Good deals become great deals when you shop the sales with your coupon book! Look for the April-May 2012 coupon books near the produce department and at the registers! Here are a few great deals to get you started.

Current sales run April 4-17, 2012.

Selected Frontier extracts are on sale, ranging from $2.29-$12.49. Save an extra $1.00 using your Frontier coupon!

Selected Westsoy 32 oz. Non-Dairy Beverages are on sale, ranging from $1.29-$1.99. Save an extra $.75 using your Westsoy coupon!

Selected Cascadian Farm Frozen Potatoes are on sale for $2.49. Save an extra $.75 using your Cascadian Farm coupon!

As “The Princess of Fruit” with its regal crown of pointy leaves, the pineapple has long been a symbol of hospitality. Within its spiny shell is a treasure of sweet and juicy fruit delivering a bounty of vitamin C (45% of the recommended dietary allowance). Fresh pineapple can be left whole at room temperature for up to two days, and then is best stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Bake, broil, sauté and even poach pineapple as a delicious accompaniment to salads and meats. Pair with walnuts and cashews for a crunch, or spice it up with chili peppers, cayenne or cilantro.

What to Make: Udon Noodle Salad with Pineapple

You can pick up recipe cards in our produce department. Or, check out the April 4 Co+op Deals flyer or Stronger Together website for recipes.

Looking for a coupon? Save on some of the ingredients for this recipe with online coupons! Coupons good through April 17, 2012.

For the month of April you’ll find some great deals on Garden of Life products! Our wellness department recently added more products from Garden of Life to our shelves and put them all on sale for the month! Staff recently attended a Garden of Life training session, and are equipped with plenty of  information about the products and the company—just ask and we’ll help guide you with some great suggestions!

Check out Garden of Life on Facebook.

In the Deli: If you love great-tasting, made from scratch baked goods with no added chemicals or preservatives, look no further than your local co-op deli! Just in time for Easter, our Valley Natural Foods deli staff has been busy preparing yummy baked goods this week. Decorated cupcakes, bunny cakes and cross cakes are available in both of our popular white almond and Mexican chocolate cake recipes. Also look for traditional items like Greek Easter bread, made with our own Challah bread dough, and hot cross buns. For gluten-free options, try our Down in the Valley Bakehouse tarts available in chocolate, lemon and pecan. Also try our new bakehouse gluten-free orange chiffon shells, ready for your own filling!

In the Meat Department: We know we have the best tasting ham in town—it was one of our recent staff pick of the week items! Our Down in the Valley Ham comes from Hidden Stream Farm near Elgin, MN. The family at Hidden Stream Farm raises their animals using a grass-based system, and they do not use any unwanted antibiotics or hormones. Looking for a good Easter ham recipe? Check out this easy and very tasty recipe developed by our own meat staff: Ken’s Ham with Pineapple Juice and Cloves.

In the Produce Department: A large shipment of organic pineapples has arrived! “Don’t be fooled by how green they look—these pineapples cut open nicely and are super juicy and sweet” says Rob from our produce staff. He’s right! The pineapples were selected for our latest staff pick of the week! Dicing up pineapple and stirring in some sliced organic strawberries is all you need for a simple yet tasty bowl of fruit to serve this weekend. Or try this recipe for something totally different: Udon Noodle Salad with Pineapple.

In the Grocery Aisle: Look for Surf Sweets organic jelly beans and Divine chocolate eggs, bunnies and medallions. Selected items are on sale right now!

Check out our online coupons for savings on many of the items listed above!

Reminder: Valley Natural Foods will be closed on Sunday, April 8 for Easter.

Throughout the month of April, Valley Natural Foods encourages the community to unite for one of its  own — Wellness Manager, Naomi Lundberg.

As a benefit for Naomi, who is currently battling breast cancer, customers can purchase $5.00 donation bags of wellness products (each bag is valued at $40-$50) that will be given to our local  food shelf, 360 Communities.  100% of the proceeds raised from the purchase of the bags will benefit Naomi in her fight against breast cancer.

Also, every time you purchase a wellness bag, you can register to win one of three gift baskets full of wellness products valued at $70-$100 each. A cashier will hand you a drawing slip at the point of purchase.

This fundraiser would not be possible without the overwhelming support from our wellness vendors who donated 100% of the  product used to make the donation bags.

We sincerely thank all our vendors for their  generous donations, their  support of Naomi  during this difficult time and for having such big hearts!

Be sure to come into our wellness department  and ask about these product lines. 

Learn more about the companies who donated

We love it so much, it’s been chosen as one of our Staff Picks of the Week! (We also love how Ken hammed it up for a photo!)

Last December, school kids who participated in our Co-op Community Night voted for their favorite recipe among several recipes being sampled that evening. Hands down, it was the Gluten-Free Ham with Pineapple Juice & Cloves created by Ken Harrington from our meat department. Ken used our very own Down in the Valley Ham for his winning recipe—the ham was simmered in pineapple juice and maple syrup for two hours. The result—juicy and richly flavored ham that we know for sure is a winner with kids and adults!

Our Down in the Valley Ham is raised naturally on Hidden Stream Farm near Elgin, MN. The family at Hidden Stream Farm raises their animals using a grass-based system, and they do not use any unwanted antibiotics or hormones. We love our local producer, and we love stocking our meat coolers with clean, natural and tasty ham.

Easter weekend will be here soon—why not make Ken’s super easy recipe for part of the Easter meal. Right now, Down in the Valley whole and half hams are on sale for only $5.59/lb through Tuesday, April 3rd, or while supplies last!

You don’t want to miss this FREE event at the Mall of America, Saturday March 31 and Sunday April 1, at the Best Buy Rotunda. Valley Natural Foods and Lakewinds Natural Foods are the food sponsors for the event—together, we’re supplying the secret basket and pantry ingredients used for the competition just as we did last year! First round begins at 10:00 a.m., last round at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Semi-finals begin Sunday at 11:00 a.m. followed by the exciting finals at 3:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

For details about the competition, the local chef contestants and the schedule, visit Minnesota Monthly’s LOCAL CHEF CHALLENGE webpage. We’re very excited to be participating again and we hope to see you there!

Bring your friends, family and co-workers together to support local youth mentoring!  Register for the 2nd Annual Run for Hope 5k, hosted by Valley Natural Foods, on Saturday May 12th today! The race begins at the store (13750 County Road 11, Burnsville) at 8:00 a.m. 100% of all race proceeds will be donated to Hope for Tomorrow Mentoring (HFT), a non-profit  volunteer-based organization in south metro schools.  Over 70 leaders in the local business community volunteer to mentor students each month, helping them set goals, build confidence and outline a path for future success. Last year the event raised over $5,500 for HFT. We hope to raise even more this year so we encourage the community to come out to enjoy the sunshine, mingle with neighbors, and run or walk for a good cause. All participants will get goodie bags full of free items from Valley Natural Foods.

The event is open to individuals of all ages. Children under the age of 18 need the signed permission from a legal guardian to participate. The registration cost is $28.25 per person ($3.25 is for processing fees). Register before April 20th to be guaranteed a t-shirt in your size.  To register for the event or to learn how you can sponsor it, visit www.runforhope5k.com.  Registration can also be completed in-store at Valley Natural Foods.

Read the full press release here.

Although watercress may not make you witty, as the Greeks once thought, this superfood will provide you with vitamins and minerals enough to keep your wits about you! Watercress gives a simple salad a peppery punch and brightens salmon dishes with an earthy tang. Spring and autumn harvest is when you’ll discover the best watercress. Choose bunches with brilliant green leaves and little or no wilting. Store the cress roots-down in a glass of water, covered with a plastic bag, in the refrigerator. Then give your meals a chef’s flourish by garnishing your dishes with fresh sprigs of watercress.

What to Make: Lettuce Wrap with Watercress Aioli

You can pick up recipe cards in our produce department. Or, check out the March 21 Co+op Deals flyer or Stronger Together website for recipes.

Looking for a coupon? Save on some of the ingredients for this recipe with online coupons! Coupons good through April 3, 2012.

This series is hosted by citizens and students who are growing the organic community Partnership Garden at the School of Environmental Studies. It is co-sponsored by Valley Natural Foods, Burnsville, and District 196 Community Education. All events are at the School of Environmental Studies, 12155 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN 55124. Donations at the door will help sustain the non-profit garden and its community outreach classes and events.

Pre-registration at least one week ahead is encouraged for each evening. For more information about this series or Dakota County community gardens, contact Loris Sofia Gregory at 952.431.5586 or lorissofia@frontiernet.net. For information about the Partnership Garden at SES or their upcoming community classes, contact Roxanne Beseman at 952-431-2553 or Pam Farrell at 952-454-8385.

Locavore: Local Diet, Healthy Planet – This documentary film empowers us with the knowledge to revitalize our own health, return to an economically prosperous nation, dramatically reduce our energy use and rejuvenate our land and environment. Learn about the rewards of a locavore lifestyle and how great you can feel when nourished with fresh and local. Q & A with gardeners will follow the film. Wednesday, Apr 4, 6:30-8:30 p.m, at the School of Environmental Studies. Donations welcome at the door. To view Locavore-The Movie trailer, click here.

Queen of the Sun: What are the Bees Telling Us? – Created by Taggart Seigel, filmmaker of “The Real Dirt on Farmer John,” this film shares the compelling perspectives of farmers, beekeepers, scientists and philosophers around the world. The problems behind the global bee crisis are uncovered and viable solutions are offered for renewing our partnership with nature. Q & A with gardeners will follow the film. Wednesday, April 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the School of Environmental Studies. Donations welcome at the door. To view Queen of the Sun movie trailer, click here.

Everything You Want to Know About Gardening with Nature – A panel of experienced local gardeners and farmers will answer your questions about gardening, eating fresh and local and what we can each do to partner with nature and flourish as individuals and a community.  This evening will also be your chance to meet representatives of Dakota County community gardens and supportive organizations, browse their displays and sign up for garden plots. Wednesday, April 18, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the School of Environmental Studies. Donations welcome at the door.