Thank you to the 10,872 customers -more than 50%- who contributed $3,012 to the Community Development Foundation (CDF), which will help in the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Seward Co-op will donate an addition $1,000 to the CDF.

Internationally, there are an estimated 750,000 cooperatives that serve 730 million members. And throughout this year, we have an extraordinary opportunity to inform people around the world of the robust, human-scale, cooperative business model. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has proclaimed 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. Yearlong observances such as this have been regularly declared by the UN to promote awareness of important political, social, cultural, humanitarian or human rights issues. The 2012 resolution, titled “Cooperatives in Social Development,” recognizes the diversity of the cooperative movement around the world and the role cooperative businesses play in achieving economic stability, while also contributing social and community benefits.

At Seward and other food co-ops across the United States, we’ll be highlighting the economic and social benefits of co-op grocers in a variety of ways. Throughout the year, expect special events and activities to raise awareness of co-ops and celebrate the mutual commitment consumers and their local co-op grocers have demonstrated to each other.

One of these activities is an online video series hosted by Kevin Gillespie, co-owner and executive chef at the Woodfire Grill Restaurant in Atlanta and sixth season finalist on the Bravo TV series “Top Chef.” Gillespie takes viewers through farm fields and grocery aisles nationwide showing the unique role co-ops have in building local food systems and their impact in their communities. In late January, we hosted a group of cooperators in Seward Co-op’s classroom to view the first episodes — one of which featured our co-op. Subsequent videos will be released throughout the year and can be viewed at www.strongertogether.coop.

Throughout 2012, we’ll have demos and samples from P6 co-op producers, displays of co-op products, and information in the store about the International Year of Cooperatives.

The Star Tribune recently ran a write up on the Eat Local Farm Tour, co-sponsored by the Twin Cities natural food co-ops. The self-guided tour takes place Saturday, July 30, and features 11 different area farms. Read the article and visit Seward Co-op’s Farm Tour page with links to all of the participating farms.

Minnesota Public Radio recently ran a feature on Principle Six (P6), noting how Seward promotes not only local products, but also small producers and cooperatives.

CBS Minnesota recognized Seward Co-op as one of the top five places in the Twin Cities metro to find organic and locally sourced foods. This fall, the co-op introduced P6, which helps customers identify not only local products, but those sourced by small producers and cooperatives/nonprofits, as well.

Seward Co-op’s member newsletter, the Sprout!, is a Cooperative Communicators Association (CCA) 2010 Communications Contest award recipient. The Sprout! took second place in the “member newsletter” category during CCA’s recent awards ceremony, held in downtown Minneapolis. CCA is a Pennsylvania-based organization of professionals who communicate for cooperatives.

Nice Ride Minnesota introduced their bike-sharing system — the largest in the United States — on Bike Walk to Work Day, Thursday, June 10. Hundreds took part in an inaugural bike ride from the Central Library down Nicollet Mall to Peavey Plaza, where Mayor R.T. Rybak hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of the Downtown YWCA bike share station.