All posts by Gary Huber

IFC Cart is Open for Your Easter Food Needs!

April 10, 2014

1,056 Different Products Listed!

Time to buy for your Easter meals. The online cart will close at midnight on Sunday, April 13. Distribution is Thurs., April 17 at our Merle Hay Mall, Downtown, West Des Moines, and Osceola sites and Friday, April 4 in Ames.

Note: we are not having a pick up at our Ankeny site (sorry) because Holy Week conflicts at First Family Church.

If you have a conflict, our alternative pickup is 10:30 am to noon on Sat., April 19 at our Merle Hay Mall 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.

See below for new stuff and messages from producers.

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WW Homestead Dairy (from Waukon) added unsalted butter to go along with their salted version, their cinnamon butter, and their white cheddar cheese curds.

7 Pines Farm (from near Maxwell) added certified organic parsley and basil plants to go along with their cream cheese spreads, compound butters, baking and dip mixes, and 16 oz jars of salsa and sweet jalapenos.

Matt from Holdeman ABF Poultry (from near Riceville) writes “As many of you many have noticed, our inventory is getting low on our capons. This is due to our processor closing its doors. We have been working to locate a different processor and have succeeded. We are scheduled to process our current flock of birds on May 5th. Shortly after this I will have increased inventory on certain products. Sorry for any hassles this may have caused”.

Raccoon Forks Farm (from near Redfield) has extended their $10/chicken Chicken Freezer Clear Out Special. Their normal prices is $3.50/lb, so this offer makes these 4 to 5 lb chickens a real bargain.

Gardner’s Harvest (from Des Moines) added Hot Cross buns, which are a traditional Easter treat made from a slightly yeasted dough with cranberries, raisins, fresh candied citrus peel, and a sweet glaze.

Yoke S Ranch (from near Russell in Southern Iowa) have their ribeye steaks on sale this cycle for $10/lb.

For Lee at Lee’s Greens (from near Nevada): “We have sweet baby turnips, red and green kale, swiss chard, lettuce mix, spinach, green salanova lettuce heads, cut sweet basil, and pots of chives, basil, and parsley. We may add some greenhouse cucumbers, zucchini, and summer squash at the end of the week”.

Sunrise (from Woodward) has Aloe Vera plants, potted live green garlic, Daikon radish microgreens, and Dwarf Grey Pea shoots.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks (from Gilbert) added Sandalwood Soap – “I made this up as a demo during one of my soapmaking classes. The students loved it – a soft, subtle sandalwood fragrance that’s not overpowering at all”.

Broadhorn Farm (from near Truro) has their ground beef from their Belted Galloway herd on sale this cycle and they’ve added a new Family Grill Beef Bundle.

Fieldstone Farms (from Clemons near Marshalltown) added Watermelon lip balm and two new lotions – Cucumber Melon and White Tea & Berries.

Early Morning Harvest (from near Panora) added four honey products (two sizes of clover honey and two sizes of buckwheat honey) and certified organic corn bread mix.

Hold Your Shopping Cart–Opening Delayed

April 7, 2014

by Gary Huber

Please Note: Online Cart Opening Postponed!

We have been fortunate to have our space at Merle Hay Mall donated (we pay utilities, but no rent). However, we are vulnerable to things like paying tenants who want our space. Now we learned late last week that our entrance to the outside of the mall will be closed off because of construction. Because we need this entrance, we are delaying the opening of the online shopping cart (which was suppose to happen at midnight tonight). We’ve been looking at alternatives we can rent for some time now. We are investigating two at present. We should know more about these by the end of Wednesday. We may be able to continue with our distribution schedule, or we may have to delay. We’ll keep you posted.If you know of a building that might work, please let us know with an email to info@iowafood.coop. There are a few things to keep in mind:

a location within a mile or so of Merle Hay Mall would be preferable (because that’s where most of our members live);
2,000 square feet is probably enough, although more is okay so we can grow
easy access in and out is preferable (because of the 2,000+ products that need to be delivered each cycle), which means things like no stairs;
because we are licensed as a grocery store, things like washable floors and walls (no carpet) and light fixtures that are covered; however, we can work to make a space usable if renovations are needed.

Again, if you know of a space that might work, we’d appreciate your letting us know. Either send an email to info@iowafood.coop or call Gary Huber at 515-450-6812.

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames)

April 3, 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 DM 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 Merle Hay Mall 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 Thursday or Friday!

March 31, 2014

by Gary Huber

We had 234 members order 2,223 items this cycle. Total purchases were just over $15,000. Not too bad a total for this time of year.

NOTE: If you got this message as an email, you’ve ordered something. Pick-up is on Thursday at Osceola and Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. Specific times and locations are to the left of this email.

Below are some additional instructions. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”.

Note: Our alternative pick-up is 10:30 am to noon on Saturday at our Merle Hay Mall site. Please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop if need to use this option. you are coming on Saturday.

IFC Shopping Cart is Open!

March 21, 2014

by Gary Huber

1,060 Different Products Listed!

The online shopping cart is open. It closes at midnight on Sunday, March 30. Distribution is Thurs., April 3 at our Osceola and Des Moines area sites and Friday, April 4 in Ames. If you have a conflict, our alternative pickup is 10:30 am to noon on Sat., April 5 at our Merle Hay Mall 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.

See below for new stuff.

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WW Homestead Dairy (from Waukon) is a new IFC producer that joined the end of the last cycle. They listed two kinds of butter, and now they’ve added white cheddar cheese curds. We are also talking with them about their milk. The issues are mostly logistical (Waukon is a long ways away). We think it’ll work, but we need to finish ironing out the details.

7 Pines Farm (from near Maxwell) has added a cream cheese spreads in a variety of flavors (Bacon Onion, Cucumber Dill, Garlic Herb, Spinach, Sun Dried Tomato Basil, Veggie) to go along with their compound butters and cheese logs. They have also added certified organic Basil and Thyme plants.

Zaza’s Pasta (from North Liberty near Iowa City) added three kinds of Orecchiette pasta (Orecchiette means “little ears” in Italian, and this pasta looks exactly like that), plus three kinds or Pappardelle pasta (a wide, flat noodle perfect with a nice meaty ragu). Julie’s springtime flavored Asparagus Fettucine is listed again as well. Click here for a nice IFC blog post on Julie and Zaza’s.

Raccoon Forks Farm (from near Redfield) has a Chicken Freezer Clear Out Special going on ($10/chicken). Their normal prices is $3.50/lb, so this offer makes these 4 to 5 lb chickens a real bargain. But quantities are limited, so you better act quick.

Yoke S Ranch (from near Russell in Southern Iowa) as their minute steak on sale. Regular price is $5.75/lb, and the sale price is $4.75/lb. s back as well.

Timber Ridge Cattle Company (from Osceola) added Ham Hocks and Boneless Center Cut Pork Chops from their Swabian Hall/Large Black crossbred pigs. Those who know heritage hog breeds know these breeds are really, really special. You won’t find these products anywhere, so don’t miss out (supplies are limited!!!). got to give these a try.

Sunrise (from Woodward) added Aloe Vera potted plants, plus Pesto Basil plants.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks (from Gilbert) has her Lavender Cream Goat Milk Soap and Wildman Shampoo back in stock.

Fieldstone Farms (from Clemons near Marshalltown) added Hazelnut Latte, Citrus, and Green Apple lip balms.

Meet the Most Local Pasta on this Side of Sicily

March 20, 2014

by Gary Huber

If you can’t live in a little village in Italy, you might as well live in Iowa. We might not have all the perks, but at least locally, handmade pasta is one of them. Meet Julie Parisi of Zaza’s Pasta, who says “I started Zaza’s Pastas because of my eagerness to share really good Italian food with, well, everyone, much like my grandmother used to do!” And that she does, now more so than ever: “I’m really pleased to announce that we’re incorporating local organic flours from Early Morning Harvest in our pastas from this point on!” Early Morning Harvest grows grain on their Panora farm, then mills them into flours, which Julie, of North Liberty, then uses to make her pasta. Just like in the Old World, the variety of flours available depended on the region, and this “Little Italy” scenario in Iowa is not much different. Whether the featured spring flavor, asparagus fettuccine, or the newly available artichoke orecchiette, Zaza’s is keeping the tradition alive and local.

Check out Zaza’s Pasta selection here. Don’t forget biscotti and crostini!

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames); Cookbook Donations Welcome!

March 13, 2014

by Gary Huber

Pick-up Thursday or Friday! Cookbooks Needed!

March 10, 2014

by Gary Huber

We had 232 members order 2,333 items this cycle. Total purchases were $15,720, which is about $7,000 more than March 2013. Thanks much for your orders!

If you got this as an email, you’ve ordered something. Pick-up is on Thursday at Osceola and Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. Specific times and locations are to the left of this email; below are some additional instructions. You can access your invoice by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice”.

Note: Our alternative pick-up is 10:30 am to noon on Saturday at our Merle Hay Mall site. Please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop if need to use this option. you are coming on Saturday.

Also, we are having an Open House and Cookbook Exchange/Sale from 4-6:30 pm on Thursday, March 27th at our downtown drop-off site (click here for more information). If you have any extra cookbooks you’d like to donate, please bring them when you come pick up your orders! Thanks.

Mickle Center Cookbook Exchange & Open House

March 6, 2014

by Gary Huber

You’re invited to an Iowa Food Cooperative cookbook exchange & open house at our pick-up location near downtown Des Moines on Thursday March 27th from 4-6:30 pm in the community room at the Mickle Neighborhood Resource Center (1620 Pleasant Street).

Come enjoy locally-roasted fair-trade coffee, plus local farmers sampling their products and a cookbook exchange (bring a cookbook, take a cookbook, buy a cookbook). Come join us and learn how to access 1,000+ incredible products from 100+ local producers! Click below for more; hope to see you! And bring a friend (or two!).

The Five Minute Local Apple Pie

March 4, 2014

by Gary Huber

You know what hasn’t been getting much press these days? Apple pie. That old favorite, somewhat forgotten and overlooked because of its time-consuming reputation. Sure, everyone still likes it–it’s a classic, after all–but there is too much willingness to outsource its creation. Enter: the art of the five minute apple pie. But here’s what sets this sweet little gem apart from its competition: not only is it a recipe that originated in Iowa, it also uses Iowa grown apples. Make this and you’ll gain points from every direction, it’s historical, it’s homemade, it’s local, it’s good. Oh, and it takes about five minutes to put together, so that’s kind of a time saver.

Storytime: This recipe belongs to my grandmother, a former Iowan, avid baker, apple pie maker. It came from her Rowan, Iowa community cookbook sometime in the late 1950’s. She calls it a ‘standard’ and has agreed to share the recipe.

Modernization: I didn’t change the recipe per se; I did use a bag of Iowa Choice Harvest’s frozen apples, because not only are they local apples, they are already peeled and sliced (so it basically couldn’t get more convenient if it tried). I used oat flour in place of the all-purpose flour. Gluten-free flour also works (for those of us tied to that life), but why not gain bonus points by using Early Morning Harvest’s all-purpose unbleached Iowa flour? I skipped the walnuts, but it’s good either way. I contemplated adding a bit of cinnamon, but went in favor of the simplicity set forth in the recipe. Still, for cinnamon fans, it can’t be a bad idea. Lastly, I really want to convert this recipe to use honey instead of sugar. We’ll see.

PS It tastes great.

So here’s the recipe (finally):

‘Candy Apple Pie’

4 large tart apples, peeled OR 1 bag Iowa Choice Harvest frozen apples, unthawed

1 cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

dash of salt

1/2 cup butter, cold

chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a pie pan, then slice apples about 1/4 inch thick. Spread apples in pie pan. Mix remaining ingredients together using a pastry cutter or your hands. Then crumble over apples. Bake for about 45-50 minutes.