All posts by Gary Huber

IFC Pick-up is Thursday!

December 19, 2017
by Gary Huber

We had 232 members order 2,427 different items this cycle from 76 different producers.

Total purchases were just over $17,000, which is remarkable because we were at about $7,000 in sales Saturday morning. That means members purchased close to $10,000 in products during the last two and a half days of  shopping. That’s amazing, and we are so thankful for all of your purchases.

Anyway, we’ll have your products ready for you to come pick up this week. Here are some information on distribution:

1. If you are picking up at Franklin Plaza, please check out products available for purchase in our Retail Center. There’s lots of good stuff you can add to your online orders.

2. Specifics on times and locations for all our sites are available with this link and to the left.

NOTE: IF YOU ARRIVE BEFORE THE SCHEDULED START TIME, OUR VOLUNTEERS WON’T BE READY. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND BE PATIENT.

3. Our alternative pick up time will be from 9 am to noon on Saturday, Dec. 23rd. If we don’t see you Thursday, we’ll assume you are coming Saturday.

4. We accept EBT cards for payment ONLY AT OUR Franklin Plaza site. If you are an EBT member and are picking up at another location, please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop so we can arrange for processing your payment.

5. It’s a GOOD IDEA to check to be sure your pick-up site is correct. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”. If it’s not right, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

Save money–buy BIG from Small farmers–but how?

December 14, 2017
by Gary Huber

Small farmers often sell their hogs or cows by the eighth, or quarter, or half…but what does that even mean? What does it look like? Do you need to buy an extra freezer to store all that meat?

Jason Johnson from Lucky George Farm explains the details of buying in bulk from small farmers using a couple of his farm’s bundles as an example.

 

 

Lucky George Farm lists several bundles through the Co-op website, including their popular eighth + quarter bundles.

 

1/8   (18 lbs):

1/4  (36 lbs):
  • 1 Ham Roast (3 lbs)
  • 1 Shoulder Roast (2.5 lbs.)
  • 4 Pork Chops (2.5 lbs.)
  • St Louis Style Ribs or Pork Hock (2lbs)
  • Bacon (2 lbs.)
  • Ground Pork (2 lbs.)
  • Bulk Pork Sausage (2 lbs.)
  • 1 Quart Fully Rendered Lard (Total Weight 2 plus lbs.)
  •  2 Ham Roasts (6 lbs.)
  • 2 Shoulder Roasts (5 lbs.)
  • 8 Pork Chops (5 lbs.)
  • St Louis Style Ribs (2 lbs.)
  • Bacon (4 lbs.)
  • Pork Hock (leg portion, 2 lbs.)
  • Ground Pork (4 lbs.)
  • Bulk Pork Sausage (4 lbs.)
  • 2 Quarts Fully Rendered Lard (Total Weight 4 plus lbs.)

VALUE: $175

VALUE: $300

SALE: $125

SALE: $225

The eighth will definitely fit in a standard over-the-refrigerator-freezer and the quarter will, if the freezer isn’t already packed.

“These bundles allow a savings over buying by the per cut price without having to buy a whole or half pig.”

Jason says, “The purchase of these bundles supports the farmer, because it honors the harvest of the animal in a manner that is sustainable for the small farmer where all the cuts are valued and used, as opposed to the commercial model where the choice cuts like pork chops or pork loin and bacon are “farmed” off and the rest of the animal is turned to ground pork, or more likely some form of sausage…or made into highly-processed pork products.”

“Lastly, it honors the animal in using all of its parts which it lost its life to provide.  It is not that much unlike Native Americans that would use every part of the animal, and let nothing go to waste.”

“Food is most certainly sustenance, but in a successful society,  it is not merely that.  Food is connection, to the land, to the farmer, to the earth.”

Thanks, Jason!

See Lucky George Farm’s bundles by clicking here. See other meat bundles here.

IFC Distribution is Today!

December 7, 2017
by Gary Huber

This is being sent to everyone who ordered. Today is distribution at all sites except Ames, which is tomorrow.

Our alternative pick up is Saturday from 9 am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site, which is the same time as our first ever indoor Winter Farmers’ Market. Bring your friends. Everyone can shop.

Some quick notes:

  • Radiance Dairy (new IFC producer with certified organic dairy products) sent us extra half gallons of whole, 2%, and skim milk they want to give to members. If you ordered from them, you’ll get one free. If not, you can have one free as well as long as they last.
  • We’ll be sampling Nagi’s Falafel hummus + pita chips at some of our drop off sites.
  • At our Franklin Avenue site, Lynn from Herbal Bliss Tea Company will be selling and sampling tea + Fire Cider.

If for some reason you need to call, use 515.450.6812. Thanks for your orders. See you later today or Saturday.

IFC Pick-up is Thursday!

December 4, 2017
by Gary Huber

We had 232 members order 2,272 different items this cycle from 75 different producers. These products will be picked up by consumers at nine locations, or they’ll be delivered to five homes.

Total purchases were about $15,300. That’s about 8% less than the total from this cycle last year, but for some reason last December’s first cycle was larger than normal, so we’re not at all concerned. So far this fiscal year (since July 1) we are at 8.5% sales growth, which is very good. And we greatly appreciate your purchasing from our producers.

Anyway, we’ll have your products ready for you to come pick up this week. Here are some information on distribution:

1. If you are picking up at Franklin Plaza, please check out products available for purchase in our Retail Center. There’s lots of good stuff you can add to your online orders.

2. Specifics on times and locations for all our sites are available with this link and to the left.

NOTE: IF YOU ARRIVE BEFORE THE SCHEDULED START TIME, OUR VOLUNTEERS WON’T BE READY. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND BE PATIENT.

3. Our alternative pick up time will be from 9 am to noon on Saturday, Dec. 9th. If we don’t see you Thursday, we’ll assume you are coming Saturday.

4. We accept EBT cards for payment ONLY AT OUR Franklin Plaza site. If you are an EBT member and are picking up at another location, please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop so we can arrange for processing your payment.

5. It’s a GOOD IDEA to check to be sure your pick-up site is correct. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”. If it’s not right, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

IFC Distribution is Today!

November 21, 2017
by Gary Huber

This is being sent to everyone who ordered. Today is distribution at all sites except Ames, which is tomorrow (Wednesday) from 4:30-5:30 pm. Our alternative pick up is also tomorrow from 8  am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site.

Two quick notes:

  • We’ll be sampling Timber Ridge’s newest beef stick flavor at all our sites.
  • We’ll have eggs, cheese curds, carrots, apples, winter squash + pumpkins, meat, chicken, and other items available for sale at our Franklin site.

If for some reason you need to call, use 515.450.6812. Thanks for your orders. See you later today or tomorrow.

IFC Distribution is Today!

November 21, 2017
by Gary Huber

This is being sent to everyone who ordered. Today is distribution at all sites except Ames, which is tomorrow (Wednesday) from 4:30-5:30 pm. Our alternative pick up is also tomorrow from 8  am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site.

Two quick notes:

  • We’ll be sampling Timber Ridge’s newest beef stick flavor at all our sites.
  • We’ll have eggs, cheese curds, carrots, apples, winter squash + pumpkins, meat, chicken, and other items available for sale at our Franklin site.

If for some reason you need to call, use 515.450.6812. Thanks for your orders. See you later today or tomorrow.

IFC Pick-up is TUESDAY!

November 19, 2017
by Gary Huber

This was a special cycle, meaning a Tuesday distribution during Thanksgiving week, so we weren’t sure how our consumer members would respond.

We are pleased with your purchases. Total sales were just over $14,000, and we had 208 members order 2,181 different items from 70 different producers to be picked up at nine locations or delivered to seven homes.

Sales for the two November distributions this year were 11% more than the two we had last November.

So, thank you all so much. We’ll have your products ready for you to pick up.

PLEASE NOTE: Everything that normally would happen on distribution Thursday will happen on Tuesday this week.

Also, our alternative pickup will be on Wednesday from 8 am to noon.

A few more quick things:

1. If you are picking up at Franklin Plaza, please check out products available for purchase in our Retail Center. There’s lots of good stuff you can add to your online orders.

2. We accept EBT cards for payment ONLY AT OUR Franklin Plaza site. If you are an EBT member and are picking up at another location, please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop so we can arrange for processing your payment.

3. It’s a GOOD IDEA to check to be sure your pick-up site is correct. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”. If it’s not right, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

IFC Distribution is Today!

November 9, 2017
by Gary Huber

This is being sent to everyone who ordered. Today is distribution at all sites except Ames, which is tomorrow. Our alternative pick up is Saturday from 10:30 am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site.

Two quick notes:

  • We’ll be sampling gluten/sugar free pumpkin bread from Sweet to Eat Bakery and Cake Shop.
  • At our Franklin Avenue site, Elements of Rejuvenation will be set up with with their line of hand-poured small-batch soy wax candles.
  • If you are picking up at Franklin Avenue, be sure to check out what’s available for purchase at our Retail Center.

If for some reason you need to call, use 515.450.6812. Thanks for your orders. See you later today or Saturday.

IFC Pick-up is Thursday!

November 6, 2017
by Gary Huber

We had 235 members order 2,515 different items this cycle from 82 different producers. Total purchases were about $17,500, which is about 18% more than last year. Another cycle with 18% growth. Thank you so much! You are amazing.

We’ll have your products ready for you to come pick up this week. Here are some information on distribution:

1. If you are picking up at Franklin Plaza, please check out products available for purchase in our Retail Center. There’s lots of good stuff you can add to your online orders.

2. Specifics on times and locations for all our sites are available with this link and to the left.

NOTE: IF YOU ARRIVE BEFORE THE SCHEDULED START TIME, OUR VOLUNTEERS WON’T BE READY. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY AND BE PATIENT.

3. Our alternative pick up time will be from 10:30 to noon on Saturday, Nov. 11. If we don’t see you Thursday, we’ll assume you are coming Saturday.

4. We accept EBT cards for payment ONLY AT OUR Franklin Plaza site. If you are an EBT member and are picking up at another location, please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop so we can arrange for processing your payment.

5. It’s a GOOD IDEA to check to be sure your pick-up site is correct. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”. If it’s not right, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

IFC Distribution is Today!

October 26, 2017
by Gary Huber

This is being sent to everyone who ordered. Today is distribution at all sites except Ames, which is tomorrow. Our alternative pick up is Saturday from 10:30 am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site.

A few quick notes:

  • We’ll be sampling cherry tomatoes from Salama Greenhouse–next cycle will probably be the LAST for Salama’s greenhouse tomatoes.
  • At our Franklin Avenue site, DanGood Garden will be set up with PUMPKINS (both carving and eating) and other fresh produce, and Corazon Coffee Roasters will be serving hot coffee samples!
  • We’ll have $10 discount coupons that new folks can redeem when they pick up their first order. Make sure you grab some to give to friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc.

If for some reason you need to call, use 515.450.6812. Thanks for your orders. See you later today or Saturday.