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Love Your Food? Love Your Co-op!
Maya Bauer, Education Coordinator
This year at your local Food Co-op Valentine's week is more than a flirtation, it's a full fledged romance. We are excited to bring you Grand Opening: a week packed with unveilings, ribbon cuttings, live music, great sales, and giveaways galore. Valentine's week seems like an appropriate time to celebrate the love all of our owners have for this Co-op and the appreciation we feel for our owners, local producers, and community all of which has carried us through this incredible expansion project. We are SO ready to start celebrating all the hard work that this community has done to support such a great and successful Co-op!
Also,
I'm sure you have noticed that Valentine's Day is only a few weeks away. You've seen the heart-shaped boxes and roses by the registers, maybe stressed just a little about your romantic plans? We have too. It just so happens that WE have some delightful fair trade chocolate AND fair trade roses and all that jazz....get them while they last!
We look forward to seeing you February 11th-17th!
Please consider joining us for the Grand Opening of the Flatlander Classroom. Sunday, Feb 17th 6-9pm, Dedication ceremony at 7pm, all are welcomed!
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Expansion Update
Jacqueline Hannah, General Manager
So, do you love it?
Someday soon, I'm sure, I'll stop feeling like I've walked into a wonderland when I step into Common Ground's newly expanded store in the morning when I come to work, but it hasn't happened yet. And with our big Grand Opening celebration week happening this month (plenty of details about all the great Grand Opening events and sales can be found elsewhere in this issue of the newsletter), I think I've got at least another month of feeling like I am walking into a fairytale when I get to work in the morning.
But as owners of our Co-op, as the people who provided the equity investments, loans, and shopped at the Co-op every chance we got to help make this expansion happen, we know it was not a fairy godmother who waved a magic wand and made this store possible, but instead our hard work and investment as a community. And while I've heard from so many excited owners who are thrilled with the new organic salad bar, or the new beer and wine section, or the vastly expanded grocery selection I've also heard hard-hitting fiscal questions from many of you about whether we stayed on budget for the expansion project and how the co-op is doing now that we are moving into the post-expansion phase.
Read more about the financial side here !
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From Your Board of Directors
Todd Sweet, Board Member
Almost immediately after I was appointed to the board in the Spring of 2011 we sat down with Bill Gessner, a co-op consultant, for a series of meetings to discuss our readiness as an organization for the upcoming expansion project. Consequently, my entire tenure on the board has been marked by the progress of this incredible construction project. We worked with the General Manager to educate owners about why growth was necessary, authorized the owner loan campaign, approved the final budget, then watched in awe as those plans on paper became a reality.
Throughout the process Jacqueline Hannah would provide updates to the board at our monthly meetings to keep us informed of any developments. At our January meeting she presented her expansion update for the last time, during which she walked us through the final project budget (slightly under budget!). While accepting the budget was the last official board action related to the expansion, it marks an exciting new chapter for the co-op as a whole. | Have any thoughts, questions, or comments about this article or for your Board of Directors? Email the Board at board@commonground.coop.
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GRAND OPENING!
February 11 - 17, 2013
It's finally here! After two owner loan drives and years of planning, Common Ground Food Co-op is finally ready to celebrate the grand opening of our expanded store! We'll kick our week off with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Laurel Prussing on Monday, have behind-the-scenes tours every day, a bike raffle and many more BIG giveaways, farmer-led demonstrations and samplings, activities for kids, local music and more.
In the midst of all of this, we're also holding our first Owner Appreciation Day of 2013, where all owners receive 10% off almost everything in the store, if you are not an owner, this is great time sign up. If you haven't been to the store lately, or want to bring friends to show off the new space, the whole there will be huge sales in every department on top of Co-op and Owner Deals. We're also throwing a dedication ceremony and grand opening for the Flatlander Classroom, a space that has allowed us to expand our educational programming and class offerings to include more and more diverse courses.
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Why we're different:
by Kate Higgs, Deli Counter Coordinator
Eating organic, natural, local, and regional food is a priority here. Our deli balances sourcing healthful, clean ingredients with affordability to provide you great food on the go. We also prioritize providing options for omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, & gluten-free lovers.
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| Here are a few ways we're working to encourage sustainable practices, reduce our impact, and meet the needs of our owners:
We serve fair trade, organic Peacemaker espresso in our lattes, cappuccinos, americanos, & mochas. It's roasted and blended in Milwaukee by Alterra Coffee Roasters and is sustainably sourced.
Local growers pick up the nitrogen-rich pucks, grounds, and filters that remain after brewing coffee & espresso for use in their compost piles.
Kilgus Farmstead sells us the 2%, whole, & fat free milk that goes into our beverages.
Non-dairy milks--soy, almond, & coconut--are available at no extra charge.
Daiya Mozzarella Style Shreds are available on any of our hot sandwiches. 
Rudi's Gluten-Free bread is available for any made-to-order sandwich.
The vegetables on our sandwiches and pizza are organic. Our bread and pizza crusts are house-made using mostly organic ingredients.
The antibiotic- and hormone-free deli meats we use on our sandwiches are delivered from Chicago utilizing a small network of local distributors.
At the time of writing, we are working with a local creamery to produce the mozzarella for our pizzas.
Whew! It's hard work to provide you with the best product, but we believe in it and we know that you do too!
PS! Starting TODAY we have pizza by the slice!
Stop by our Deli Counter check it our from 11am-2pm and 4pm-7pm.
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GRAND OPENING SUPER DISCOUNTS
ONE WEEK ONLY
Feb 11th-17th
Here's the super discounts we have lined up for Grand Opening week. These Sales are for one week only! Feb 11-17th. The original prices are in parenthesis.
Seventh Generation 12-pack Toilet Paper- $5.99 (7.99)
 La Croix 12-pack- 2/$6 ($5.99)
Mom's Cereals- 3/$7 ($4.39)
Food Should Taste Good Chips- 3/$5 ($3.49)
Evol Flatbreads- 2/$6 ($5.89)
 Organic Valley Shredded Cheese- 3/$8 ($4.99)
E.O. Lotions and Soaps- $4.99 ($8.99)
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for more details click HERE
SIGNING UP ONLINE IS EASY-
just click on the class title!
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Led by Amy D. Ali, University of Illinois Extension
Saturday, February 2nd, 1-2pm
Free, but preregistration is required.Led by Renee Ray Saturday, Feb 2nd, 3:30-5pm$15 owners/$20 non-owners (2nd kid ½ price! and parents attend for free!)
Led by Shuchi Agrawal
Sunday, February 3rd, 10:30am-12:30pm
$20 owners/$25 owners
Led by Maggie Wachter
Tuesday, February 5th, 6-8pm
$7 for owners / $12 for non-owners
Led by Jodie Baty
Wednesday, February 6th, 6-7pm
$7 owners/ $12 non-owners
Led by Jenna Zeidler
Saturday, February 9th, 9-11:30am
$15 owners/$20 non-owners
Led by Amy D. Ali, University of Illinois Extension
Saturday, February 9th, 1-2pm
Free, but preregistration is required.Led by Shuchi Agrawal Sunday, February 10th, 10:30am-12:30pm$20 for owners/$25 for non-owners
Monday, February 11- Sunday, February 17
It's finally here!
Thursday, February 14Giveaways and 10% off all day long for owners! Flatlander Classroom Grand Opening Sunday, February 17
Led By Joanne Mierek, Wellness Manager
Wednesday, February 20th, 10-10:30am
Free! Come on by, no pre-registration requiredLed by Staffer and Lover of Tales EllenWednesday, February 20th, 10:30-11 amFREE! No registration required.Led by Wendy Heller Thursday, February 21st, 6:30-8pm$15 owners/$20 non-ownersLed by Erinn DadyFriday, February 22nd, 6-7:30pmFree, but pre-registration is required.Led by Amy D. Ali, University of Illinois Extension Saturday, February 23rd, 1-2pmFree, but preregistration is required.Led by Laura WetzelSaturday, February 23rd, 2:30-3:30 pm$3 for owners / $7 for non-ownersLed by Laura Wetzel Saturday, February 23rd, 3:45-4:45pm$2 for owners/$5 for non-owners (Free to participants of the Home Gardening for Beginners Series)
Led by Penny Watkins-Zdrojewski,
Animal Wellness Counselor
Sunday, February 24th, 2-4pm $10 for owners / $15 for non-ownersLed by Billy LeGrandTuesday, February 26th, 7-8 pm$10 for owners / $15 for non-owners
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| February Sales! | |
| Check out our current sales here!
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Street Team
Movie Night
TONIGHT!!
Friday, February 1st at 6pm
The Common Ground Grand Opening is almost here,
February 11 - 17! It's going to be a party, and the whole town is invited- but we need your help to pull it off! Join us tonight at 6pm for our first movie night in the new classroom and help assemble door knob flyers/invitations. We'll be showing the family favorite, Babe, and popping delicious Moore Family Farm popcorn. Kids are more than welcome as long as they are accompanied by a guardian. We will also be asking for volunteers to take stacks of flyer and distribute them around C-U the following week (the week before the big celebration).
We will be giving all those that donate up to 3 hours or more of their time, including the movie night, complimentary expansion t-shirts as a thank you. Check out the design HERE! The ink and shirt color is TBA. If you plan to attend, please RSVP to marketing@commonground.coop.
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FAIR TRADE ROSES!!
| | Show someone you care this Valentine's Day with beautiful, fair trade roses, from One World Flowers! Fair trade roses implement "complete sustainability," supporting employees around the world with fair wages and safe work practices. Expect to see these gorgeous gifts, available in a variety of colors, on February 7th. Sold by the individual rose, you can get as many as you want. Beware, they sell fast so get them while they last!
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FEBRUARY ROUND UP FOR GOOD
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rounding up for The Cornucopia Institute engages in educational activities supporting the ecological principles and economic wisdom underlying sustainable and organic agriculture. Through research and investigations on agricultural issues, The Cornucopia Institute provides needed information to consumers, family farmers, and the media.
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| COMMON GROUND GIVES BACK
As part of our mission to BUILD COMMUNITY.....
Cooperatively
we have raised
OVER $580
for Planned Parenthood
of Illinois!
Thanks to everyone who participated in our monthly Round Up for Good! |
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Your Co-op LOVES Fair Trade BANANAS
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Fair trade bananas seem to have a constant buzz going around about them. Not only are they delicious but they also come from farms who are environmentally sustainable, pay a fair wage to all  employees, and use safe work practices. It's obvious why both customers and staff are hyped about them!Our produce team is proud to announce that we now carry Fair Trade organic bananas! We are able to sell them at the same price as the organic-only bananas, so no price increase, yeah! And, as long as our source continues to be able to sell enough cases of these babies in our region to make it worthwhile for them, we will have a constant supply of Fair Trade bananas from here on out!
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
Seeds and Gardening Classes!
| | Spring is coming quickly and it's time to start thinking about what YOU want to plant this year. Here at Common Ground we are working hard to pull together the final addition to the produce department, our gardening section! In early February you can expect to see seeds racks from Seed Savers, Nature's Crossroads, and FEDCO right as you walk-in the store. Some other products you can look forward to are Veganic fertilizer, bamboo gloves, twine, plant labels and other gardening tools!
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Produce Freeze
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Southern California has recently been hit with freezing temperatures. While the citrus crop has been in the news the most, the weather affects all crops grown there. This includes broccoli, kale, lettuce, cauliflower, celery, and green onions among others. Our distributors are saying that supplies will be tight, produce may be smaller than normal, and prices are going to go up; this could last into March. We'll keep our fingers crossed that the situation eases sooner than that, and do our best keep a bountiful supply of produce on hand in the meantime.
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Pairing Beer and Cheese
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Boldly go where many other people love to go - cheese and BEER! The flavor profile of beer offers totally different pairing experiences from cheese/wine, as well as finding loving partners for cheeses that often don't work with wine. If you're really serious, join Billy and beer expert Eric Puffer for a great beer and cheese class Tuesday, February 26. In the meantime, try these suggestions...
IPA with stinky cheese: Green Flash West Coast IPA with Jacobs & Brichford Arabella
Stout/Porter with blue cheese: Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald with Pt. Reyes Farmstead Original Blue
Pilsner with fruity, aged cheese: North Coast Scrimshaw with Prairie Breeze Cheddar
Hefeweizen with goat cheese: Weihenstephaner Hefe with Capriole O'Banon
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High Chairs!
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HUGE thanks to H&H Equipment in Champaign, through whom we sourced MOST of the expansion equipment. They have generously donated high chairs to amp up the kid-seating in the Flatlander Classroom!
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