All posts by Gary Huber

IFC Shopping Cart is Open – 1,105 Products Listed!

August 28, 2013
by Gary Huber

Time to Shop!

 

The shopping cart opened last night at midnight. It’ll close at midnight on Sunday, Sept. 1st. Delivery is Thurs., Sept 5th at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, Sept. 6th at our Ames location. Note that if you have a conflict with this schedule, our alternative pick up time from 10:30 am to noon on Sat., Sept 7th.

See below for updates on new stuff, including a new producer. 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.
Timberlea Farm is a new IFCĀ producer. They’ve listed aronia berries from their first harvest off the 1,000 seedlings they planted on their acreage near Boone. 

7 Pines Farm added certified organic red slicing tomatoes and three kinds of certified organic peppers (Maconi Red, Chervena Chushka, Golden Treasure).

Gardner’s Harvest is back this cycle (and has her delicious soft pretzels listed!!!).

Wild Rose Pastures added fresh Iowa white peaches from an older tree on their farm.

Pickle Creek Herbal added several certified organic products: apples (a mix of varieties from a little orchard they started on their farm in 2006), heirloom tomatoes and heirloom eggplant (a mix made up of what’s ready), sweet peppers (a mix) and two kinds of hot peppers.

Threshing Floor added a limited quantity of patty pan squash to go along with their turnips, Incredible sweet corn, and wide variety of baked goods.

Huber Family Farm added Purple Viking potatoes and Maxibel French Filet Green Beans.

Chef Connie’s Urban Farms added Dr. Welchie’s Yellow and Opalka Paste heirloom tomatoes to go along with her Cherokee Purple and Hillbilly varieties.Ā 

Raccoon Forks Farm added Sungold cherry tomatoes, okra, and kale, plus they still have Big Beef and Wapsi Peach tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, chicken, and various craft items.

Black Cat Acres added two kinds of eggplant plus yellow and red cherry tomatoes.

Good Shepard Grass Farms has two new chicken products: 2 to 2.5# birds priced at $4each and 3# birds priced at $6 each.

Yoke S Ranch has sirloin roast from its Corriente beef herd on sale at $6 per pound (regularly $6.60)”.

Holdeman ABF Poultry added capon breakfast sausage patties and Griffieon Family Farm added sheep summer sausage.

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IFC Distribution Today (Tomorrow in Ames) – NOTE NEW MHM LOCATION!!!

August 22, 2013
by Gary Huber

Today is the IFC distribution at our DM area sites or tomorrow if you are picking up in Ames. Please come get your orders.

If you need an alternative pick up time, we’ll be back in our NEW Merle Hay Mall space on Saturday from 10:30 am to noon.

Also, our new space is inside the next entrance to the east from where we use to be (right behind the parking ramp on the south side of the mall that’s being torn down).

Also, parking is a bit of an issue – they don’t want folks parking in the fire lane (which is marked by signs), so you’ll either need to park by the loading docks just west of our mall entrance, or use the public parking areas near our old entrance or just to the south of the parking ramp that is being demolished. We are going to be getting some shopping carts that might be helpful in transporting your products to your vehicle.

If you need to talk to us, callĀ 515-450-6812.

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

August 20, 2013
by Gary Huber

We had 146 members order 1,659 different items this cycle. Total purchases were about $9,400, which brings our August sales to about $20,000, which is a nice total.

Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. Specifics on times and locations are to the left if you are receiving this as an 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.

NOTE: Parking will be a bit of an issue for our new Merle Hay Mall location. We were warned that parking by “No Parking in Fire Lane” signs is not good. You can pull in by the loading dock just to the west of the mall entrance, or you can park use the parking lots to the south and west of the parking ramp that’s being torn down.

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.)

IFC Shopping Cart is Open – 1,124 Products Listed!

August 13, 2013
by Gary Huber

Time to Shop!

The shopping cart opened last night at midnight. It’ll close at midnight on Sunday, August 18th. Delivery is Thurs., August 22nd at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, August 23rd at our Ames location. See below for updates on new stuff, including a new producer.

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.

Quaking Bog Botanicals (a new IFC producer based in Ames) listed garlic (two sizes) and Rose Finn potatoes. Owner Scott Taylor writes: “My squash are turning out to be pretty good along with my Peruvian potatoes. I think there will be about six heirloom squash varieties offered starting in a few weeks.”

Maxwell Farms added Rose Finn Apple fingerling potatoes, yellow and green Haricot Vert beans, and bulk quantities (5# bags) of Slenderette green beans, Yukon Gold potatoes, and heirloom tomatoes. They also have cucumbers, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, and summer squash.

Threshing Floor has turnips and Incredible sweet corn available along with a wide variety of baked goods.

Chef Connie’s Urban Farms added Bulls Blood Beets, yellow zucchini, Jack Pot zucchini, Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes, and Hillbilly heirloom tomatoes (pay attention to Connie’s product descriptions as she offers some options on your orders).Ā 

From Lee at the Berry Patch Farm: “We have blueberries, hanging strawberry baskets, and fresh blackberries”.

Raccoon Forks Farm added Italian eggplant and cherry tomatoes. They still have Big Beef and Wapsi Peach tomatoes as well as basil, cucumbers, chicken, and some crafts (barn quilt signs and insulated grocery bags).Ā 

From Rick at Yoke S Ranch: “Our hamburger patties are on sale at $4.50/package (regularly $5.50) and short ribs are on sale at $4.50/lb (regularly $5)”.

From Matt at Holdeman ABF Poultry:Ā  “We are celebrating our first year of being part of the coop. To say thank you, we are putting our entire product line on sale! Thank you for your business”.

From Carrie at LaVentosa Ranch: “I have added ground turkey made from only breast and thigh meats.Ā  I’ve listed all the product I’ll have available until next summer, so people may want to stock up”.

Wild Rose Pastures added a grass-fed beef bundle (includes t-bone, sirloin, and ribeye steaks along with stew meat and hamburger).

President’s Blog – On Turning Five

August 6, 2013
by Gary Huber

By Pete Woltz, IFC Board President

Unexpected costs can be aggravating. Last week I misplaced my car keys and had to rent a car to get back home from KC.Ā  I thought I chose the company with the most reasonable rates, but when I returned the car I was shocked to see my final bill. Ā With taxes, fees, and adjustments, it was a third more than the quoted price.

I mention this story because we as a cooperative have just come through a remarkable fiscal year that ended on June 30. Thanks to dedicated consumers, popular new products, and an increase in the number of distribution cycles, sales exceeded expectations and we ended up with a $6,300 profit for the year.

However, just like my rental car bill, there have been costs that are not reflected in our profit figure.Ā  To keep the Coop alive financially, we lived off of grants and the help of volunteers. Weā€™veĀ  consumed some of your equity, eliminated staff, and underpaid remaining staff. Perhaps most importantly (and thanks to the generosity of Merle Hay Mall), we have paid no rent.

Unfortunately, to use a term we local food enthusiasts can relate to, these practices are unsustainable.Ā  To address this issue, the board approved a modest increase in our fees for the first time in our history. As a member of the board and a participant on this yearā€™s budget committee that approved the increase, let me say that the decision was a painstakingly difficult one.

The decision came down to a question of sustainability. Our success in 2013 gave us a glimpse of what the IFC can become.Ā  It was the unanimous opinion of the board that we embrace our destiny by creating a business that is financially sustainable.Ā  This remarkable local food delivery system that we have built together these past four years must not be allowed to go away due to the lack of adequate funds to cover costs.happy-birthday-cake65

We have turned five and have matured as an organization.Ā  It is now time to accept our financial responsibilities and keep this truly unique organization serving us for many delicious years to come.Ā  Thank you for supporting this decision and KEEP SHOPPING!

Pick-Up Reminder & We’ve Moved!

August 6, 2013
by Gary Huber

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BREAKING NEWS:

We’ve been doing this dance with folks at Merle Hay Mall concerning when we need to vacate our current space. Yesterday we thought it would be after this week’s distribution. This morning (Tuesday), we found out we had to move today. We have moved back into the space we used at Merle Hay Mall when we started back in 2008.

Our new space is #1215. It’s the next mall entrance to the east of the one we currently use (behind the parking ramp that’s being torn down). You can still drive up to the door to pick-up. There is handicapped parking adjacent to the new entrance, and there is ample parking in the old parking area, with a short walk in or outside the mall. Please see the attached map for reference. Pick-up times and procedure will be the same as always.

Having trouble viewing the map? Click here.

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We had 140 members order 1,789 different items this cycle. Total purchases were about $10,937, which is a nice way to start out August.

Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames. *PLEASE NOTE! Merle Hay Mall space has moved! See above map for directions. Pick-up time and procedure will be the same.

Directions for finding specific locations can be found at the top of 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.)

Note: we still 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.

IFC Shopping Cart is Open (with Sweet Corn)!

July 30, 2013
by Gary Huber

Time to Shop!

The shopping cart opened last night at midnight. It’ll close at midnight on Sunday, August 4th. Delivery is Thurs., August 8th at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, August 9th at our Ames location. See below for updates on new stuff.

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.

Country View Dairy added a new variety of yogurt – Greek Lemon Custard – at a promotional price of $12.00 for a case of 12 six ounce containers. This variety was a big hit when we sampled it at our Merle Hay Mall site last time. They also eliminated the half cases (to simplify things), and most were buying full cases anyway.

Maxwell Farms has several new veggie offerings: 1) sweet corn (Peaches & Cream bi-color), 2) Patty Pan summer squash, 3) miniature eggplant mix, and 4) red tomatoes (to go along with their bell peppers, potatoes, green beans, and zucchini).

Black Cat Acres added collard greens and Better Boy tomatoes (to go along with their garlic and pickling cucumbers).

From Jocelyn at Pickle Creek Herbal: “This will be the last cycle to purchase our herb seedling varieties (except cilantro and mojito mint; we’ll keep those plants available until the end of August or until they sell out). However, we’re now in the middle of harvesting a few thousand heads of garlic with our homemade garlic harvester (made from recycled parts form some old farm machinery) – so now we have certified organic garlic for sale!”

Lee at The Berry Patch Farm writesĀ “We have greenhouse tomatoes, strawberry hanging baskets, and blueberries”.

Raccoon Forks Farm added two kinds of tomatoes (Big Beef and Wapsi Peach) as well as turnips, okra, fennel, and cucumbers.

From Rick at Yoke S Ranch: “For this cycle hamburger patties will remain on sale at $4.50/package (three patties per package. Short ribs will also be on sale at $4.50/lb (regular price is $5/lb)”.

Holdeman ABF Poultry has a sale on their boneless skinless capon breasts (which are incredible on the grill) at $5.99/lb.

Valley View Poultry and Iowa Heritage Foods are both back this cycle (they are both only doing the first cycle each month).

From Becky at Threshing Floor: “I added to my turnip inventory, and please let everyone know that we are keeping an eye on our Incrdible sweet corn. If it’ll be ready by delivery time, we’ll post it on the weekend”.