Old Creamery Co-op

 

Town OKs Liquor License Transfer; On to the State!

At a public hearing last Thursday evening at the Community House, the Cummington Selectboard, acting as the local licensing authority, unanimously approved the Co-op's application for transfer of the Creamery's liquor license. All three members of the Selectboard and sixteen Co-op supporters were present. There were no protests of the application.

 

Now it's the state's turn to consider the transfer of the license. Documentation was sent to the ABCC (Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission) last week. Onward we go to Co-op!
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Film Portrays the Dangers of GMO Use

The Massachusetts chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) will host a premiere screening of Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of Our Lives, followed by NOFA/Massachusetts a question and answer session with director Jeffrey Smith on Thursday, August 9, at 7 p.m. in the Cape Cod Lounge at UMass-Amherst's Student Union Center. The event is a fundraiser for Massachusetts NOFA's non-GMO policy work, and admission is on a sliding scale of $25 to $50. Reservations are recommended: email [email protected] to reserve a seat. Refreshments will be served.

 

Smith is a consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices and author of the world's bestselling book on the health dangers of genetically modified organisms. In the film, slated to be released this year, Smith interviews scientists, farmers, and experts from around the world in an effort to educate and inform the public about the far-reaching dangers of GMO use. His meticulous research documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put the health of society at risk and the environment in peril.

 

Along with the screening on Thursday night, Smith and NOFA/Mass will offer a seminar entitled "Fighting GMOs: A Training for Consumers, Community Leaders, Activists, and Organizers," and will deliver the keynote address at the NOFA Summer Conference on Saturday, August 11. More details about these events are available online at www.nofasummerconference.org.

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Cheese of the Week

Pawlet from Consider Bardswell Farm in West Pawlet, Vermont, is a raw Jersey Pawlet cow's milk cheese. An Italian-style Toma, aged four to six months, it is creamy, mild, and soft. Pawlet has a complexity that mysteriously reminds the mouth of fruit, wine, and milk all in the same taste! Pawlet is as suitable for a sandwich as it is for a cheese plate. It's an American Cheese Society, World Jersey Cheese Competition, and World Cheese Championship award winner! Come by this Saturday and have a taste; you won't be disappointed. As always, we'll take 10% off all day! Thank you and hope to see you soon!

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Alice's Recipe: Coconut Basmati Rice

I love the entire line of Lotus Foods heirloom rice varieties. Their website, one of the most interesting I've ever visited, opens up a vast world. Those of you who have heard me speak about food know that I talk quite a lot about terroir; I consider it to be all of the factors of the natural world that have influenced the breadth and depth of what a particular food becomes. I include the quality of the rainwater that falls on the crops, the minerals present in the soil, the sun that shines on the land, the types of weeds present (and in the case of milk from grazing animals, the types of pasture plants that they eat), and the thoughts and feelings of the hard-working people who are growing the food. I can taste salty sea air, hear the laughter of the farmer, and smell the aroma of wild herbs growing nearby. Yes, I do have a great imagination, but I also do believe that all these factors influence the flavors on my plate. Wandering through the Lotus Foods website, I learn about the hard-working farmers growing the different types of rice, the natural environment where each is grown, the nutritional composition, and many recipes to bring out the best in each variety.

 

I offer you one of the most often prepared recipes in my household, Coconut Basmati Rice. This recipe would be great with many of the varieties of Lotus Rice, particularly the Madagascar Pink, Jasmine, Mekong Flower, and Volcano Rice. Check each package and adjust the cooking time for that particular variety. Coconut Basmati Rice is quick, simple, nourishing, comforting, and a versatile base for a wide variety of side dishes (any type of protein, vegetable side dishes, chutneys, salsas, and pestos). Let me know which of the rice varieties are your favorites, how you prepared the rice, and what you served with it. I look forward to hearing some new ideas from some of you creative cooks out there!

(Click here for a link to the recipe.)
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Supplier Profile: Lotus Foods

The Creamery is proud and delighted to offer rice from Lotus Foods, a California company that since 1995 has pioneered the introduction of exotic rice into the US market, rice that's handcrafted on small family farms in places such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China. Each rice varietal is distinguished by its terroir and treasured for its distinctive cooking quality, taste, texture, aroma, color, and nutritional value.

 

Lotus Foods' mission is to support sustainable global agriculture by promoting Bhutan the production of traditional heirloom rice varieties, many of which may otherwise have become extinct, while enabling the small family rice farmer to earn an honorable living. Lotus describes itself as "the only US-based company with the unique vision and commitment to seek out small family rice farmers in developing countries and provide them a means of economic support through access to a global and sustainable marketplace economy."

 

The company's website is a treasure trove of information about a rainbow of rice varieties, health and nutrition, its farmer-suppliers here and abroad (did you know that Bhutan uses a Gross National Happiness Index to assess the well-being of its citizens?), and recipes.

 

Right now, you'll find several varieties of Lotus rice at the Creamery, and it's on sale!

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Links!

Some us are new to the wonders of the Internet, so for those just discovering this cosmos of information, we'd like to point out that underlined words in this email are "links" to places on the 'net, like this one. Just click on the underlined word or phrase, and your web browser should open and take you to the linked page. Also, try clicking on the images in the email; many of them are links to websites also. Happy surfing!
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Help Wanted!

The Creamery is seeking a Grocery/Produce Staffer for three days a week, eight to ten hours per day. Click here for a detailed job description.

Three part-time job positions at the Creamery will open up at the end of the summer. It's your chance to be part of the stellar Creamery team and earn some money. If interested, call the Creamery at 413-634-5560.

 

Part-time Cashier: Must be able to work hard and have fun; must be good with people and numbers. Talk with Alice or Amy for more information.

 

Part-time Deli Staff: Must be able to work hard and have fun; must be good with people and food. Talk with Alice or Carly for more information.

 

Part-time Cleaner/Stocker: One to three days a week, 3 to 8 p.m. or so. Talk with Alice or Amy for more information.
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Following is one of a series of weekly articles in recognition of the United Nations' International Year of Cooperatives

 

On the Road

Daniel Klein and Mirra Fine of Perennial Plate made their way through the United States on their "Real Food Road Trip" to tell the stories of real food and the people who provide it in every corner of the country. They stopped at food co-ops along the way to meet some local producers, share good food, and learn why co-op shoppers and staff are so passionate about their food co-ops. To watch episodes from the Real Food Road Trip, visit www.perennialplate.com.
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It's YOUR Community Calendar, Email, and Website

The Old Creamery's Community Calendar is your place to post, and check for, happenings in the Hilltowns. The Community Calendar can be found on the Old Creamery's website under "News & Events." You can click on any event in the calendar to pop up an expanded information box. For instance, click here to see the expanded listing for a free outdoor puppet show in Cummington this Saturday, July 28 (pick up some picnic makings at the Creamery!), and here for information on a Sunday talk and walk about the Plainfield Aqueduct Company.  

 

We'd also love to hear from you with any suggestions, compliments, gripes, or other comments about the Old Creamery Co-op's weekly email and website. You can email them to [email protected]. Thank you for your help!

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Help us spread the word! Consider encouraging your friends to sign on to receive the Creamery's weekly email newsletter. Better yet, encourage them to become member owners of the co-op. You can forward this email to your friends and relatives, and rest assured, we won't clog their inboxes and we will respect their privacy. We will not disclose your or their email addresses to anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time. Thank you for your interest, commitment, and support.  

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Many items are on sale every week at the Creamery. Look for the brightly colored shelf tags. These items are 15%-45% off regular prices. Click here for a list of all the items that have recently gone on sale. In addition to the items on the list, there are always many dozens of additional items on sale.
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Your continued patronage supports the Creamery's transition to a community-owned, values-based cooperative. Thank you for supporting the Old Creamery Co-op as a member-owner, as a shopper, as a friend. We value every contribution to the success of the Old Creamery Co-op.

 


Kimberly, Hattie, Michael, Susi, Sylvia, Patty, & Deborah,     

your Old Creamery Co-op Board of Directors;

and

Alice & Amy, proprietors   

 

Please pass this message on to your friends  

and encourage them to join our mailing list

 

Click here if you would like to become a Member-Owner 

    Quick Links

Creamery Specials and Sales                    Bulk Purchase Program  

445 Berkshire Trail

Cummington, Massachusetts 01026

413.634.5560