On Saturday, July 16, co-op owners and shoppers are invited to travel both within and beyond the city to visit local farms by participating in the annual Eat Local Farm Tour. Twenty-eight sustainable Minnesota producers are on board for this year’s tour, giving attendees the opportunity to experience a diverse mix of small- to large-scale farming operations, including everything from vegetable, poultry, beef, dairy and bee farming. A new addition to the 2016 tour includes Hope Creamery! The self-guided tours are free and participants must provide their own transportation. Check out the “What to Expect” section of the guide for restroom availability and value-added kid activities.

Look for copies of the Eat Local Farm Tour guide book in the co-op, or download a PDF version. In it, find suggested tours for visiting several farms within specific regions. More information can also be found on the Eat Local Farm Tour Facebook page.

Summer Squash

Did you know summer squash is not really a vegetable? The many varieties of summer squash are a type of “pepo”, or hard-walled berry that are harvested while the rind is still tender and edible. Summer squash is in season now and we are carrying at least five varieties (green and gold zucchini, crookneck, zephyr-my personal favorite for its sweetness-, patty pan, and calabacita, a small tender zucchini). Wisconsin Growers Co-op, Featherstone Farm, Heartbeet Farms, and Sin Fronteras are delivering these squash multiple times each week. Select firm, unwrinkled, evenly shaped squash and store in your crisper drawer.

Sin Fronteras

Sin Fronteras (Without Borders) is a Stillwater, Minn-based family-farm growing fresh, healthy Latino food. Farmers Eduardo Rivera and Madeline Shaw bring to the Twin Cities sustainably grown and at times challenging to find varieties of chile peppers, tomatillos, and espasote along with familiar roots, greens, and herbs. These foods can be found at area coops, the Linden Hills Farmers Market, and through a culturally appropriate Latino CSA. Look to their Facebook page for recipes using Sin Fronteras produce.

Wisconsin Growers Co-op

Wisconsin Growers Co-op was founded in 2006 to help 20 families maintain ownership of their farms. Its members are dedicated to the idea that if farmers take “good care of the soil, the soil will pay back with high-quality produce.” This mindset has proven effective; Wisconsin Growers often brings us produce all year long, from greenhouse radishes at the first sight of spring clear around the calendar to over-wintered parsnips. The key to the longevity of their growing season are labor-intensive, fossil fuel-free farming methods. On nearly 40 acres of the co-op’s land, these farmers plant, tend, and harvest crops exclusively using horses, horse machinery, and hand tools. In addition to more popular produce items such as potatoes, onions, and radishes, the Wisconsin Growers Co-op offers unique heirloom squash varieties, such as Queensland blue and Long Island cheese.

Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables

Featherstone Fruits and Vegetables started in 1995 as Jack Hedin and Jenni McHugh’s five-acre garden at the Zephyr Valley Land Co-op near Winona, Minn. Since then, the farm has relocated to land near the town of Rushford, Minn., and now employs nearly 50 people working on over 250 acres of optimal vegetable-growing ground. Beginning in late May with leaf lettuce, through a summer’s harvest of zucchini and cherry tomatoes, into winter squash and carrots in the winter, there’s hardly a month that Featherstone isn’t represented in the co-op’s Produce department. The farm is certified organic and is dedicated to creating a truly sustainable agriculture system. That includes geothermal heating and cooling for the packing shed, as well as a solar array that generates about 60 percent of the farm’s energy. Featherstone Farm also operates a large community-supported agriculture program.

Heartbeet Farm

Heartbeet Farm is a family farm owned and operated by Joe and Rebecca Schwen. Located in Zumbro Falls, Minn, the fields that now comprise Heartbeet Farm are the same fields that Joe was raised on and where he learned to farm. Recently, Joe and Rebecca have begun to cooperatively market their produce as Heartbeet Farms along with two nearby small family farms: Easy Yoke and Hare & Tortoise. Working together allows these farms to operate at a scale that enables them to directly interact with the plants, soil, animals, and farm ecosystem while still being productive, efficient, and sustainable. They employ a combination of draft horses, small tractors, woodstove heated greenhouses, and other technologies to grow a wide variety of vegetables. Look for beets, shiso, Hakurei turnips, and many other items from Heartbeet Farms throughout the growing season. All three farms are dedicated to farming in a healthful, holistic, and sustainable way and are certified organic.

Back to Nature Foods, LLC is issuing a voluntary recall of its classic crème cookies, because they may contain undeclared milk, not listed as an ingredient on the label. Persons who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. Between Mar. 11, 2016 to Apr. 11, 2016, Seward Co-op may have sold products affected by this recall at both the Franklin and Friendship stores.

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Sept. 10, 2016

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Sept. 16, 2016

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Aug 13, 2016

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Oct. 8, 2016

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Oct. 21, 2016

Back to Nature Classic Crème Cookies –12 oz. on sale for $3.33 from Mar. 30, 2016-Apr. 12, 2016 (reg. $5.19)
UPC: 8-19898-01103
Best by date: Oct. 22, 2016

If you purchased either of the above products at Seward Co-op between Mar. 11, 2016 and Apr. 11, 2016, recalled products will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk. Questions may be directed to Seward Co-op’s Franklin store at 612.338.2465 or Friendship store at 612.230.5595. Consumers with questions may call Back to Nature’s Consumer Relations Center at 844-275-5845. The center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Consumers also may contact the center via e-mail by visiting the Contact Us page for a replacement coupon.

For more than 40 years, Seward Co-op has been committed to giving back to our community. In 2011, we introduced SEED, a new way for customers to participate in this commitment. This simple yet powerful community giving program allows customers to “round-up” their grocery bill for recipient organizations that share our commitment to a healthy community.

SEED Recipients are selected once per year. Application information for 2017 will be posted at seward.coop in the spring of 2016.

2015-16 SEED Recipients

October 2015
WE WIN Institute, Inc.
WE WIN supports student learning and social development in urban youth through academic activities, civic and community engagement. Funding will support WE WIN youth gardens that teach young people about the importance of food origins, eating healthy, and exercise.

November 2015
Waite House Neighborhood Center
Waite House trains neighborhood teens in community culinary arts and food justice. Funds raised would support the community based portion of their training – in Southside Kitchen providing healthy, made-from-scratch, free meals daily to neighborhood youth.

December 2015 and June 2016
Isuroon Ethnic Food Shelf
Isuroon is dedicated to building Somali women’s self-sufficiency so that they can lead healthier, more productive lives in Minnesota, nationally and in Somalia. Funding will support the creation of an ethnic food shelf serving the Somali Community in South Minneapolis.

January 2016
Full Cycle Bike Shop
Full Cycle is a bike shop that helps put homeless youth on a path toward independence. SEED funding will create jobs for homeless youth using a fleet of bike trailers to pick up and deliver food donations to organizations serving homeless youth. Homeless youth are best able to build up their own stability when they have the opportunity to help others at the same time.

February and December 2016
Sabathani Community Center
Sabathani provides food, clothing and housing to 26,000 neighborhood residents each year in South Minneapolis. We feed the chronically poor, those on disability or chemical dependent individuals and families. Sabathani Community Center has been providing basic needs services for nearly fifty years.

March and September 2016
Brian Coyle Food Shelf
Brian Coyle Community Center’s Basic Needs program offers a choice model food shelf, healthy cultural cooking classes, free produce giveaways, monthly senior NAPS food program, and is working toward expanding its community garden on site. Funding will support the purchase of fresh produce, dairy, whole grains and culturally-specific foods for the food shelf.

April 2016
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
On May 1, 2016, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre’s 42nd annual MayDay celebration will build community vitality on an enormous scale. We will bring together 1200 volunteers to build and stage a parade and pageant welcoming spring and inspiring positive change for 50,000 attendees from every part of our community. Children, parents, youth and seniors are engaged for weeks in advance, building artmaking skills as they gain respect and develop friendships with each other.

May 2016
Mashkiikii Gitigan Urban Community Farm
Mashkiikii Gitigan (Ojibwe for medicine garden) addresses the food justice needs of people living in the Phillips neighborhood of South Minneapolis, many of whom face challenges in accessing fresh, healthy foods. SEED funding will support Mashkiikii Gitigan’s Karma Markets, weekly “pay what you can” farmer’s markets that provide community members with fresh fruits, vegetables, and traditional herbal medicines.

July 2016
Hope Community
SEED funds will support a Network of Community Gardens at Home Community, at the intersection of Franklin and Portland Avenues–about two miles west of Seward Co-op, in Philips Community. Hope is a community development organization that’s been around since 1977, doing both housing and community engagement in Philips. Gardens at Hope bring people together to learn about and grow healthy food, develop leadership and build a stronger, healthier community.

August 2016
The Hmong American Farmers Association
The Hmong American Farmers Association creates more economic opportunity for Hmong farmers. They make sure Hmong farmers earn more income through new markets like co-ops and schools, while bringing fresh, locally grown produced to thousands of people in the Twin Cities.

October 2016
Community Emergency Service, Inc.
Community Emegency Service has been feeding hungry people in our neighborhood for more than four decades, providing groceries and hot meals for 2,500 people monthly. SEED funds will help the organization provide holiday food for neighbors in need this season.

November 2016
Dream of Wild Health
Dream of Wild Health promotes health in the urban Native community by expanding knowledge of and access to healthy indigenous foods and medicines.. DWH’s programs focus on increasing knowledge of healthy foods, nutrition, cooking, disease prevention, traditional foods, organic farming and community advocacy.

This Monday, July 13! Join Seward Co-op and other Seward members at Fair State Brewing Cooperative for happy hour 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Bring your Seward ownership card and enjoy a beer at half-price (one per person).

Did you know Fair State Brewing is a co-op just like Seward? They have membership, a board of directors, and an annual election, just like we do. The one big difference?

THEY HAVE BEER.

Case in point, we’re particularly excited to try Fair State’s Hefeweizen, if it’s still available. City Pages calls this beer “a great addition to the local scene!”

So join let’s get a mob of Seward owners over at Fair State and get some co-operating done.

WHERE: 2506 Central Avenue Nordeast Minneapolis
WHEN: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Monday, July 13

WHY: Well. Co-operation among co-ops IS a key principle…

Dominique Mazloom, our new Flow of Goods Manager

Friendship Store

At the moment, the Friendship store frame is up and insulation is being added this week. Over the course of the spring, we’ll continue to see exciting developments on the site. The roof will be finished next week, and the retaining wall around the east and south sides of the parking lot should be finished soon thereafter.

Next week the panel and metal siding installation will begin. In the coming weeks, much of the work will take place inside the structure. The second floor concrete was poured on April 10, and the concrete for the first floor will be poured the first week of May. If you pass the construction site on 38th St. and 3rd Avenue S. you’ll get a good view of how our store is progressing.

As for staffing, Friendship Store Manager Raynardo Williams says that the Assistant Store Manager and department manager jobs are posted now through Wednesday, April 22. Please spread the word and visit our careers page for job descriptions and details on applying. The opening date for the Friendship store is slated for early October.

Co-op Creamery

You may have noticed banners in the Co-op Creamery windows announcing the summer opening of the café! We’re hard at work on the interior of the café at this point, and additional exterior signage will go up in the coming weeks.

Last week we installed coolers, ceiling and lights in the production kitchen. Additional equipment has been arriving over the past two weeks, and will continue to do so over the next couple weeks. The painting and tile work in the café wrapped up last Friday.

Duct work on the east side of the building is almost complete. We are waiting on final details before the loading dock re-model begins. Once approved, that work will commence very quickly. This means excavation in the loading dock area and the parking lot will be repaved. We’re on track for a mid-July opening.

In staffing news, we’re pleased to welcome Dominique Mazloom our Flow of Goods Supervisor. Dominique has a wealth of logistics education and experience, coupled with enthusiasm for Seward Co-op and natural foods. Dominique’s first focus will be to work with co-op staff to develop and implement a distribution system for product being made at the Creamery and Franklin store. Please join us in welcoming Dominique to our co-op community!

Informational Open House on Employment

Seward Co-op will host an informational open house on employment: Attend the open house at the Sabathani Community Center (310 E. 38th St., Minneapolis) in room #103 on Tuesday, May 19, from 5–8 p.m. This is in advance of the Friendship store hiring fair we will host in August. The open house will provide an introduction to natural foods cooperatives and information about working at Seward Co-op. Representatives from human resources will be available to answer questions, and staff from various store departments will be on hand to talk about their work.

There are some great jobs available at Seward Co-op right now. More details at Seward Co-op Careers page (you can sign up for email Job Alerts there too).

Front End Manager, Full-Time, posted until: 04/01/2015
Purpose: Lead department staff, manage physical and financial assets, and follow Seward Co-op processes in support of Seward Co-op Ends and department goals. Support the growth of the Co-op through participation on the Store team.

Packaged Foods Merchandising Coordinator, Full-Time, posted until: 04/06/2015
Purpose: To work with Marketing and Merchandising Managers to ensure consistency across all of Seward Co-op’s signage and visual marketing program. To develop design strategy for promotions, advertising, and the Seward Co-op brand. To supervise signage coordinator.

Chef, Full-Time, posted until: 04/07/2015
Looking for a Chef with a passion for food to lead our farm-driven, scratch kitchen in the creation and operation of our new Co-op Creamery Neighborhood Café. Chef will create ever-changing menus that highlight seasonal, organic-focused, hand-crafted dishes that promote the Seward’s commitment to quality ingredients and sustainable food ways.

Design Supervisor, Full-Time, posted until: 04/06/2015
Purpose: Lead department staff, manage physical and financial assets, and follow Seward Co-op processes in support of Seward Co-op Ends and department goals. Support the growth of the Co-op through participation on the Store team

Dishwasher, Limited Part-Time, posted until: 04/07/2015
Purpose: To maintain clean dish area in the deli and to efficiently pack prepared foods for grab and go case; to maintain a clean and organized work environment and to perform duties in accordance with Health Department guidelines, and to maintain displays on sales floor.

Produce Staff, Part-Time, posted until: 04/13/2015
Purpose: To stock and display fresh produce while providing prompt, friendly, helpful customer service to help meet department goals for sales, margin, labor productivity and customer service.

Meet the local producers who bring us fruits, veggies, flowers, and meat throughout the local season by visiting their farms on the 2015 Eat Local Farm Tour!

Take the kids, meet friends along the way, or bike to local urban farms near you on Saturday, July 18. The 2015 Farm Guide booklets are available here or at the Seward Co-op Customer Service Desk.

Twenty-one local farms are opening their doors to the Eat Local Tour this year:

10th Street Farm & Market

Big River Farms/Minnesota Food Association

Buttermilk Falls CSA & Folk School Retreat

East Henderson Farm

Garden Farme –

Gardens of Eagan

Growing Lots Urban Farm

Humble Pie Farm

Shepherd’s Way Farm

Simple Harvest Farm Organics

Singing Hills Goat Dairy Farm

Star Prairie Trout Farm

Stone’s Throw Urban Farm

The Beez Kneez

Thousand Hills Cattle Company

Whistling Well Farm

Women’s Environmental Institute

The tour is free and there’s no need to register! Just decide which farms you’d like to visit, note when they’re open for visitors, and drive there or “caravan” with family and friends. (The co-op is not providing transportation.)

To find when farms are open, get a copy of the 2015 Farm Guide and check the farms’ listings. Visitors are welcome to show up during these times.

Your Twin Cities-area food co-ops support the annual Farm Tour. For more information:
2015 Eat Local Farm Tour Facebook Page

And follow the hashtag:
#‎EatLocalFarmTour

Work on the Co-op Creamery at 2601 E. Franklin Ave. is in full swing. In late January, co-op administrative staff moved into the second floor offices. This move has helped to alleviate space constraints at the Franklin store offices. The staff at the Creamery will support all Seward locations.

On the first floor of the building, construction has begun on the central production kitchen and Co-op Creamery Neighborhood Café. We recently finalized the branding and aesthetics of the café, including a new logo, with the help of our architects at LHB and designers at Replace.

Throughout the next several months, the first floor will begin to take shape, as new windows are installed and the interior is finished. We plan to be ready to begin food production as early as July, with an eye towards opening the café in September.

As with the Friendship store, we’ll post several new positions for Creamery staff. Check our careers page for updates. Be sure to visit our project expansion page and watch for future emails with more updates.

Seward Co-op Project Updates

Friendship Store

Progress on constructing the new Friendship store was delayed in November and December due to rerouting and reconnecting existing power and communication cables, but the remaining demo of the old church building and the removal of the north-south section of the vacated alley was completed in late December.

In January, the construction crew excavated and framed, then poured, cured and back-filled the new concrete foundation for the building — all in the coldest month of the year. A round of applause for our construction team, please.

The erection of the steel framing has recently started (see picture by reporter Ben Garvin on Facebook page), and the building of the new store is beginning to take shape. When this is completed, the exterior framing and sheathing will go up, along with the roof. We’re still on track for the new store to be LEED-certified.

We remain hopeful the Seward Co-op Friendship store will be ready to open in October, 2015.

Creamery Building

We’ve seen a lot of activity in the Creamery Building. The new elevator addition was completed in late December, and the second-floor offices were finished in January. Administrative staff have all moved into the second floor, which has already begun to alleviate space issues in the Franklin store.

As of Feb. 1, our focus will be entirely on the first floor, which will feature a café called the Co-op Creamery Neighborhood Café and a central food-production facility. The facility will supply the Franklin and Friendship stores with meat, bakery, and deli products, freeing up space and workloads on the two retail sites.

The new logos for the Co-op Creamery Neighborhood Café have been finalized (above). The logo was designed to capture, embody, and carry forward the spirit of solidarity and cooperation that brought about the founding of the original Franklin Cooperative Creamery back in 1912. The café menu will be developed on a farm-to-table theme, featuring seasonal and P6 ingredients.

More exciting details to come in the April issue of Sprout!

Seward Co-op Creamery Building on Franklin & 26th Avenue