Time to go shopping – Transplants Galore!
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| Spring is (almost?) here! Time to get that garden planted.
Wabi Sabi Farm, Pickle Creek Herbal, SalAmander Farm, Berry Patch Farm, and 7 Pines Farm have collectively listed 66 different types of tomato transplants, plus 17 types of pepper transplants, 47 different herbs, and an assortment of other transplants (swiss chard, cabbage, broccoli, cukes, okra, winter squash, scallions, onions, and blueberries). Many are heirloom varieties, and those from Wabi Sabi Farm and 7 Pines Farm are certified organic. Carrie of LaVentosa Ranch writes: After using the winter to get our animals raised, we now have products available. New this year: 100% all natural, hormone and antibiotic free Berkshire pork and 100% Grass Fed, all natural, no hormone or antibiotic Beef. Yoke S Ranch has added beef short ribs from their herd of Corriente cattle, and Wedel Grazing Acres has their beef stew meat on sale again this cycle. Scott from Corazon Coffee writes: We are ready to roll and have a new offering – a Guatemalan named “Huehuetanango” from the Asobagri Cooperative. This is a quality bean that we are roasting on the dark side of medium. SalAmander Farms has listed lamb bundles for your freezer or grilling, and Tesdell Farm Fresh Produce has listed ground lamb and lamb chops. Broadhorn Farm added Flank Steak, Porterhouse Steak and Stew Beef as well as a Premium Steak Bundle from their Belted Galloway beef herd. Raccoon Forks Farm added spinach and whole stewing hens. |
All posts by Gary Huber
IFC Distribution is Today Thursday, May 16th
Today is the IFC distribution (or tomorrow if you are picking up in Ames). Don’t forget to pick up your order or we’ll feast on your food. If you need to talk to us, call 515-450-6812.
Iowa Food Coop Spring Open House and Transplant Sale!
Ben Saunders (Wabi Sabi Farm) at the 2012 IFC Spring Transplant Sale
Come to the IFC Spring Open House and Heirloom Transplant Sale!
Who: 13 different IFC producers
When:Â 9:30 am-noon, Sat. April 27
Where:Â Merle Hay Mall (inside south entrance near Younkers)
What: Heirloom tomatoes, peppers, onions, cabbage, leeks, broccoli, brussel sprouts, swiss chard, herbs (basil, mint, thyme, oregano, sage, parsley, rosemary, lavender, chives) plus baked goods, jams/jellies, meats, olive oils, sorghum syrup, soaps and much more!
Pick up your order on Thursday or Friday (Ames only) of this week!
Hello. We had 163 members order 1,724 different items this cycle, with total purchases of $10,815. Those are nice totals. Thanks so much for buying products from our producer-owners.
We’ll see you on Thursday or Friday (Ames only) when you come pick up your orders. 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”.
Winter greens from the Berry Patch Farm
The Iowa Food Coop has been fortunate to have lettuce, spinach, kale, chard and radishes from the Berry Patch Farm for the last several months. There was a great article in this week’s Farm Bureau Spokeman that describes this part of their operation. Here’s a link to the article (reprinted with permission from the Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman). Click here to view a PDF of the original article.
IFC Shopping Cart is Open!
Time to go shopping!ÂThe cart opened at last night midnight. It will close at midnight on Sunday, April 21st. Delivery is Thurs., April 25th at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, April 26th at our Ames location. See below for updates on new stuff. As always, 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. Also, if you haven’t signed up for our eNewsletter, you can access it at IFC News. |
| Wildwood Farms is back this cycle, as is Valley View Poultry and Country Harvest Jams.Get your greens and eat healthy!
The Homestead listed their signature lettuce mix and Berry Patch Farm listed lettuce, spinach, swiss chard, and Salanova lettuce heads. SalAmander Farms listed 22 varieties of heirloom tomato transplants, six varieties of heirloom sweet peppers transplants, and one each of kale, Chinese cabbage, and kohlrabi. Herb transplants are available from 7 Pines Farm (Thyme, Sage and Italian Large Leaf Basil) and SalAmander Farms (Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Marjoram, Parsley). Berry Patch Farm listed hanging strawberry plant baskets, two kinds of blueberry plants, plus and chives and curled parsley in 4.5″ pots. Also, see www.berrypatchfarm.com for info on a 4/20 workshop on growing blueberries. Wedel Grazing Acres added sirloin and minute steaks, plus they have ground pork available again and their beef stew meat is on sale @ $6.99/lb. Yoke S Ranch’s Corriente filet mignon steak is on sale for $13/lb (regular price $15/lb). Holdeman ABF Poultry has all their capon products on sale this cycle except for hindquarters. Griffieon Family Farm has one new product – a quarter beef. |
Iowa Food Coop Spring Open House and Transplant Sale!
Ben Saunders (Wabi Sabi Farm) at the 2012 IFC Spring Transplant Sale
Come to the IFC Spring Open House and Heirloom Transplant Sale!
Who: 13 different IFC producers
When:Â 9:30 am-noon, Sat. April 27
Where:Â Merle Hay Mall (inside south entrance near Younkers)
What: Heirloom tomatoes, peppers, onions, cabbage, leeks, broccoli, brussel sprouts, swiss chard, herbs (basil, mint, thyme, oregano, sage, parsley, rosemary, lavender, chives) plus baked goods, jams/jellies, meats, olive oils, sorghum syrup, soaps and much more!
President’s Blog – You Are How You Eat!
By Pete Woltz, IFC Board President
The IFC is much more than another place to buy food. A while back Kelly and Angie Tagtow shared a request from a journal that was seeking essays that explored “the intersection of cooperatives with alternative food systems initiativesâ.  I was so moved by the request’s language on cooperative food systems that I read a portion at an IFC board meeting for a bit of pre-meeting inspiration.
The words hit a familiar note for me. Cooperative food systems were described as organizations populated by âfood citizensâ acting within âcivic food networksâ. Cooperative food systems, they went on to say, were distinguished from conventional cooperatives in that they:
- Reconnect farmers and consumers in more direct and meaningful ways
- Sell to local and regional markets through alternative networks
- Promote food production, distribution, and consumption processes that are environmentally sound or socially just.
As my involvement in the IFC has expanded over the years from producing products that meet IFC standards, to public speaking, to Board involvement, to volunteering on distribution day, I have come to feel a compelling sense of citizenship within this extraordinary local food community. More than just an intersection of consumers and food producers, I find the IFC to be a vibrant community of citizens accepting the responsibilities and enjoying the privileges that come with citizenship.
What are the responsibilities?  For starters, an all-volunteer workforce of âfood citizensâ somehow manages to collect hundreds of local products every other Thursday and distribute them to lines of very patient consumers at four different sites.  Thank you volunteers and patient consumers!
But responsibilities in a cooperative food system go beyond the sometimes overwhelming tasks of distribution. There are responsibilities our producer owners accept to offer wholesome foods produced with practices that protect our land, water, and wildlife. There are responsibilities to care for those who are less fortunate, which we do by supporting our EBT members with donations to cover their fees.  Indeed, being responsible is a theme that runs through everything we do.
What about the privileges tha
t come with citizenship in our local food system? Â Are you kidding – local greens in February!?!
I would also argue that this great privilege is also our responsibility. I encourage you as a coop citizen to buy products from our producers.  April sales are well on the way to meeting budget projections.  You can help us meet our goals and keep our community alive and healthy by loading your cart this next cycle with the most wonderful local Iowa products available anywhere. Please shop your Coop!
IFC Distribution is Today Thursday, April 4th
Today is the IFC distribution (or tomorrow if you are picking up in Ames). Don’t forget to pick up your order or we’ll feast on your food. If you need to talk to us, call 515-450-6812.
Pick up your order on Thursday or Friday (Ames only) of this week!
Hello. We had 174 members order 1,696 different items this cycle, with total purchases of about $11,775. Those are nice totals. Thanks so much for buying products from our producer-owners.
We’ll see you on Thursday or Friday (Ames only) when you come pick up your orders. 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”.