All posts by Gary Huber

IFC Welcomes Corazon Coffee Roasters!

October 8, 2012
by Gary Huber

We are excited to introduce a new producer member, Corazon Coffee Roasters! Scott at Corazon has emailed us with a bit of background about his new business and we would like to share his story with you.

Scott and Laura are the owners and operators of Corazon Coffee. The couple began roasting coffee only a few short months ago, but their story goes all the way back to 1993, when they first met. Scott says they had their first date during the flood of ’93, when Scott was working in the wine industry. Together they traveled the world and developed their knowledge of fine wine, and food pairings from all over the globe. Of course, they sampled coffee from foreign places throughout their travels, and it became a passion of theirs as well.

Scott and Laura’s interest in coffee blossomed out of their knowledge of wine, and when they decided to go into the coffee industry they realized the two beverages had many things in common. Coffee, just like wine, gains its rich flavors from many variables along the growth and production process. Scott plans to offer “cupping” classes where he’ll explain how the coffee gains flavor from every step along the way, from where it was planted and grown, to how it was roasted and brewed. He believes these factors affect the flavor of coffee, just the same as they do the flavor of a fine wine.

Corazon’s dedication to excellence in coffee doesn’t just include the rich flavor of their coffee beans. Scott and Laura believe an excellent cup of coffee should come with a promise of responsibility, too. They are a “green operation,” and use only certified organic beans. They also strive to maintain social responsibility by acquiring a majority of fairly traded coffee beans. The “Coffee with a Heart” motto extends to personal relationships with their growers, and their long term goal is to travel to the farms where the beans are grown and build a relationship with the people who grow their coffee.

It’s really great to have Scott and Laura as new producer members of the IFC, and we hope you will enjoy the delicious coffee they have to offer!

Cart to Close Tonight, Software Glitch Update

September 30, 2012
by Gary Huber

Still Time to Shop!

The shopping cart will close tonight (Sunday, Sept. 30th) at midnight with pick-up happening on Thursday, Oct. 4th at our Des Moines area locations and Friday, Oct. 5th in Ames. Below are a few updates on products added during the week. To shop go to https://iowafood.coop and log in. If you need help with your username and password, please send an email to info@iowafood.coop.

Also, we think we figured out what was happening with the shopping cart system (we sent an email on this yesterday afternoon). It seems to only happen with the Internet Explorer 9.0 browser software. If you’ve been having this problem, please send an email to problems@iowafood.coop so we can dig a bit deeper.
 
The Berry Patch (from near Nevada) has added salad mix, arugula, red kale, baby green kale, and spinach from their greenhouse. 

Huber Family Farm (from near Maxwell) has added Ozette fingerling potatoes and parsnips.

Ali Family Garden (from Des Moines) added white potatoes.

Iowa Heritage Foods (from near Bloomfield) added prime rib roasts.

 

IFC Shopping Cart is Open!

September 25, 2012
by Gary Huber

Shop now. Choose from nearly 900 products.

Shop until midnight on Sunday, Sept. 30th, with delivery on Thurs., Oct. 4th at our Des Moines area locations and Friday Oct. 5th at our Ames location. See below updates. 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
SalAmander Farms (from near Bondurant) added red beets (Detroit Dark Red, an old variety with deep red color) and colored beets (mix of red, striped, white and orange). Gardner’s Harvest (from Des Moines) added butterfly sugar cookies, chocolate chunk biscotti, chocolate chip breakfast cookies, amd white bread. 

Pure Native (from Des Moines) added grain-free pumpkin bread made from local pumpkins, eggs, and honey.

Sunrise (from near Woodward) added 2# bags of certified organic Reddale potatoes to go along with their other potatoes, garlic and onions.

The Homestead (from just East of Des Moines) added several Certified Naturally Grown products: Homestead Mix (beautiful custom mix of red and green baby leaf lettuce with a bit of greens), lacinato kale, mini fennel bulbs, red and yellow onions, three varieties of potatoes, and scarlet red turnips (delighfully crisp white-fleshed with bright red skin).

Huber Family Farm (from near Maxwell) added a new variety of sweet potato – O’Henry (white-skinned with a smooth cream-colored flesh that tastes of nuts and honey).

Raccoon Forks Farm (from near Redfield) added canning tomatoes (half bushel boxes) at $15 each.

Angel’s Acres (from near Lacona) added free-range pullet eggs at $1.50/dozen.

Holdeman ABF Poultry (from near Riceville) added 8-piece cut up capons.
 

 

Cart to Close Tonight, Two New Producers

September 16, 2012
by Gary Huber

Still Time to Shop!

The shopping cart will close tonight (Sunday, Sept. 16th) at midnight with pick-up happening on Thursday, Sept. 20th. There are two new producers who have come on board in the last couple of days (see below). To shop go to https://iowafood.coop and log in. If you need help with your username and password, please send an email to info@iowafood.coop
 
Corazon Coffee Roasters is a new West Des Moines business (operated by Scott Warner & Laura Coco) offering certified organic coffee blends. “Corazon” means heart in Spanish, and the tag line for their business is “Coffee With a Heart.” Scott writes: “We have spent countless hours roasting beans at various temperatures and getting to know the characteristics of quality coffee beans from around the world. After months of experimentation, we’ve finally gotten to the point of understanding coffee and the roasting process well enough to develop products we’re proud to put our name on. Each coffee has a distinct flavor profile dependent on soil, weather conditions, processing and brewing method.” 

Gardner’s Harvest is a Des Moines-based bakery that is starting out offering whole wheat bread and fudgy brownies. Owner-operator Lisa Gardner writes: “I have always had a love of baking and learned to bake with my mother when I was younger. Some of my recipes are old family favorites, and almost all I have put my own twist on. I started my bread business in 2009 selling bread to my friends and neighbors as a way to earn a little cash on the side. I got my Home Food License in 2011 so I could sell bread and cookies in a couple small stores in the Des Moines area. It has been a fun journey, and I have to say that I am super excited about this. I have been wanting to be part of the coop for a while.”

 

IFC Shopping Cart is Open!

September 11, 2012
by Gary Huber

Choose from 923 different products.

Note: new hours for WDM pick-up!

Shop until midnight on Sunday, Sept. 16th, with delivery on Thurs., Sept. 20th. See below updates. Note that pick-up at our site in West Des Moines has been shortened to 5 to 6:30 pm. 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
Wildwood Farms (from near Wellsburg) added frozen lasagna made with locally grown tomatoes and onions (9×13 pan, 9-12 servings each). This is a new product for Lorna, so she only has 8 available (grab them while they last!). 

Audubon County Family Farms added raw honey in one pound and two pound glass jars, plus 12 oz. plastic honey bears. They also added hand made beeswax candles in 8” and 12” tapers (two per pkg) and individual 6” and 9” pillars.

Sunrise (from near Woodward) added 2# bags of certified organic German Butterball and 2# bags of certified organic Yukon Gem potatoes.

Chris’ Custom Bakery (from Ankeny) updated her sugar cookies (product 2065) to fall shapes (maple or oak leaf, plus acorn, pumpkin, and apple).

Yoke S Ranch (from near Russell) added 4 new products from their Corriente beef herd – brisket, heart, liver and tongue – to go along with their selection of traditional cuts.

Heart of Iowa Soapworks added laundry soap bars for making your own laundry soap at home using Borax & washing soda. A natural product without any added petroleum products, it comes in a 1# bulk package along with a recipe for making laundry soap.

Cory Family Farm (from near Elkhart) added goat cubed meat (great for stew or kabobs) and goat sirloin chop.

Anna’s Place (from near Grimes) listed pullet eggs, which are from young hens just starting to lay. These first eggs from new hens have excellent flavor.

Huber Family Farm (from near Maxwell) added fall carrots to go along with their potatoes and sweet potatoes.

7 Pines Farm (from near Maxwell) listed certified organic cherry tomatoes, plus sundried tomatoes (sprinkled with an Italian blend of seasonings, they will add a burst of flavor to a variety of recipes).

Grinnell Heritage Farm added certified organic cipollini onion and arugula.