Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op

Fresh the movie showing today at noon

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 17 May 2011 14:36:00 +0000

If you haven't seen it yet, there's a showing of Fresh @ First Lutheran Church, 619 Broadway, Fargo. Today, May 17th, at Noon!

FRESH the movie |

www.freshthemovie.com

FRESH is a documentary featuring Michael Pollan, Will Allen and Joel Salatin which celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system

Reduce Your Exposure to BPA in 7 Simple Steps

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:15:00 +0000

From http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a hormone-disrupting chemical that lurks in food can linings, plastic food and beverage containers, and a slate of other consumer products. It has been linked with serious effects on human health, from recurrent miscarriages in women and neurological changes in children to erectile dysfunction and hormonal changes in men. Chemical industry lobbying has kept regulators from banning the use of BPA, but there is good news. A 2010 study found that BPA levels in five families dropped dramatically (by 60% on average) after just three days of not eating canned goods and food in plastic packaging. Read more for 7 steps on reducing BPA exposure.

A New Food Manifesto

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:49:00 +0000

From Ode Magazine

Food isn’t just something we need to shovel down our gullets each day to survive. It’s far more potent: the means, more than any other, by which we humans shape our planet and ourselves.

From 100-mile diets to vertical farming, from green markets to organics, from obesity to genetically modified organisms, food is always in the news. The issues are political, social, emotional, psychological, ecological and economic. Take the current popularity of urban farming, for example. A renewed interest in what and how we eat combined with the aftershocks of the Great Recession have inspired city dwellers to cultivate whatever little plots of land they might have. The last time people were this keen on growing their own vegetables was during World War II. So what’s going on? Read More

Is Walmart’s Version of Sustainable Agriculture Really Sustainable?

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:17:00 +0000

In case you missed it, the Walmart Corporation announced that they intend to make a major investment in sustainable agriculture. Most of the blogs, Facebook posts and Tweets seem to be pretty excited! Please forgive me if I reserve judgment and explore this news a bit before I celebrate.

Perhaps its fortuitous that I’ve finished a 7-part series on sustainable food and farming here on World.edu, just in time to use these ideas to help us explore the question “is Walmart’s version of sustainable agriculture really sustainable?” Read More

Kitchen Literacy

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 04:13:00 +0000

A conversation with author, Ann Vileisis about her new book Kitchen Literacy; what we know about our food, and how we came to know it. For Ann, Kitchen Literacy came about because she was struck by how much she didn’t know about the common foods she encountered in the supermarket. In conducting her research, she was surprised to learn how much people in pre-industrial times knew about their food. It was common then to know the sex and age of an animal, the farm it came from, and even the animal’s background before purchasing the meat. Read More

Mini Farmers Markets Thrive in Low-Income Minneapolis Neighborhoods

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 04:05:00 +0000

Tim Page has broken up concrete, chased away woodchucks, and battled an overflowing sewer with one purpose in mind -- to create a farmers market to bring fresh produce to north Minneapolis residents. Read More

Is Local on Your Grocery Receipt?

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 03:44:00 +0000

It may be if you're buying from a co-op.

Seward Co-op in Minneapolis made a big announcement this fall announcing P6. It's Seward's way of letting customers know how much of what they buy is local or grown or made by a small producer or produced by a nonprofit cooperative business.

If a product meets two out of three criteria, it's designated P6, with stickers or signs. And the receipt will say what percentage of purchases fall in the P6 category. Read More

Joel Salatin Speaking in Fergus Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:07:00 +0000

To some, he may be recognizable from movies "Food, Inc" and "Fresh" in which his organic, ecologically friendly, sustainable farm in Virginia is featured. As an example, Salatin will not send food anywhere beyond a 4-hour drive, outside what he feels to believe is his food-shed. Salatin will primarily be speaking on local food systems.

Thursday, March 3rd

Keynote address 6:30 pm

Legacy Hall, M State-Fergus Falls

Also two sessions earlier in the afternoon
Click Flyer to Enlarge

Food Safety Bill Passes with Exemption for Small Farms

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:40:00 +0000

The Food Safety Modernization Act passed by the U.S. House Tuesday strengthens government oversight of food processing facilities and farms, but a controversial part of the bill exempts small farms from most safety oversight.

The exemption means the farmers who sell at farmers markets or to restaurants and sell less than $500,000 a year do not have to adhere to the same new safety regulations as larger farmers under the new food safety bill. Read More

ND Growers Stock Food Pantry Shelves

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 03:31:00 +0000

More than 361,559 pounds of fresh produce made its way to food pantry shelves across the state, thanks to the work and dedication of gardeners and growers in the first year of the Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Program.

The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) asked gardeners and growers to pledge a portion of their harvest to those with less access to fresh vegetables and fruits. In cities like Bismarck and Fargo, whole gardens or parts of community gardens were designated for growing food for food pantries, homeless shelters and other programs. Read More

Dakota Discussion: America By Food

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:06:00 +0000

The "Dakota Discussions: America by Food' series is being hosted by the Bismarck Public Library this spring.

Discussions will be facilitated by Jay Basquiat, professor at Bismarck State College, founder of a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program using his sustainably-operated farm and board member of the NDHC.

Explore the history and future of our food. Three texts offer insight and thought-provoking questions about food and our culture.

Three sessions will discuss The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, February 24th; Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver, March 24th; and Westhope: Life as a Former Farmboy by Dean Hulse, April 28th.

See more details and RSVP on Going Local North Dakota

What is Sustainable Food?

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 03:19:00 +0000

A film made by Manchester's Kindling Trust, which explains the various elements we need to consider in building a sustainable food system. The ideas were developed by a group of over 50 organizations working on sustainable food issues in Greater Manchester, UK.

What is Sustainable Food? from Kindling on Vimeo.

Co-ops Make the World a Better Place

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 03:16:00 +0000

Cooperatives are born out of community need. They are founded on the ideals of social responsibility and self-help. For that reason, it seems most fitting that the seventh of the cooperative principles is “concern for community.” Members of the National Cooperative Business Association—and cooperatives around the world—subscribe to all seven cooperative principles. Read More from the USDA

Seed Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 04:23:00 +0000

Student leaders of the BSCI (Building Sustainable Communities Initiative) at Concordia College are holding a seed sale to raise funds to support the organic campus garden. This fundraiser is made possible by Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving biodiversity and heirloom seeds for the home garden. http://www.seedsavers.org/

The seed sale will take place from 10:00-6:30pm, February 7-9th in the Knutson Campus Center Atrium. Seeds are sold in packets of four and because they are open-pollinated heirlooms, can be saved from year to year.

For additional information contact Gretchen Harvey at harvey@cord.edu

Food Co-op Update

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:40:00 +0000

By Dan Nygard
Contributing Writer to High Plains Reader

“At each stage of the game there’s so much to be done that it doesn’t feel far away. It’s getting closer and closer.” –Leah Wright

It’s easy to get caught up in the blizzard of holiday activities, racing from one event to the next so quickly that you forget to slow down and reflect on what has been accomplished in the previous year. However, I recently had a chance to sit down with volunteers Reba Mathern-Jacobson, Leah Wright and Stephanie Christeson to discuss the past year in the life of the Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op. In observing the co-op’s journey from idea to reality, how appropriate it is that accomplishing its initial goals have lead the group into 2011.

To begin, the co-op has accomplished one of its chief goals: it is currently working with CDS Consulting Co-op to conduct a feasibility study to assess potential sales, find a suitable storefront location and estimate a 10-year operating budget. This is the next step in accomplishing the co-op’s stated mission of “connecting consumers and producers in a nourishing, responsible and community-minded market.”

“[CDS is] the premiere people that deal with food co-ops across the country,” said Mathern-Jacobsen, who heads the finance committee.

This study will enable the co-op to honestly assess the business climate in the area and to make sound decisions while minimizing risk.

“This is a community project and we want to move forward in a way in which people can feel confident,” said Christeson, who chairs the membership committee.

The results of the feasibility study were made available in January. Accomplishing this goal leads to the next: incorporation as a legal entity (which is planned for this February) and the beginning of a membership drive. A food co-operative is driven by the concept of member-ownership.

“Every member has equal standing,” said Wright, who heads the communication committee. “You invest the same amount of money, and you have one vote in what happens within the co-op. It’s an egalitarian system.”

The co-op adheres to the International Co-operative Alliance Principles, which provide a foundation for an open, democratic organization that treats individuals and the entire community with respect.

At this time last year, the first co-op meeting had not been held. Now on the verge of a new phase of the overall mission, there is a real sense of accomplishment.

“Our timeline is based in reality, but it is ambitious,” Christeson said. “There are co-ops that have worked for eight years to open, and we’re on a three-year schedule, which we know is possible based on the research we have done.”

Despite the speed at which the process is moving, there is a strong sense of deliberation at each step of the process.

“We’re doing it thoughtfully, carefully,” Wright said, noting, “it takes a lot of hours to do something like this.”

Despite the hard work involved, the group is focused, well organized and driven.

“This will be a convenient place to shop,” Mathern-Jacobsen said, “where people will feel good about buying food they know is healthy for themselves, for the people that grew it, and for the land that it came from.”

There is more to the co-op than the storefront, Wright said.

“A major piece of a co-op is education, helping people learn things they wouldn’t have necessarily thought about before,” she said.

As they go through the new year, especially once they are incorporated and seeking members, the Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op will also be seeking volunteers. And as this project continues to progress from idea to reality, now is the time to get on board. Ultimately, as Christeson explains, the co-op is “a group of people working together, pooling resources, learning from each other and having fun.”

Make Mine a Co-op

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 03:12:00 +0000

Joining a cooperative is one small step toward bringing locally sourced and organic groceries to your community - and one giant step toward food activism. Read More

Help Us Get Closer to having a Food Co-op in the Fargo-Moorhead Area!

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:39:00 +0000

Looking for something to do to pass these cold....blustery....snowy months? We've got plenty to do and if you want a food co-op, we need your help! Specifically, we're looking for help with Event Planning--we have a membership drive coming up! We want to have a ton of fun and generate lots of excitement about good, wholesome, delicious food!

Also looking for Social Media Champion, PR Development, Writers for various media outlets, and Researchers for various small topics (not terribly daunting--we'd provide you with a topic, you choose whether or not to accept the request and report back at an agreed upon time).

Find more information at our Get Involved page. Please contact us if you'd like to help. If you don't see something that suits you, but would like to lend your talents, please let us know.

Why Buy Local?

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 01:43:00 +0000

Heard any of this?

Buy Local

Circulate Your Dollars Locally

Support the Local Business

Invest In Your Valley

Of course you have. I used to think it was just a way to support your neighbor and her business rather than giving it to a big box store and not knowing what's happened to it. It's more than that.
A local business is likely to spend 45 cents of every dollar locally, where as a corporate chain will spend only 15 cents locally. When money continues to be spent locally, this creates a multiplier effect; that dollar becomes $1.81

This may not sound like much on the small scale so let's look at it just a bit bigger. If Jack spends his money locally, it likely will remain local much longer than if he were to spend it at a big box store. For example, overtime Jack spends $5000 at the Food Co-op, the Co-op buys $2250 worth of vegetables from John, John pays $1012 to Jane for her accounting services, Jane buys a wedding dress from a local retailer for $455, retailer buys dresses from seamstress for $205, and the seamstress buys $92 worth of groceries at the Co-op. Now, let this not be a lesson in mark-up. This example doesn't necessarily mean that the retailer has a mark-up over 200%; rather, each time money is spent a local business, that business will spend about 45% of their money locally.

Every dollar that's re-spent locally is equal to a new dollar that comes into the community from abroad. So, we'll take our original $5000 and add the 45% that continued to be re-spent locally at each business.

5000 + 2250 + 1012 + 455 + 205 + 92 + 62 (total of all other rounds)= $9076

So, $5000, when spent locally, becomes $4076 extra to the community that normally would have to be brought in somehow.

Now, consider that Jack spends his $5000 at a big box store. About 85% of this will leave town, leaving only $750 spent locally.

Anytime money leaves town, someone needs to figure out how to get it back. Why not just keep it local? If nothing else, at least you know who the money's going to.

Very Important! Volunteer Secretary Needed!

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 03:03:00 +0000

If you want a food co-op, we need someone to fill this request!!

It has been very valuable to have a recorder at the Coordinating Committee meetings to allow other volunteers to make forward progress on the tasks at hand. Our current recorder has other endeavors on the horizon and time is running out! Please respond today if interested!

A volunteer secretary has the following responsibilities.

1. Attends Coordinating Committee meetings (1st and 3rd Thursdays, 6:30-7:45 PM)

2. Maintains records of the Coordinating Committee and ensures effective management of organization's records

3. Takes minutes and ensures minutes are distributed to members within 48 hours after each meeting

4. Distributes the agenda and supplemental reports the Wednesday prior to CC meetings, upon input from Coordinating Committee members.

This role requires attention to detail, ability to make accurate records, timeliness, and good nature. Time commitment is approximately 10-15 hours per month.

If interested, please email us with "Volunteer Secretary, Coordinating" in the subject line. Pass it along if you know someone who may be interested!

Sustainable Farming in Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 03:55:00 +0000

Looking for a movie to watch this weekend? Get the laptop and the popcorn and snuggle up with this short film about Sustainable Farming in Minnesota. Features 6 farms, 1 food co-op and plenty of people who care about their food and the people that eat it.

Farming Forward: CSCA screening (low definition version) from Martin Lang on Vimeo.

Synopsis of the Coordinating Meeting 11.18.10

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 23:22:00 +0000

Timeline of coop was reviewed and updated. Opening date for store was discussed and will continue to be reviewed. Input will be sought out from experienced businesses and with local producers who will be involved with the coop. Other major events can be set up before the store opens such as a producers convention.
Feasibility study update was given. Committees submitted work plans and will now add dates to tasks.
The coordination/project management role will be defined. The role will include merging the work plans into a master “taskline” to allow for committees to be aware of tasks that they need to accomplish to allow for another committee to proceed with tasks.
Volunteers will be attending the NDSU business writing class. Ideas were given for items for students to work on.
New communication tools for the coop were discussed as google groups is changing.
Location of the next Coordinating Committee meeting will be St. John’s on December 2 at 6:30pm in the parlor. These meetings are always open to the public, but there will be a special invitation to current volunteers active in the coop to attend and review implementation of improvements from October’s all volunteer meeting.
A resource log will begin to be formed to track available education to volunteers and those who have completed different education will be able to evaluate them for other volunteers.

Want to know what's happening with the food co-op?

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 04:18:00 +0000

We want you to know what's happening!

If you want to receive periodic updates and a co-op newsletter, send us your contact information and add our email address to your contact list so we don't get filtered into your spam or junk folder.

If you have previously signed up but haven't been receiving emails, please send us your contact information again and check your junk or spam folder for our address.

We want you to know what's happening in the development of your food co-op! Send an email to ccwfoodcoop@gmail.com.

From Here to Tuscany

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 20:26:00 +0000

The current issue of Organic Gardening has a couple interesting articles. I recommend starting in America by exploring the food gap a little further and learn what can be done to close this gap. Then ease the tension a bit by going to Tuscany, surrounding yourself with the beauty of the landscape, the bicentennial farmhouse, and dirt on your hands. That's right, tourists are engaging themselves in the culture, down to the nitty gritty.

Fresh (the movie) Screening Nov 22nd

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:49:00 +0000

Many of you have probably thought, "Yeah, I realize the food industry is broken, but what am I to do about it?" Every day, you get to vote, 3 times a day! (With what else can you do that??) And if you have a family, your grocery shopping can be even more impactful. Change will come if we demand it. By choosing the food we eat, we can influence the demand. Be thoughtful about your grocery shopping and inquisitive about your food selection. Nothing will change if we do nothing. Simple isn't it? Simple concept, yes, but easy to change? No. Start with one food category. Meat, for example. Talk to your local meat market and ask questions about processing, from farm to case. It's your food. You have a right to know. When have you bought a computer or a car without asking a single question about it? And you're not even eating it...at least I hope not!

Come check out Fresh for more ideas and inspiration on how to restructure the food system. Hope to see you there and stay for a discussion following! Trinity Lutheran Church, 210 7th St S, Moorhead. Doors open at 6:30. Movie at 7pm.

Spread the word! Email this post using the envelope with arrow below post or share on Facebook!

Wanted: Volunteer Secretary of the Planning Committee

noreply@blogger.com (Cass Clay Wholesome Food Co-op) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:26:00 +0000

We are looking for you! We are in need of a volunteer secretary.
A volunteer secretary has the following responsibilities.

1. Attends Planning Committee meetings (2nd Thursdays, 6-8 PM)

2. Maintains records of the Planning Committee and ensures effective management of organization's records

3. Takes minutes and ensures minutes are distributed to members within 48 hours after each meeting

4. Prepares the agenda based on input from Planning Committee members.

This role requires attention to detail, ability to make accurate records, timeliness, and good nature. Time commitment is approximately 6 hours per month.

If interested, please email us with "Volunteer Secretary, Planning" in the subject line.