Grocers CEO. Photo courtesy of New Hope Network.

We’re all familiar with the tried-and-true award season saying—it’s an honor just to be nominated. Well, sure, that’s true. But it’s even better to have your work recognized by winning!

Melissa is steering the Co-op toward increasingly impressive accomplishments in its sustainability programs

In that spirit, we want to share appreciation for the hard work of Melissa Elkins, the Co-op’s Sustainability Coordinator. Melissa is steering the Co-op toward increasingly impressive accomplishments in its sustainability programs and this award is just the most recent acknowledgement of that work.

The Co-op was awarded “Outstanding Company" for improving energy efficiency in a retail grocery setting and fostering resilient, regenerative farming communities at the inaugural National Co+op Grocers (NCG) Climate Collaborative Awards.

NCG noted the following factors in the Co-op’s award:

"offsetting 102% of their electricity use with their own 126 solar panel array and renewable energy certificates
diverting 90% of their waste from the landfill
investing in efficient lighting and refrigeration systems has earned their co-op the only 2017 EPA EnergyStar Certificate issued to a grocery store west of the Rockies and puts them among the top 30 retailers in the country in utilization of renewable energy.

"If that weren’t enough, they also invest profits back into their community in many ways, including an innovative Farm Fund supporting local sustainable farming projects.”

Congratulations to Melissa and to the entire Co-op staff who work daily to implement innovative sustainability strategies in our co-op. Make every day Earth Day!

Our 2018 Sustainability Snapshot is available online or in print at the service desk. Following are a few highlights!

Waste Reduction Highlights

Energy Efficiency Highlights

Keeping it Local

Something Salty

Co-op Gift Cards

Stocking Stuffers

Spice Things Up!

Snack Essentials

For Tea Lovers

A Taste of Honey

Blueberry Goodies

by Jean Rogers, Farm Fund Administrator

October 2018

2018 BRIGHT SPOT FARMER AWARD

Helen Solem, Sumas River Farm

2018 NEW FARMER AWARD

Jen Finch & Colin Fischer, Wanderwood Farm

2018 INNOVATOR FARMER AWARD

Griffin Berger, Sauk Farm

2018 MENTOR FARMER AWARD

Anna & Geoff Martin, Osprey Hill Farm

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

September 2018

Look for Local in Every Department

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

September 2018

LEARN MORE

by Alissa Segersten, Contributing Author

July 2018

Fresh Summer Blueberries: Eat your fill—and make sure to save some for use all year long!

Blueberry-Orange-Coconut Swirl Popsicles

INGREDIENTS

METHOD

About the Author

Did You Know?

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

July 2018

by Selva Wohlgemuth, Co-op News contributor

June 2018

Strawberries & Raspberries

Cherries

Dandelion Greens

Fresh Herbs (Oregano)

Summer Squash

A Recipe Suggestion

Ask the Nutritionist

by Jean Rogers, Farm Fund Administrator

June 2018

Spring Time Farm in Everson

Terra Verde Farm in Everson

Misty Meadows Farm in Everson

Osprey Hill Farm in Acme

Alluvial Farm in Everson

Sauk Farm in Concrete

Well Fed Farms in Bow

Lopez Bros. Farm in Mount Vernon

Learn More

by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team

April 2018

Waste Reduction Highlights

Energy Efficiency Highlights

Keeping it Local

enews-sign-up-image

Helen Solem,
Sumas River Farm

Jen Finch & Colin Fischer,
Wanderwood Farm

Griffin Berger,
Sauk Farm

Anna & Geoff Martin,
Osprey Hill Farm