Manchester Food Co-op

2013-06-06T11:45:00.002-04:00

It pays to join this June -
Win a CSA share from Fresh Start Farms!

Purchase a member-owner share in the month of June and you are entered to win a summer CSA share (valued at $325) from Fresh Start Farms!

As a CSA member, you will receive one box of fresh, local produce a week delivered to one of their pick up locations - including Manchester, Portsmouth and Derry.

Fresh Start Farms is a collective of refugee and immigrant farmers who are participating in the New American Sustainable Agriculture Program. These growers sell produce wholesale and through a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share program.

Last week on WMUR Cooks Corner we showed how to make a delicious Fresh Tomato Bruschetta over arugula salad and garlic crostini with fresh herbs and arugula from Fresh Start Farms! Here is the recipe:
Fresh Tomato Bruschetta over arugula salad and garlic crostini

4 large LOCAL ripe tomatoes
3 cloves LOCAL garlic, minced
¼ cup fresh LOCAL parsley chopped
¼ cup fresh LOCAL basil chopped
Sea Salt and Pepper - freshly ground
3 Tablespoons Cucina Aurora Roasted Garlic Olive Oil
Hearty LOCAL Italian bread cut into 6 half inch slices
2 cups fresh LOCAL arugula
Romano Cheese grated (optional)- Imported from Italy
Note: if these ingredients can't be found locally, choose Organic and enjoy the pure taste of real food.

1. Brush each side of sliced bread with Cucina Aurora Roasted Garlic Olive Oil. Broil on high for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove from broiler when golden brown.
2. In a medium bowl toss arugula with 1 tablespoon of Roasted Garlic Olive Oil until evenly coated. Set aside.
3. Chop the tomatoes into small cubes and combine them in a large bowl with minced garlic, chopped herbs, salt and pepper. Toss with the remaining Roasted Garlic Olive Oil. Arrange the crostini on a serving dish and layer each one with arugula then a generous topping of the herbed tomato mixture. Top with Romano cheese if desired. Serve immediately or chill for up to an hour before serving.

2013-04-12T14:16:00.001-04:00

It's a GREAT month to become a MEMBER-OWNER!

All new member-owners who join in April will be entered into a drawing for a summer share from Middle Branch Farm's CSA (community-supported agriculture)! Interested in 16 weeks of local, organically grown produce? Middle Branch Farm is located in New Boston, but you can pick up your weekly share in Manchester, Nashua or Londonderry.

If you have been thinking of buying your equitable share of the coop ($100 per household) - do it by midnight on April 30th so you don't miss out on this opportunity!

Middle Branch Farm has continued the tradition of a diversified, sustainable family farm originally established by the Colburn family in the 1700s. All of their products are raised and grown utilizing sustainable organic farming practices. The rapidly vanishing rural landscapes of open fields and wooded tracts is best preserved through sustainable family farms. Middle Branch Farm members share their commitment to open space preservation and sustainable, organic farming practices. Learn more about Middle Branch Farm at http://middlebranchfarm.com.

Volunteers - our greatest asset

2013-03-21T14:04:00.004-04:00

The Manchester Food Co-op has been volunteer run and operated since it's inception in Fall of 2009. Our member owner base is well over 600 members, yet only about 20 people volunteer on a regular basis. What can you do? Here are a few ideas:

Craft Manchester Food Co-op branded items for us to give away at events
Bring food to our events for volunteer staff and guests
Host a home cooking demo
Staff one of our really fun events
Get us speaking opportunities at clubs and businesses
Write articles like blog posts, e-mails, and press releases
Join one of our committees! We are currently recruiting for people with marketing, legal, finance and development, community outreach and planning experience and/or interest

Please check our events page!

We are vamping up our e-mail communications, so be sure you sign up for our newsletter. If you are already signed up please update your preferences.

Subscribe to e-mails and update your preferences

Food Day 2012, A Huge Success!

2012-10-30T23:24:00.000-04:00

Thanks to all our volunteers and participants who made Food Day such a success! We spread awareness about this important new national holiday, and had loads of fun while doing it....

YMCA Sampling and Educational Table

Tasting and Film Screening at Royal Palace Ballroom Academy

Susan of Herb an Chicks Farm

Diane of Craquelins

Sue of Laurel Hill Jams & Jellies

Tina of Tomina's Cookie Dough

Max of Benedikt Dairy Farm

Claudia of CQ Coffee Roasters

Moonlight Meadery certificate winner!

Without a photo, but simply unforgettable was Jeremy from Great Harvest, who provided samples of his delicious bread. All sweetened varieties of bread made with honey, not refined sugar! The line was always long and we neglected to break in to snap a pic....

Thanks again to all the local businesses who supported this event!!! We plan to have more of these types of events, where we connect the community with local makers of all kinds.... If you attended please tell us your thoughts about this format!

Celebrate Food Day, Wed. October 24th

2012-10-09T14:46:00.000-04:00

The second annual Food Day has been proclaimed a holiday in the city of Manchester by Mayor Gatsas!

The Manchester Food Co-op is happy to be the sponsor of Food Day, as this national initiative mirrors our local initiative. Healthy, sustainable, fair, REAL food!

FOOD DAY Events: Wednesday, October 24th

YMCA Manchester 6-10am
30 Mechanic Street
Healthy Food Tasting and Information Table. Come by for a quick snack and learn more about Food Day.

UNH Brown Bag Lecture Series, 12-1pm
UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, Manchester. Room 358 on the third floor.
Steve Freeman and Heather Avella, Treasurer and Vice President of the MFC, will share the values and health benefits of buying local foods and the impact on our local economy. .

RESERVE YOUR SPOT: http://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=4501056782

Open House and Film Screening, 6-8 p.m.
Royal Palace Ballroom Academy (in their new location), 373 South Willow Street, Suite D2 (in Shaw's Plaza above UPS), Manchester.
Come sample local fare and talk with the hands that make it! Participating businesses include Great Harvest Bread Company, Craquelins, Benedikt Farm, CQ Coffee Roasters, Herb an' Chick Farm, Stonyfield, Laurel Hill Jams & Jellies, Cabot Creamery, and Tomina's.

We'll also watch a series of short films from “Nourish," each followed with discussion. Donations of non-perishables will be collected for the NH Food Bank. Refreshments and sampling of local fare will be offered when doors open at 6 p.m and throughout. The film screening and discussion will begin at 6:45 p.m.

Each guest will be eligible to win two drawings:
$100 Gift Certificate to Royal Palace Ballroom Academy
Romance Package to Moonlight Meadery (includes tasting, keepsake glasses and money back on purchase).

RESERVE YOUR SPOT: http://manchesterfoodcoopfooddayfilmscreening.eventbrite.com

"Accidental Herbalist" Food Demo and Film Screening

2012-09-26T21:56:00.000-04:00

We enjoyed fresh marinara, local breads and dipping oils as we learned a thing or two (or twenty...) about growing herbs! Also watched select scenes from the documentaries "As We Sow" and "Farmlandia."

A few of you have asked for Nancy's yummy marinara recipe:

Any and all tomatoes.

Blanch them, remove skins, squeeze out seeds.

Cut up and stew them in a pot.

Mash them up with a hand masher to the desired consistency.

Spices and herbs: I make a blend that I call Bohemian Blend (oregano, sage, parsley, basil), garlic

Optional: wine and/or parmesan or romano cheese. The cheese thickens the sauce with flavor

Simmer for hours till it gets thick.

If you are short on fresh tomatoes, then canned ones that are crushed or whole will work. Tomato paste can be used if it is just too watery.

Want to know how to grow and cook with this?

2012-09-11T23:13:00.001-04:00

Manchester Food Co-op member Nancy Brome (aka the "Accidental Herbalist") will tell you how! Join us for a herb discussion, where she'll share her marinara sauce recipe made with fresh herbs (and we'll eat it, of course!).

Also to be revealed is the "compost sausage" method of homemade fertilizer. Gardeners, great way to save some money next year...

Lastly we'll view a short film, the "As We Sow" documentary.

Accidental Herbalist Food Demo and "As We Sow" Film Screening

Tuesday, Sept. 25th, 6-8pm

Unitarian Universalist Church, 669 Union Street, Manchester NH 03104

Reserve your spot here!

Labor Day 500 Goal

2012-09-08T18:09:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who helped get us to 492 member-owners by Labor Day! Although we did not hit our goal of 500 yet we are sure that those next 8 member-owners are right around the corner.

If you have not signed up to be a member-owner and paid your $100 membership fee now is the time! Click here to join and you could be our 500th member-owner!

New Food Co-op Study Results are in!

2012-08-25T07:45:00.000-04:00

It's official: food co-ops are better at supporting local farms, offering more healthy and sustainable foods, providing higher wages on average to their employees and are better for the environment than conventional grocery stores!

A new study commissioned by the National Cooperative Grocers Association was recently released comparing conventional grocery stores with food co-ops. Click here for the results! To read the full article, Healthy Foods Healthy Communities, Measuring the Social and Economic Impact of Food Co-ops click here.

We need your help in opening our doors! Please become a member-owner today to bring a food co-op to the Manchester area! Sign up online by clicking here.

Event: Learn the Value of Organic

2012-08-16T22:04:00.001-04:00

Thursday, Aug 23rd @ 6pm

Stonyfield Visitors Center, 10 Burton Drive Londonderry NH 03053

Join us for a presentation about local and organic farming. We'll present the hows and whys of buying organic/local and the many benefits of supporting our agriculture.
Register here. Hope to see you there!

The Return of Chef Steven

2012-08-13T14:13:00.003-04:00

Co-op Chef Steven returned to WMUR's Cook Corner on August 8th to share a delicious recipe that can be made in only 3 minutes.

Missed the broadcast? Not a problem, you can view the segment on the WMUR website by clicking the image below .

New Business Partnership: Cityside

2012-08-09T22:01:00.000-04:00

Welcome aboard new member-owners from Cityside Management Corporation!

Thank you to Cityside Management Corp for partnering with the MFC to help create a more sustainable and healthy Greater Manchester! 44 Cityside employees accepted a subsidized member-owner share, courtesy of their employer. What a great "out of the box" employee benefit! Read the full press release here

Chris Dolloff, President and CEO of Cityside, remarks:

"Part of being successful in business means you have an obligation to give back to the community. The folks at the Manchester Food Co-op, working totally on a volunteer basis, epitomize this ideal. Co-ops not only help to improve the economic situation for our neighbors by offering a venue for local farmers and businesses to sell their goods; they present a healthy alternative for those looking for truly fresh food choices for themselves and their families."

Interested in finding out more about how your business can partner with the co-op? Contact us!

July Membership Incentive

2012-07-19T15:45:00.000-04:00

Join the MFC in July! Why....?

All new member-owners in the month of July are eligible to win a one-month family membership to Executive Health & Sports Center (valued up to $300)! And while you're getting fit (or 'fitter'), you could check out all the brand new renovations - outdoor pool, Sizzle Bistro.....and more on the way!

Kale Mango Salad on WMUR

2012-07-03T08:50:00.000-04:00

Watch Treasurer of the Board of Directors, Steve Freeman, make a tasty kale mango salad on WMUR.

http://www.wmur.com/Kale-Mango-Salad/-/9858568/15359188/-/896125z/-/index.html

Moonlight Meadery Update

2012-06-24T07:04:00.000-04:00

Volunteer Appreciation Night at Moonlight Meadery: HUGE SUCCESS!

Thank you to all the Co-op Member-Owners who came out to thank our wonderful and dedicated volunteers last Friday night at Moonlight Meadery for a tasting and tour of the meadery! Also a BIG thank you to Moonlight Meadery for sponsoring the event. We all learned more about a local treasure in our backyard: mead! If you have not heard of mead it's a wine made from honey instead of grapes. Moonlight Meadery has over 50 different kinds to sample from!

Our volunteers have spent hundreds of hours over the past year towards promoting the Co-op and it has paid off in new Member-Owners! If you are interested in joining your Manchester Community in these efforts sign up today to become a volunteer at one of our upcoming events. We need you!

Moonlight Meadery is open daily at 11am for tours, tastings and retail. Click here for more information.

Volunteers make our co-op awesome!

2012-05-17T20:38:00.001-04:00

Thanks to many of the initiatives and hard work of the Membership Outreach Committee, the MFC gained over 70 new member-owners in the month of April.

The committee has its monthly on Monday, May 21st at 6pm. It iis a blend of marketing and community outreach events. The goals for this meeting will be planning and strategizing how to keep the momentum moving forward.

The meeting is open to anyone wishing to volunteer or find out more information about this exciting group.

When: Monday, May 21st
Where: IBM 5 Bedford Farms Drive, Bedford 03110 (Bedford Farms Drive is off of Kilton Road, across from Stop 'n Shop and Homegoods)
Time: Starts promptly at 6pm

Think Fresh

2012-05-15T06:51:00.000-04:00

Promoting fresh, healthy and local food is one of our passions. This month, we're happy to raffle one single full CSA share to Fresh Start Farms. Anyone who joins as a member-owner in the month of May will be entered into the drawing.

We're lucky to have have such diverse culture in the greater Manchester community. Manchester's Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success works with refugee and immigrant groups aiding in resettlement. One of their programs is Fresh Start Farms, a collective of refugee and immigrant farmers who are participating in the New American Sustainable Agriculture Program. Although the sites are not certified, farmers use organic practices with culturally appropriate growing techniques

Thank you to Fresh Start Farms for partnering with the Manchester Food Co-op for this month's incentive!

Already a Manchester Food Co-op member-owner? There's still time left to purchase a Fresh Start Farms CSA share. Click here for more information

Updated: Radio fame

2012-05-02T20:30:00.000-04:00

Updated 5/2: Even though they ran into technical difficulties with last Tuesday's show, the folks at Girard at Large were able to bring the audio files back from the lost.

Click here to see the show's archive page, then scroll down a bit to listen to Steve and Heather!

This past Tuesday, two Board members, Heather Avella and Steve Freeman, stepped up to the task of guesting on Girard at Large, 1250 AM radio show, hosted by Rich Girard. According to the show's website, their mission if to "re-connect people, places and things." Last week's esteemed guests included, Mayor Gatsas and Al Kaprielian.

They had a great time getting the word out about the MFC and our budding co-op community. Missed the show? You can catch a glimpse of them here modeling our co-op aprons.

Did someone say CSA?

2012-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Haven't become a member-owner yet? Today could be your lucky day. All new member-owners who joined in April 2012 will be entered into our raffle for a CSA share from Middle Branch Farm.

We can't say enough about fresh local produce and we're thrilled to have farms like Middle Branch Farm work with us to promote sustainable food for the greater Manchester community.

Great day for a 5K

2012-04-24T22:30:00.002-04:00

Saturday's weather was perfect for Team MFC Co-op at the Stonyfield Earth Day 5K. The Manchester Food Co-op was once again thrilled to take part in the celebration.

Thanks so much to all our runners, walkers, booth volunteers and Stonyfield.

Photo credit to co-op member: Becca Krest Taylor

Made in NH Expo recap

2012-04-22T18:37:00.001-04:00

The MFC had an amazing time at this year's Made in NH expo. The all-volunteer team signed up 30 new member-owners and chatted up hundreds of interested folks creating many new supporters over the 3-day event.

The Pop-the-Pea prize for new members was the talk of the booth and we sold out of our grocery bags. We also debuted about new brochure, co-op t shirt and member-owner buttons.

Among the special visitors to the booth were Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Friday and Miss NH Regan Hartley on Sunday.

Click here to view photos from the event

A very special thanks to our vendor partners for sponsoring prizes and services for the event:

Middle Branch Farm Frontier Coop
Moonlight Meadery Planet Marshmalllow
Michele's Sweet Shoppe Clam King
Laurel Hill Jams and Jellies Printers Square
White Swan Yoga Suss
Simple Goodness Logoloc
Hillside Apiaries Hurraw Lip Balm
Stonyfield Farm Susan Englert
Redneck Rick's Symmetry Pilates
Clayton's Way Farm Little Duck Organics
Granite Ledge Coffee Van Otis Chocolates
Perfect Fuel Chocolate
Christine Louise Toiletries
Amanda Arseneault, Business NH Magazine
Cityside Management Corporation

And thanks to the many volunteers without whom the event would not have been possible:

Mike O’Brien
Theresa Dolloff
Diane Touzin
Pam Morin
Sandra Eisenberg
Julie Pelletier
Sarah Nadeau
Lori Hershey
Dr. Cristi Egenolf
Kathy Sherman
Connie Richards
Leah Lee
Pattie Davis

Entire Board of Directors

Reminder: Team Co-op

2012-04-19T06:34:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that there's still a few spots left on the MFC team for the Stonyfield Earth Day 5K this Saturday.

The first 10 people to register for the race AND let us know they want to be part of the team get a free MFC t-shirt! These shirts are making their debut on volunteers at the Made in NH expo and not for sale. You'll be the first to have one of your very own!

Imagine how good everyone will look racing in their shirts, even better in the team photo!

The Stonyfield Earth Day 5K is fun for the whole family. Besides the 5K, there's an Earth Day fair including a live band, Hot Day at the Zoo. For more information, click here.

Come say hi at the Made in NH expo

2012-04-13T07:24:00.000-04:00

We'll be at the annual Made in NH expo. Current member-owners stop by the booth for a special token of our thanks for reaching our big 300 member-owner goal! A fun Pop the Pea game will be offered for all member-owners who join at the expo.

Additionally, anyone who becomes a member-owner in the month of April is eligible for the special raffle of a Middle Branch Farm CSA share, generously donated by the farm.

Bring your friends and family, stop by and say hi!

Earth Day Exercise

2012-04-05T07:33:00.001-04:00

Earth Day is just around the corner and again this year, you can find the Manchester Food Co-op participating in Stonyfield's Earth Day 5K. We're creating a team of runners and walkers to have fun, get a little exercise and show some co-op pride!

Depending on when you register, the cost is $20-30 per adult, $15-20 per youth and free kid races for the younger set. This year's profits benefit Londonderry High School's EcoSense club and help fund a scholarship. Read more here.

The first 10 people to register for the race AND let us know they want to be part of the team get a free MFC t-shirt! These shirts are making their debut on volunteers at the Made in NH expo and not yet for sale. You'll be the first to have one of your very own!

Imagine how good everyone will look racing in their shirts, even better in the team photo!

The Stonyfield Earth Day 5K is fun for the whole family. Besides the 5K, there's an Earth Day fair including a live band, Hot Day at the Zoo. For more information, click here.

Photo credit Flickr user clam113

Another Member-owner Benefit

2012-04-04T07:09:00.001-04:00

We're so excited to announce a new benefit for our MFC member-owners! Show your MFC card and save at Lots of Green LLC.

If you're interested in "green" lawncare, take a peek at what they have to offer. From their website: Lots of Green, LLC, is a socially conscious, advocator of safe environmental practices, steward of nature, lawn care and maintenance company, that is trying to make a significant difference with each and every lawn.

For 2012: Receive 25% off a la carte and/or all inclusive sustainable lawn care services by Manchester-based Lots of Green, LCC, if a summer season agreement is signed. Please see lotsofgreenllc.com/services for more information. Expiration date: 12/31/2012

Serviceable areas include the following zip-codes: 03101, 03102, 03103, 03104, 03105, 03107, 03108, 03109, and 03111. All others, please contact Lots of Green for more information. Not yet a member-owner?

Click here to join and be entered into an extra special raffle* for a Middle Branch Farm CSA share!

*open to new member-owners joining in April 2012

Photo credit to Flickr user stevendepolo