March's Member Specials!
February 27 - March 12
iChoc Organic Chocolate Bars (40g) -
Now $0.99 (Reg. $1.89)
Organic, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate made from 100% organically
controlled suppliers. No emulsifiers. Premium chocolate! Awarded a
'gold medal' by the German Agriculture Association. Learn
more >>>
Nuts
to You Nut Butter (250g) -
Now $5.29! (Reg. $6.29)
Two delicious flavours on sale - Almond Hazelnut and Cashew
Butter. Nuts to You is a proudly Canadian company and has been
since 1989. The ingredients are simple: nothing but organic, dried
roasted nuts and organic sunflower oil. Hearty and
flavourful! Learn
more >>>
Guayaki (473ml) - Now
$2.49! (Reg. $2.99)
Raspberry Revolution and Pure Empower Mint Mate - two
refreshing mate drinks made with organic, invigorating and
nutritional ingredients. Learn
more >>>
Happy Planet Organic Health in Tetrapaks (946ml) -
Now $3.29! (Reg. $3.69)
Organic Happy Planet on sale in 3 heavenly fruit combos: apricot peach
paradise, mango guava goodness and pomegranate blueberry bliss!
Wowzers! Learn
more >>>
Soyganic Pressed Tofu (350g) -
Now $2.99! (Reg. $3.49)
This tofu is dense and solid. It contains the least amount of water
than their other tofus. Soyganic products are made with organic
soybeans and grown by farmers in North American who don't use any
pesticides or chemicals on their farms. Learn
more >>>
Soyganic Smoked Tofu (210g) -
Now $2.89! (Reg. $3.39)
Different size, different price than the pressed, this tofu is firm and
meaty with a unique smoky flavour. Soyganic products are made with
organic soybeans and grown by farmers in North American who don't use
any pesticides or chemicals on their farms. Learn
more >>>
L'Ancêtre Mild Cheddar (200g) -
Now $5.59! (Reg. $6.29)
L'Ancêtre was founded by 10 farmers who wanted to return to the
traditional ways of farming. They believed that with traditional
practices, they would be able to produce the best quality milk and,
therefore, offer organic cheeses and butter that were wholesome and
genuine. Learn
more >>>
March 13 - March 26
Nuts to You Nut Butter (500g) -
Now $3.99! (Reg. $4.99)
The creamy and the crunchy peanut butter varieties are on
sale. Nuts to You is a proudly Canadian company and has been
since 1989. The ingredients are simple: nothing but organic, dried
roasted nuts and organic sunflower oil. Hearty and
flavourful!
Learn
more >>>
Vivani
Organic Chocolate Bars (100g) -
Now $4.69! (Reg. $3.69)
Vivani chocolate is made in the way that chocolate was traditionally
made, except with organic ingredients. They use the finest ingredients
to create 'total sensual pleasure,' to ensure responsibility to the
environment and to improve the social conditions of the people in the
countries who supply the ingredients. Nine flavours on sale, prices on
two varieties a wee bit higher! Learn
more >>>
Lundberg Rices (907g) - Five Flavours, Five Prices
Lundberg grows delicious, healthy and gourmet rice. They offer a
variety of Certified Organic and Eco-Farmed rice products, grown and
processed with care for the environment. Learn more >>>
L'Ancêtre Mild Marble Cheddar (200g) - Now
$5.79! (Reg.
$6.49)
L'Ancêtre was founded by 10 farmers who wanted to return to the
traditional
ways of farming. They believed that with traditional
practices, they would be able to produce the best quality milk and,
therefore, offer organic cheeses and butter that were wholesome and
genuine.
Learn more >>>
Knudsen Spritzers (311ml) -
Now $1.09! (Reg. $1.49)
Over 20 years ago, Bill Knudsen made the first fruit juice Spritzers
for his family. He wanted to create a refreshing alternative to sodas
sweetened with refined sugar and corn syrup. Knudsen Spritzers are made
with real fruit juices and sparkling water. Ten different flavours on
sale! Learn
more >>>
Locally Produced Food
Linnaea Farm - squash
Fairhaven Farm - leeks
Nora and Ian Disney - eggs
Filipe Figueira - winter greens
Reef Point Farm - elephant garlic, eggs
Blue Jay Lake Farm - rutabagas, onions, carrots, eggs
Our Bi-Monthly Member Draw!
Our
bi-monthly draw continues! We had 2
winners!
Congratulations
to the Food Bank and
Jenn Nelson!!
They were both winners of
last month's draws for
a $25 gift certificate, a free movie and a
basket of assorted gifts. You could win, too!
Every second Friday, we draw names. If you're a member, write your name
and phone
number on your receipt of over $25 and
put it into the beautiful and colourful box with happy faces
all over it. Thanks Cortes!
Store Happenings
Grow a Row for the Co-op!
Local farmers and gardeners are invited to a potluck brunch
at the
Co-op Café on Sunday, March 10th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
We're seeking
ways to increase the percentage of our fresh food that's locally grown;
we'd like to touch base with our established growers and also invite
more islanders to help supply our store with the healthiest and
freshest food available.
Coffee, tea and a bakery treat are on us:
bring anything else you'd like to share, but especially your
experience, perspective and passion for the good earth and local food!
Bulk Price Drop!
We're dropping prices in the bulk department! We all know that bulk
foods are a great way to save money; you can get just the right amount
for just the right price.
Over the past few months, we have looked for
the best deals from our suppliers, and we are now able to drop prices
on several of our bulk products. In fact, we have lowered the price on
6 of the top 10 sellers in our bulk department. That means more savings
for our members.
Here are the highlights (all of the prices are per pound; all of the
items are organic except the last one; top 10 sellers are marked with
an asterisk):
• White Flour* – down from $2.05 to $1.00
• Wheat Flour – down from $1.95 to $1.00
• Black Turtle Beans* – down from $1.70 to $1.40
• Spelt Flour – down from $3.05 to $2.10
• Quinoa* – down from $4.35 to $3.85
• Sugar – down from $2.30 to $1.30
• Brown Basmati Rice – down from $1.95 to $1.75
• White Basmati Rice* – down from $3.40 to $3.05
• Short Grain Brown Rice* – down from $2.30 to $2.15
• Almonds – down from $9.50 to $7.90
• Sunflower Seeds* – down from $3.80 to $3.25
• Nutritional Yeast – down from $11.50 to $8.90
Our bulk department has a variety of beans, cereals, flours, grains,
pastas, and several other products. So, the next time you're looking
for a good deal in the store, stop by the bulk department and pick up
just what you need.
La Boulange Bread is Back!
We're bringing La Boulange bread back to the Co-op. We are currently
planning a monthly pre-order program for the bread, so you can order
and receive your loaves every month. The La Boulange bakery is excited
to join us again, and we hope you are, too!
This month, we will give the program a trial run, so please work with
us as we figure out the wrinkles. Here's the schedule for the month of
March:
Thursday, March 7th: Pre-order period opens – members can start placing
pre-orders.
Thursday, March 14th: Pre-order period stops – all orders must be in by
then.
Thursday, March 21st: Members can pick up their bread and take it home.
Note that pre-orders must be pre-paid in this case. You will take your
order form to the till and pay for your bread when you order it.
To learn more about the varieties that are available, ingredients and
prices, visit this link.
Call for Donations!
If you have some of the following items either kicking around or stored
away, unused and nearly forgotten, or if you happen to have a
spare, we will joyfully take them off your hands:
- Two office chairs with wheels
- A ladder (6 or 8 foot)
- A drill (corded is fine)
Operation Fee Renewal as of March 1st!
February 28th is the end of our fiscal year. Therefore, beginning March
1st, all members will have to pay their annual operation fee in order
to access the following benefits:
• Pre-Orders: Discounts on
bulk or case quantities
ordered ahead of time.
• Member Specials: We have
great new specials just for members every two weeks.
• Pre-pay accounts: Pay into
your account ahead of time and use that money when you're checking out.
Also remember all the other benefits from shopping at the Co-op like .
. .
• We are community owned.
Businesses need capital, and co‐ops get it
from thousands of small, local investors who believe in what we do.
• We are building a sustainable food
economy.
Nobody works with as many local suppliers or carries as many
organic products on the island as
the Co‐op.
• We keep the money local. A
dollar spent at local
independent businesses & generates at least three times more direct local
economic benefit than one spent at a chain store.
So what is the Operation Fee? According to our Co-op's rules, you can
be a member by purchasing a share (which is $20). This is a one-time
purchase and can be refunded if you decide to give up your membership.
The operation fee, on the other hand, is an annual $20 fee that gives
you access to additional member benefits, and it cannot be refunded.
The annual cycle coincides with the fiscal year, and so payment of the
operations fee is valid through February of each year.
You can pay your $20
Operation Fee any time at the till!
Spring Hours in the Store
We're now opening the store at 9:00 a.m. Note that we have fresh baked
goods and lunch specials in the store everyday (except Monday) along
with coffee and tea.
Store:
Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Bakery & Espresso Bar:
Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Our hours are always posted at the bottom of this newsletter and on our
website.
We've
received many delightful logo submissions. Since we know there
are more designs underway that we wouldn't want to miss, the contest
has been extended until March 15th. That means you
have another 2 weeks to design the Co-op's gorgeous future logo and win
a lot of amazing prizes!
Logo designs can be submitted by email to the marketing
committee or dropped off in the store.
Full guidelines and specifications are at this link.
Café Events This Month
TWO Pizza Nights! Friday, March 8th & Friday, March
22nd
We will offer the following kinds of pizzas:
• Cheese: $12.00 – feta, mozzarella, and
parmesan
• Vegetarian: $15.00 – pesto, caramelized onion,
red
pepper, olives, feta, and mozzarella
• Hawaiian: $15.00 – mozzarella, ham, and pineapple
• Meat: $18.00 – mozzarella, caramelized onions,
mushrooms, ground beef,
and bacon
Call or stop by the Co-op and place your order any time on Thursday or
before 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Then come and pick it up between 6:00 and
7:00 p.m. on Friday night, and take home a hot tasty pizza! We'll
also have drinks and desserts, too.
Call us at 250-935-8577 if you have any questions.
Open Mic Night - Saturday, March
16th 
Another open mic night at the Co-op! This month, the Co-op Bakery
& Espresso Bar will host an open mic on Saturday,
March
16th.
Come at 6:00 p.m. for some food and drink, and the mic opens up
at 7:00 p.m. Food and drinks available throughout the evening.
Bakery & Espresso Bar Rental
The café space in the Co-op Bakery and Espresso Bar is now available
for event rental to Co-op members! We are excited to be able to offer
this space for events such as book clubs, group meetings, classes,
parties, receptions and more. The CNFC Rental Policy is available
at this link. To make a reservation
or scheduling inquiry, please
contact Eric
Hargrave at (250) 935-8577 or email him.
Art in the Café
You may have noticed the photographs, drawings, paintings
and
other
artwork that has been gracing the walls of the Bakery &
Espresso Bar this fall and winter. We are happy to offer another way to
showcase and support our local artisans with a gallery space and would
like to invite others to participate. Our Artist Agreement Policy is
available at this link. To inquire about a
showing, please contact Eric
Hargrave at (250) 935-8577 or email him.
Updates from Your Board & Committees
Spring is almost here! Even with the gusty winds and
pouring rain,
power outages and stormy skies, the feel of spring is in the air. The
crocuses are blooming, and the birds are returning. There is the
welcome sight and smell of new buds sprouting on the trees.
In this
time of new birth and new growth, the Co-op is abuzz with the energy
and enthusiasm of people working together. The Land Committee hosted
Kim Rink, the engineer and architect of the Solar Aquatics System (TM),
for a site visit and predesign study, thanks to funds from the Co-op
Challenge Contest.
The Board was inspired and encouraged by a day-long
training session with Meghan Cursons on Board Governance, helping us to
refine our goals and further develop skills in policy development,
governance and management.
The fiscal year ended on February 28th, so
in the next few months we should have a good idea of how the Co-op
performed financially over the past year. The staff took a successful
inventory count, and it was made much simpler and quicker because of
the POSIM system. With the growing season approaching, we'll be looking
forward to another outdoor Work Bee some time this spring.
As always,
the persistence, dedication and loyal patronage of you, our members and
community, make our Co-op the living, thriving and welcoming place it
is. Thank you for all your efforts on behalf of this vital place on our
beautiful island.
In service,
Theresa Hargrave
The AGM is Coming!
The Cortes Natural Food Co-op's Annual General Meeting is returning to
June, rather than August. We realized that this would be a great time
to update the members of the progress of the past year, and elect next
year's Board of Directors, before the rush of the busy summer season.
More details, date and time to follow soon.
Land Committee Update
On a crisp clear day in January, Kim Rink of EcoTek Solutions joined
members of the land committee and our general manager for a busy day of
discussion, questions, measuring and brainstorming. This was all part
of a pre-design and feasibility study for a solar aquatics wastewater
treatment system.
We determined the size of the system needed to cover
the existing uses as well as accommodating expansion of the café and
future development of the land. The site visit allowed us to scope out
the best location for the greenhouse building for passive solar gain
and for the greenhouse's appropriate size.
We mapped out the possible
food forest and gardens that can be subsurface irrigated with the
reclaimed water. Next we will look at the components and budget for
such a project so we have an accurate comparison to a conventional
system.
Thank you to David Rousseau for hosting Kim Rink and to Derek
Mack-Mumford, Eli McKenty, Richard Andrews, Maria McKenty, and Eric
Hargrave for your time, attention and creative input. To read the
predesign study click here.
A Little Reminder:
We appreciate your feedback! We have several venues with which members
can let us know what they think about how things are going at the Co-op
and what we can do to make it better (Board and Staff emails and the
Suggestion Box in the store).
Coreen is the editor for the monthly e-news, and does a great job of
quickly passing along comments to the
Board and Staff. If you have specific questions regarding the Co-op
these should be addressed to
the Board directly or to Theresa,
the board's member liaison.
Local Business Profile: Reef Point Farm
Fresh-farm eggs
from our own backyard were pretty high on our list of must-haves when
we moved to Reef Point Farm. So we read up on how to raise laying hens
and with lots of help and advice from David's parents, Bruce and Ginnie
Ellingsen, and from Marc's parents, our egg enterprise became a reality
eight months ago when we picked up 99 laying pullets!
The hens free
range from dawn to dusk, seem very happy and have been laying a whole
bunch of eggs, which we deliver to the Co-op twice a week. A sincere
thanks to the people of Cortes for buying Reef Point Farm eggs and for
supporting local producers and vendors.
With a little luck and a whole lot of chicken manure, our plan this
year is to continue to supply the Co-op and the community with fresh
produce including kale, tomatoes, beets and—if things go well—a couple
of other delicious things from our garden.
In closing, we'd like to thank all the staff at the Co-op who are
amazing to work with. Thanks for all you do to provide our community
with good food.
Photos by David Ellingsen
Recipes for Locavores
Roasted Potatoes with Feta Dressing & Arugula
Serves 4
If you grow food the way we do, you probably still have enough potatoes
in storage to feed a small country. Nevermind. We're ecstatic when we
see this winter's been mild enough to allow last fall's arugula seeds
to germinated and we're already harvesting baby leaves! And so this
recipe was born.
Potatoes
4 large potatoes (we use red skin, but anything will
do), cut in 1" pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & Pepper
Dressing
6oz sheep's feta
⅓ cup water
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp red wine or cider vinegar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 large cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dijon mustard
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
Onions
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper
8 cups arugula
Preheat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss
potatoes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for about
35 minutes until soft and golden.
While potatoes are baking, prepare the dressing. Combine all
ingredients in a blender until smooth. Set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions with
salt and pepper until soft and golden brown.
Combine warm potatoes and onions in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss
to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange arugula on a large
platter and top with dressed potatoes. Serve warm.
Pre-sales of our upcoming Hollyhock Cooks Garden to Table (with over
200 spankin’ new recipes) are underway! See here for more details and contact
us for local pick-up.
Cook's Cooperative is Moreka Jolar and Heidi Scheifley on
Quadra Island. Watch for us on the cover of the next BC Bookworld
newspaper.
DVDs at the Co-op
Everybody
loves movie nights, so please return your
movies on time.
Our fellow Co-op members are 
waiting
for them, especially the new releases. You owe $1.00 per day per DVD
for every late day. If you are not sure, ask the staff to check whether
it's overdue.
Several interesting new films will be released on DVD later in March,
including some of the Oscar winners and nominees. Watch for updates on
the Tideline as they arrive. The following films are already here:
Argo: Political thriller about the
Iranian hostage crisis of 1979. Winner of the 2013 Academy Award for
Best Film.
Official trailer > > >
The Sessions:
Another film based on a true story: Mark O'brian was a disabled writer
confined to an iron lung, a 38-year old virgin who hired a therapist, a
sex surrogate, to help him explore his sexuality. Candid, sensitive and
funny — this is Irene's Pick of the Month. Starring John Hawkes, Helen
Hunt (Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress) and William Macy. Official trailer > > >
The Imposter: Documentary about a 13-year
old boy who disappeared in Texas and resurfaced 3 years later in Spain.
But is it really the same kid? His parents think so. A
mesmerizing con-artist comedy and a chilling true crime thriller. Official trailer > > >
Arbitrage: Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon star in
this tale of the unraveling of the professional and personal life of a
very successful New York hedge fund manager.
Official trailer > > >
Hungry for Change: Exposée of shocking
secrets that the diet, weight loss and processed food industry don't
want you to know, plus inspiring info about making healthy choices.
This documentary will make you appreciate our Natural Food Coop even
more!
Official trailer > > >
Surf's Up: For the kids, a computer-animated sports
mockumentary about penguin surfing contests.
Official trailer > > >
Open Season: Another animated family flick. A
domesticated grizzly bear with no survival skills has his world turned
upside down when he meets a scrawny, fast-talking mule deer.
Official trailer > > >
2013 Academy Award Nominees Already Available at the Coop:
Beasts of the Southern Wild: Nominated for Best
Film, Best Actress, Best Director
Brave: Winner Best Animated Feature Film
ParaNorman: Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film
Moonrise Kingdom: Nominated for Best Original
Screenplay
Hot Links: Feed Your Mind!
Not quite the same as "hot cakes" and with less
syrup, here
are links that are
suggested by members each
month.
If you find articles about co-ops, food politics & food
security, local food & economies, etc., please share and email them
in.
Bhutan bets organic agriculture is the road to happiness
Eliza Barclay, The Salt
Most of the 700,000 people in Bhutan are farmers. They have a chance at
international fame if they stick to a recent pledge to become the first
country to be 100% organic.
Learn
more >>>
Can
GMO fail: Monsanto foiled by feds, Supreme Court, and science
Tom Laskawy, Grist
Plenty of Monsanto news in here including how academia discovered that
all but one GMO seed actually producer a lower yield than their natural
counterpart! Learn more >>>
Sea Shepherd clashes with Japanese whaling boat
Associated Press, CBC News
Another dangerous confrontation in international waters where Japan can
get away with whaling under the guise of "research." Sea Shephered
continues to take on the role of enforcers where no international body
will. Learn more >>>
Stick a fork in it: The American meat industry is ripe for a
restart
Leslie Chang, Grist
This is a bit of an article and an in-depth sound clip that talks to
alternative farmers of grass-fed, organic, free-range animals and
traditional farmers.
Learn more >>>
