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Plant the Seed for the Future of Organic Farming

Stop by the co-op September 20—October 3 to learn how you can support the Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund. Blue Marble Brands, the company that brings you some of your favorite products like Woodstock Organics, Koyo Ramen and Mediterranean Organics has long supported the importance of organic farming. With their promotion, “Plant the Seed: Eat. Learn. Grow Organic,” you can pick up a coupon at Seward Co-op that not only gives you a $1 off select Blue Marble Brands products, but also supports more organic farmers. For every coupon redeemed, Blue Marble Brands will donate $1 to the Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund.

The Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund is a program that provides educational opportunities for students that focus on organic agriculture. The grant is awarded to K-8 teachers for an educational experience called “Look at Agriculture…Organically!” It is also used to fund Future Farmers of America (FFA) projects for high-schoolers as well as tuition and educational expenses related to organic agriculture programs for higher education students.

You can learn more about the Future Organic Farmer Grant Fund here. Do you know any local schools, FFA members or college students that could benefit from this grant? Encourage them to apply in their respective category – and help grow organic agriculture!

2017 Alaffia School Supplies Drive

Only 23 percent of children in West Africa who enter primary school actually finish 6th grade. The main reasons are lack of basic supplies and transportation. Since Alaffia built their first school in 2011, they have built 10 schools and donated school supplies to more than 20,000 students in Togo. Through Sept. 30, co-op owners and shoppers can donate the following items:

  • #2 pencils
  • Ball point pens
  • White chalk
  • Protractors
  • Metal compasses
  • Lined paper

Please bring any donations to the Wellness desk in either of our store locations. With your support, Alaffia will be able to provide thousands of students with much needed school supplies.

Alaffia is a fair-trade producer cooperative of skin and body care products in Togo, West Africa. The women of the Alaffia Shea Butter Cooperative gather shea nuts and hand craft shea butter and other raw ingredients using traditional, sustainable methods. The cooperative’s unrefined shea butter is then used as the base for Alaffia’s skin and hair care products, handmade in Lacey, Wash.

In 2003, Alaffia’s founders began the process of establishing an organization that would empower communities while preserving culture and resources. It was apparent that shea butter was the resource that would truly empower local Togolese. Members of the Alaffia cooperative have the opportunity to use their traditional knowledge and skills to support their families, while making indigenous, sustainable and effective skin care available to the global community. Furthermore, Alaffia dedicates a minimum of 10 percent of all sales to community-empowerment projects in Togo, so the impact of fair-trade, handcrafted shea butter reaches beyond the cooperative. Alaffia shea butter is certified Fair for Life by the Institute for Marketecology, one of the first and most renowned international certification agencies for organic and social accountability.

Farm Table Dinner with York Farm & Rebel Soil

Seward Co-op Creamery Café may be a pit stop on your way to work or a go-to lunch or happy hour choice for your family. To many of us, it’s more than that. We’re happy to offer the Creamery Café as a space to learn about food by sharing experiences with those who bring it from the farm to the table.

Join us at the Seward Co-op Creamery Café for a dinner event on Tuesday, Sept. 26, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., featuring two farm partners just west of the metro area: York Farm (Hutchinson, Minn.) and Rebel Soil (Litchfield, Minn.). Farm owners Andy Cotter & Irene Genelin and Andy Temple & Aimee Haag—along with their certified-organic and sustainably grown produce—will be our special guests for the evening. Creamery Café staff are delighted to feature a variety of vegetables, fruits, greens and sprouts showcasing the season’s harvest. Beverage pairings from Indeed Brewing and Feral Kombucha are available for $15. Tickets are limited, so grab your seat at our “Farm Table” right away!

Follow the Seward Co-op and our Creamery Café on social media and visit our website for future opportunities to engage with local farmers, producers, and community members.

York Farm

World champion unicyclists turned second generation farmers Irene Genelin and Andy Cotter embarked on their farming adventure together in 2010. Andy’s family originally bought the farm in 1971. As the local food movement gained momentum and Andy became interested in balancing food production and sustainability, farming became appealing to the General Mills IT professional. In 2002, Andy bought the farm for his residence. Today, York Farm is in their eighth season and has a dozen acres filled with rows of certified-organic grapes, strawberries, apples, plums, pears, currants, gooseberries, apricots, and Arctic kiwi.

Rebel Soil

Rebel Soil’s farming practices “rebel” against modern agricultural methods dependent on harmful chemicals, cheap labor and heavy machinery. Aimee and Andy vow to grow healthful, freshly harvested produce free of harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. Farming on their small, four-acre farm in Litchfield provides them with daily opportunities to do more than simply grow produce, the couple also advocates for increased access to clean food, a healthier environment and stronger community ties.

SewardMade Chorizo Empanada Recall

Seward Co-op is issuing a voluntarily recall of its Chorizo Empanadas due to mislabeling and undeclared allergens. The product label incorrectly identified the product. In addition, the product contains tree nuts, a known allergen which was not declared on the finished product label. Between Aug. 12, 2017 and Aug. 14, 2017, Seward Co-op sold the product affected by this recall at both the Franklin and Friendship stores.
Seward Co-op Chorizo Empanadas ($7.99/lb.)
UPC: 203725202xxxxxx

If you purchased the above product at Seward Co-op between Aug. 12, 2017 and Aug. 14, 2017, 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.

2017 Annual Owner Meeting

Purchase tickets here!

Share a traditional Nigerian meal with us on Monday, Oct. 23 at our Annual Owner Meeting. Guest Chef Tunde Wey, along with Seward Co-op’s Diversity and Community Engagement Manager LaDonna Sanders-Redmond, will engage co-op owners in an open dialogue around the real cost of food using the 1863 Homestead Act to spark the conversation.

The 1863 Homestead Act was critical to the founding of Minnesota and paved the way for the evolving nature of labor on the land as experienced by many small family farms, migrant farmers and food service workers. It encouraged Western migration by providing settlers 160 acres of public land. In exchange, homesteaders paid a small filing fee and were required to complete five years of continuous residence before receiving ownership of the land. By 1862, most of the land that was still available for homesteaders was located in subprime farming regions prone to wildfires, damaging wind and problematic pests.

Together, we will discuss the acquisition of land for arriving immigrants, the emancipation from slavery of Africans Americans, and Native American Indian removal caused by the Act, as well as its effect on racial discrimination, wealth inequity, and its impacts on rural and urban communities.

Annual Owner Meeting Menu

Egusi Stew with Pounded Yam
The Nigerian Egusi soup, prepared with melon seeds, is popular in West Africa. The soup is thickened with the ground seeds, and is prepared by most tribes in Nigeria in many different ways.

Pounded Yam
Pounded yam is one of the Nigerian fufu recipes. It is eaten with Nigerian soups, dipped into the soup like bread.

Moi
Bean cake made with African honey beans.

Stewed Chicken with Pepper Sauce

Desserts
House-made by Seward Co-op
Triple chocolate cookies
Made-without-gluten peanut butter cookies
Vegan peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
Vegan poppy seed cookies

Fruits, Veggies and Dips
Provided by The Wedge Catering
Fruit and nut trays
Raw veggie trays
Roasted veggie trays
Parmesan and artichoke dip
Roasted red pepper hummus
Spinach dip served with crostini, flat breads, Tuscan bread and crackers
Roasted vegetables

Beverages
Local beer
Wine
Non-alcoholic beverages: organic apple juice, organic milk, Joia soda, LaCroix,
Peace Coffee

* Please note that the annual meeting will be photographed.

Nordic Naturals Pop-up Sales

Nordic Naturals believes omega-3s are ideal nutrients for children of every age. Beginning before birth, and throughout our lives, each of us needs these essential fats, but few of us ever come close to consuming enough. For school-aged children in particular, experts recommend omega-3 DHA to maintain optimal growth and development.

Meet with representatives from Nordic Naturals to see why
“Omega 3s Are For Every Body.”
Enjoy 30% off all Nordic Naturals products during the popup events at our respective stores:

Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Franklin Store
Sunday, Aug. 27 at the Friendship Store

Nordic Naturals fruit-flavored omega-3 products are developed with children’s unique needs—and tastes—in mind. All our omega-3 products come from 100% wild-caught fish, and most of our products formulated for kids are derived exclusively from Arctic cod, a great source of DHA. Fresh, pure, and potent, our omega-3s are always made with the safest and most sustainable non-GMO ingredients, and surpass all major standards for quality.

Participate in the Co-op, Run for the Board

Seward Co-op’s Board of Directors is seeking candidates for the 2017 board election. If you feel strongly about the cooperative business model and want to help shape the future of our co-op, please consider being a candidate. The election will begin in late September, ending at the annual co-op owners meeting on Oct. 23. In order to receive a Board Candidate Application, attendance is required at a board meeting this summer. We welcome all interested co-op owners to attend.

Prior to each of the summer meetings, the board will hold a Candidate Orientation Session beginning at 5:30 p.m. Please arrive early so that the session can begin promptly. The Aug. 29 meeting will be held at the Franklin store. Board meetings officially call to order at 6:15 p.m. Mark your calendars now for Aug. 29 if you think you may be interested in running for the board, and please email board@seward.coop in advance to indicate your intention to attend.

Click here for more information about the board of directors generally. Please email board@seward.coop for further information about the upcoming meetings and this year’s election.

Produce at its Peak

Local produce season will be peaking very soon—when almost everything is available to us, from spring vegetables like herbs and radishes to winter crops such as cured onions and squash. And of course there’s the fruit; we will soon see local peaches, melons, and then apple and pears.

If you look around Seward’s produce departments you will see staff pick signs letting you know which produce staff members are enjoying, and I’d like to take this opportunity to share my favorites! As a produce buyer for over 10 years, I’ve developed relationships with many local farmers and farm groups and I’ve eaten the best they have to offer. Some of my “picks” include:

  • Wheatfield Hill’s sweet corn arrives early and stays around late in the season, consistently delivering sweet and plump kernels.

  • Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA)’s okra and ground cherries—coming soon!—Local okra is the only kind to eat and HAFA’s Indian variety is firm and velvety.

  • Hearbeet Farm’s beets and greens—These beets are pristine and available from June all the way through April. Char, collards, and kale are all perfect staples to have in your diet!

  • Featherstone Farm’s kale and sungold cherry tomatoes—Some of the largest bunches of kale I’ve ever seen are grown at Featherstone. Their sungolds are bright and sugary-sweet every time.

  • Wisconsin Growers Co-op provides the first local watermelon of the season, and they can’t come soon enough! As the season progresses we will see between seven and ten different varieties.

  • Sin Fronteras’ tomatillos—coming soon!—Simply roast and blend into salsa verde for a refreshing summer dip!

  • Partner Farms’ peaches are dynamic, lively, fresh, and juicy. Cinderella Plums are my absolute favorite stone fruit and Seward Co-op will be the only place in town that has them. Don’t delay, once these arrive they won’t last long!

All of the local farms Seward buys from are certified organic, growing organically, or using high level integrated pest management practices. You can be assured that you’re getting the freshest, most nutrient dense, and most cared for local produce available.