Valley Natural Foods is very proud to give the Kindest Cut truck a home in its parking lot today, May 7th, through the afternoon.

If you are unable to afford to spay or neuter your pet, you should call and make an appointment because there are openings: 763-468-SPAY (7729).

Employees at Valley Natural Foods got the opportunity to go inside the truck and see the operation in action along with meeting the Kindest Cut staff.

Rest assured that your animal is in good hands! The  staff definitely lives up to their name as they are  very  kind, loving, compassionate and professional toward these furry little creatures. There are lots of hugs to go around and lots of calming words. You can tell they are committed to the animals and providing the best service possible.

We also learned that spaying and neutering your pet is important to its health!  Dr.  Meghann Kruck, the Kindest Cut’s lead licensed veterinarian, said that it is best to spay or neuter your cat or dog before it is six months old to reduce the risk of developing cancer.  Also, it helps prevent animal homelessness!  Of the 70,000 puppies and kittens  born in the United States each day, more than 60% of them are unwanted and will be abandoned, oftentimes brought to a shelter or rescue organization. Kindest Cut and Animal Humane Society believe animals in our community deserve better (and Valley Natural Foods too!)

Kindest Cut,  a mobile surgical unit that offers to spay or neuter the pets of low-income individuals and families, is coming to Valley Natural Foods on Monday, May 7!

Look for their truck in the Valley Natural Foods parking lot from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. !           

All Kindest Cut fees are significantly and generously subsidized by supporters of the Animal Humane Society.  Because there is no longer an animal humane society in Burnsville, Valley Natural Foods is proud to host this service for the local community.

Individuals and families must qualify for the service through proof of participation in a government assistance program.

Fees range from $40-$100, dependent upon the size of the animal. This is a fraction of the cost of standard veterinary practices that range from $100 to $300.

Kindest Cut takes in 30-40 animals per day, including cats, dogs and rabbits.  All animals are dropped off at 7:30 a.m. and picked up at 5:00 p.m.

Valley Natural Foods will host the Kindest Cut service every other month; dates are forthcoming.

Find out more at http://www.kindestcutmn.com or call 763-468-SPAY (7729).

The average last frost date for the Twin Cities usually happens around mid-May. But that has not stopped a few of our co-op community gardeners from starting a few things right now in their garden plots—yes, our community gardens are now officially open! Plot reservations filled up quickly for the 2012 season, however  four plots have just become available again and we are offering them to anyone interested on a first come, first served basis.

If you are hoping to get involved with us in our co-op community gardens, now is the time to act by contacting Gary Johnson at community@valleynaturalfoods.com or 952-891-1212, ext. 236. You may also inquire about availability at customer service.

If you like celebrating Cinco de Mayo, check out what your friendly neighborhood co-op has to offer to make the 5th of May a yummy day!

Our produce department makes Garden Fresh Salsa! Being one of our best sellers, this salsa is made almost daily in order to keep up with demand! Pairs nicely with locally grown and produced Whole Grain Milling Tortilla Chips. Do you like guacamole? Pick up some organic avocados, and mash the flesh with a few spoonfuls of our salsa for the best tasting guacamole ever! Or purchase a delicious container of Yucatan Organic Guacamole for convenience!

Visit our meat department for some awesome house-made Chorizo, made with Hidden Stream Farm pork and our own Chorizo spice recipe. Ask our staff for some great ideas on how to prepare it in the oven or on the grill!

In the deli you will find delicious Aztec Quinoa Salad at our service counter. We’re also carrying Campesino Fresco Authentic Mexican Cheese and Quesadilla Cheese in our specialty cheese cooler. Just ask our deli staff for Cinco de Mayo suggestions!

And don’t forget the cake! Our popular Mexican Chocolate cake with buttercream frosting is always a hit for Cinco de Mayo or any occasion!

Check out our online coupons to enjoy savings on all items mentioned here! Coupons good through May 15, 2012, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST.

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.

Valley Natural Foods is looking for a bright, committed and community oriented leader looking to join a team of outstanding employees! We will be hiring a Store Manager to support our sustained growth and rapidly growing wholesale businesses. Qualified applicants will have a minimum of 5+ years in leadership with a B.A. degree in Business or related field, a humble perspective that understands in order to lead you must serve, and a willingness to grow and change with the needs of the business. For job description, click on the the Store Manager Link above, or visit our website at www.valleynaturalfoods.com!

Valley Natural Foods is proud to carry the following products from Cedar Summit Farm:

• Skim, 1%, 2% and Whole Organic Milk in half-gallon cartons
• Organic Cream in 1 pint returnable glass bottles
• Drinkable Organic Vanilla Yogurt in 1 quart returnable glass bottles
• Bent River Camembert-Style Cheese from Alemar Cheese Company. The Alemar Cheese Company of  Mankato uses Cedar Summit milk to produce their fabulous cheese.

Read here why Cedar Summit Farm is an excellent choice for organic dairy products. You can also visit and “like” them on Facebook!

Look for savings on all of these Cedar Summit Farm products by visiting our online coupons page.

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.

Just in – our first shipment of bedding plants from Green Earth Growers! For all you gardeners who like to include cool season plants in your gardens, now’s the time to come to Valley Natural Foods for best selection! Currently available are six-packs of purple kohlrabi, spinach and six-pack mixes like broccoli and cauliflower combos, basic or spicy greens mix, lettuce wildfire mix or Swiss chard bright lights and kale mixes that includes 3 varieties of kale!

Looks like weather conditions are favorable for planting so come check out what we have for you!

On Friday, April 20th, the School of Environmental Studies In Apple Valley celebrated their 17th annual Earth Day event.

The festivities included listening to various non-profits around the Twin Cities talk about earth-friendly themes, doing a variety of service projects that educate students about caring for the planet, and enjoying a healthy, sustainable lunch.

Many of Valley Natural Foods’ vendors graciously donated food to the School of Environmental Studies’ lunch event amounting in well over $1500 of donations!

The vendors who donated included Albert’s Organics, Equal Exchange, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, A Toast a Bread out of St. Paul, MN , Food Should Taste Good Chips, and Alakef Coffee Roasters out of Duluth, MN.

Albert’s donated lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, Rudi’s and A Toast a Bread donated hot dog buns, Food Should Taste good donated chips, Equal Exchange donated chocolate and bananas and Alakef donated tea.

All of these companies are committed to sustainability and we hope you take a little bit of time to get to know their products.

THANK-YOU for your generosity!