Tag: local food

Taste the Local Difference–1,456 Different Products Listed

 

We have the secret to an amazing Fourth of July cookout: FRESH, LOCALLY-GROWN PRODUCE and locally-raised meat for the grill. New this cycle (see below for details) are Elephant Garlic, green beans, tomatoes, and there’s lots of snow/snap peas, head lettuce, carrots, and potatoes. Also, keep checking as produce farmers will update inventories throughout the week.

NOTE: We now have home delivery in the DM metro area. We’ve set up three home delivery products that are listed under the Iowa Food Cooperative. Deliveries will be from 6-9 pm on distribution Thursdays. If you want home delivery, choose “Franklin Plaza (Delivery)” as your Pickup/Delivery location when you open your shopping basket and put the appropriate product in your shopping cart. Here’s a link to a map to help know which product to purchase.

÷«Our 2015 calendar is available in a PDF (click to view), and you can click here to see new products added since last cycle!

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. The online cart will close Sunday, June 28 at midnight. Distribution is Thurs., July 2 at all our sites except Ames, which is on Friday, July 3. NOTE: Because Saturday is July 4, our alternative pick-up will be from 10:30 to noon at Franklin Avenue on Friday, July 3. 

 

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New items + specials:

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Local Goes National: Lucky George Farm’s Large Black heritage breed pork was named NATIONAL CHAMPION at the Grand Cochon 555 culinary event held in Denver this past weekend. Congratulations Jason and Angela! This is the premier nose-to-tail culinary event in the country! Try Lucky George’s heritage pork and taste for yourself!

Summer is here! Lee’s Greens (Nevada) listed 2+ lb bags of mixed red and gold tomatoes and Clarion Sage Farm (Adel) listed high-tunnel heirloom tomatoes (small red vine-ripened tomatoes full of heirloom flavor).

Our nine LSI Global Greens farmers (refugee farmers from around the world) continue to amaze with their incredible variety of new offerings including beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, parsley, green beans, amaranth greens, leaf and head lettuce, mustard, arugula, chard, greens mix, kale, squash stems, red and white onions, and potatoes. Please check them out!.

Soy-free chickens have been requested by some members. This is from Mary of Cory Family Farm (Elkhart): “We are now offering pasture-raised chickens that have their diets supplemented with non-GMO grains and no soy. The average weight is 4.5 lb, and we are also listing packages of chicken livers and hearts from these chickens.”

Red Barn Produce (Dexter) added a summer favorite – fresh green beans! 

Heritage Hill Farm (Ames) has snow peas + snap peas in addition to several fresh-cut herbs + kohlrabi.

Tesdell Farm Fresh Produce (Slater) has returned with lamb chops—raised from birth on their farm–perfect for grilling.

Iowa Choice Harvest (Ames) put their frozen sliced apples on sale (perfect for combining with berries in smoothies as they are peeled, cored, sliced, and ready to use) and they’ve added cases of both their apples and their (amazing) sweet corn.

Sunrise (Woodward) is one of the few growers in the area to raise Elephant Garlic. Don’t miss out on these giant, segmented bulbs. They have a milder garlic flavor (shhhhh they are actually a leek) and are coveted by garlic-lovers everywhere.

Yoke S Ranch (Russell) has a new sale: Corriente beef brisket, on sale for $6/lb.

From Basil to Zucchini! 1,580 Different Products Listed

 

It’s really feeling like summer with fresh basil, new potatoes, snap peas, broccoli, and zucchini listed! Check back often as our veggie farmers will update inventories throughout the week. 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. The online cart will close Sunday, June 14 at midnight. Distribution is Thurs., June 18 at all our sites except Ames, which is Friday, June 19. Our alternative distribution at our Franklin Plaza site is 10:30 to noon on Saturday, June 20. 

Home Delivery!

We’re closing our downtown drop off site (sorry) but are trying something new – home delivery in the DM metro area. We’ve set up three home delivery products: 1) within two miles of our Franklin Plaza site (priced at $5); 2) from two to four miles (priced at $10) and 3) more than four miles (priced at $15). They are listed under the Iowa Food Cooperative. Deliveries will be from 6-9 pm on distribution Thursdays. NOTE: If you want home delivery you need to 1) choose “Franklin Plaza (Delivery)” as your Pickup/Delivery location when you open your shopping basket and 2) put the appropriate product in your shopping cart. Here’s a link to a map to help know which product to purchase.  

Last thing: Our 2015 calendar is available in a PDF (click to view) and you can click here to see new products added since last cycle! Below are some additional updates on new stuff.

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New items + specials:

Kiowa House of Herbs (Searsboro) listed some new products, including pancake syrups in six different flavors (Strawberry, Red Raspberry, Bluebery, Aronia Berry, and Peach) and a new jelly flavor: Aronia Berry Jelly. 

Wilted Leaf Farm (Cambridge) has listed three kinds of kale, swiss chard, baby leaf lettuce mix, and Hakurei white turnips. 

We added inventory Hansen Dairy (Hudson) heavy cream. It’s listed under Iowa Food Cooperative products (we are buying and reselling this cream because none is currently available from our IFC producers).

Popsie Fish Co. (Homer, AK) listed Smoked Sockeye Salmon,which is alder wood smoked and ready to be served.

Lee’s Greens (Nevada) has a summer favorite – zucchini – for sale along with their other fresh produce and plants.

Timber Ridge Cattle Co. (Osceola) has a new product – ham loaf from their Swabian Hall/Large Black cross pigs (made from equal parts ground pork and ground ham).

Global Greens: The Eating Well Farm (Des Moines) has a new farm name! Bizimana Charles is in his second year of selling through IFC via Global Greens (a refugee farming program of Lutheran Services of Iowa). Check out his huge vegetable selection from beets (three kinds!) to carrots to cabbage to new potatoes. Congrats to Bizimana on naming his farm!

Global Greens: Sky Heart Farm (Des Moines) listed Genovese Basil (perfect for making pesto) along with a wide variety of other fresh produce items.

Global Greens: Congera Alex & Chantal Marie (Des Moines) added green cabbage, red spring onions, and new potatoes.

Global Greens: Namaste Gardens (Des Moines) added an interesting variety of kohlrabi called ‘Azur Star’ along with radishes, head lettuce, and other greens.

Global Greens: Jipatie Afya (Des Moines) is offering a gorgeous selection of colorful lettuce varieties and mixed greens.

Yoke S Ranch (Russell) has a new product (beef skirt steak from their Corriente beef herd) and their beef summer sausage is on sale for $9/lb.

New Family Farm (Elkhart) recently had a wedding at their farm—Congrats to Amanda + Tony! Check out their mix of items, including all-time favorite this time of year: snap peas.

7 Pines Farm (Maxwell) added three kinds of certified organic kale to go along with their wide selection of good food.

1,470 Different Products Listed; Our Largest Selection of Unique Items Yet!

 

Fresh summer produce is arriving—mix up your salads with fresh herbs, green garlic, and shitake mushrooms (and don’t forget eggs, baked goods, meats, dairy and so much more!!!).

These two week shopping cycles come and go quickly! Be sure to watch for new products added throughout the week—especially produce items. 

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.) The online cart will close Sunday, May 31st at midnight. Distribution is Thurs., June 4th at all our sites except Ames, which is on Friday June 5th. If you can’t make these times, our alternative pick-up is Saturday, May 6th from 10:30 am to noon at our Franklin Avenue site.

***Mark your calendars for a free concert on Monday, June 8^th, from 6-8p at our Franklin Ave. space. Bicycle-traveling folk artist Paul Doffing will perform songs from his latest album. The perfect way to start your summer! Read more here.

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New items + specials:

Hansen Dairy (Hudson via the Iowa Food Cooperative) – We are making Hansen’s butter (and cream as supply allows) available because of limited quantities from our other dairy producers. Hansen’s on-farm creamery started in 2004. Their cows are fed non-GMO crops and they are not given hormones (rBST/rBGH). 

SalAmander Farms (Bondurant) listed red/green romaine lettuce along with several kinds of fresh herbs, kale, swiss chard, mustard greens, and rhubarb.

Lee’s Greens (Nevada) has a very unique selection of fresh herbs, including fresh cut mint—from banana mint to grapefruit mint to chocolate mint! They’ve also got microgreens, rhubarb, and herb, tomato, black raspberry, and blackberry transplants.

Heritage Hill Farm (Ames) is offering various hand-made soaps along with fresh herbs, green onions, radishes, leaf lettuce, rhubarb, and a nice selection of heirloom tomato transplants and potted herbs.

Yoke S Ranch (Russell) has a sale on their short ribs this cycle only!

Audubon County Family Farms (Audubon) is back with eggs from hens fed non-GMO corn and frozen Certified Organic aronia berries.

Mushroom Mills (Columbus Junction) is offering shitake mushrooms for the first time! Check out their other two varieties as well—Lion’s Mane + Oyster.

Lucky George Farm (Derby) added some new pork products from their Large Black Heritage herd including Riblets, Bacon Back Ribs, T-Bone Chops, and Bacon ends. And for those of you who enjoy being adventurous with your grilling, they’ve got rabbit bratwurst, hot dogs, and minute steaks.

Clarion Sage Farm (Adel) added German chamomile plants (an easy to grow herb that produces flowers perfect for herbal tea).

Special K Ranch (Chariton) is running a hamburger special – buy 10 pounds get one pound free.

Cookout Stock-Up! 1,457 Different Products Listed

 

Time to stock up for summer grilling—from hamburger patties (don’t forget the buns – Threshing Floor is back) to rabbit bratwurst (yes, rabbit bratwurst!).

These two week shopping cycles come and go quickly! Be sure to watch for new products that are added throughout the week—especially produce items. Our 2015 calendar is available in a PDF (click to view), and you can click here to see new products added since last cycle!

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.) The online cart will close Sunday, May 17th at midnight. Distribution is Thurs., May 21st at all our sites except Ames, which is on Friday May 22nd. If you can’t make these times, our alternative pick-up is Saturday, May 23rd from 10:30 am to noon at our Franklin Avenue sit.

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New items + specials:

Our Global Greens growers (refugee farmers who started with us last year) are starting to list again. Bizimana Charles (Burundi) listed two kinds of radishes and Bucumi Simon/Mariselina Manirakiza (Burundi) listed radishes and several fresh greens (Red Russian Baby Leaf Kale, Spinach, and a Greens Mix).

Special K Ranch (Chariton) has a buy 5 get one free special on Texas Longhorn grass fed beef sticks.

Lucky George Farm (Derby) added rabbit bratwurst and several sausages from their heritage Large Black hogs including American maple sausage (with real maple syrup + honey), English style sausages, and Thuringer (a cooked ready-to-eat pork summer sausage).

Threshing Floor (Dallas Center) is back after taking off a few cycles to care for parents. Becky writes: “Hello Spring! Welcome Summer! How about some homemade hamburger or hot dog buns (either white or whole wheat)? Or cinnamon and cinnamon/raisin white or whole wheat bread for your morning toast? Thanks for your patience; it’s good to be back baking again!”

New Family Farm (Elkhart) added Red Butterhead lettuce (to go along with a wide selection of transplants).

Raccoon Forks Farm (Redfield) added spring garlic (to go along with their eggs and stewing chickens).

Heritage Hill Farm (Ames) added fresh thyme, green garlic, and chive blossoms (delicious in salads or egg dishes, or as a garnish).

SalAmander Farms (Bondurant) listed fresh herbs (including basil, green garlic, parsley) along with swiss chard.

From Lee’s Greens (Nevada): “We have a nice selection of tomato transplants along with cucumber and zucchini transplants, we also have potted herbs/mints and red/black raspberry plants, cut micro greens & rhubarb, and wheat grass for juicing and wheat, rye, oats for pets and animals.”

Good Shepherd Grass Farms (Monroe) added inventory to their ribeye steaks, NY strip steaks, and filets (just in time for weekend cookouts).

Sunrise (Woodward) added Job’s Tears live plants—corn type plants that produce beads perfect for stringing. Homegrown jewelry! Check out their stock of stinging nettles + wheatgrass as well.

Yoke S Ranch (Russell) has a timely sale on their Corriente hamburger patties, this cycle only!

Everything’s green! 1,537 Different Products Listed

 

Our next distribution is the Thursday before Mother’s Day, so pick from a wide set of nice options for your Mother’s Day gift—this year, choose something local! And fresh greens are coming in, along with several new and recently added items (from mushrooms to goat’s milk butter!)

NOTE: Our downtown volunteers aren’t available this cycle, so that pick-up site is not an option (sorry). Our Frankin Plaza site is just a few minutes away, and we have a Saturday pick-up option (if you don’t want to be out in traffic during the late afternoon/early evening). If you want to pick up Saturday, let us know with an email to info@iowafood.coop.

Also, we are starting two week cycles now that we are in the growing season. Our 2015 calendar is available in a PDF (click to view), and you can click here to see new products added since last cycle!

Note: The online shopping cart is open (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.) It will close Sunday, May 3rd at midnight. Distribution is Thurs., May 7th at all our sites except Ames, which is on Friday May 8th. 

Plant Sale Saturday, May 9^th from 10a-2p. at Franklin

Our annual plant sale will be held at our Franklin space this year (rain or shine). Browse plants + other items from over a dozen of our producers; ask gardening questions and meet your farmers!

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New items + specials:

Mushroom Mills (Columbus Junction) is a new IFC producer that came on board toward the end of last cycle. They’ve listed limited quantities of their oyster + lion’s mane mushrooms, so order now because they go fast!

Wildwood Farms (Wellsburg) is back this cycle (they sell every other cycle) with their amazing selection of baking and soup mixes, roasted nuts, granola bars, and trail mixes.

Broadhorn Farm (West Des Moines) updated inventories and re-listed tri-tip steak; don’t forget to pick up one of their grilling bundles to have on-hand for the nice weather.

From Jocelyn of Pickle Creek Herbal (Brighton): “We’ve lots more seedlings this cycle, including cilantro, dill, sorrel, spicy oregano, lemon verbena, mint, laveder, and basil (including the container-friendly Genovese compact and beautiful Corsican basils). We’ve also added new cherry and beefsteak tomato varieties (including blue tomatoes like Blue Beauty and Goldberries). And if you’re into hot peppers, we have a wide selection including Ghost and Trinidad Scorpion (two of the hottest peppers in the world).”

From Lee’s Greens (Nevada): “This cycle we have some really nice red and black raspberry plants, rhubarb plants, herbs, 3-packs of eggplant.  We have 3-packs, 4.5″, and gallon pots of a nice selection of tomato varieties. We have a nice mix of micro greens and some red veined sorrel plants in pots, plus wheat grass for juicing and wheat, rye, and oat flats available for animals.”

Popsie Fish Co. (Homer, AK) has marked down their salmon–$1 off/pound. Stock up for grilled salmon season!

7 Pines Farm (Maxwell) listed a wonderful selection of flower transplants (from daisies to ornamental millet) and a nice variety of Certified Organic pepper + tomato seedlings.

Lucky George Farm (Derby) added a variety of new products from their Large Black heritage hog herd (including delicacies like Jowl Bacon).

Farm Baby Foods (Des Moines) added three new flavors to their portable pouch fruit and vegetable purees; reusable pouches + simple ingredients make these perfect for all ages, and a terrific base for smoothies.

Yellow River Dairy (Monona) added goat cream butter to their huge selection of cheese dips + chevre.

Great River Maple (Garnavillo) introduced a smaller size of their famous maple cream, made from whipped maple syrup.

Beaver Creek Collections (Guthrie Center) is back with a fantastic selection of transplants as well as high-tunnel grown produce, from lettuce to radishes to green onions. Welcome back!

Yoke S Ranch (Russell) added a new product: chuck roast, a 2-3lb roast from their Corriente herd.

Calanne of Purrfect Muttchies (Truro) writes: “We are excited that our pet treats no longer need to be refrigerated!  We now use dehydration to prevent molding and preserve freshness. There is around a 2 oz difference in weight when the moisture is removed, so the 7 oz packages contain more crunchy treats (crunchiness has been a request).  We’ve also added a sugar free banana vanilla wafer (Naner Nilla Woofers!).”

New Family Farm (Elkhart) listed many more transplants (including flowers like zinnia and marigold) along with fresh spinach.

Salamander Farms (Bondurant) added warm-weather heirloom transplants, from cauliflower to melon to zucchini.