On Oct. 23, Tres Latin Foods announced a voluntary recall on their Black Bean and Sweet Corn Pupusas due to the potential that they were contaminated with an undeclared milk allergen. Seward Co-op does not currently have affected product on the shelf but could have sold affected product between July 23 and Oct. 23, 2017.

Tres Latin Foods Black Bean & Sweet Corn Pupusas, $5.99
10 oz.
UPC: 8-54430-00237-6
Best By: June 20,2018

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op between July 23 and Oct. 23, 2017, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

Seasonal Sausage

The Franklin store Deli now offers several new made-to-order selections, available to order at the counter. Co-op shoppers have the option to choose from several varieties of tacos (chicken, beef or black bean); bratwurst, seasonal sausages or the Franklin Frank; and new sandwiches, like the tofu pesto melt. The deli will continue to offer plenty of veggie and vegan options, such as the tempeh ruby and vegan burrito, as well as kids offerings like quesadillas and grilled cheese.

Bratwurst

Tofu Pesto Melt

Franklin Frank

Chicken Tacos

Thank you to everyone who donated to Hurricane Maria Relief.
From Oct. 6–Oct. 8, 6,748 customers donated $3,695 Through SEED. Seward Co-op will contribute a $1,000 match, as well. Funds raised will go to Cooperativa Madre Tierra, a cooperative comprised of 100+ farmers—owners of the cooperative—who have lost everything.

A message of thanks from la Cooperativa Organica Madre Tierra:

In the name of our Cooperativa Organica Madre Tierra and as President of our Board of Directors, I would like to express our deep appreciation for your solidarity and support. Gestures of kindness like yours brings rays of hope in our efforts for reconstruction. Many of our farmers lost all their productions, many even their homes. Our Placita Roosevelt, the place where we celebrates our farmer´s market also got greatly impacted by the Hurricane Maria. We have no electricity and no phone at the office, but thanks to the solidarity of La Liga de Cooperativas-an association of Cooperatives here in Puerto Rico, we got a temporary office space from where we can start rebuilding. We were able to contact some of the producers of bread, oils, food, and other ecological products. Our Puerto Rico is in need of good news so we decided to do our best and have at least a modest market with healthy food, music, talks and even Yoga for kids. It will be a gathering of hope, good food and healing. Thanks to volunteers and our community we were able to clean some area of the Placita and the market will happen on this coming Sunday, October 15, God permits.

We thank the Seward Cooperative for the solidarity shown in directing SEED funds to help our farmers.

This recipe makes four jar salads—perfect for packing with lunches—or two large salads. The kale is sturdy enough to keep, so this recipe is great for Sunday night meal prep.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sweet potato, diced
• 2 Tbsp. olive or coconut oil
• 1 bunch green kale, shredded
• ¼ cup Salad Girl Crisp Apple Maple Organic Vinaigrette salad dressing
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• Handful green beans, chopped
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 medium beet, shredded
• 1 small apple, diced or shredded
• Four clean 12- or 16-oz. glass jars

Preparation:

Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add sweet potato and a few dashes of salt and cover, stirring occasionally, until tender. Cool. Meanwhile, shred kale into bite-sized pieces, wash, dry and place in a large bowl. Add Salad Girl dressing and massage until the kale begins to wilt. Set aside. While kale sits and sweet potato cooks, prepare the rest of the vegetables. Once the sweet potato is mostly cooled, divide and nestle in the bottom of four jars, followed by layers of the rest of the vegetables and apple, and top with the kale.

Seward Co-op’s Board of Directors will host a Candidate Forum as part of the 2017 election. We will gather in the Creamery Café to hear from and meet the candidates, and to visit with fellow co-op owners. LaDonna Sanders-Redmond, Diversity and Community Engagement Manager, will facilitate the large group portion of the evening and we’ll also have some time for informal conversation. In past years, voters have told the board that written essays alone make it difficult to distinguish candidates. We hope the forum will encourage dialogue about governing our cooperative. What questions might you ask of co-op board candidates?!

Light food and one free drink ticket is provided with all RSVPs. Additional drinks will be available for purchase. Space is limited; please register now!

Please note: beginning at 6 p.m. we will admit those who RSVP. If you are not present by 6:15 p.m., your spot may be given to others on a first come, first served basis.

Seward Co-op opened in 1972 on the corner of 22nd and Franklin avenues. In the beginning, the co-op was run by a core group of volunteers and had a modest selection of products with a heavy emphasis on bulk goods. Today, we have an abundant selection of bulk foods and wellness products to inspire both meal times and self-care routines, all while helping you save money and reduce packaging. In addition to pantry staples, scoop up our teas, medicinal herbs, dried fruits, local honey, cooking liquids, fair-trade coffee and household cleaning products. Did you know you can grind your own fresh peanut and almond butters?

Whether you are simply looking for festive Halloween snacks or want to stock up your pantry for fall baking, we have a treat for you: a 10-percent-off Bulk Sale* on Thursday, Oct. 19. All day — for one day only — everything in the Bulk department (even sale items and Wellness bulk items) is 10 percent off. In 1972, when the co-op took shape, few people imagined it would grow to be the thriving community center and source of healthful food it is today. What’s most important is that amidst its growth, the co-op has remained true to its Ends, never losing sight of its commitment to its owners and the greater community.

*The Oct. 19 bulk sale does not include reusable glass and plastic containers; items sold per pound in other departments, such as Produce and Meat & Seafood.

DIY Trail Mix

At Seward Co-op, our bulk aisles offers all the raw, salted or roasted nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and other tasty morsels you need in order to create an economical, nourishing snack that allows you to control the salt and sugar content. The basic formula for designing your own trail mix is to combine 50-percent nuts, 30-percent dried fruit, 10-percent seeds, and 10-percent any other bulk goodie of your choosing. Proportions are not an exact science, and quantities can be easily altered and tailored to your unique preferences or dietary restrictions.

Most conventional, premixed trail mixes are loaded with sugar and salt, but you can avoid that by making your own. It’s the perfect family-friendly activity that teaches healthful eating habits and serves as a nice introduction to the co-op. Here’s one of our favorite recipes to get you started.

Everyday Trail Mix

Ingredients
1 cup cashews
1 cup almonds
1 cup walnuts
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup dried bananas
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup chocolate-covered ginger

Directions
Toast the nuts and seeds in the oven at 350° F. until fragrant and lightly browned. Let cool. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

The Seward Co-op Creamery Café relaunched last fall with a casual, comfortable atmosphere and family-friendly menu. It may be a pit stop on your way to work or a go-to lunch spot or happy hour choice for your family—but to many it’s evolved into more than that. Over the last year, thanks to our staff and community, the space is a venue in which to learn about food by sharing experiences with loved ones and also those who bring it from the farm to the table.

The menu features familiar favorites, as well as several dishes that range from vegetarian sandwiches to classic brunch fare. Local producer, Sonny’s Ice Cream, located in Uptown, provides our hand-dipped ice cream. We also offer local ice cream treats from Sweet Science and Jonny Pops. During warm-weather months, customers can sip a beverage or enjoy a meal on our new patio. The warm and inviting physical space is conducive to conversation and a great location in which to study, enjoy a family meal, or host a business meeting.

The café intentionally sources from local farms that may be too small or lacking the resources to support the sales and customer demand of our retail stores, in an effort to support up-and-coming farmers growing their operations. Plus, it keeps money right here in the community we share. Follow us on social media or subscribe to our eNewsletter for information on attending one of our upcoming Farm Table Dinners, forums or other community events.

Not only does the café rely heavily on many of the small farmers and producers who provide our grocery stores with local ingredients, but we also source from ourselves. Café customers can expect Seward Co-op baked goods, sausage and housemade soups. Keep an eye out for cooperatively handcrafted items for sale in our retails case, like pesto, curry sauce, and jam.

Customers who dine in the café are also supporting the businesses with which Seward Co-op partners. The cooperation within Seward Co-op and among our farmers and diners contributes to the creation of wealth in our community one dish at a time.