Today is the IFC distribution at our DM area sites or tomorrow if you are picking up in Ames. Please come get your food or we’ll eat it and be healthy and happy.
Note: Pick up time for our downtown site is 4:30 to 6 pm, and we can only take checks or cash at that site.
If you need to talk to us, call 515-450-6812.
We had 139 members order 1,410 different items this cycle. 74 will pick up @ MHM, 27 at the Mickle Center (now is second place), 22 in WDM, 12 in Ankeny, and 4 in Ames. Total purchases were just under $9,000, so our sales are holding pretty steady (although it would be great to see them growing).
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.
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 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.
Time to Shop!
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| Country View Dairy added five new yogurt products. Two are variety packs with a mix of yogurts (so you can try 4-5 flavors with one purchase). Three are 3# family-size tubs (plain, vanilla & strawberry). Give Check these a try and see what members have been raving about. Doug’s Last Wish Ultimate Steak Seasoning is a new IFC producer with a certified organic seasoning that is especially suited to grass-fed meats (although it’s great on everything in the kitchen from veggies to fish to pork. Try with on the meat you purchase through the IFC for your summer grilling performances. Griffieon Family Farm added Boneless Leg of Lamb, plus they’ve listed more lamb cuts, and they have five lotions on sale at 10% off (Arabian Spice, Warm Vanilla, Lemon, Lavender, and Lime). LaVon writes: “Our first batch of chickens are finished and I’m traveling to Bloomfield tomorrow with a 23 foot trailer (my maiden voyage) to get chickens butchered, so we will have plenty of chicken for sale.” Sondra from SalAmander Farm writes: “If anyone wants to our order lamb, you need to get it this cycle. I will be taking off July and most of August for county fair season and won’t be listing again till school starts. Thanks for your business!” Holdeman ABF Poultry has whole capons with missing wing on sale for $2.39 per lb (regular $2.69 per lb) – “wonderful family get togethers, holidays and reunions; they roast up very moist.” With all this rain, it’s been difficult for our produce growers. Here’s some info about what they’ve listed this cycle:
Wildwood Farms is back this cycle and has added a new item: Breakfast Braid (Danish-like sweet braid with jam filling that makes a beautiful and delicious breakfast treat). Threshing Floor and Gardner’s Harvest are back as well. Lisa with Gardner’s Harvest writes: “We are back from vacation. If anyone wants to know, we spent the week at a Medieval ‘War’ hosted by the Society for Creative Anachronism. |
Lettuces from the last order cycle.
Last month, the IFC welcomed Wimmer Farms as a new producer. For their first order cycle debut, they offered three types of immense but tender lettuces. Based in Arispe, Iowa, Wimmer Farmsâ property has been in their family for over 86 years; owners Patty and Denny recently moved back from Chicago to pursue growing produce that promotes healthy lifestyles. A few days ago I caught up with Denny about his farm and involvement with the coop.
What made you exchange your big city living for farming in rural Iowa?
Tell us about a favorite product you offer and how you like to prepare it:
We are in our second year so right now my favorite is tomatoes just because they taste so great, and people seem so excited to see nice tomatoes that are fresh and delicious.
Why did you join the IFC and/or what has been your experience with the IFC so far?
We joined IFC to reach a broader market with our products. We live in a small town (89), and a rural community, and needed to reach more people and this seems like a good avenue to do that. We have only just begun, but so far our experience has been excellent. All the people have been very helpful.
What does a typical day look like during the growing season at Wimmer Farms?
We get up early have a cup of coffee together, discuss our plans for the day and then head out and start working. Many days have ended at dark this spring as we haven’t been able to spread the work out over several days because of all the rain fall.
What is a little-known fact or hidden talent youâd like to share?
Well I don’t know that it’s talent but I do like to paint, I also have done wood sculpture and some brass sculptures. Also, that I still hold a record at the high school for most passes caught in a football season(45) from 1972 , that I held the high jump record for 23 years, and I had the career scoring record in basketball before the three point line and dunking. So now you know I am really old.
Wimmer Farms (by Denny Wimmer)
Product Types:
Wimmer Farms standards & growing practices:
Chemical free and a member of certified naturally grown. In the transition stage of organic certification. Have never used any synthetic products on vegetable crops.
What members can look forward to in the next shopping cycle:
We hope hope we still have some lettuce for the next cycle, maybe cherry tomatoes, kale and radishes.
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Today is the IFC distribution at our DM area sites or tomorrow if you are picking up in Ames.
Note: People picking up at First Family Church in Ankeny should USE THE NORTH DOOR instead of the normal one on the west side of the building (they’ve got an event planned that necessitates the move). You can park in the parking lot on the north side of the church.
Note: Pick up time for our downtown site is 4:30 to 6 pm, and we can only take checks or cash at that site.
If you need to talk to us, call 515-450-6812.
We had 148 members order 1,577 different items this cycle. 88 will pick up @ MHM, 25 in WDM, 21 at the Mickle Center, 7 in Ankeny, and 7 in Ames. Total purchases were just about $9,200. Nice numbers, but we’d like to see them grow.
Pick-up is on Thursday at our Des Moines-area sites or Friday in Ames.
Note: 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, if you want to see your invoice, log in and go to the shopping tab, and on the left hand side you’ll see a link titled “View In-Process Invoice”.
By Pete Woltz, IFC Board President
I have been thinking lately about my dual role experiences as both a producer and consumer of the Iowa Food Coop. Shopping and selling products through the IFC presents some interesting challenges. Because I have become a product of a society geared toward instant everything, delivering product and shopping on a two-week schedule requires me to resurrect an ancient set of skills⊠planning!
Many of our regular shoppers have a highly evolved âmeal planningâ gene. To them, sitting at a computer to plug from over 1,000 locally-produced IFC food treasurers into approximately 42 meal time slots becomes second nature. One by one they mix and match and visualize the future.  âLetâs see, Steak ânâ Eggs greens simmering with LaVentosa Berkshire bacon, thatâll work for next weekâs potluckâ.Â
As producers, we must accurately plan and track our inventories so as not to âoutâ a product on distribution day.  And, I am not talking sexual orientation here! Outing occurs when a product is removed from a consumerâs invoice. This can occur for any number of reasons, but it is usually a sad event for everyone involved. It creates loss of revenue for the IFC, loss of revenue for the producer, and, most importantly, disruption in the lives of our highly evolved and much beloved consumers.Â
Here are a couple 
of things we as producers can do to help keep âoutsâ from happening. Check and double check orders prior to delivery. Also, use the IFC websiteâs inventory feature to control sales volume. Check inventory against orders prior cart closing. That way, consumers can be notified in time to make a product substitution in the event of a product âoutâ.
The IFC is the best place on the planet to feed ourselves. It may take a little more planning and a little more strategy, but hey, we are evolved! SHOP THE COOP today.
