co-op news | march 2015
DESCRIPTION
The Co-op News is a publication of the North Coast Co-op in Arcata and Eureka California. We feature recipes, food news, member information and much more.TRANSCRIPT
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CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • Mar. 2015
CO-OP NEWS
p. 5
Spring 2015 Community Kitchen Schedule
SPECIAL INSERT
PLUS
| CO-OP COMMUTER |
CO-OP NEWSIssue 75 | Mar. 2015
www.northcoast.coop [email protected]
EDITOR Melanie Bettenhausen
Marketing & Membership Director(707) 502-3555 ext. 132
GRAPHICS & COORDINATIONAmy Waldrip
Graphic Design Coordinator(707) 502-3555 ext. 120
Jeremy Smith-DanfordMarketing & Graphics Assistant
(707) 502-3555 ext. [email protected]
ARCATA LOCATION 811 I St., Arcata • (707) 822-5947
Open daily: 6 am to 9 pm Kevin Waters, Store Manager
kevinwaters@nor thcoast.coop
EUREKA LOCATION25 4th St., Eureka • (707) 443-6027
Open Daily: 6 am to 9 pmToby Massey, Store Manager
tobymassey@nor thcoast.coop
COOPERATIVE OFFICES 811 I St., Arcata
GENERAL MANAGERKelli Reese (707) 502-3555 ext. 124
kellireese@nor thcoast.coop
MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Bella Waters (707) 502-3555 ext. 135
bellawaters@nor thcoast.coop
HUMAN RESOURCESLisa Landry (707) 826-8670 ext. 127
lisalandry@nor thcoast.coop
ACCOUNTING Kelli Costa (707) 502-3555 ext. 138
kcosta@nor thcoast.coop
BOARD OF DIRECTORSDave Feral, Kate Lancaster, Fred Moore, Cheri Strong,
Steve Suttell, Jessica Unmack [email protected]
THE COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES:Voluntary & Open Membership Democratic Member Control
Member Economic Participation Autonomy & Independence
Education, Training & Information Cooperation Among Cooperatives
Concern for Community
The Co-op does not officially endorse the services or products of any paid advertiser. All articles,
columns and letters are the expressed opinion of the author and not the Co-op News.
LETTERS TO THE EDITORLetters must include your name, address, mem-ber #, and telephone #. Letters should be kept to a maximum of 250 words and may be edited. We regret that we may not be able to publish all letters due to limited space. Email your letters to [email protected] or send them to: Co-op News, 811 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521. Deadline for letters is the tenth of each month.
Bus Stop to Be Added at 4th & BImproving Access to Healthy Foods
On February 10, the Transportation Safety Commission for the City
of Eureka reviewed an agenda item put forth by Humboldt Transit Author-ity (HTA) requesting that a bus stop be placed at 4th & B Streets in front of our Eureka location. After hearing from HTA general manager Greg Pratt and listen-ing to input from community members, as well as North Coast Co-op and RCAA (Redwood Community Action Agency), the Transportation Safety Commission approved the request. The recommenda-tion will go to the Eureka City Council for review at their March 3 meeting.
Adding the bus stop was a request that came from Co-op members in 2007, citing the long walk from 4th & D Streets—the closest bus stop—to the store and back again with heavy grocer-
ies. The need for a bus stop in front of a grocery store surfaced again in 2008, when the Co-op joined the newly form-ing collaborative partnership, Humboldt CAN (Humboldt Community for Activity and Nutri-tion). Humboldt CAN was trying to address the grow-ing obesity problem in our county from a social-ecological standpoint—indi-vidual behaviors and choices regard-ing health are influ-enced by many factors, including personal knowl-edge, social networks, cultural values, public policy and the built environment. The built environment includes the design of streets, sidewalks and trans-portation options. Ensuring that indi-viduals had access to multi-modal forms of transportation was one of the main goals identified: increase adult’s use of active and public transportation. As a collaborative partner, the Co-op advo-cated for the bus stop to be added. Add-ing the bus stop surfaced as a solution again when the Humboldt Food Policy Council formed. One of the issues iden-tified around access to healthy food was the proximity, as well as transportation to, grocery stores. As a collaborative partner, the Co-op continued looking for opportunities to have the bus stop added.
This past summer, the Senior Action
Coalition hosted a Transportation Safety Summit, bringing together businesses, government agencies and non-profits to tackle the safety issues on Highway
101 in Eureka. Kelli Reese, Co-op General Manager, and I attended. The group looked at topical photos of the Highway 101 corridors that run through Old Town and Broadway and suggested solu-tions to some of the issues facing pedestrians, bicy-clists and motor-ists. There we met
Greg Pratt and spoke to him about the bus stop. Greg said it shouldn’t be a problem to add the bus stop since typi-cally it is businesses that are opposed and in this case the business is asking for a bus stop.
The request for a bus stop in front of the Co-op is just one piece of a larger traffic calming effort on Highway 101 in Old Town Eureka. Through the efforts of Caltrans and the City of Eureka, we hope to see improved safety for those cross-ing 4th Street at B Street, and improved visibility for motorists turning onto B Street to enter our parking lot. We are super thankful to the folks who perpetual ly move these issues forward, find cre-ative solutions and encourage commu-nity involvement. We also thank them for their hours of time to make Eureka safer for all. ■
Melanie Bettenhausen Marketing & Membership
Director
Adding the bus stop was a request that came from Co-op members in 2007, citing the long walk from 4th & D Streets—the closest bus stop—to the store and back again with heavy groceries.
Contents March 2015
2 Michael Turner - Still Outstanding!
3 Drought Affects Local Ranchers
3 How Are You Conserving Water?
4 Board News
4 Employee Election Timeline
5 Black Bean & Tofu Tacos
6 Letters to the Editor
6 Invest in Your Co-op
7 Atalanta’s Victory Run & Walk
7 Shopper Survey Winners
8 Sautéed Braising Greens
9 Community Partners
10 Co-op Financials
10 Member Giveaway
11 It’s Garden Season
12 Reference Guide
SPECIAL INSERT
Community KitchenSpring 2015 Schedule
www.northcoast.coop 2
The Co-op Wishes Michael Turner a Happy Retirement, after 34 Years of Service!
Michael hired me onto the grocery crew 23 years ago, solely based on the good word from Lisa Martin (a cashier at the time) that I was going to be a good hire. With his guidance, patience, and un-derstanding, he made me into a good worker, and an even better person. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work here at the Co-op, and I wish “T” all the best in the future. Cheers, Michael! — Scott K.
Michael’s smile and genuine interest in the people he interacts with will be sorely missed. He always took me right out of my spinning thoughts with the simple question: how are those little ones doing? I always enjoyed the rare moments when I could learn about Michael’s life and all of the amazing things he has done. What a wonderful person to have on the planet and at the Co-op. Thank you for your ser-vice, Michael! — Melanie B.
Congratulations on a well-deserved mile-stone in life! Thank you for being so kind and welcoming to me when I first started at the Co-op. Your warm smile every morning will be missed! — Sarah B.
I’ve had the good fortune to have worked with Michael for most of my nearly 32 years here at the Co-op. Except for a four-year stint at the old 1st Street Co-op, I have been here in Arcata rubbing elbows and learning from the master. He is one of the most dedicated and conscientious people I know and is a marvelous role model with a great work ethic. The Co-op will lose a gem of a man and I will miss seeing him every day. Good luck Michael and enjoy your new 4-wheel toy. — Bob S.
When I first started designing the news-letter and was still getting my footing Michael always went out of his way to be encouraging. He generally just lights up every room he walks into and he tells a darn good travel story. We’ll miss you, Michael! — Amy W.
Congratulations on your retirement, Mi-chael! You’re hard work, positive attitude and willingness to always help out will be missed greatly. I will miss your smile, hearing about your kayaking and outdoor adventures and your wonderful laugh. Thanks for all of your years of dedication to our Co-op!— Alisha S.
This is how a person first sees Michael: A gentle and genial person with a little smile for all – then you see that glint in his eye….. — Christine B.
I have known Michael Turner more than most co-workers so I have put together a little quiz to test your knowledge of Michael Turner trivia. This is a true or false quiz.1. Michael is not his real first name.A: True. His parents named him Guy Mi-chael Turner.2. Michael can only read at the third grade level. A: False. He is a voracious reader, usually spending breaks with his nose in a book or the “Chronicle.”3. His beverage of choice is Jameson’s Irish whiskey. A: True, when he’s not drink-ing a cold beer.4. He was once the Arcata Store Man-ager. A: True.5. He was once the Merchandiser for both stores. A: Also true.6. Michael served his country in the Viet Nam War. A: True.7. He played first base for the Co-op soft-ball team back when Arcata had a men’s league. A: True. He was the backbone of our infield.8. When he is not at work, he is sur-rounded by beautiful women. A: That, my friends, is True. Michael has a beautiful wife, two beautiful daughters and a beau-tiful granddaughter. Even his beautiful mother lives in Eureka.9. Michael can still stock circles around co-workers 40 years younger than him. A: Very true.10. Michael is an accomplished bee keeper. A: False. To the best of my knowl-edge, he has never kept bees or any other insect.11. Michael will be very much missed.A: That is absolutely True, however not by me, because I will be seeing him at the golf course!
All kidding aside, Michael is one of the hardest workers we have had, and just a good person who I am proud to call my friend. — Larry C.
Michael has been one of the most consis-tently cheerful workers here at the Co-op. I will miss him!! He has shared historical knowledge with me about the Co-op and never a bad word was spoken! Thank you, Michael for your many years of service to our Co-op. — Brenda H.
Mr. Michael Turner,You will be missed!It’s difficult to imagine it around here without you, but please know we send you off with smiles and lots of love for an incredible retirement.You have given so much to the Co-op over the last 35 years and for that we are forever grateful.
Your spirit, work ethic and all around incredible personality are irreplaceable. It has been an honor for me to get to know you and work with you.Thank you for everything! — Kelli R.
Thanks for your sincere and thoughtful greeting, every day. Michael always made me do a double take… he really wanted to know how you were doing.Thank you for showing up, hanging in there and giving it your best shot every day. Michael wore many hats but always remained true to his inner voice.Thanks for reminding me that you can raise a family and still be a kid yourself, that life involves taking risks. Michael could gently point out stick in the mud behavior and encouraged loosening the
reigns and learning to play.Thanks for being yourself, for being a trusted friend and co-worker and for being good natured, cool and kind. Every day. Thanks also, Michael, for entertain-ing us with so many stories of daring trips down the rivers of North America, from California to Alaska. You inspired and schooled us.
Michael would never talk about his Vietnam experiences to me and so he might not want it to be mentioned, but he survived and has been able to lead a nurturing and productive life.— Sallie G.
I feel fortunate to have been able to work with Michael Turner since coming here in 2013. I joked that this was my second stint at the Co-op, and I had the pictures of a flour covered 10 year old from the 80’s to prove it. Well, Michael has been here all along! For me, Michael is the con-summate professional : dedicated, hard working, knowledgeable, service oriented, and committed to the Co-op. All that with great kindness and a fantastic sense of humor. Thank you, Michael, good luck, it won’t be the same without you. — Kevin W.
| CONGRATS MICHAEL! |
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1. Photo submitted by Andrea M. 2. Newsletter clipping from 1984 submitted by Kelli R. 3. Michael as kayaker submitted by Alisha S. 4. Michael as the store manager from the Co-op News archive 5. Michael at his 30th anniversary party, photo from the Co-op News archive.
3 CO-OP NEWS | Mar. 2015
| FOOD NEWS |
Grazing on well-maintained pastures is critical in the production of grass fed
beef and organic milk. Organic milk pro-ducers and grass fed beef producers must follow pasturing regulations to maintain their certification. Grass fed beef cattle are raised on open grass pastures where peren-nial and annual grasses, forbs, legumes, brassicas are the sole energy sources. Hay and silage from these sources may be fed to animals while on pasture during periods of inclement weather or low forage quality. They cannot be fed grain or grain byprod-ucts and must have continuous access to a pasture during the growing season. Organic dairy cows must graze on pasture for the full length of the local grazing sea-son, at least 120 days. Humboldt County ranchers are taking measures to protect their businesses.
California has been in a drought for the last three years and with the winter season once again seemingly passing us by, we may be heading into a fourth year of drought. January was one of the driest on record and even with the early Febru-ary storms Humboldt County is in a Severe Drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. We need much more rain to get us out of the drought. During droughts, pasture management is critical and irriga-tion is necessary to maintain growth.
Irrigation A majority of the farmland in Humboldt County is pasture on which cows and cat-tle graze. Pastures need rain in the winter months to get good growth. With so little rain, additional irrigation has been neces-sary; however, many existing wells went dry. Some dairy farmers in Humboldt County had to drill new wells to supply water to their animals and for irrigation of the pastures.
Dave Renner, a Ferndale dairyman said, “Many older wells that were origi-nally drilled 60-70 years ago failed this
year because they used to service smaller farms and were not drilled as deep as needed for the size of today’s farms.’’ The demand for well drillers far exceeded their availability, making for a long wait to get a new well drilled. Other than having to get feed from farther away, Renner’s operation fared well in the drought, although he pur-chased more than the usual amount of sup-plemental feed, increasing his expenses. “With farmers everywhere looking for feed,” he said, “farmers have to get feed from places even farther away.”
Supplemental Feed Organic hay is used as supplemental feed and is necessary even when there isn’t a drought. Additional hay is crucial during a drought when pastures are not producing enough food for the animals. Hay produc-tion during a drought is also decreased resulting in a shortage of nearby feed. This forces farmers to search farther away for feed. The cost of transporting hay from far away sources increases the costs. Also with lower hay supplies, prices are higher. Some farmers decreased their herd size to make up for the additional cost of feed.
Last year’s extremely dry winter made it difficult for feed growers in other parts of California to plant their fields that pro-duce feed. When they were finally able to plant, excessive rains flooded their fields washing away the newly planted grasses. Even when it seems like Humboldt is not having a problem, a feed shortage else-where means there are more farmers seek-
ing out sources farther away, affecting our local farmers.
John Vevoda and his son have 500 dairy cows that graze on about 800 acres in Ferndale. Although another son produces hay for the dairy operation they still had to purchase out-of-the-area hay at a pre-mium price. When it comes to a California drought he said, “We’re all in it together. It affects everyone.”
Higher Prices Nationwide, consumers saw the price of beef increase in 2014 by at least 10 per-cent, compared to a usual increase of 2-3 percent. The effects of the drought in the western Great Plains in 2012 and 2013 pushed demand to outstrip supply as
ranchers saw their herds of cattle drop to 40-year lows. It takes a long time for beef production to turn around. In Humboldt, however, the conventional beef prices increased more than our local grass fed beef.
The grass fed beef producers had to be diligent about maintaining their pas-tures and prolonged irrigation to keep the grass growing. Sarah Mora, of Humboldt Grassfed Beef said, “We were not able to increase our inventory of animals or add new customers and we had to raise our prices.” Humboldt Grassfed Beef is not alone in having to increase prices due to increased costs.
More Drought?Predictions of a drought cannot be made, but worldwide last year was the warmest year on record. January is usually one of the wettest months in Humboldt County, as well as the rest of California; however Jan-uary 2015 in Humboldt County was one of the driest on record. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 55 California counties, includ-ing Humboldt, as primary natural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the drought. Will we continue to be in a drought?
According to Jeff Dolf, the Humboldt County Agriculture Commissioner, “If farmers and ranchers can’t irrigate, they’re in trouble.” He’s hoping rain in February and March will make for greener pastures for everyone.■
Drought Affects Local Dairy and Cattle Ranchers
Brenda HarperConsumer Education
Coordinator
Phone #: Member #:
Member Name:
Detach this entry form and return it to the Member Survey box located near Customer Service at either store location. Be sure to include your name, contact information, and member number so that we can contact you if your entry is drawn. You can also send your ideas to [email protected] with “Member Survey” in the subject line. Must be a member to enter. Co-op employees and their families are not eligible to win. DEADLINE TO ENTER: MAR. 31
How do you conserve water during a drought?
Member Survey
January is usually one of the wettest months in
Humboldt County, as well as the rest of California; however January 2015 in
Humboldt County was one of the driest on record.
“
“
Win a
$25 gift card!
Young milk cows graze at the Vevoda Diary. Photo courtesy Kris and John Vevoda.
www.northcoast.coop 4
| FROM THE BOARD |
Member Survey
It is with sadness I announce that Employee Board Director Kelly Boehms has recently resigned. We
have all enjoyed her participation and perspective while serving on the Board and wish her well in pursuing other valuable community work. With her resignation the board now has an empty Employee Director seat. As we are in between regular elec-tions it was discussed at the February board meet-ing how best to move forward with filling the posi-tion in a timely manner. The discussion went well; it offered three different approaches for the board to consider in line with our bylaws and Adminis-trative Code. The board decided to move forward with the employees hold-ing an election to choose a candidate for the empty seat. The timeline has been accelerated and, once elected by the employees, it is our hope to approve the Employee Director and have them in place for the April board meet-ing. However, we will be asking for the elected employee to be ratified by the general membership during the general election of board members in the fall. I’m looking forward to the process moving swiftly and having the board whole again soon.
On another note, I’d like to take a moment to respond to a recent letter to the editor in the Co-op News from Jodie Ellis. The letter stated that ‘lead-ership has taken away member rights to open and transparent management’ and that members are ‘facing resistance from leadership in regaining open access to meetings and the documents required to fully participate’. The board meeting agendas and minutes have always been available to members. In December the board looked deeper into the question
of member access to the board packets, and in Janu-ary the board approved a policy to make the packets more systematically available. Now all members can continue to find the agendas posted at customer service as usual, and also may request the board packets at the customer service desks at both stores. Members can also request to be added to a board packet distribution list if they’d like the packet emailed in advance of the board meeting.
There are a number of other actions the board has taken in response to member input. These include re-convening the Member Action Committee in November, which is a standing com-mittee of the Board. This standing committee had been inactive for some time due to lack of par-ticipation and we are all very excited to see this going again. For anyone who has served on a board, you know that any good board is continu-ously working to improve its processes. In the last few months the board reviewed how we elect our officers, and adjusted the board meeting agendas to make sure that members at large have an addi-tional opportunity for comment while ensuring that the elected board can still get its work done. We’ve also shifted our board meeting schedule to earlier in the month to accommodate newsletter deadlines to keep members better informed, and made an open invitation to members to attend part of our annual board retreat last month.
In addition, the board and staff have spent many hours on a number of member requests for informa-tion pertaining to the bylaws, financials, member
correspondence, policies, facilitation, annual mem-bership meeting process, and executive sessions. Are there issues that still need to be addressed? Of course. There always will be, but what might be perceived by some as resistance is, in another perspective, people tak-ing the time to research options and ramifica-tions of decisions and discussing issues in more
depth and making sure we keep the entire mem-bership’s interest in mind while conducting work democratically. We are constantly aiming to create a culture in which all people in our Co-op com-munity – our members, our staff, and our directors - continue to build the skills of respect, kindness, transparency, and good will. These are foundations to creating a culture of cooperation. And in an orga-nization of more than 15,000 members, it is impera-tive that the board take the time and effort needed to produce desired outcomes for all of us.
In cooperation, Jessica Unmack, Board President
Board Responds to MembersEmployee Election
Timeline 2015
Jessica UnmackBoard President
Miss something?Check out our online archive
www.northcoast.coopR E C I P E S • N E W S • M E M B E R S H I P
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CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • June 2014
CO-OP NEWS
members share their stores p. 2
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Introducing Our New Community
Kitchen Schedule
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Co-op NewsA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • August 2012
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CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • May 2013
be an awesome bike commuter
win this bike!
& much more
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CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op •
CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWS CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op •A Publication of the North Coast Co-op •
Earth Day April 22, 2012Earth Day April 22, 2012
let’s
celebrate!
Bees, Mushrooms, Recycling, Prizes & More!
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CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • Sept. 2013
CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • Sept. 2013
VOTEVOTE
SPECIAL ELECTION SECTION
plus don't miss our
plus don't miss our
Submit a video sharing how you think the Co-op has helped build the Humboldt County food community.
See our website for more information: www.northcoastco-op.com
Deadline to Enter: Sept. 30
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CO-OP NEWSA Publication of the North Coast Co-op • Nov. 2013
CO-OP NEWSFREE
we’ll make it for you
Place your order by Nov. 23
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CO-OP NEWS
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A Publication of the North Coast Co-op • Aug. 2013
FREE
Submit Your Leaf for Our 40th Celebration
vision tree
We are constantly aiming to create a culture in which all
people in our Co-op community – our members, our staff, and
our directors – continue to build the skills of respect, kindness, transparency, and good will.
“
“
March 5 Deadline for employees to apply for the open employee seat on the Co-op Board of Directors.
March 5 Board Meeting, 6-8pm | Co-op Community Kitchen, Arcata location.
March 6 Candidates will be notified of eligibility.
March Employee Election. Ballot boxes in all 11-25 break rooms. March 26 Election results posted.
April 2 Elected Employee Director seated. Board Meeting, 6-8pm | Co-op Community Kitchen, Eureka location.
May 7 Board Meeting, 6-8pm | Co-op Community Kitchen, Arcata.
June 4 Board Meeting, 6-8pm | Co-op Community Kitchen, Eureka location.
Fall 2015 Employee Director will be ratified by the membership during the General Election.
October Annual Membership Meeting, 2015 Date and time to be announced. New Directors will be welcomed to the Board.
Fall 2015 Board Organizational Meeting (required). Date and time to be
determined.
Interested employee member-owners can pick up an application at Customer Service
in either store location.
5 CO-OP NEWS | Mar. 2015
| COOK & SAVE |
The North Coast Co-op’s free, monthly Cook & Save class develops recipes that include items from our sales flyer and our Co-op
Basics program. This month we are using black beans in an easy-to-make taco recipe. Black beans are medium sized, oval beans with black skin and white flesh.
If you’re looking to save money and eat healthy, legumes should be at the top of your list, as they are high in fiber, calcium, and iron, and are a great source of protein. Legumes are the group that contain beans and peas, and there are plenty of choices when it comes to beans. Canned beans are quick and easy, but buying from the Bulk De-partment and cooking dried beans is the most eco-nomical way to use beans. Cook up a pot of beans and freeze the extra portions for use in the future. When a pound of dried beans is cooked, the yield is about the same as 3 to 4 cans of beans.
1. Put tofu, chili powder, oregano, cumin, corian-der and salt into a bowl and mash together with a fork. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and two-thirds of the green onions and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tofu mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, un-
til most of the moisture has evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Add beans and remaining green onions, stir well and cook until beans are heat-ed through, about 2 minutes more.
3. Spoon the tofu mixture onto tortillas. Top with lettuce, salsa, avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.
• 1 (14-ounce) package Tofu Shop extra-firm tofu, drained
• 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder• ½ teaspoon dried oregano• ½ teaspoon ground cumin• ½ teaspoon ground coriander• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt• 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped• 3 green onions, finely chopped• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
and rinsed • 12 Mi Rancho corn tortillas, warmed• 3 cups shredded green leaf lettuce (one
medium bunch of leaf lettuce)• Salsa • 1 avocado• 1 lime • Cilantro, chopped, to taste
Black Bean and Tofu TacosCOOK & SAVE
Ingredients Directions
Tofu Shop
Extra-firm Tofu
$2.2314 oz
Bulk
Black Beans
$1.61per lb
Ingredients
Next Cook & Save Class: Monday, April 27, 6pm in Eureka
Please register online, just as you would a cooking class at www.northcoast.coop.
Choose Cooking Classes from the dropdown menu and click on register.
Or call (707) 443-6027 ext. 102.
By Brenda Harper, Consumer Education Coordinator & Pamela Hawkins, Outreach Coordinator
basic goods at basic pricesbasicsco opco op
CO-OP SPECIALS Find chili powder, dried oregano, & ground cumin on sale Mar. 17 thru Mar. 30
in the Bulk DepartmentIngredients
Measuring Beans1 15-ounce can = 1.5 cups cooked, drained1 cup dry beans = 2.5 – 3 cups cooked, drained1 pound dry beans = 2 cups dry beans1 pound dry beans = 5-6 cups cooked beans, drained
Freezing Cooked Dry BeansFor greatest economy, cook up a whole bunch and freeze in quantities similar to the can sizes you usually use. Use the beans within three months after freezing in a standard freezer.
Cooking Dry Beans1. Sort and rinse beans. Throw away any that are
discolored or shriveled. Remove pebbles.2. Soak Beans. Put beans in large pan with water,
bring to a boil, boil for 2 minutes, remove from heat, cover & let stand 1 hour. Drain and rinse beans.
3. Cook. Return soaked beans to pot, cover with fresh water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally. Beans are done when a fork can easily be inserted (fork tender).
Mi Rancho
Corn Tortillas
$2.4212 oz
All About Beans
Photo by Jeremy Smith-Danford
www.northcoast.coop 6
| MEMBER NEWS |
Letters to the EditorMake Your Voice HeardCo-op Friends,
Thank you to all of the members-owners who have volunteered their time to: 1) write the board and management; 2) attend and speak at Board meetings; and 3) participate in the newly reconvened Member Action Committee (MAC) to formulate recommenda-tions to the Co-op Board and management.
Through these efforts, members are beginning to regain access to information necessary to contrib-ute meaningfully to dialogue and decisions about our management and policies; a primary distinction between belonging to our democratically member-owned and managed cooperative, rather than shop-ping at a corporate store (even if locally owned).
Unfortunately, the contributions of this growing number of active members advocating for a return to greater transparency in decision-making, and oppor-tunities for greater member participation, is being dismissed by some in the leadership as a minority opinion. Even the record turnout in the last election defeating the bylaws revisions has been characterized as such.
What will convince them? Your voices! You may not have time to attend meetings, but
perhaps can you write a few sentences to the board, [email protected], expressing your thoughts and support for those of us volunteering more time on behalf of all of us.
To sign up for member education and action alerts uncensored by the Co-op leadership, and to share your thoughts with us, contact [email protected] or (707) 840-9250. Privacy protected, unsubscribe anytime.
We have more knowledge and influence in num-bers. Please share your wisdom.
Jodie Ellis
Co-op News: A Vehicle for Discussion?Dear Co-op Community,
As a democratic community-owned organization it is important to recognize that there are many visions of what the Co-op should be. We need to welcome everyone who wants to participate to the table and allow them to participate in the dialog. Some mem-bers feel the need to define acceptable content in the newsletter as well as other vehicles of Co-op commu-nication.
Member communication that must be approved by management or the Board only serves to create vapid and insipid conversation.
Unlike any of our competitors, we are community-grown and community-owned. There is no place in a democratic organization for censorship of thought. Transparency includes allowing for dissent and differ-ing points of view. Our Co-op newsletter should be a vehicle for discussion about all topics relevant to the Co-op community.
I encourage everyone to take the time to write a letter to the Editor. Democracy is about more than eat-ing and watching television. Get involved!
Come-unity,Cheri Strong
LETTERS TO THE EDITORWe welcome letters to the editor. Letters must include your name, address, member #, and telephone #. Space is limited; please be concise (preferably 250 words or less). We regret that we may not be able to publish all letters due to limited space. Email your let-ters to [email protected] or send them to: Co-op News, 811 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 by the tenth of the month.
Number of Patronage Refund Vouch-ers Yet to Be Redeemed: 339 Have you claimed yours yet?
Deadline: March 15, 2015
Of the 637 vouchers mailed out in mid-December 2014, 339 vouchers are yet to be redeemed, resulting in $3,609 yet to be claimed. If yours is one of the unused vouch-ers, don’t miss out on this great benefit of being a Fair Share member! Make sure to use your refund voucher by March 15, 2015.
Patronage refunds are a way of returning some of the Co-op’s profits to its member-owners. Patronage refund vouchers can be used right at the register. The amounts of the refunds/vouchers are based on each own-er’s purchases for the period of March 31, 2013-March 29, 2014.
Receiving the patronage refund in cash/voucher is just one benefit of being a Fair Share member. Fair Share members are Co-op members who own $300 in “B” Shares and help the Co-op sustain its on-going com-mitment to providing top quality goods and services at reasonable prices. Plus, they can invest in dividend-earning “C” shares.
Questions? Call or email our Membership Coordinator at (707)382-3109 or [email protected]
Patronage Refund Vouchers
About Investing in the Co-opThe North Coast Co-op offers its Fair Share members the opportunity to purchase preferred non-voting shares of stock, also known as class C shares. Ownership of these preferred shares entitles members to dividends declared by the Board of Directors. Class C shares are limited to members of the Cooperative, who are Fair Share members (owning $300 in B shares).
C shares are sold in $10 increments and are currently earning a 2.00% APR on whole C shares ($10 increments).
If you’re interested in investing in your Co-op, please contact Membership Coordinator Bella Waters at (707) 382-3109 or [email protected] for more information.
The Co-op Has Investment Shares Available!
Why not consider investing in your
local community and invest in the Co-op?
7 CO-OP NEWS | Mar. 2015
| CO-OP COMMUNITY |
Get ready for the 34th Annual Ata-lanta’s Victory Run and Walk, an all
women’s 2-mile & 8K event on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10 at 10am at the North Coast Co-op’s Arcata location.
In Greek mythology, Atalanta the Hunt-ress was a beautiful young woman who was the swiftest runner of her day. She was also an excellent wrestler, swordsman and archer. She shattered the Grecian "glass ceiling" by questing for the Golden Fleece with Jason and the Argonauts and by tak-ing the leading roll in killing the huge and terrible Calydonian Boar.
The brave Melanion won Atalanta’s hand in marriage by beating her in a foot-race. Though very swift, Melanion was no match for Atalanta, and only won by drop-ping golden apples for her to pick up. Atalanta, being no dummy, realized that she could have the golden apples and her man too, so she obligingly picked up the golden apples, lost the race and won her man.
See the registration form to the right to sign up and visit http://www.atalanta-run.com/ for all the race details. We’ll see you there!
Atalanta’s Victory Run & Walk Mother's Day • Sunday, May 10 • 10am • Details: www.atalanta-run.com
The Community Alliance with Fam-ily Farmers (CAFF) is looking for
Farm to School Docents to assist with the spring Farm to School field trip season at local farms in Humboldt County. The farm field trips help students develop a personal relationship with food and farming through hands-on activities that focus on science, agriculture, nutrition, social science, and more. Our approach is rooted in garden-based education and experiential learning.
The Docent Program includes two train-ing sessions in April that help Docents become familiar with the concepts and
activities taught during field trips. Docents will then help lead field trips for visit-ing 2nd and 3rd grade students in May and early June. This is a great opportu-nity for individuals interested in working with kids in a garden, farm, or other outdoor environment.
Please contact the CAFF office at (707) 826-0233 for more information!
Please mail registration & T-Shirt order (if applicable) to Atalanta, c/o SRRC, PO Box 4989, Arcata CA 95518-4989. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: ATALANTA
First Name________________________________________ Last Name__________________________________________________
Age on Race Day______________ Birthdate_____________________ Phone ( )_______________________________________
Address________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City________________________________________ State____________ Zip Code_____________
E-mail Address_____________________________________________________________________
Please circle which race (circle only one):
INDIVIDUAL DIVISION - 2m or 8K OR SPECIALTY DIVISION - Stroller : 2m or 8K / 2-Generation : 2m or 8K / 3-Generation: 2m or 8K
2 & 3 Generation Division - list other members (they must also fill out a registration form)__________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________Fees: 12 and under= $5 Adults 13 & older - $10 until April 12th, then $15.
WAIVER: Intending to be legally bound, I do hereby certify that my training and health are adequate for me to safely compete. I will waive and release any claims for damages or injuries as a result of my participation in, or my traveling to, the following entities: City of Arcata, County of Humboldt, North Coast Co-op’s, Six Rivers Running Club, Event Sponsors, Event Volunteers, from any and all liabilities and claims made by other individuals or entities as a result of my actions during the 2015 Atalanta’s Victory Run & Walk. **ADA Accommodation Requests must be sent to USATF 6 weeks prior to event for evaluation**
T-Shirts are available by Pre-registration Only. No race day orders. T-shirts are $15 each - Order by April 4th - Women’s Cut is true to size. Ocean Blue “Tec” shirt.
Circle one: Youth: XS(4) S(6-8) M(10-12) L(14-16)Circle one: Adults: XS S M L XL **2X and 3X add $3 Total amount enclosed= ___________________________
Volunteer with CAFF’s Know Your Farmer Program!
Congratulations to OurShopper Survey Winners!
Winners
Thank you to everyone who filled out our Shopper Survey and provided valuable feedback on their shopping experiences in our stores! Out of those who entered their names into the Shopper Survey raffle, five lucky winners were chosen to receive a $100 gift card to the Co-op. Congratulations to the winners, listed below.
Elizabeth & Christina Swingdler (pictured) • Shana AlbinSteve DeMarino • Jim Williams • Ronnie Liv
www.northcoast.coop 8 www.northcoast.coop 8
| LOCAL PRODUCE RECIPE |
Ingredients (serves 6) 10 ounces braising greens (one full reusable plastic Co-op produce bag)
1 medium-to-large grapefruit, to yield ½ cup fresh juice
2 teaspoons grapefruit zest (finely grated peel)
1 lemon, juiced to make 3 Tablespoons juice
2 large cloves garlic, chopped (divided)
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
1 Tablespoon pure maple syrup
cup thinly sliced dried figs
6 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil (divided)
teaspoon salt
teaspoon ground black pepper
Sautéed Braising Greens with Grapefruit VinaigretteFeaturing locally grown braising greens from Little River Farm
Delicious and healthy greens are available throughout the year, but this time of year is typically when the adventurous dark,
leafy greens bounty is at its peak. Braising greens are a mix of greens that include kale, chard,
collards, mustard, bok choy, raddichio, and turnip greens. They’re really great because you get several varieties of chock-full-of-vitamins greens that are so versatile. Braising greens can be steamed, sautéed, stewed, braised or they can be
served on their own, as a side dish, or incorporated in to tacos, burritos, pizza, soups and stews. So go ahead and stuff a bag full of these tasty treats and try out this recipe that includes a tangy dressing!
Directions1. Warm 6 Tablespoons oil and dried rosemary in a small pot on low heat until rosemary just
begins to be aromatic. Do not boil. Remove from heat.2. In a blender or food processor, combine syrup, grapefruit juice and zest (Fig. A), lemon juice,
1 chopped garlic clove, salt, and pepper; pulse for about 30 seconds. Run continuously on high while slowly adding oil-rosemary mixture. Continue blending for 1 minute. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. (Refrigerate in covered jar if not using immediately.)
3. In a large pan, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat. Add remaining chopped garlic and sauté until tender. Add braising greens, cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently (Fig. B).
4. Add ½ cup vinaigrette to greens and sauté on medium-low heat until vinaigrette is warmed and greens are nearly tender, about 4 minutes. Add sliced figs and sauté 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Serve immediately.
By Brenda Harper, Consumer Education Coordinator & Pamela Hawkins, Outreach Coordinator
Photos by Jeremy Smith-Danford
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9 CO-OP NEWS | Mar. 2015
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS |
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Eureka Car StereoCar Audio • iPod and Bluetooth Solutions • Auto Security
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Serving Humboldt County since 1986
march 28 • 6pm
OFF
The first Wednesday of every month, save 10% off our entire wellness department.
wellness wednesday
SAVE 10%
www.northcoast.coop 10
| FINANCIALS |
wellness wednesday
We our members giveaway!
Gardening feeds the soul: the texture of soil between fingers; smelling the earthy aroma; and of course
looking forward to a bountiful harvest as the season progresses. There is one part of gardening that is challenging for some--sowing seed evenly. The first few rows planted tend to be fine, but by the end, there can be clumps of seeds and large spaces in between. Distance matters when planting so that seedlings have room to grow and can absorb enough nutrients without too much competition.
This year, the Co-op has brought in seed disks and seed tapes from Botanical Interests. The seeds are pre-sown at the optimum distance for great germination and growing. We look forward to hearing how these work out, especially with tiny seeds such as carrots, basil and lettuce.
For this month’s giveaway, one lucky member will receive a Vegetable Garden Kit, Herb Garden Kit, and Flower Mat, along with a pair of Down to Earth thermal gardening gloves. Enter at customer service in either store and lettuce know what you think of these kits!
Enter at Customer Service in either store by March 31.
North Coast Cooperative, Inc. Unaudited Financial Statements
Third Quarter Review
Income StatementQuarter Ending December 27, 2014 Fiscal Year 2015 Qtr 3 FY 2015 NET SALES REVENUE 8,452,233 Cost of Goods Sold 5,411,699 GROSS MARGIN 3,040,535 35.97% Payroll Expense 1,725,185 Payroll Taxes 131,829 PersonnelExpenses&Benefits 228,001 General & Admin Expense 453,533 Occupancy Expense 381,746 Total Operating Expenses 2,920,294 Other Income (expense) 5,263 NET INCOME (LOSS) 125,504 1.48%
We’ve finished closing the third quarter of our fiscal year. Com-
bined sales were $8,452,233 for the third quarter bringing the year to date sales to $24,528,805. The sales are 4.8% above last year at this time and .81% bet-ter than budget. The Arcata store sales ended the third quarter better than bud-get by 2.18% and the Eureka store sales fell short of budget by -1.13%.
In the third quarter we had $5,050 higher in expenses than budgeted. There are always unexpected expenses that come up but we work hard to keep them managed within our budget. We fell short of our budgeted net income by -15.26% for the third quarter and annu-ally our net income is below budget by -7.96%. The variance in our net income compared to budget is due to lower sales than forecasted in our Eureka store and some unexpected expenses, company-wide. As we are quickly approach-ing our fiscal year end on March 28, 2015 we are continuing to monitor all expenses.
Our current member-owner shares value has grown by $33,765 since last quarter. This is the growth of equity investment from new member-owners and current member-owners purchas-ing sustaining B Shares and investment C Shares. We currently have C shares available for sale so if you are interested in finding out how to be more invested in the Co-op, please call (707) 502-3555 ext. 135. We currently pay an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 2%. Invest-ing is smart, simple and quick.■
Balance Sheet Quarter Ending December 27, 2014 Fiscal Year 2015 Qtr 3 FY 2015 Assets: Current Assets 3,899,524 Property & Equipment 2,575,569 Other Assets 393,421
Total Assets 6,868,515 Liabilities: Current Liabilities 2,463,778 Long Term Liabilities 72,956
Total Liabilities 2,536,734 Member Equity: CurrentOwnerShares 3,340,413 Retained earnings 991,368
Total Member Equity 4,331,781 Total Liabilities & Equity 6,868,515
By Kelli CostaChief Financial Officer
Co-op News Reference GuideMeetingsBoard of Directors Co-op members are invited to attend.Mar 5 | 6-8pm Co-op Community Kitchen, Arcata (Plaza Point building across 8th Street from our Arcata store location)Apr 2 | 6-8pm Co-op Community Kitchen, EurekaMay 7 | 6-8pm Co-op Community Kitchen, Arcata (Plaza Point building across 8th Street from our Arcata store location)
Member Action CommitteeCo-op Members are encouraged to attend. Mar 18 | 6-8pm Co-op Community Kitchen, Eureka
Finance CommitteeCo-op members are invited to attend.Mar 2 | 5:30-6:30pm Co-op Ten Pin Warehouse Conference Room (793 K St, Arcata)
Co-op at Events Mar 7-8 Bowl for Kids’ Sake, hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Coast, takes place at Harbor Lanes in Eureka. The Co-op has a team of employees who will be bowling on March 7 at 4:30pm. Come show your support! For a full schedule of events, visit www.ncbbbs.org/events/bfks.phpMar 26 Taste of Main Street, organized by Eureka Main Street, takes place in Downtown and Old Town Eureka and kicks off the Jazz Festival. The Co-op’s Eureka location will be a stop on the tour. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the Co-op’s Customer Service counters. More info at www.eurekamainstreet.orgApr 3-10 Spring Preview, Humboldt State University’s spring open house for students and families to tour the campus and residence halls. More info at www2.humboldt.edu/springpreview/
Co-op Sponsored Events Mar 8 Sheila Jordan with Cameron Brown at Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka at 8pm. Hosted by the Redwood Jazz Alliance Concert, more info at www.redwoodjazzalliance.org/2014-15.html
Mar 25 Humboldt Food Policy Council educational meeting will highlight an aspect of our local food system with a presentation. Location and presenter to be determined. Send questions to: [email protected]
DeadlinesMar. 5 Employee Director applications due (see p. 4)Mar 31 Member Surveys due (see p. 3) Mar 31 Member Giveaway entries due (see p. 10)
ReminderDaylight Savings begins Sunday, March 8. Set your clocks forward an hour.
Deciding on what to plant where and when can be a daunting task. We want to hear about how you plan your garden.
Can you believe it? It’s garden planning time.
Whatever you do, we want to know about it! Contact our Consumer Education Coordinator at (707) 502-3555 ext. 123 or [email protected]. Deadline: March 31st
Weekly OrganicProduce Specials
New specials
every Tuesdaywww.northcoast.coop
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www.facebook.com/northcoastcoop