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Spotlight on Niman Ranch

We’re shining the Member Deals Spotlight on Niman Ranch this week to celebrate their efforts to provide all-natural meats raised by family farmers committed to sustainable & humane practices. All of their meats will be 20% off for member-owners from May 4th – 10th.  Read on to learn more about Niman Ranch, their dedication to sustainable meat, and the small family farmers who make it possible.

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Niman Ranch began in the early 1970’s on an eleven-acre ranch in a small coastal town just north of San Francisco. The cattle were raised using traditional, humane husbandry methods and given wholesome all-natural feeds. Before long, Niman Ranch beef became a favorite in local grocery stores and at San Francisco Bay Area restaurants. Today, the Niman Ranch network has grown to include over 700 independent American farmers & ranchers, who all share Niman Ranch’s dedication to the strictest protocols. Their meats are humanely raised, never given antibiotics or added hormones, and fed only the finest all vegetarian feeds.

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Niman Ranch believes that sustainable agriculture is best described as livestock raising and production practices which balance current resource demands without compromising the future of these resources from an environmental, economic, and human perspective. They also believe that sustainability does not end with the farmer and must carry throughout the supply chain. For this reason, they choose to raise livestock in areas where feed sources are locally available to reduce the environmental impact of feed transport. Sustainability at Niman Ranch incorporates sustainable agricultural practices with economic sustainability for the farmers, the ranchers, their customers, and their employees; all of which are an integral part of their overall business philosophy of RAISED WITH CARE.

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The Niman Ranch Top 10 Sustainability Best Practices

  • Pay farmers a premium in accordance to strict raising protocols
  • Establish a floor price for farmers tied to the cost of inputs of feed and fuel
  • Promote agricultural biodiversity by using breeds which thrive in their natural environment
  • Practice genetic diversity to keep breeds healthy over generations
  • Maintain livestock density well below conventional industry standards so as not to overburden the land
  • Raise livestock in geographies where feed is locally available to reduce carbon footprint incurred during transport
  • Mitigate soil erosion and/or loss through maintaining pasture with coverage for livestock, crop rotation, rotational grazing, and responsible waste/manure management
  • Prohibit use of concentrated liquid manure systems
  • Use buffer strips and grassed waterways
  • Provide a robust marketplace for farmers and ranchers and their livestock

Humane Animal Care

All Niman Ranch livestock are humanely raised according to the strictest animal handling protocols. These protocols were written based on the recommendations of animal handling expert Dr. Temple Grandin. Here is a summary:

  • Livestock are raised outdoors or in deeply bedded pens
  • Livestock always have access to fresh, clean water
  • Livestock are able to express their natural behaviors in healthy social groups
  • All farms are gestation crate-free

Click HERE to read in-depth animal-raising protocols

Ensuring Compliance

Niman Ranch follows a 3-step process to ensure full compliance with their protocols.

  1. All of their farmers and ranchers regularly complete affidavits agreeing to follow all protocols
  2. Niman Ranch personally inspects each farm before it is accepted into their program to ensure it meets standards
  3. The Niman Ranch field agents, located throughout the country, regularly visit and inspect the farms and ranches in their network. Niman Ranch has more field agents than sales reps!

Click HERE to read more about their practices and view maps of their farm locations

Click HERE for farmer bios

Click HERE for great recipes

Business of the Month – Main Street Stationery

Next time you find yourself in need of a new stash of your favorite stationery or office supplies, we invite you to keep it local with Main Street Stationery! This anchor of Middlebury’s Main Street offers a complete line of office supplies, greeting cards, gifts, art supplies, full-color copy services and fax services. As an authorized FedEx agent, they can also assist you with your shipping needs. They’re our Co-op Connection Business of the Month for May, so we’re reminding member-owners to flash their Co-op Card next time they visit Main Street Stationery in exchange for a 10% discount!

To get the scoop on the rich history of this Middlebury landmark, I reached out to owner Greg Tomb for a little Q & A:

Co-op: Hi Greg! How long have you been in the stationery and office supply business?

Greg:  I purchased Main Street Stationery from the previous owner, Chris Sheldon, in 1986. However, the store had been around for more than a decade at that point under various owners and in various locations. My associate, Paula, can tell you more about the history of the store, as she has been a part of the business since May of 1974.

Paula: The business was founded in 1972 by Rachel & Greg Cotting under the name “Middlebury Office Supply”. It was located on Merchant’s Row in one of the shop locations under the Town Hall Theater. The ownership of the store changed hands a few times – first to Bob Whittamore, then to Chal Schley, next to Chris Sheldon, and finally to Greg Tomb. The store has always lived in the heart of Middlebury’s downtown but in various locations. It moved from Merchant’s Row to Main Street sometime in the early 1970’s into the space currently occupied by Middlebury Mountaineer. It was much more recently that Main Street Stationery found it’s current home at 40 Main Street.  

Co-op: What is your favorite thing about being in this line of work?

Greg:  I enjoy dealing with people. We have a lot of loyal local customers and I enjoy getting to know them and learning how best to meet their needs. Being in this business since the mid-80’s, I feel like I’ve been able to experience a slice of MIddlebury culture pass before my eyes. I also enjoy meeting out of town visitors to our community and find that they are often overwhelmed with nostalgia when they visit our store. There aren’t many stores like ours that have survived the test of time and visitors often comment on how much they miss visiting their neighborhood stationery store. I like being able to provide a trip down memory lane for these folks.

Co-op:  What are the biggest changes have you experienced over the years of owning and operating Main Street Stationery?

Greg:  So much has changed! When I first purchased the business, there were no big box stores like Staples or online retailers like Amazon. When people needed office supplies, they visited their neighborhood stationery store. There have also been tremendous changes in technology since I first acquired the business. Adapting and remaining relevant in the face of these changes has been a great challenge. We’re grateful to have such steadfast support from our local community and would like to say thank you to the folks who choose to support a small local business like ours!

 

 

The Scoop on Maca

What’s the scoop on maca? One of our newest local vendors, Dave Nulson of 44th Parallel Superfoods, hopes to fill us in on the wonders of this traditional Peruvian superfood. Dave resides in Middlebury but makes frequent trips to Peru where he first encountered this nutritional powerhouse. He now supplies gelatinized maca powder to our bulk department and is excited to get the word out about this wonderful new product:

Maca For Vitality

It’s hard to walk more than a block through any town in the mountainous “sierra” of Peru mid-morning without running into a vendor selling “maca”, a warm drink made from water, cinnamon, clove, brown sugar and, of course, maca. Although it has been gaining popularity over the last decade in the natural health community of the United States, many health-conscious people are still not familiar with maca. As someone who is married to an (amazing) Peruvian woman (and therefore married into Peruvian culture), I have been consuming maca consistently now for over ten years and have experienced many of its benefits firsthand. Cultivated by ancient Peruvian cultures for several thousand years, maca is a root vegetable that is grown in a limited geographical area in the Andes Mountains. Entire books have been written about its health benefits, but in an effort to provide introductory information I have compiled a list highlighting some of these benefits. Oh, I forget to mention, on top of all these incredible health benefits, IT’S DELICOUS!

Top 5 Health Benefits of Maca:

  • Concentrated nutrition – Maca contains high levels of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, D and E, minerals iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, potassium and calcium. It is also packed with antioxidants and is especially effective in boosting levels of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and glutathione, two of the most important disease fighters in your body.
  • Increased energy and endurance –  Maca is unique in that it has been proven to provide a sustained and even boost to energy while not stressing the adrenal (unlike coffee or tea). It is believed that the energy and endurance-boosting properties of maca are primarily due to its concentrated nutritional makeup (see above benefit).
  • Mood balance and reduction of stress, depression and anxiety – Recent studies have shown that, when taken regularly, maca has a positive effective on mood and is effective in decreasing stress, depression and anxiety. It is categorized as an adaptogen, which is a term used to describe substances that decrease cellular sensitivity to stress and promote homeostasis.
  • Increased libido for men and women – Among the traditional Peruvian cultures, maca has been regarded as a potent aphrodisiac. More recently, studies have shown that it is indeed effective at increasing libido in both men and women.
  • Regulates hormone balance –  Maca is an endocrine adaptogen, meaning it does not contain any hormones but rather contains the necessary nutrients to promote hormone balance. It has been proven beneficial for PMS, menopause and hot flashes.

 

You can find 44th Parallel Superfoods gelatinized maca in the bulk herbs and spices section here at the Co-op. “Gelatinized” refers to a process in which all starch is extracted from the maca, making it more digestible and the nutrients more bioavailable for increased absorption. In Peru, maca is always consumed in its gelatinized form. In addition to the warm drink mentioned above, maca is great added to smoothies, juices, yogurt, oatmeal, baked goods, pancake mix, cereal and more! We hope you’ll give it a try!

Members…Vote For Your Board of Directors by May 26th!

The candidates are ready and the ballots are in the mail…you should see one in your mailbox next week.  The ballot packet includes information about the election, candidate bios and photos, a preview of our Annual Meeting Celebration and our Annual Report.  You can link directly to everything but the ballot (the ballot will only be in your mailbox!), RIGHT HERE.  After you’ve filled out your ballot, bring it to any cashier to redeem your Coupon for $3.00 of Any Vermont Product (this will be attached to your ballot).  All ballots need to be in before 7pm on May 26th.  Happy voting!

Join the Rally for Change for Addison County Community Trust – May 4th – 10th!

Are you looking for an easy way to give back to your local community?  Just round up your total at the registers next time you shop at the Co-op.  During most of the year, your “spare change” will go directly to our two area food shelves – CVOEO an HOPE.  Because we value your experience at the Co-op, we will not usually verbally solicit “round up” donations from you at the register.  But four times a year, we just get too excited and hold a Rally for Change!

The Co-op’s Rally for Change program is an effort to promote and raise money for local (Addison County Based) non-profit organizations.  Every three months, for one week, we shine a spotlight on a local non-profit organization whose primary mission is to serve at-risk populations.  With their help, we share information about the organization, including more ways to become involved beyond donating at the registers.  Representatives from the organization join us in the store so that our shoppers can learn more directly from the folks who are on the front lines of delivering help to those in need.   At the end of the week, the Co-op will match any donations raised at the registers.

 

 

Spotlight on Earth’s Best

Our Member Deals Spotlight is shining brightly on Earth’s Best this week! Member-owners can enjoy 20% off their full line of organic products from April 27th – May 3rd. Read on to learn more about this Vermont-born company providing healthy, organic foods for babies for more than 30 years:

 

Their Story

Earth’s Best was founded by Ron Koss and Arnie Koss in Vermont way back in 1985. From day one, they recognized the importance of wholesome, pure nourishment for babies. Embracing fruits handpicked from organic orchards and vegetables cultivated from the earth, Ron Koss and Arnie Koss believed in creating delicious, organic baby food while promoting environmental responsibility. Their initial organic food processing facility had just 20 employees producing three fruit purees and two vegetable purees. Over the past 30 years, the business evolved, outgrowing its Vermont headquarters and expanding its offerings to include cereals, formulas, diapers, wipes, and over 50 different fruit & veggie purees! All of Earth’s Best products are created with care, using pure, simple ingredients found in nature. Made with love from the ground up, you can trust their products to be safe for your baby and safe for the environment.

Their Quality Assurance

To ensure the best ingredients for their food and ultimately the best food for your children, Earth’s Best carefully selects organic growers that treat their crops with care. From careful seed selection to sustainable farming practices, quality is an essential part of their seed to spoon journey. They guarantee that the ingredients sourced for their products do not use potentially harmful chemicals, pesticides, fertilizers, genetically engineered ingredients, or growth hormones from animal-derived products. This rigorous quality assurance process allows Earth’s Best to meet the strict standards for organic certification. Their products are also:

  • Unsweetened, unsalted, and contain no added modified starches
  • Kosher certified (excluding meat varieties)
  • Contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
  • Undergo rigorous product testing to guarantee quality and safety
  • Their infant formulas are produced with milk from cows that are humanely raised and not treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.

Click here to read more about the farms that supply organic vegetables for Earth’s Best baby foods.

Construction Updates!

What’s New with the Expansion?

Thank you to all the shoppers who are continuing to visit us in the midst of our construction project!   We hope you’re not experiencing too much inconvenience and that you’ll let us know how we can make it easier for you to get what you need.

 We are thrilled with the progress of our construction team of Naylor & Breen (from Brandon) and their subcontractors.  Our north addition is almost complete and will double our small backroom space.  We will soon make a temporary delivery door on the side of our building where customers usually park until the new delivery receiving area is completed.  The west addition, on the Middlebury Inn side, is our largest addition of about 5,000 square feet. It’s coming along nicely with excavation, foundation, steel framing, and roof trusses almost complete.  I’m sure you’ve noticed the long platform overhead near the frozen food area and over cheese and deli.  Naylor & Breen created this temporary protection while the sloped roof above is being removed.  I asked them to come up with some way to do this work without closing this part of the store to customers and staff.  I think their solution was brilliant.

 By the time you read this, the construction on the east side (bagel bakery side) will have begun.  This will be the most disruptive to customers, but we’re here to help you.  On this east side, Naylor & Breen’s team will be enlarging the space for the produce department both on the customer retail floor and the produce walk-in cooler. It will include excavation, foundation work and framing for new walls and a roof.  It means that the sidewalk and parking close to the building will be compromised.  We’ll create a safe way for customers to enter/exit the building.  Please let us know how it’s working for you.

I’d like to thank the amazing Co-op staff for working so well under difficult circumstances…they’re all a super team.   There will be a lot more challenges ahead, and it’s exciting to see progress moving along so fast.

 Happy spring to everyone.

Glenn Lower, General Manager

 

Here’s a Look at the New Store Layout:

Note that the dotted green line represents the outline of the current store. The additional space will allow:

  • A better insulated, more energy-efficient building with 50% more retail space overall
  • 20% more retail space in the Produce department and a more open layout for easier navigation
  • Improved store entrance with energy-saving air lock
  • 100% increase in the bulk/grocery backstock area
  • Expanded selection in the Bulk department
  • 100% increase in fresh meat retail space
  • 100% increase in cheese retail space
  • Improved deli, with 75% more retail space, a hot bar, and more
  • Enlarged deli kitchen for more prepared foods and faster service
  • New Co-op Cafe with 100% more seating and a dedicated entrance
  • New customer service desk
  • Wider, longer, safer driveway in and out of the parking lot

 

The most important thing members/customers can do to support our expansion project is to keep shopping during the construction months.  Thank you!

Stay tuned for more details!!!

 

The Tailpipe End

Our co-op has put a strong emphasis on Environmentally Sustainable and Energy Efficient Practices (Hint: It’s one of our Ends!). We do our best to pay attention to this End in every aspect of our operation. The easiest place to measure it is the “tailpipe end” of our business: how much energy do we use to heat the store, keep the lights on, keep the food cold, and make the sandwiches in the Deli? But the focus goes on beyond that. Our push for a vibrant local economy means that we source as much of our food from local farmers and producers as possible, thus cutting down the carbon footprint of the food we sell.

When we set out to expand, we did so with an ambitious goal: make sure that the expanded store uses the same amount of energy as the store today. That’s not a small feat; it’s going to be 50% bigger! But with a building as big and complex as our market demands, with an organization that reflects as many values as ours, we need to ask ourselves: how will we measure that?

One measurement is simple: the tailpipe. Will our expanded store–that’s built more tightly than our store is now–use the same amount of gas and electricity? Though we are insulating every wall to its maximum capacity and adding double doors to stop heat loss, we may fall short of this goal.

But consider the energy used before the tailpipe: a big part of our expansion is to improve store operations. We want the staff to have a better place to work thereby helping us, the member-owners, have a better shopping experience. Thus, this expansion has real potential to increase our membership so that more people can make more environmentally friendly choices. This means our local farms have the chance to increase production to feed more people locally, offsetting the food that comes from far away. We are expanding our offerings so you won’t have to stop at Shaw’s or Hannaford after the co-op to get the food the store doesn’t carry, which in turn means fewer and shorter car trips. All of these outcomes have a real effect on the net-energy that goes into our food production, not just our store.

The tailpipe easily draws our attention: it smokes right in front of our face, and it’s loud as it turns on, but that can distract us. When more people shop at the co-op, the ratio of energy-in to food-out improves.  It is also important to note:  before embarking on the expansion, options were considered that would have been more resource intensive such as building or renovating an existing space. And, it might have meant giving up our prime in-town location, which is bike and pedestrian accessible AND on the Addison County Transportation Resources (ACTR) Bus System.  By expanding at our current location we continue to reduce the number of cars on the road because our staff, member-owners and other customers can access our location car-free.

While our expansion includes tremendous improvements and upgrades to our energy efficient practices, there will always be more to do. That is why we need to consider all of the data when we assess our energy consumption, not just the tailpipe. – RJ Adler is a Co-op Board Member

Celebrate Green Up Day on May 6th at the Co-op! We’re going BAGLESS and giving away FREE Kitchen Compost Pails!

Green Up Day:  A Vermont Experiment in Co-operation

Early on the morning of Saturday, May 6th, thousands of Vermonters will rise, slip into some well-worn apparel, cram some work gloves in their pockets and head off to their towns’ pick-up centers for maps and bright green trash bags (and let’s not forget the free donuts and coffee!). If you’ve lived here long enough, you might assume that this routine is being played out across the country. In fact, Green Up Day is a Vermont creation and has never been replicated in the same way in any other state.

So, how did this happen? Green Up Day was born on April 18, 1970, as a statewide effort by Governor Deane C. Davis to clean up roadside trash. Vermont happens to be the only state without an Adopt-A- Highway program (there we go again!). In Green Up Day, we have found a truly Vermont-style and co-operative alternative. Paid roadside crews are replaced with local volunteers of all ages, income levels, and affiliations, all working with the same goal in mind.
As an experienced Green Up day volunteer, I can attest to the sense of satisfaction that comes from driving by roadsides that you’ve tended and knowing that you’ve helped to make your community a better place to live.
In 1979, Green Up became a non-profit organization. Ten percent of Green Up Day is now funded through the state, while the vast majority is covered by the non-profit. While the main focus of the event is still to “green up” our roadsides, it has also become an opportunity to bring attention to other environmental issues.

If you’re new to Green Up Day and would like to find out how to get involved, you can find information about volunteering at greenupvermont.org

Spotlight on Earth Friendly Products/ECOS

Happy Earth Day!! In honor of Mother Earth, it’s a perfect time to green up your Spring cleaning routine with Earth Friendly Products & ECOS! They’re featured in our Member Deals Spotlight this week and all of their products are 20% off for member-owners from April 20th – 26th. Read on to learn more about this family owned and operated company offering safe, effective cleaning products for people and the planet for nearly 50 years.

Their Story:

Earth Friendly Products, makers of the ECOS line of cleaning products, has been a family owned and operated business since 1967. Their team is made up of mothers, fathers, chemists, visionaries and pioneers who passionately uphold the idea that everyone should have access to delightful, affordable cleaning products.

Making ECOS products in their four carbon-neutral plants has enabled the company to keep prices low and quality high, shattering the myth that buying “green” has to be expensive.

Formulated with pure, thoughtful science and manufactured using Zero-Waste guidelines, ECOS is made in facilities powered by renewable energy. Created with mindful ingredients that are safer for people and the planet, ECOS is the delightfully Plantlicious™ way to protect your family and home.

Their Promise:

“We promise to make green cleaning a reality for all by using sustainable practices that protect people and the planet. By formulating products from the goodness of plants in facilities powered by 100% renewable energy, we empower a natural clean at a price you can afford. Made with love from the inside out, we hope you’ll experience the difference in each bottle of ECOS™”

Why Choose ECOS/Earth Friendly Products?