All posts by Gary Huber

IFC Shopping Cart is Open!

January 19, 2014
by Gary Huber

1,100 Different Products Listed!

The online shopping cart is open. See below for info on new things, including salmon (no it’s not from Iowa). The cart closes at midnight a week from today (Sunday, Jan. 26). Distribution is Thurs., Jan. 30 at our Des Moines area sites and Friday, Jan. 31 in Ames. Note: if you have a conflict, our alternative pick up is 10:30 am to noon on Sat., Feb. 1. 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.

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A year ago Des Moines native Tony Neal asked us if he could join and list salmon from his Alaska-based Popsie Fish Company. His request was denied. When Tony approached us again early this month, the board voted to grant a one-year variance to our Iowa-only product standard. The decision was based on four reasons: 

1. Tony is a Des Moines native and his small business produces very high quality salmon products using sustainable practices,
2. our consumer members want greater selection of unique, sustainably-produced products,
3. no fish products from Iowa are currently listed, and
4. almost all locally-available salmon is “factory” farm-raised (extremely harmful to the environment and coastal communities; click this link for more info).

In a few months we’ll ask for feedback on our decision to allow a product from outside Iowa to be sold. In the meantime, please give his products a try. He currently has four listed.

Shallots Anyone? The board recently discussed ways to make products in short supply available to IFC members. One idea is for the IFC to purchase for re-sale items that are 1) not available, 2) desirable in terms of attributes, such as certified organic, and 3) produced by small farms or businesses. We’ve made our first such purchase: certified organic shallots from Small Family CSA Farm (a 21-acre certified organic farm in SW WI). These shallots will be listed until the supply we purchased is gone.

Other new or updated items:

Sweet Treat without Wheat added Pumpkin Donuts with citrus glaze, and their donuts now come in half-dozen packs.

Grimm Family Farm added beets from last fall’s harvest that they’ve been storing in their walk-in cooler.

Huber Family Farm added inventory to their Red Lasoda potatoes (the carrots, unfortunately, are all gone).

Sunrise added dwarf-gray pea shoots (in 4.5″ pots) and live green garlic (10 plants/pot).

Special K Ranch lowered the price on their Grass-fed Texas Longhorn hamburger to $4.50 per pound.

From Matt at Holdeman ABF Poultry: “I hope the new year finds everyone well and healthy. We’ve been working on some new products that are now listed: whole smoked capon, whole smoked capon breasts, and boneless skinless breast sliced into deli meat. I have a limited number to start with, so hurry and get your orders in.” 

Daily Bread Bakery added a medium salsa that is “handmade in small batches and loaded with fresh organic and local produce.” 

Griffieon Family Farm added two new products: un-rendered lard and suet. LaVon also notes that “it is soup and stew season, so we’ve reduced the price on boiling beef.” They’ve also reduced the price on t-bone steaks and dog bones. 

Wagner Enterprises added two new items: Black Raspberry Crisp and Apple Crisp (both in 8″x8″ and 4″ pie sizes).

Fieldstone Farms added an the option of customizing their lip balm set gift baskets (perfect for a Valentine gift for your special “honey”).customized.two new items: corn polenta and buckwheat flour.

Broadhorn Farm added beef liver and beef soup bones from their Belted Galloway herd.

Timber Ridge to Fuel North Wapiti Iditarod Musher

January 17, 2014
by Gary Huber

Flickr user Arthur Chapman

Some of the most rewarding aspects of our business are the personal relationships we have been able to build with our customers. We participate in the Des Moines Downtown Farmer’s Market every summer and have gained some new customers that we now consider friends. From these relationships, amazing opportunities have grown.

One regular farmer’s market customer, Shelly Lewis, told us that she was taking a trip to Canada to spend some time with her friend, Karen Ramstead, as Karen trained for the Iditarod – the world-famous sled dog race in Alaska. We sent some of our regular and mustard beef sticks along with a couple bags of our beef stick “Bits and Pieces” for Shelly to share with Karen. Shelly reported that Karen “LOVED” the beef sticks and asked if we would be interested in being her beef stick sponsor for the Iditarod. We were flattered and excited for the opportunity!

Karen is the owner/manager of North Wapiti Kennels in Alberta, Canada where she breeds, raises, and trains purebred Siberian Huskies for long distance racing. Karen has been competing in the 1000-mile Iditarod since 2000, with her first finish coming in 2001. She was the first Canadian woman to complete the race and one of the few teams that races with purebred Siberian Huskies.

This month Karen is heading up to Alaska to start preparing for the 2014 race that starts March 1. Part of the last stretch of training includes preparing the “drop bags” of supplies for the race that will be delivered to checkpoints along the trail. Each bag will include beef sticks and “bits and pieces” from Timber Ridge. Our beef sticks are a great fit for the race because they don’t require refrigeration, are all-natural, and pack a heavy dose of protein in each serving. The sticks are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids which supply essential nutrients.

Look for Timber Ridge beef to play a key role in fueling Karen during the Iditarod.
We will be sharing Karen’s progress both on our Facebook page and here on the blog. You can also keep up with Karen through the North Wapiti Kennels Facebook page, her North Wapiti Kennels blog, or enjoy the humorous Facebook page of her “Wayward Iditarod GPS” device as Karen and her team travel along the trail.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: beef, beef jerky, beef stick, cattle, cows, dog sledding, family farm, huskies, Iditarod, jerky, local farmer, musher, sled dogs, sledding, sledding dogs, sponsor, Timber Ridge, Timber Ridge Cattle Co

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames)

January 9, 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 tomorrow is distribution 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 at DM area sites or Friday in Ames

January 6, 2014
by Gary Huber

We had 180 members order 1,826 items this cycle. Total purchases were just over $12,000.

If you are getting this as an email, you’ve ordered something that needs to be picked up. Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. Specifics on times and locations are to the left of this email.

We have an alternative pick-up time of 10:30 am to noon on Saturday at our Merle Hay Mall location. Please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop if you are coming on Saturday.

Two other things:

1) Wild Rose Pastures has 7 dozen large eggs left (cost is $4.25/dozen). If you want any of these added to your online cart, send an email to gary@iowafood.coop.

2) You can access your invoice access by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice” on the left hand side of the page.)

Eat MORE of these in 2014…

January 2, 2014
by Gary Huber

There is nothing like setting out to do something and, you know, actually doing it. Which is probably exactly opposite most people’s experience with resolutions. Why not adopt a few of the following goals as your own, and promise to eat well this year. You are going to eat anyway, so you might as well choose the good stuff and support some local farmers while you’re at it!

nyres

1) Forget about keeping the doctor away, an apple a day actually whitens your teeth. This sweet, portable, and unbelievably good for you wonder fruit is at the top of our list, and at 75ish calories each, they are truly the perfect snack.

2) Meet grassfed beef, the other red meat. You are what you eat, and, as it turns out, so are cows. It’s probably a good time to stop consuming the garbage, stale cookies, poultry manure, chicken feathers, bubble gum, and restaurant waste that makes up conventional cattle’s diet, and, consequently, your steak. Cows who eat greens transfer the benefits to you, via more omega-3’s and less saturated fat (but more good fat).

3) A spoonful of raw, local honey IS medicine. So put it on everything. Plus, it tastes great. Raw honey holds antibacterial power over more than 60 types of bacteria, and, unlike antibiotics, doesn’t carry the toxic risks.

4) Leafy greens are the gateway drug to good health, but ONLY if they are fresh (so local helps too). Save that spinach a plane ticket from Mexico or California because the prepackaged greens you are used to are probably about two weeks old and have lost many of their nutritional benefits. Not to mention they taste, well, bad.

5) Agree to eating baked goods with real ingredients, because it’d be crazy to forgo Saturday donuts or birthday cake, so just be rational and skip the cellulose gum (extracted from wood and cotton pulp) and Red #40 (actual Twinkie’s ingredients).

 

Now comes the fun part–go shopping!

Not sure about this whole Co-op thing? Try us for free for six months. Choose ‘Trial’ under Membership Type when filling out our registration form. We’d love for you to join us!

Lastly, Happy New Year everyone! Wishing you a year of good food.

IFC Shopping Cart is Open – Two New Producers!

December 30, 2013
by Gary Huber

Time to go shopping!

The online shopping cart opened last night at midnight. There are over 1,000 excellent food and non-food products available from the comfort of your home computer. See below for info on two new producers, plus info on new items and some really nice promotional offers.

NOTE: The cart closes at midnight on Sunday, Jan. 5. Distribution is Thurs., Jan. 9 at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, Jan. 10 at our Ames location. Note: if you have a conflict with this schedule, our alternative pick up time from 10:30 am to noon on Sat., Jan. 12.

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.
Sweet Treat without Wheat is a new IFC producer from right here in Des Moines that specializes in gluten-free products. They’ve listed three types of cookies, a “cheesecake in a jar” product, and their incredibly delicious Cinnamon Sugar Donuts. 

Iowa Choice Harvest LLC is also a new IFC producer specializing in flash-frozen fruits and vegetables processed at their new plant in Marshalltown. They’ve listed two sizes of frozen sweet corn (grown by IFC producer Griffieon Family Farm!) and frozen sliced apples. We are so happy to have these products available to our members.

From Bryan at Iowa Orchard LLC: “Due to the heavy crop of apples this season (we’ll probably have them available until June), we are giving away sample bags of 4 apples (all different varieties) to everyone that orders ANYTHING. Thanks!”

Special K Ranch has a promotion as well: buy 10 lbs of their grass-fed Texas Longhorn hamburger and get one thrown in for free.

Holdeman ABF Poultry added two new products: Capon Brats and Capon Ring Bologna with Swiss Cheese. Nice!

From Erich at Iowa Pet Adoptions: “After this cycle we’ll be increasing our prices, so this is your last chance to buy them at $4.75 per 14 oz bag. Also, we are busier than ever with other products, so we may not be selling each cycle. Thanks, and we hope you and your pets are well.”

Huber Family Farm added a limited quantity of parsnips and Lee’s Greens LLC has lettuce, spinach, and red kale listed.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks added two new items: Sage Sweetgrass & Cedar Shampoo Bar and Cold Springs (a new tallow blend soap that “lather’s like a fool”). Her Allie’s Almond & Oats and Fragrant Tresses Shampoo are also back in stock.

Early Morning Harvest added two new items: corn polenta and buckwheat flour.

Novae Vita Farm added a “Beef Bundle Plus” product from their Dexter beef herd.

IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames)

December 19, 2013
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 tomorrow is distribution in Ames. Sounds like there’s a chance that driving conditions could deteriorate later today. If you decide that it’s not safe to drive, we have an alternative pick up time on Saturday from 10:30 am to noon at our Merle Hay Mall site. Please let us know if that is what you decide to do with a call to 515-450-6812.

Pick-up Thursday at DM area sites or Friday in Ames

December 17, 2013
by Gary Huber

We had 176 members order 2,048 items this cycle. Total purchases were just over $14,000.

If you are getting this as an email, you’ve ordered something that needs to be picked up. Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. Specifics on times and locations are to the left of this email.

We have an alternative pick-up time of 10:30 am to noon on Saturday at our Merle Hay Mall location. Please send an email to distribution@iowafood.coop if you are coming on Saturday.

Also, you can access your invoice access by logging in, going to the shopping tab, and click “view in-process invoice” on the left hand side of the page.)

December Highlights–Giveaways and Mo’

December 13, 2013
by Gary Huber

Interested in subscribing to our newsletter? Sign up on the right by entering your email address here.

You could be wearing this shirt!
For Free!

tees

We are pretty excited about our new IFC logo tees, and to celebrate, we are giving one away.
Check out our Facebook page and ‘Like’ the t-shirt photo to be entered; we will draw one name
after the cart closes.

In the meantime, why leave things to chance when you can just add one
to your cart? They sell for $12-14 (depending on size), are 100% cotton, and produced by a Des Moines screenprinter, featuring the art
of IFC member Rick Vonholdt.

 We also want you to win a gift bag…

giveawaypic

Watch for details on the Facebook page and website; we will draw a name from all members who place an order this cycle. If we choose you, you’ll get a bag of some of our favorite local products.

A big November at the Co-op!

We had a record shopping cycle in November, totaling over $19,000! A huge thanks to our members and producers for making Co-op history.

Channel 13 even stopped by and did a story:

Screen_Shot_2013_12_12_at_7.48.54_PM

 

(Click here to see video.)

Additionally, we welcomed two new board members, Sue Ruden of Red Barn Produce and Karin Eshelman, a consumer member. Please say hello to our 2014 board:

board-1

A big welcome to new producers Grimm Family Farm + Mo’Rub

Locally grown dry beans–finally!

Meet Grimm Family Farm, out of Coraliville. Owner Jason also helps manage the Iowa Valley Food Co-op. This cycle he is offering dry black turtle beans from his third generation farm, which he operates along with his family.

You’re gonna want Mo’!


And a friendly welcome to the folks who make up Mo’Rub. We are happy to welcome Steph and Monty aboard, along with their famous universal seasoning. In their words:
‘What was created as a rub for pork has truly become a seasoning that’s great on anything! Folks put it on their eggs in the morning and popcorn at night.’

Last but not least, happy holidays from the Iowa Food Cooperative! We wish you and your family well this season and thank you for your support.