Looking for a unique  read that is not only compelling and empowering, but also supports our local organic food community? Purchase the newly released book, Turn Here Sweet Corn, by Atina Diffley, author and co-owner of Organic Farming Works, LLC at Valley Natural Foods for only $24.95.  Save an extra 10% off all books daily! This is an extremely popular book selection amongst Valley Natural Foods customers and staff.

Do meet and learn more about Atina during her live FREE presentation/talk on July 10th from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Valley Natural Foods. Be sure to register 24 hours before the event!  Register online, in-store or by calling 952-891-1212 ext. 221.

Immediately upon reading the first couple of sentences you will be caught up in the swift moving, vivid and dramatic story of Atina and Martin Diffley.  Atina eloquently writes about the romance, challenges and triumphs that went into developing and maintaining  the Gardens of Eagan organic farm, located right within the south metro! Since opening in 1973, Gardens of Eagan has grown right alongside the Twin Cities food co-ops, including Valley Natural Foods. Atina and Martin have helped develop the organic movement in Minnesota and have been instrumental in educating and serving shoppers.  Through Atina’s crisp, compelling imagery, discover the beauty of nature, the risks, vulnerabilities and science behind organic farming, along with the power of consumers to make a change.  This is ultimately a book about survival and resilience against all possible odds whether it be hail, crazy storms, suburban development or  intrusion of  a crude oil pipeline.  Overall, it is about making organic farming work and expressing its value to people and the planet. Learn  more about Atina and Martin Diffley here.

By: Loris Sofia Gregory, Healthy Kitchen Coach, Apple Valley, MN

May in Minnesota has our taste buds perking up for those perennial delightful flavors of asparagus and rhubarb. Look for local rhubarb and asparagus at Valley Natural Foods! Though asparagus was not grown in the New World until around 1850, there are directions for cooking it in the oldest surviving recipe book created by a Roman food lover in the third century. Asparagus has a long coveted reputation as a vegetable and a medicine, owing to its delicate flavor and its bountiful fiber, protein, beneficial vitamins and minerals. Look for the youngest thin shoots of asparagus, as once the buds start to open the shoots quickly turn woody.

If you are lucky enough to procure some fresh asparagus this month, wrap asparagus in a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator vegetable crisper. Use as soon as possible, within one or two days, before its natural sugars turn to starches. If you cannot use asparagus for more than a day, either wrap the ends in a damp paper towel or bundle the spears with a rubber band and stand them upright in a container in an inch of water.

The website of Featherstone Farm in Rushford Village, Minnesota offers these suggestions for enjoying the spring flavors of asparagus, courtesy of Mi Ae Lipe’s Tastes from the Valley to Bluff: The Featherstone Farm Cookbook (2008).

Don’t miss these upcoming classes!

FRESH & LOCAL DEMO: Tuesday, May 8, 11 am to 2 pm
Featuring vine-on tomatoes, basil and English cucumbers fresh from Living Water Garden in Wells, Minnesota, “full of life, full of water and full of healthy nutrients.”

FRESH & LOCAL: Asparagus to Strawberries
Tuesday, May 15, 6:30 to 8:30 pm; $17 members; $20 non-members
Register at least one week ahead at  Customer Service: 952.891.1212, Ext. 221. or online.

Did you know that nasturtiums (the orange flower pictured) are not only edible but  delicious? They can also add a certain flair to your dish.

Learn how to create that flair in our Wednesday,  May 2nd “Yum Edible Flowers and Weeds” class at Valley Natural Foods from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Cost is only $14 for non-members and $12 for members.  Come to this class to learn what “weeds” to add to your culinary repertoire along with some fun recipes.

Also, you will get to taste some “flowers and weeds” to see what you like–you might be surprised!!!

Register for the class in-store, by calling 952-8891-1212 ext 221 or online.  Please register by noon on Tuesday, May 1st. The class is taught by Midwest Food Connection’s Kristi Pursell.

Do you want to ensure that your water is clean and safe for your family?  Buy one of Water Marque’s commercial grade in-line water treatment systems designed for municipally treated cold water. All three system models. sold at Valley Natural Foods, are designed for either your counter-top, under the sink or attached to your refrigerator. Each systems helps to reduce impurities, including heavy metals, bad tastes, odors, colors, and harmful chlorine from your water.

Now is the time to buy one too! Through April 30th, 2012, all Water Marque systems are 20% off!  The refrigerator model,  originally $92.89 is on sale for $73.99. The counter-top model, originally $179.99 is now $142.99. The under-sink model, originally $206.99 is now $163.99.

If you want to learn more about these systems or have questions, visit Water Marque at our demo kiosk on Friday, April 20th from 2:30 pm-7pm, Tuesday, April 24th from 10:30 am-4:30 p.m. or Wednesday, April 25th 3pm-6:00pm.

By: Loris Sofia Gregory, Healthy Kitchen Coach, Apple Valley, MN

Can you believe that April has arrived? Earth is warming up and preparing to collaborate with us in growing delicious edibles here in Minnesota. New shades of green are emerging day by day. We ponder when everything will be fully green and our first garden sprouts will pop up from moist soil. Regardless of when spring will be here in its full glory, be sure to notice our sprouts and other shades of healthy green at Valley Natural Foods, thanks to FRESH & LOCAL growers in Wisconsin.

In World War II, Dr. Clive McKay, Nutrition Professor at Cornell University, sparked considerable interest in sprouts by announcing, “Wanted! A vegetable that will grow in any climate, will rival meat in nutritive value, will mature in three to five days, may be planted any day of the year, will require neither soil nor sunshine, will rival tomatoes in Vitamin C, will be free of waste in preparation and can be cooked with little fuel and as quickly as a chop.” Dr. McKay was talking about the amazing properties of sprouted soybeans.

READ MORE…

For tasty samples, coaching and more inspiring ideas for healthy eating this month, I look forward to meeting you at:

FRESH & LOCAL DEMO: Tuesday, April 10, 11 am to 2 pm

Featuring Jack and the Green Sprouts, local hummus and flatbreads.

FRESH & LOCAL CLASS: Spring Rhubarb to Winter Squash

Tuesday, April 17, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Valley Natural Foods in collaboration with ISD 196 Community Education, $18/class. Register at least one week ahead at 651.423.7920 or www.district196.org/ce.

The Run for Hope 5K, hosted by Valley Natural Foods, is just over a month away on May 12th! We encourage you to register online today or before April 20^th to be guaranteed a t-shirt in your size! 100% of the proceeds will benefit Hope for Tomorrow Mentoring. Bring your family and  join in the fun!

However, you may be asking–what is Hope for Tomorrow Mentoring and what do they do? This is a non-profit mentoring organization  run by volunteers in our local business community. One of the volunteers is Valley Natural Foods’ very own HR manager, Paula Sahin.  These volunteers mentor young boys and girls within mostly  Dakota County and within some Hennepin County schools. These students have been identified by teachers and/or counselors as individuals who will benefit from a trusted relationship with mentor. Through this program the young boys and girls will realize their full potential.

The mentorship program is built around the theme “Partnering with Tomorrow’s Leaders.”  It was designed to help young people create individual road maps for their future by providing life skills through mentoring partnerships with successful women/men in our local community.  Throughout the school year, focused sessions include, but are not limed to, the following topics: Attitude, Choices and Peer Pressure; First Impressions, Presenting Yourself, and Etiquette; Health: Mind, Body and Spirit; College Campus Visit; Dreams and Goals; and Corporate Visits.

With the unseasonably warm March temperatures, it’s time to start thinking about your garden this year!

However, you may be  asking  “Where do I start?”  If so, let Valley Natural Foods help you formulate a plan for your garden this year.

Starting Wednesday , April 11th, we have a NEW gardening series breaking ground at Valley Natural Foods.

The series continues every Wednesday through May 2nd. Sign up online, in-store, or by calling 952-891-1212 ext 221. Cost is $12 for members and $14 for non-members.

• Wednesday, April 11, 6:30-8:00 p.m--Healthy Soil, Healthy Food–Learn techniques to improve your soil for more plant growth.
• Wednesday, April 18, 6:30-8:00 p.m.–Planting to Save: Beginning Seed-Saving–Learn how to plant seeds this year that you can save for years to come.
• Wednesday, April 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m.–Growing and Cooking with Herbs—Learn to grown many herb varieties that will add flavor to your meals.
• Wednesday, May 2, 6:30-8:00 p.m.–Yum! Edible Flowers and Weeds–Yes, weeds are delicious and can add a bit of  flair to your food.

By Loris Sofia Gregory, Healthy Kitchen Coach, Apple Valley, MN

Challenged in getting your engine revved up in the morning and sustained throughout busy days? Sluggish and cranky from your roller coaster of energy highs and lows? Dreaming of steady sources of energy for a perpetual perky mind and body? If you are more than ready to jump start your engine each morning and stay productive, happy and energized all day long, consider these power-punched tips, breakfasts and snacks that you can find on our Bulk Trail.

Eat a satisfying breakfast. To break your overnight fast, your body needs fuel first thing in the morning. An adequate breakfast with enough protein will give you essential fuel plus a “full and satisfied” feeling for a productive morning. Here’s a few great fatigue-beating breakfasts you will find on our Bulk Trail. Supplement these cereals and grains with our fresh berries and fruits, low or no-fat “milks” (sourced from cows, almonds, hemp, rice, etc.), whole grain breads, low-sugar yogurts and fruit spreads. Satisfying anytime of the day!

Sign up for the March 20th  FRESH & LOCAL: Jump Start Your Engines on the Bulk Trail class to learn more!

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Have you ever wondered about making your own kim chi? Stop wondering and start making it! Attend our Kim Chi Making class on March 28 and learn from instructor, Angelica Hollstadt, owner of  local company, Angelica’s Garden .  Angelica is an entrepreneur in the true sense of the word. She owns a certified organic farm along with her husband and two sons in Pierce County, Wisconsin.  She grows her own vegetables on this farm for use in her line of various fermented and pickled vegetable products that she sells to the Twin Cities co-ops.

We are very privileged to have her teach this  class, sharing her vast knowledge of vegetable fermentation with our shoppers! During this class you will discover how to make a basic kim chi in a crock pot using radish, carrots, onion and green cabbage.  Kim chi is an excellent probiotic for digestion and overall health!

Register online, in-store at Valley Natural Foods, or by calling 952-891-1212 ext. 221. Cost is $22 for members and $25 for non-members.

8.4% of the U.S population is estimated to have Type 2 diabetes, or approximately 25.8 million people. Even more shocking is over one third of those people are undiagnosed.  Even though lifestyle changes are difficult, more and more people are looking for ways to reduce their own risk for developing the disease.

At Valley Natural Foods, we want to make this lifestyle change easier for you. Join Valley Natural Foods experts for our Let’s Cooperate to Prevent Diabetes program and get four weeks of the coaching (Mondays in April: 2, 9, 16 and 23)  you need to make healthy diet and exercise changes a reality in your life. We will also go over stress relief and relaxation techniques that will help.

Unlike traditional Type 2 diabetes prevention programs, we focus on a more holistic approach to wellness–one that heals not only the body, but the mind and spirit too!

Our experts will also help you to understand simple ways to include more fruits, vegetables and grains in your diet. A diet with more fruits, vegetables and grains is recommended by the American Diabetes and the American Dietetics Association to help reduce the risk for this disease.

You can register for this class online, in-store or over the phone by calling 952-891-1212 ext 221. Cost is $53 for members and $63 for non-members. The cost is for all four  hour and a half coaching sessions.