Ask any of the pioneers of the Twin Cities cooperative movement if they recognize the name Annie Young, and chances are they’ll say yes.

In 1981, after helping start the Wiscoy Valley Land Cooperative, Young hitchhiked with her infant son across southwestern Minnesota to attend gatherings of food co-op activists. Eventually she moved to Minneapolis to accept a job as membership coordinator for Seward Co-op. Like many other co-ops in the Twin Cities at the time, Seward was in rough financial shape. “In the 1980s, as the [cooperative] movement grew and hippies started getting married, having children, or going back to school, the lifestyle changed. That lifestyle shift changed how the co-ops functioned. Everyone couldn’t work on free love at that point,” Young recounted. She brought order to the membership-development program and established Seward Co-op’s membership-numbering system that’s still in place today.

Young left Seward Co-op in 1984 to become the executive director of the All-Co-op Assembly. In that role, she conducted education, training, and outreach for co-ops in the upper Midwest. This was a difficult time for the co-op movement, and many stores, especially those in smaller, rural towns, shut down.

Eventually, Young returned to Seward Co-op and was elected to its board of directors, while also serving as an election official with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation board. She relished helping to organize the twenty-five year All-Co-op Reunion celebration that took place during the summer of 1997.

Young was also a driving force behind the recent initiative to open Wirth Cooperative Grocery in the Harrison neighborhood of Minneapolis. Once Wirth Co-op came to fruition, Young succeeded in bridging two of her passions: improving the community life of urban residents and making whole, healthy food available to those who need it.

Annie Young will be remembered at Seward as a witty, sharp cooperator who was fun to interact with. Her confidence and well-intended, slight mischievousness are points of inspiration for others. Rest in peace, Annie.

On Jan. 16, we kept the cold outside to share warmth and good food at the Creamery Café’s third Farm Table dinner, with Southside Community Health Services. Chef de Cuisine Matt Kappra provided a mostly vegan, multi-course meal to celebrate our partnership with Southside, the co-op’s SEED recipient this month. Crisp and refreshing beverage pairings featured locally-made kombucha from Feral Beverage Co.

Seasonal fruits, vegetables, and fungi were abundant in a spinach citrus salad, hearty kale and bean soup, and slow roasted mushroom “ragu”. Though other Farm Table dinners have featured meat protein, this choice of ingredients was specifically inspired by Southside’s work as a community clinic that regards food as medicine. In support of that philosophy, Southside Community Health Services offers a “prescription CSA” program”, as well as cooking classes. Their work serves patients who cannot afford good food or who may struggle with the costs of medication. Viable community partnerships, like the one with Seward Co-op, expands what Southside can do as a community clinic.

Seward Co-op Creamery Café may be a stop on your way to work or a go-to brunch 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 and share experiences with those who are committed to expanding access to nutritious food. Stay tuned for future opportunities to engage with other community partners, as well as with local farmers and producers, at the café.

On Dec. 20, Bearded Brothers announced a voluntary recall of Bearded Brothers bars due to mold found on random bars. Consumption of this product may (but likely will not) cause sickness. The mold is visible to the eye. Seward Co-op does not currently have affected product on the shelf, but may have sold it between Sept. 21–Dec. 20, 2017.

Colossal Coconut Mango—1.52 oz, $2.99 with the following lot code and best by date.
UPC: 85403000508

Lot Code Best By Date
BCM02272017 EXP 02272018
BCM03022017 EXP 03022018
BCM03032017 EXP 03032018
BCM03062017 EXP 03062018
BCM03142017 EXP 03142018
BCM04042017 EXP 04042018
BCM04122017 EXP 04122018
BCM04152017 EXP 04152018

Mega Maca Chocolate—1.52 oz, $2.99 with the following lot code and best by date.
UPC: 85403000506

Lot Code Best By Date
BMC03052017 EXP 03052018
BMC03062017 EXP 03062018
BMC03282017 EXP 03282018
BMC03302017 EXP 03302018
BMC04052017 EXP 04052018
BMC04272017 EXP 04272018

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op between Sept. 21–Dec. 20, 2017, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

On Oct. 9, General Mills announced a voluntary recall involving Cascadian Farm Organic Cinnamon Raisin Granola. General Mills is recalling two days-worth of product due to the presence of an undeclared nut allergen, almonds.

Cascadian Farm—Organic Cinnamon Raisin Granola ($5.28 regular price/on sale through Co+op Deals for $3.00)
UPC: 000-21908-74329-5 (package); 100-21908-74329-2 (case)
Recalled Better if Used by Dates: 20MAR2018, 21MAR2018

If you purchased this product at Seward Co-op within the past 90 days, it will be fully refunded at either our Franklin or Friendship store Customer Service desk.

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.