On May 14, Seward Community Co-op announced a volunteer recall of Frontier’s bulk Sassafras Root Bark, Chipotle Pepper Powder and Coarse Sea Salt due to incorrectly being labeled as organic on the bulk jar labels. Seward Community Co-op does not currently have affected product on the shelf but could have sold affected product Oct. 12, 2017—May 14, 2018.

Sassafras Root Bark, $64.99/lb.
PLU: 2091
UPC: 8983600652

Chipotle Pepper Powder, $24.99/lb.
PLU: 2627
UPC: 8983602627

Coarse Sea Salt, $2.49/lb.
PLU: 2898
UPC: 8983600333

If you purchased this product at Seward Community Co-op Oct. 12, 2017—May 14, 2018, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

The Domestic Fair Trade Association, in partnership with the Center for Fair and Alternative Trade at Colorado State University, released on May 11 a compilation of all the research that’s ever been done about domestic fair trade, just in time for World Fair Trade Day on May 12. Seward Community Co-op is a founding member of the DFTA.

“A Report on Market and Supply Chain: Research on Domestic Fair Trade” is the first report of its kind and displays a comprehensive overview of research regarding consumer market patterns and awareness of domestic fair trade messaging. Information about consumer preferences from this newly compiled research brings valuable insight for farmworkers, farmers, food co-ops and nongovernmental organizations committed to ecological sustainability and social justice.

The study shows 80 percent of co-op shoppers said they are interested in learning more about domestic fair trade and that food co-ops are the ideal venue for educating customers. U.S. consumers now consider social justice issues equally as important as environmental concerns.

Release of this report is in celebration of World Fair Trade Day, an inclusive worldwide festival of events hosted by the World Fair Trade Organization, celebrating fair trade’s contribution to sustainable development, economic empowerment of small producers, gender equality in workplaces and responsible production practices.

Click here to read the report.

On May 12, we celebrated World Fair Trade Day and the hard work, resilience, and innovation of small-scale farmers and artisans. And this May, Fair World Project is partnering with brands committed to working with farmers to offer deals on their fair trade products, along with offering more opportunities to get involved.

The basics of fair trade: Fair prices paid directly to farmer organizations, with premiums for organic production and community development. The fair trade movement is also supporting small-scale farmers as they tackle climate change.

From coffee to cacao, from mint fields in India to shea nut trees in Togo, small-scale farmers are combining traditional regenerative organic farming practices with new innovations. They are the kind of food and farming systems that we need to build resilience and tackle climate change.

The Eating Wild class on May 17 was canceled due to a family emergency. Participants already registered are being notified and will receive a refund.

Know Our Grower samplings scheduled for that afternoon at each of our stores were also canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Were you really looking forward to learning more about wild foods, such as ramps, nettles and watercress? Click here for some information and a great recipe for all of you foragers out there.

Seward Co-op’s 17th Annual Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Fair was held Saturday, April 21, at a new location—the Creamery Café! We lucked out with weather and it was once again a huge success, both for farmers and attendees—what a difference a week can make weather-wise. For the fourth year in a row, it was a sunny, temperate spring day for the event, which showcased more than 30 area CSA farms.

We added new activities and programmatic elements to the fair this year. Midwest Food Connection taught children how to plant seedlings by leading them through the process. Community organizers, focused on the sustainable food movement presented informative Farmer Talks. Hmong American Farmers Association (HAFA) shared the history of how Hmong people came to the United States, and talked about the HAFA programs focused on providing immigrants with land access. Michael Cheney, of Project Sweetie Pie shared Farm Bill updates and encouraged community members to become more active and engaged in local politics. Reginaldo Haslett-Marroquin, shared his thinking around regenerative agriculture and how Main Street Project’s poultry CSA is making it a little easier for Latinos to become small-scale farmers. In case you missed the event, Facebook Live video footage is posted to our Seward Co-op Facebook page.

Inside, Creamery Café staff served up tasty brunch and lunch fare, and offered specials on taquitos and local beer from fellow co-op, Fair State. Thank you to all who were able to attend! It was a wonderful fair, which brought together neighbors and farmers, on a gorgeous spring day. Here’s to a bountiful growing season!Thank you to all who were able to attend! It was a wonderful event, which brought together neighbors and farmers, on a gorgeous spring day.

For folks still interested in exploring CSAs, both Franklin and Friendship stores are drop sites for a variety of local CSAs. Check out the weekly schedule below:

The Land Stewardship Project’s directory, is a great resource as well, posted on Seward Co-op’s website.

On April 17, Traditional Medicinals announced a voluntary recall of its Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea Tea. An ingredient within this product tested positive for Salmonella in the samples retained by the supplier. Salmonella was not detected in Traditional Medicinals testing of this lot or in this product. However, out of an abundance of caution, they are recalling this product. No illnesses have been reported to date. Seward Co-op does not currently have affected product on the shelf, but could have sold affected product between Jan. 30—April 17, 2018.

Traditional Medicinals
Throat Coat Lemon Echinacea Tea
UPC: 3291700159
Lot Number: 19482

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op between Jan. 30—April 17, 2018, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

Seward Co-op’s annual Know Our Grower program hosts local farmers who supply our stores and kitchen with produce grown using sustainable practices, soil restoration, organic pest control methods, and more. In addition to those farms growing during temperate months, we also work with growers that push the limits of our northern growing season by using hydroponic systems and greenhouses. Visit our Classes and Events calendar often this summer to read about our featured Know Our Grower producers. We’ll have lots of opportunities to meet farmers in the stores, sample unique and delicious recipes using their produce, and get great sale prices on selected items.

The first farm we’re featuring is Keewaydin Farms out of Viola, Wisconsin. Rufus Haucke from Keewaydin will be sampling on Thursday, May 17 at the Franklin store from noon-2 p.m. and at the Friendship store from 3-5 p.m. Check out the Eating Wild class Rufus is hosting that evening from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Friendship classroom.

About Keewaydin Farms

At the end of Haucke Lane in southwestern Wisconsin, you’ll find Keewaydin Farms, home to 15 acres of organically certified market garden produce, maple sugaring operations, a 40-cow dairy, grass-fed chickens, and a herd of swine. Founded in 1976 by Richard and Mary Haucke, Keewaydin Farms is second-generation owned and operated by Richard and Mary’s children, Jacob, Rufus and Jessica Haucke. In 2008, Keewaydin Farms began reaching out to neighboring certified organic farms. Jason and Jennelle Thimmesch grow Swiss chard, parsley, and cilantro on Thimmesch Farm. EZ Farming is a collaboration between Brian Wickert and his sons Zach and Ethen, who grow summer squash, beets, shallots, cabbage and winter squash. Tilth Farm grows around 20 acres of certified organic asparagus. Keewaydin Farms is honored to work with neighbors to provide fresh organic produce to stores like Seward Co-op. They believe farming is about community, that cooperation and sharing of markets makes us all stronger in the long run.