Valentine’s Day at the Co-op

Sunday, Feb. 14

This Valentine’s Day, treat your sweetheart to brunch at the co-op! The dining areas in both the Franklin and Friendship stores will be decorated with table linens and fresh flowers. You may also choose to wine and dine your valentine at the Co-op Creamery Café, open for brunch from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Otherwise, make sure to stop by one of our stores to get your fresh flowers and dessert. We’ll offer bouquet wrapping at both store locations between 1–5 p.m., and our flourless chocolate cake is the perfect sweet for two to share. While you’re at it, pick up some P6 Sweet Science ice cream and have your cake à la mode.

Care to charm your sweetheart at home? Register for our Valentines Dinner with Jess Delicious class offered at the Friendship store Friday, Feb. 12 from 6:30–8 p.m. and learn how to make a fun and unique dinner for that special someone!

Garden of Life LLC is voluntarily withdrawing a limited quantity of its Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal chocolate, original, vanilla and vanilla chai because they have the potential to contain Salmonella Virchow. Though Garden of Life routinely performs pathogen testing on every finished good lot to ensure safety and no product has ever tested positive for the presence of Salmonella, the company felt it was in the public’s best interest to take this voluntary action. Between Sept. 1, 2015 and Jan. 30, 2016, Seward Co-op may have sold nine raw meal products with lot numbers affected by this recall at both the Franklin and Friendship stores. If you purchased any of the products below at Seward Co-op during that time period, please return them to either the Franklin or Friendship store customer service desk for a full refund. The products that remain on the shelf are lot numbers unaffected by the recall.

RAW Organic Meal Chocolate (32-35 oz.) retail $57.99
UPC:0065801011593 Lot Numbers: 47198800, 47225900, 47249200, 47226000, 47226100

RAW Organic Meal Chocolate (16-17.4 oz.) retail $26.99
UPC:0065801011695 Lot Numbers:47226200, 47226201, 47247800

RAW Organic Meal (2-3 oz.) retail $5.49
UPC:0065801011553 Lot Number:47214800

RAW Organic Meal (32-35 oz.) retail $57.99
UPC:0065801011414 Lot Numbers: 47214600, 47236000, 47248901, 47246500

RAW Organic Meal (16-17.4 oz.) retail $26.99
UPC:0065801011696 Lot Number:47225800

RAW Organic Meal Vanilla (2-3 oz.) retail $5.49
UPC:0065801011612 Lot Number:47248000

RAW Organic Meal Vanilla (32-35 oz.) retail $57.99
UPC:0065801011602 Lot Numbers:47216100, 47225500, 47198601, 47225600, 47253900, 47216200, 47225601

AW Organic Meal Vanilla (16-17.4 oz.) retail $26.99
UPC:0065801011693 Lot Numbers:47226400, 47257401

Questions may be directed to Garden of Life at 1-866-465-0051, Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST.

Cajun Boudin sausage returns to the Seward Co-op Meat departments just in time for Mardi Gras! This fantastic variety of sausage will be on sale for the entire month of February at both of our store locations. Cajun cuisine is typically rustic, consisting of rice, hand-stuffed sausages, seafood, and whatever plentiful vegetables that are available. At Seward Co-op, Cajun Boudin is a unique house-made sausage, with a one-to-one ratio of rice and sausage, and a course, loose texture. This sausage is peppery and rich bursting with flavor. Traditionally, the sausage is cooked and then sucked directly out of the casing. However, once heated through and removed from the casing it would make an excellent accompaniment to eggs. Stop in and try this sausage out for yourself, we will be demoing it Friday, Feb. 5 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at the Franklin store.

Evan Healy announced a recall involving Chamomile Eye Cream (0.5 oz; retail $31.99). The recall is being issued due to reports of contamination and mold. We have removed all product from the shelf and will discontinue the item.

We will be providing an alternative from Evan Healy, their Certified Organic Wild Carrot Nourishing Eye Balm. Recalled products will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

The affected product’s UPC code is UPC: 6081783501030 would have been sold between January 26 and December 30, 2015.

More specific information, with manufacturer codes and dates of affected product, may be found at http://www.evanhealy.com/.

Seward Co-op is issuing a voluntary recall on bulk Schultz Eggs (Bulk; retail $3.99/dozen or $0.34 each) because we were shipped free-range eggs that were mislabeled as organic. We sold these eggs as organic when they were not certified organic. This recall has not been linked to illnesses.

The affected product has a PLU of 6 or 66. The product would have been sold between November 20, 2015 and November 30, 2015. Recalled products will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African proverb

In December, many African American people in the United States will turn their attention to Kwanzaa, a cultural holiday that begins on Dec. 26 and goes through Jan. 1.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.

Developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African people. Collectively these values are called the Nguzo Saba, which in Swahili means the Seven Principles. The Seven Principles are: Umoja (unity); Kujichagulia (self-determination); Ujima (collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa (cooperative economics); Nia (purpose); Kuumba (creativity); and Imani (faith). Everyday throughout Kwanzaa a different principle is honored.

The fifth day, Ujamaa, focuses on Cooperatives Economics, encouraging us to think about how we spend our time, talent and treasure in ways that up lift the African American community. Ujamaa reminds us that African American communities in the past have been forced by segregation to find ways to meet basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. In order to meet the needs of community, we must stand together; individual efforts are not enough.

On Saturday, Dec. 12, 1–2:30 p.m. WIN Institute and Seward Co-op are hosting a Kwanzaa Celebration at the Friendship store. We will eat a cultural stew called Pamoja Tutashinda, (Together We Shall Win) and WE WIN students will share the importance of Kwanzaa and how it helps build community. The event will be rounded out with African drums dance, and stories.

WE WIN Institute, Inc.
Friendship Store
FREE

Wondering what to get your favorite foodie? Seward Community Co-op offers gift cards that may be purchased and used at any of our three locations–Co-op Creamery Café, Franklin, or Friendship Store. Gifts cards can be purchased over the phone from our stores, and in-person at the Café.

If you would like the gift card mailed to you or the recipient, please call either of our stores and ask for Customer Service. The phone number to the Franklin store is 612.338.2465 or 612.230.5595 for Friendship store. All we need is, the desired amount on the gift card and the debit or credit card to which to charge the purchase in order to process payment. The card can then either be mailed to you or the recipient, or picked up at the store that was called.

Our Co-op Creamery Café offers in-person gift card sales. If you wish to purchase a Seward Co-op gift card at the café, please speak to someone at the register or to your server.