November 2023

Spotlight on King Arthur Baking Company

It’s baking season! What a perfect time to stock up on local baking supplies from King Arthur Baking Company! They’re featured in our Member Deals Spotlight from November 24th – 29th, so member-owners can enjoy a 20% discount on their full line of baking products! Read on to learn more about America’s oldest flour company and its mission to create and deliver superior products and knowledge so that consumers experience the joy and passion of baking, all informed by their values as a 100% employee-owned Benefit Corporation:

 

King Arthur is an employee-owned company on a mission to be the ultimate resource and inspiration in the kitchen, to inspire connections and community through baking, and to use their business as a force for good. They were first founded over 230 years ago and while much has changed over the years (including a recent name change from King Arthur Flour to King Arthur Baking Company), they remain committed to the principles upon which they were founded. They believe in the power of baking to make a difference — for people and the planet. They work to build stronger communities and increase access and connection to real foods. They take pride in their responsible sourcing and their “never bleached” guarantee. And they work closely with farmers, millers, and suppliers in a continued commitment toward sustainability.

King Arthur Baking Company Headquarters in Norwich, VT

 

King Arthur Baking Company is a certified B-Corporation and they measure their progress with a triple bottom line — people, planet, and profit. Their products are non-GMO Verified by the third-party Non-GMO project and they source their wheat from American farms, helping grow a strong, sustainable agricultural economy. In partnership with their farmers, they’re working to limit pesticide exposure while increasing sustainable yields in a changing climate; promoting our planet’s health for many years to come. They carry on their centuries-old heritage of stewardship through the quality of their brand, and the steps they take to preserve the vitality of the community and the earth on which we live. Click here to view their Mission & Impact documented through the annual B Impact assessment.

Gluten-Free Baking Made Simple with King Arthur Baking Company’s Gluten-Free Baking Mixes

At King Arthur Baking, they have always believed that everyone deserves equal access to the joy of baking. They strive to ensure that their values are reflected in all that they do. To maintain and extend a history of putting community, their employee-owners, and the planet first, they recognize that they must also address the social injustices that challenge those very values. They have committed themselves to this work not out of obligation, but because it’s ingrained in who they are as a company. They recognize that the work of fostering an environment of diversity, equity, and inclusion will never end; there will always be more humbling, difficult, and meaningful work to do. And they commit to rising to the challenge time and time again — because of a strong sense of responsibility to break down barriers that hinder access to baking, a universal craft that has the power to unite people from all walks of life. Click here to read more about their ongoing work towards diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Whether you’re a brand new baker or a seasoned professional, King Arthur Baking is there for you with an incredible volume of resources to help you bake your best. There are handy tips for what to do when your bread falls flat and your cookies crumble, excellent instructional videos to help you understand everything from bulk fermentation to baking the perfect pie crust, and recipes for anything you could ever dream to bake. And if you’re a professional baker, King Arthur Baking offers a library of reference materials and information that will be helpful in bakeries, restaurants, and production facilities. They also offer live and virtual classes for every type of baker at every skill level. Classes range from introductory demonstrations for beginners to intensive week-long professional courses, with a wide variety of hands-on classes for adults and children. Let them be your ultimate go-to resource for all things baking.

Baking School at King Arthur Baking Company
 

 

Business of the Month: Natural Medicine of Vermont

Searching for healthful options for treating disease and pain that focus on restoring health rather than merely treating symptoms? We invite you to check out our featured Co-op Connection Business for November, Natural Medicine of Vermont! Card-carrying Co-op member-owners can enjoy 10% off their 1st visit and 2% off subsequent visits!

Natural Medicine of Vermont (NMV) is an integrative naturopathic medical facility whose goal is to provide comprehensive and expert health care services. Natural Medicine of Vermont, located in Middlebury, Vermont, is owned and operated by Dr. Karen Miller-Lane, a licensed naturopathic physician and acupuncturist. Dr. Miller-Lane’s office is located on Court St. (Rte. 7 in Middlebury) across the street from Mary Hogan Elementary School in a white building with blue shutters in the Somaworks Wellness Building.

Natural Medicine of Vermont is located in The Somaworks Building on Middlebury’s Court Street

According to their website, Dr. Miller-Lane shares that “many of us are exploring healthful options to treating disease and pain that restore health rather than merely treat symptoms and involve few side effects. Naturopathic medicine and Acupuncture stand at the forefront of providing informed, thorough, and gentle ways of achieving this approach to health. As a Naturopathic Physician licensed in Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture and trained in Craniosacral Therapy, I am able to unite many different complementary practices into one visit. This integrative approach provides the best possible treatment and outcomes natural medicine has to offer. I look forward to working with you.

Dr. Miller-Lane’s personal mission statement:  “As a physician may I always listen with compassion, see with an open heart, and work in the service of others. May I always be in awe of the vast potential of the human body, spirit, and mind. May I continually strive to learn new things, understand old things better, teach what I know And have the wisdom to appreciate my limitations. May I serve with grace, assist in partnership, and participate with integrity. May I always be present with others as I listen to their stories, unravel their pain and confusion, and support their truths and wisdom. May I always strive to cultivate the healer within myself and within others.”

Dr. Karen Miller-Lane

Background

Dr. Karen Miller-Lane is a Naturopathic Physician and Licensed Acupuncturist. She has a practice in Middlebury, VT. Her expertise lies in providing an integrative, compassionate and individualized approach to women’s health, endocrine, gut and immune support, and to the challenges of chronic disease. She received a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (2001) and a Masters of Acupuncture (2002) from Bastyr University. She received certification in Craniosacral therapies in 2000. In addition, she spent four years (2008-2010, 2012-2014) studying advanced Chinese medicine and pulse diagnosis with the acupuncturist and scholar Lonnie Jarrett. She also trained with Eileen McKusick, and was certified as a Biofield Tuning practitioner in 2016. These multi-cultural, multi-modal teachings provide a rich foundation for her practice of medicine. Prior to becoming a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Karen worked in the field of international development and education with a focus on women’s healthcare issues. Currently, she is particularly interested in the developing field of epigenetics and nutrigenomics, as she continues to embody a commitment to being an innovator in the ever emergent field of healthcare in the 21st century. She finds joy in her family, friends, the patients she works with, and finding the humor and wonder in everyday situations.

Thanks to her diverse clinical background, Dr. Karen MIller-Lane is able to unite many different complementary practices into one visit. This integrative approach provides the best possible treatment and outcomes natural medicine has to offer. Her specialties include:

  • Chronic Disease
  • Immune and Cancer Support
  • Endocrine Health
  • Women’s Health
  • The dance between body, mind, and spirit

What Is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct profession of physicians trained in primary health care who are oriented towards prevention, education, and promotion of optimal health rather than just treatment of disease. Naturopathic doctors (ND’s) integrate centuries-old knowledge of traditional, non-toxic therapies with the best of modern medical diagnostic science and standards of care. ND’s complete pre-med education followed by a 4-5 year residential curriculum with 4,500 – 5,000 hours of instruction and extensive, supervised clinical training. ND’s must also pass rigorous state and national board examinations.

Foundation and Guidance for Naturopathic physicians are based on the following principles:

  • First, Do No Harm
  • Prevention
  • The Healing Power of Nature
  • Treatment of the Whole Person
  • Treat the Cause
  • Doctor as Teacher

 

Services Offered

Dr. Karen Miller Lane utilizes naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, and oriental medicine to design individual preventative treatment plans that will assist in achieving your optimum wellness and provide effective complementary health care to meet your specific needs.

  • Standard and Specialty laboratory work
  • Nutritional Counseling & Diet therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • The Bengston Method
  • Biofield Tuning
  • Botanical medicine therapy, using both Chinese and Western herbs to treat various conditions. Trained in herb-drug interactions.
  • Stress and Lifestyle Counseling
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Homeopathy
  • Craniosacral Therapy

 

To schedule an appointment, please call Karri at 802-388-6250 or email info@natmedvt.com 

Karri Ingerson

Do You Receive VA Benefits? Find Out What Food For All Can Do for YOU.

November 11th is Veterans’ Day, so it feels timely to send out a reminder to all who are recipients of Veterans Affairs Benefits.  Possession of a valid VA Card is proof of eligibility for the Co-op’s Food For All Program.  Food For All members enjoy a 10% discount on their groceries, co-op-sponsored member share purchases, and all the benefits of Co-op member ownership.  Next time you are in the Co-op, stop by and pick up a Food For All Brochure and find out what Food for All can do for you.  Or, find out more HERE.

For many of us, choosing to buy healthy food is not just about preference but price.  At the Co-op, there are many ways to shop affordably to bring home products you trust – check out Co-op Basics, and Co-op Deals, and shop our Bulk Department.  But if purchasing healthy foods is still a challenge for your budget, Food For All is here to help.

Who is eligible for Food For All?

Food For All is a Member Assistance Program for participants in SNAP, WIC, and Home Heating Assistance, and for clients of CVOEO, HOPE, WomenSafe, and the Open Door Clinic.   Currently, around 375 Households participate in this program.  We are always hoping to grow this number!

What do you “get” from Food For All?

  • You get a 10% Discount on all purchases, every day (excludes alcohol, by law).
  • You become a Member-Owner of the Co-op – your $20 share is paid by MNFC, allowing you to build equity, accrue a patronage dividend, receive Member Deals, and have a voice in Co-op Elections.
  • You become eligible for free classes through our Sustainability Series with Hannaford Career Center.

All Food for All member benefits are shared with the people in your household (children, domestic partners, parents living with you, etc..)

How do you sign up?

  • Fill out an application online, or pick one up at the Co-op Customer Service Desk.
  • Show us your current EBT or WIC benefits card, your Home Heating Assistance statement, or your VA Benefits Card (we’ll make a copy when you come in).

OR

  • Bring us a letter of eligibility from one of our partner organizations (CVOEO, HOPE, WomenSafe, Open Door Clinic, and Free and Reduced Lunch Programs). They’ll know what to do!

If you are not eligible for Food For All but know someone who might be, please spread the word.  This Co-op belongs to its member-owners and its community…the WHOLE community.  Help us serve you better.

 

Over $45k in Patronage Dividends Donated to HOPE & CVOEO

Hope and CVOEO each received a check on behalf of our member-owners for $22,652!!

When your Co-op makes a profit at the end of a fiscal year, the Board of Directors votes on how much of those earnings to retain and how much to refund back to our member-owners. Patronage dividends are a traditional way for co-ops to share profits back to the members. As member-owners of this Co-op, you also own the profits, and a patronage dividend system allows us to share and reinvest those profits to benefit our Co-op community.

Since patronage refunds are based on how much a person spent at the Co-op during the previous fiscal year, every member-owner’s check will vary. If a refund check is below $5, the cost of issuing the check exceeds the refund amount. In this instance, the Co-op will not issue a check and instead donate all checks under $5 to our local food shelves HOPE and CVOEO. All member-owners have 90 days to cash their patronage refund checks, the amount of any uncashed checks is also donated to HOPE and CVOEO. 

At the end of October, Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op was able to donate all uncashed patronage checks and total patronage set aside for the 2022 and 2023 Fiscal Year. The total donation was more than $45k! Thank you to all of member-owners for allowing your Co-op to make such a contribution. And an enormous thank you to the wonderful people at CVOEO and HOPE for showing up each day to provide for our community.

 

Our friends at CVOEO: Addison Community Action
HOPE-VT

For more information about how our patronage refund system works, click here.

Thank you so much for making the Co-op a successful part of our vibrant local community!!!