All posts by Gary Huber

Pick-up is Thursday

June 30, 2014

We had 172 members order 1,814 items this cycle. Total purchases were just under $11,000. Those are respectable numbers, but we’d like to see them grow in the future.

If you are getting this message as an email, you’ve ordered something. Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites and Osceola. Specific times and locations are to the left. If you need to use the 10:30 to noon Saturday alternative pick up time, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

NOTE: You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”.

Below are some additional instructions.

IFC Cart is Open; Eggs, Milk, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Green Beans, and More!

June 24, 2014

by Gary Huber

1,247 Different Products Listed, Three New Producers!

The online shopping is opened. It’ll close on Sunday, June 29 at midnight with distribution on Thurs., July 3 at our Des Moines area and Osceola sites. NOTE: We will not do a distribution in Ames this cycle because Friday is the 4th of July! To shop go to https://iowafood.coop and log in. If you need help with your username or password, send an email to info@iowafood.coop. We’ve got a huge selection of really incredible products. See below for new stuff.

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The Kiowa House of Herbs (from Searsboro) is a new IFC producer that listed eggs from their Buff Orphington flock.

Oswald Meats (from Manson) is a new IFC producer offering pasture-raised antibiotic-free broilers.

Dangood Gardens (from Johnston) is a new IFC producer offering 16 different heirloom tomato and pepper transplants.

From Jocelyn of Pickle Creek Herbal (from Brighton): “This is the last cycle we’ll have our herb, tomato, pepper, and eggplant seedlings available. We have lots of great ones left, but we’re starting to sell out. Also, we’ve added a few traditional medicinal herbs as well as a fun new culinary plant—Spicy Oregano!”

Threshing Floor (from Dallas Center) added turnips (2″ or more, good raw or cooked).

Raccoon Forks Farm (from Redfield) added fennel bulbs.

WW Homestead Dairy (from Waukon) added two new ice creams (White Chocolate Raspberry and Mint Cookies n’ Cream) to go along with their milks and cheeses, plus a limited supply of unsalted butter (“our butter supply is very low because this time of year we are making so much ice cream”). They may add some salted butter later this week.

From Amber of Good Shepherd Grass Farms (from Monroe): “For this cycle only we will be having a special on all steaks, 15% off for the 4th of July! Prices will reflect that discount.”

Yoke S Ranch (from Russell) has their Filet Mignon Steak on sale for $11.00/lb

Tesdell’s Farm Fresh Produce (from Elkhart) is back with ground lamb and lamb chops.

Twin Girls Gardens (from Madrid) is back as well with their gourmet jams and jellies.

Grade A Gardens (from Johnston) added new potatoes and fresh, uncured garlic.

7 Pines Farm (from Maxwell) added (limited quantities) of certified organic green beans, curly leaf kale, purple top turnips, and green peppers.

New Family Farm (from Elkhart) added two kinds of kale, two kinds of fresh basil, and purple top turnips.

From Ben of Wabi Sabi Farm (from Granger): “The transition between spring and summer crops has begun. I’ve listed Certified Organic Green Garlic and Marjoram Bunches, and I will probably add broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and possibly a few other items closer to the end of the ordering cycle.

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames)!

June 19, 2014

by Gary Huber

This is being sent via email to everyone who ordered this cycle and has products to be picked up. Today is distribution at our Des Moines area sites and Osceola, and tomorrow in Ames. We have an alternative pick up time on Saturday from 10:30 am to noon at our Franklin Plaza site. If you need to pick up on Saturday and haven’t told us already, please let us know with a call to 515-450-6812.

Pick-up is Thursday (or Friday in Ames)

June 16, 2014

by Gary Huber

We had 179 members order 1,816 items this cycle. Total purchases were just a bit over $11,000. This is the last distribution for our current fiscal year, and it looks like total sales for the year are about 40% more than last fiscal year. That’s pretty amazing. Thank you all for using your cooperative to buy really good foods from our local farmers.

Anyway, if you got this message as an email, you’ve ordered something. Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites and Osceola, and Friday is our pick-up in Ames. Specific times and locations are to the left of this email. If you need to use the 10:30 to noon Saturday alternative pick up time, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

NOTE: You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”.

Below are some additional instructions.

Welcome Register Readers!

June 15, 2014

by Gary Huber

This is the place to find the freshest and most local Iowa products; everything we sell has been made, grown, or raised in the state, from pet treats to transplants to ice cream to steak!

If you can’t make it to the farmers’ market every week, or you just have a really busy schedule, we provide a convenient online-ordering system to ensure you don’t miss out on the best seasonal and local items.

How it works…

Become a member (psst…you can try us free–see below)

Log on during one of our shopping cycles (every two weeks, shop Tuesday-Sunday)

Add items to your cart throughout the cycle (farmers and producers add new items every day)

We process your order and items arrive at our central location, at Franklin Plaza

Pick up your order on Thursdays, Fridays, or Saturdays at one of six locations

There are never any obligations to buy or minimums–you order what you want, when you want

Why it works…

Farmers and producers are in charge of adding their products to the website–it’s a technologically charged way to know where your food comes from and buy directly from the source. You may peruse products here.

The Co-op collects a 15% fee on every item a producer sells and a 15% fee on every item a consumer buys. This system allows farmers to keep 85% of every dollar they sell (the average is a staggering 15% per dollar). We keep overhead low to maximize profits for our producers and farmers.

Members join by filling out a registration form and paying a one time, refundable $50 fee. The annual renewal fee is $10. EBT members do not pay any membership fees.

You can try our unique, online shopping experience free, for six months by filling out the membership form and selecting ‘Trial Membership’ under ‘Membership Types’. If you decide not to continue after six months, your membership will simply lapse. No payment information is collected, so it’s truly a no-strings-attached way to see if this way of buying groceries works for you!

If you want to stay in touch but aren’t ready to join, ‘Like’ our Facebook page and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss out!

(Click to enlarge image)

Summer at the IFC–Decorators Wanted!

June 14, 2014

by Gary Huber

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It seems hard to believe that we moved to a new location, just a month ago – and we have completed two distributions there; it already feels like home. We have windows, easy access, and friendly neighbors, growing room so much potential. The comments from all of you – 100% positive so far so; all in all, the Board is very pleased with our new home.

We listened to what our consumers said they wanted in our last survey and we have added many new products – milk, ice cream, more cheeses, lots more produce, even worm castings, not to mention our many varied meat selections for summer grilling.

We have lots of people looking through the windows, thanks in part to the steady stream of patrons at the barber shop next door. We will have our sign within a month, but in addition we want to make our space warm, inviting, and improve our curb appeal.

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So we could use some time and talent from our membership. If you are artistic or handy or just like to do that sort of thing, let us know so that as soon as we get our boxes unpacked we can start to DECORATE! Ideas we have been kicking around – wall and refrigerator art (pictures of producers, farms, logos, products), stenciling, etc, etc….

We also have a wish list which includes outdoor chairs and a small table, a small set of book shelves (for all our extra cookbooks), a couple of bar height stools, refrigerators/freezers to accommodate our ever growing product list, a tree for out front…..

Many thanks to all of you that helped us move and that help us with every distribution. Special thanks to our producers as well who work so hard to deliver good quality products for us all to enjoy.

Exciting times at IFC –

Email us below to lend your talent!

[contact-form to=’gary@iowafood.coop’ subject=’Someone wants to volunteer’][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Interested in helping? Donating? Have ideas for our new space? We want to hear!’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

IFC Cart is Open; New Producers, New Products!

June 10, 2014

by Gary Huber

1,279 Different Products Listed!

The online shopping opened last night at midnight. It’ll close on Sunday, June 15 at midnight with distribution on Thurs., June 19 at our Des Moines area and Osceola sites and Friday, June 20 in Ames. If you have a conflict, our alternative pickup is 10:30 am to noon on Sat., June 21 at our Franklin Plaza location.

To shop go to https://iowafood.coop and log in. If you need help with your username or password, send an email to info@iowafood.coop. We’ve got a huge selection of really incredible products. See below for new stuff.

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New Family Farm, a new IFC producer from Elkhart, listed green head lettuce.

Purrfect Muttchies, a new IFC Producer from Truro, listed five kinds of pet treats.

Wagner Enterprises (from Dallas Center) is back and has listed rhubarb to go along with a wide variety of baked goods.

Threshing Floor (from Dallas Center) is also back with an incredible array of baked goods.

WW Homestead Dairy (from Waukon) added two new kinds of ice cream (Caramel Cashew and Purple Cow, which is a black raspberry ice cream with chocolate chunks), plus several kinds of flavored cheese curds (Garlic & Dill, Onion & Chive, Jalapeno Ranch, Chipotle Morita, and Sriracha).

Beaver Creek Collections (from Guthrie Center) added high-tunnel cabbage and beets.

Lee’s Greens (from Nevada) added two lb bags of red and gold mixed tomatoes.

Grade A Gardens (from Johnston) added garlic scapes and two kinds of kale bunches (Red Russian and Curly).

7 Pines Farm (from Maxwell) added Red Russian kale, baby leaf kale, green onions, and green peppers.

Wabi Sabi Farm (from Granger) added a variety of certified organic “gourmet” type potted herbs.

Raccoon Forks (from Redfield) added radishes and kale.

Iowa Heritage Foods (from Bloomfield) added ground turkey and ground beef patties. has their Corriente beef short ribs on sale for $4.50/lb.

New Pioneer Farm (from Carlisle) added Spagetti Squash transplants.

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames)!

June 5, 2014

by Gary Huber

Pick-up is Thursday (or Friday in Ames)

June 2, 2014

by Gary Huber

We had 187 members order 1,950 items this cycle. Total purchases were just under $12,000. If you got this message as an email, you’ve ordered something.

Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites and Osceola, and Friday is our pick-up in Ames. Specific times and locations are to the left of this email. If you need to use the 10:30 to noon Saturday alternative pick up time, send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop.

NOTE: You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”.

Below are some additional instructions.

IFC Cart is Open!

May 27, 2014

by Gary Huber

1,244 Different Products Listed!

The online shopping opened last night at midnight. It’ll close on Sunday, June 1 at midnight with distribution on Thurs., June 5 at our Des Moines area and Osceola sites and Friday, June 6 in Ames. If you have a conflict, our alternative pickup is 10:30 am to noon on Sat., June 7 at our Franklin Plaza location.

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WW Homestead Dairy (from Waukon) added milk for the first time this last cycle (yeah!). Later today they plan on adding ice cream, which we’ve heard is pretty incredible. Can’t wait.

Beaver Creek Collections (a mother-daughter team from Guthrie Center) added a “Hi Tunnel Winter Wonderland Kale Mix” and Red Barn Produce (from Dexter) has added potted Lemon Grass to go along with their green onions and rhubarb.

From Jocelyn at Pickle Creek Herbal (from Brighton): “Lots of things happening at Pickle! Our greenhouse is in full swing, and we still have lots of herb seedlings and a few pepper, eggplant, and tomato seedlings. We also have a brand new infused olive oil – Roasted Garlic (awesome for grilling veggies – think asparagus from Wabi Sabi Farm, Maxwell Farms, or SalAmander Farm) – and we’ve added a new herbal lip balm (Apple Chamomile) and two new soap and lip balms (Lime Mint and Lavender Mint)”.

7 Pines Farm (from Maxwell) added some beautiful Napa Cabbage as a new product, and they also have kale, green onions, and a wide variety of dip mixes, salsas, compound butters, and cream cheese spreads.

Wildwood Farms (from Wellsburg) is back (they are selling every other cycle) with two new kinds of nuts (Toffee Pecans and Garlic Chipotle Almonds), plus a new flavor (Chocolate Hazelnut) to their Breakfast Braid selections.

Fieldstone Farms (from Clemons) added Bug Off Insect Repellent (in a push-up stick form) and two new beeswax candles (Frog and Angel) to go along with their wide selection of lip balms, lotions, beeswax candles, and honey products.

Yoke S Ranch (from Russell) has their Corriente beef short ribs on sale for $4.50/lb.

Wimmer Farms (from Afton) is back and has listed three kinds of lettuce (Butterhead, Loose Leaf, and Romaine) along with two kinds of kale.

Grade A Gardens (from Johnston) has listed spring garlic, spinach, spring lettuce, and baby kale, and Raccoon Forks Farm (from Redfield) has listed two kinds spinach to go along with their eggs and broiler chickens.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks (from Gilbert) has brought back their Beer Shampoo, Unscented Laundry Soap, and Unscented Laundry Soap Bars.

Wagner Enterprises is taking this cycle off, and Sweet Treats without Wheat will be taking off the entire farmer’s market season (I guess I’ll need to visit them at the downtown Farmers Market to get my cheesecake in a jar).