34 Cypress Street, Keene, NH

Mon- Sat, 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

(603) 355-8008

Co-op E-News: September 2015

Co-op Updates

While there are a many important updates below, I wanted highlight two in-store updates:

Our Co-op is one of twelve area pacesetter businesses that 'set the pace' for this year's Monadnock United Way campaign. Pacesetters carry out their fundraising efforts before the United Way's official campaign kickoff -- inspiring other area businesses and organizations to build upon this early success.

We're excited to share that we surpassed our United Way campaign goal -- raising over $5,000 in staff contributions. I am really proud of our staff and the generosity they have shown in supporting the United Way. This represents a 35% increase in staff donations over last year, which is a huge accomplishment for us.

On a different note, I have more exciting news to share. We recently hired a Store Manager, Bob Carter. Bob comes to us with 18 years of experience in the food/retail industry. He is passionate about food and helping people connect to what they eat.

With our Co-op's growth and success, we recognized the need to fortify store operations with more support. Given Bob's prior experience, both in the natural foods industry and as a store manager, we are thrilled to have him join our team and help us continue to be our community's hub for local, organic and healthy foods. When you see Bob in our store, please welcome him!

Yours cooperatively,

Michael Faber

Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager

Board Updates

Making LOCAL Happen: Annual Meeting is October 24

By Sarah Harpster, Co-op Board of Directors

You won't want to miss this year's Monadnock Food Co-op Annual Meeting, at the Keene Public Library's Heberton Hall on Saturday, October 24th, from 5 - 8 p.m. This year the event's theme is "Making LOCAL Happen." Taste the difference the Co-op makes in the local food system with samples of local beer, wine and cheese, a delicious dinner catered by the Co-op Deli using seasonal, locally sourced produce, and cake baked from scratch by the folks at Mayfair Farm. More event details.

Nomination Period Open: Cooperator of the Year Award

Do you know a Co-op Member-Owner, staff person or community partner who exemplifies cooperation and community building? Please tell us about this wonderful person! Submit your nomination here or pick up a nomination form at our Customer Service Desk by October 10th. We will recognize this Co-op Hero at the Annual Meeting. Read more about last year's Cooperator of the Year: Sandy Hamm.

Introducing Co+op Basics

Looking to stretch your grocery budget? So are we! That's why we're pleased to introduce our new Co+op Basics program. Co+op Basics offers everyday low prices on a variety of popular grocery and household staples -- the building blocks for hearty meals and day-to-day living. From beans and broth to pasta and paper towels, you'll find new low prices on some old favorites, most of which are organic. Throughout the fall, we will be working hard to give you fantastic prices on even more of our best-selling pantry essentials so that you can spend your dough where it counts most for you and your family.

Serve Up Some Soup

By Mary Veerkamp, Marketing Department

It is possible that I am jumping the gun here but, with the crisp mornings and smell of autumn in the air, I've begun to daydream about soup. I've tried to hold it off because, well, there will likely be PLENTY of time in the long New England winter for soup but, alas, this need will not be held off any longer. It's like a timer has gone off in my body, similar to the built-in craving for everything pumpkin.

Mary's Got the Beet!

Congratulations to Mary Veerkamp who works in the Co-op's Marketing & Membership Department. She is our seventh employee to receive the Monadnock Food Co-op's "Beet Award." Mary got involved with our Co-op well before it opened in 2012 -- helping Michael, our General Manager maintain our Membership database. She shares her passion for healthy food with customers and staff daily, and regularly contributes excellent articles for the Co-op's e-newsletter and blog (like the one above!). Mary also created and presents our Natural Foods staff training class, which has been a huge hit and has inspired many of us to eat better. Mary is a gem and we're so lucky to have her on staff. Congrats Mary!

What's On Sale?

Community Corner

Rethink Marlboro Street: Complete Streets Demo Day

The Keene Demonstration Day will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Marlboro Street in front of the Savings Bank of Walpole and Penuche's Ale House. This event is open to the public and will involve a wide array of community groups and organizations.

The event will include food trucks, outdoor cafe seating, a pop-up park, mini golf, a bicycle tour of downtown Keene, art bikes/kinetic sculptures, a pop-up bus stop complete with a bus route that will run from the event to the Keene Farmer's Market and back, yoga on the lawn, and more. The Monadnock Food Co-op will launch its Bicycle Benefits Program during this event!

Upcoming Events

Wine Tasting with Poocham Hill Winery

September 18, 4 - 6pm at the Co-op

Join us for a wine tasting with local vintner Steve Robbins of Poocham Hill Winery from Westmoreland. Started in 1998 with 30 vines, Poocham Hill Winery's vineyard has expanded to 1,200 vines on more than three acres. View event details.

Introduction to Fermentation

With the Cornucopia Project
September 20, 1 - 3pm at Peterborough Community Center

This hands-on-workshop in Peterborough invites you to discover the amazing world of fermentation. From Cornucopia Project's own organic grown cabbage, make sauerkraut to take home and learn how eating fermented food can boost your health to a new level. Note: Register for this class by calling the Cornucopia office at 784-5069, or email admin@cornucopiaproject.org. Cost: $25 per person. View event details.

New Hampshire Farm Women: Book Signing

September 26, 11am - Noon at Toadstool Bookshop, Peterbough

In the new book New Hampshire Women Farmers: Pioneers of the Local Food Movement, Lesley Tuttle's striking photos accompany author Helen Brody's informative text to show how women in the Granite State are revitalizing farming. New Hampshire ranks third nationally in the percentage of principal farm operators who are women, and these women are transforming what it means both to be a farmer and to run a successful farm. View event details.

Browse more Co-op and Community Events

Go Co-op!

Co-ops in our Food System

Originally Posted at New England Farmers Union
In addition to their advantages as member-owned, democratically controlled enterprises, co-ops are helping to create a more resilient food system and are fostering local and regional economic development. As noted by the United Nations, co-operative businesses contribute to more stable local and regional economies through community ownership and control, the development of local skills and assets, and a focus on service and meeting member needs before maximization of profit.

Co-ops support greater economic participation and benefit for farmers and fisherman in our rapidly expanding local and regional food system.
As locally-focused enterprises, co-ops develop local skills and assets rather than import them into the region. They create local jobs, and build local business and develop local leaders.
Co-ops strengthen the local economy by rooting ownership and control of economic infrastructure in our communities.
Co-ops enable local producers to help themselves and each other. With a structure that focuses on maximizing member value rather than financial return, co-ops give producers a mechanism to retain control of their financial returns. Co-ops enable members to pool their resources to achieve an economically viable operating scale without giving up local ownership and control.
Co-ops aggregate member resources to develop locally and regionally scaled enterprises. For a thriving local and regional food system in New England, we need to develop regionally scaled infrastructure - distribution, marketing, processing, and storage. Farm, fishery and forestry co-ops increase producers' bargaining power in the economy and food system.
Co-ops are themselves resilient. Member ownership makes co-ops hard to buy out or relocate. The focus on community benefit ensures a patient approach to financial results.