Remember Joe and Bonnie of Hill & Vale? For many years, they supplied Seward Co-op with 100-percent pastured-raised, whole carcass beef. In 2015 they retired from farming and we bid them a bittersweet farewell. Paul Smith, his son Jared Smith, and a neighboring farmer Aaron Anderson took the torch and continued on the path paved by Joe and Bonnie under a new name “Blooming Prairie Natural Beef.”

Blooming Prairie has grown with Seward Co-op as we’ve expanded into the Bryant Neighborhood with the Friendship store, which is something Hill & Vale were concerned about being able to achieve. We are happy that we can continue working with a small beef producer instead of needing to rely on a much larger beef operation to meet our increased demand. Thank you Seward Co-op shoppers for supporting this growing, family business in our local community.

This week, we will retire Blooming Prairie’s grass-fed, grain-finished beef and replace it with their 100% grass-fed beef—at the same great price. The animals will continue to be hand-selected when ready, delivered to us every week, fresh from the farmer. The only difference is that the livestock is grass fed from start to finish. If you’re not used to 100-percent grass-fed beef, it is slightly leaner than its grain-finished counterpart, so be sure to cook it lower and slower so it doesn’t dry out.

All of the beef we receive from Blooming Prairie Natural Beef is whole carcass and cut fresh in house. The product available in the case comes from the same steer, ordered directly from the farmer and prepared for you by our highly-skilled butchers. Blooming Prairie brings a lot of passion and care to their work. Their single-origin calves are raised on their mother’s milk until they are old enough to be weaned, then graze on their own in the pasture, where they are well taken care of and live a good life. Farmer Paul Smith says, “If you’re looking for beef with great flavor, texture, and no additives—this is it—Blooming Prairie is the only beef I feed my family.”

On July 6, Clif Bar & Company issued a voluntary recall of their chocolate mint bars due to possible presence of undeclared peanuts and some tree nuts, including almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts and coconuts. Clif Bar & Company is taking this precautionary safety step for people who are allergic to peanuts and these listed tree nuts. People with an allergy to peanuts and these specific tree nuts run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction. The company is strongly advising consumers who have peanut and these specific tree nut allergies not to consume these bars. Individuals who are not allergic to peanuts or these specific tree nuts may safely consume the products.

CLIF BUILDER’S Chocolate Mint $2.49
UPC: 0072225260144
SIZE: 2.4 OZ

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op from April 2016 onward, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

On June 19, EPIC Provisions announced a voluntary recall involving all production dates and flavors of EPIC Animal Oil products. This recall is being issued because of a production issue that has the potential to cause a food safety risk. Consumers are advised to destroy any products in their possession that are included in this recall. These products are carried at both stores and have been removed from the shelves and destroyed. Affected products were sold from December 2016 through the present at both stores. All lot codes and best by dates are potentially impacted by this recall.

EPIC Cage-Free Traditional Duck Fat $9.99
UPC: 85466000602

EPIC Pastured Pork Lard/Fat $9.99
UPC: 85466000601

EPIC Grass Fed Beef Tallow $9.99
UPC: 8546000600

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op between December 2016 onward, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

We are excited for the annual Eat Local Co-op Farm Tour coming up on Saturday, July 15 in partnership with Twin Cities area co-ops.

The Eat Local Co-op Farm Tour was created to showcase local farmers that bring local food to our tables. Each year, the tour highlights Minnesota farms, allowing the general public to meet directly with local producers to learn more about our food system and the importance of eating local.

“We’re proud to be a sponsor of the Eat Local Co-op Farm Tour,” says Tom Vogel, Marketing Manager for Seward Co-op. “We aim to sustain a healthy community, and part of that includes connecting our customers to the farmers that produce the food that they eat.”

Additional sponsors of the event include Lakewinds Food Co-op, Wedge Community Co-op and others. The event takes place on Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to the public. Visitors are encouraged to map out their self-guided routes. You can see a map of the farms here.

To see a list of participating farms, visit seward.coop/news/calendar or the Eat Local Co-op Farm Tour Facebook page.

Join us at the Seward Co-op Creamery Café for a dinner event with special guest, Eric Kreidermacher of Pork & Plants Heritage Farm in Altura, MN. Along with their beautiful produce, we’ll feature the farm’s heritage-breed Red Wattle pork in several different preparations. Beverage pairings from Fair State Brewing Cooperative and Sweetland Orchard are available for an extra $15. Tickets are limited; reserve your seat at the “Farm Table” right away!

Three-course dinner: $40
Drink pairing: $15

Pork & Plants Heritage Farm in Altura, MN provides us with Red Wattle, a distinctive heritage breed. The Red Wattle pig is a domestic breed originating in the United States and is named for its red color and distinctive wattles, or tassels. These pigs are not fed any soy; instead they are fed high-protein corn and peas. This method of feeding allows them to develop a unique and delicious creamy fat. All of the feed that they eat is grown organically on the same farm. Although the farm is not certified organic, Pork & Plants’ farming standards are so high that it stands out among other producers.

On June 15, GoMacro issued a recall of a limited number of MacroBars and Thrive Bars due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections amongst young children, the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women. At this time, no illnesses have been reported due to this recall and no affected product was found on shelves at either store. However, between March 15 and June 15, 2017 Seward Co-op may have sold product affected by the recall.

Thrive Bars—Chocolate, Nut and Sea Salt $1.99
1.4 OZ (40g)
UPC: 853555006504
Lot Codes: 3569, 3576
Best By Dates: 2/6/2018, 2/9/2018

Thrive Bar –Caramel Coconut Caramel Coconut $2.19
size: 1.4 OZ (40g)
UPC: 853555006528,
LOT Codes: 3568
Best By Date: 2/6/2018

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op between March 15 and June 15, 2017, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

Our annual Know Our Grower series continues as our growing season thrives. Know Our Grower is an opportunity to connect shoppers with the talented group of local farmers producing our food and sample recipes that allow their flavors to shine. Visit the Seward Co-op website often this summer to read about our featured Know Our Grower producers and get more information.

Spark-Y serves its mission of youth empowerment through three branches: school programs, an annual internship, and an urban agriculture lab. Collectively, these branches serve over 1,000 youth annually. Spark-Y imparts concepts of sustainability and entrepreneurship through hands-on projects such as aquaponics, vermicomposting, greenhouse farming, mushroom cultivation, and more.

Stop by the Friendship store Sunday, June 25 from noon-3 p.m. to chat with folks from Spark-Y Youth Farm and to sample their microgreens, spinach, and sorrel.