This year a very warm March and a mild April has caused some of you to start your grilling season early we hear! Valley Natural Foods meat department staff is ramping up our Down in the Valley fresh sausage production to meet your grilling needs. We make our fresh sausage in-house using naturally-raised pork from Hidden Stream Farm. Ingredients contain no fillers, no preservatives–just delicious seasonings! Many varieties are gluten-free. Check out all the flavors available including mild or hot Italian links and potato sausage. Our Brats include Plain, Wild Rice, Cheddar or Pepper Jack and Philly Cheese Steak, among other tasty flavors.

We also have our new Down in the Valley farm fresh patties! Made from grass-fed beef from Hidden Stream Farm, our patties are available in a variety of tasty options! Meat department manager Jason’s favorite is the Bacon Cheeseburger Patty with cooked Down in the Valley bacon pieces and shredded cheddar cheese mixed in with the meat! Other varieties will be available (like Juicy Lucy) and you can even order a custom mix that our staff will make on the spot at out full-service meat counter – just ask!

Right now, save $1.00 on a 1 lb. minimum purchase of our Down in the Valley fresh sausage or farm fresh patties with online coupons! Coupons good through May 1, 2012.

Imagine our very own BURNSVILLE, MN…

• Recognized on BestOfTheRoad.com as one of the top small towns and points of interest!
• Written about by USA TODAY Travel!
• Featured in the 2014 Rand McNally Road Atlas!

Once again Burnsville is participating in Rand McNally and USA TODAY’S search for the “Best Small Towns in America,” in the Best of the Road Rally. Last year we became just one of six town finalists for “Best for Food.” This year we want Burnsville to win it and we need your help! If you shop or dine in Burnsville, please review our town, upload your photos, and vote Burnsville “Best for Food.”

VOTE HERE! Voting takes just a few moments and you may vote daily, now through May 15th. Simply click on the green “Review & Vote” button, register to vote and start voting everyday! You may also choose to write a review, vote “best for Food,” and upload photos! Check out all the traveler reviews while you’re there – doesn’t it make you feel good what folks are saying about your town?

See where Burnsville currently stands in the 2012 Best Small Towns in America contest. Together, lets bring Burnsville to the number one rating!

Check out Best of the Road on Facebook.

Read the full story on the search for Best Small Towns and attractions in America on USA TODAY Travel.

Here are two fabulous sweepstakes from Seventh Generation –the clean, easy way to celebrate Earth Day all year long!

Want a chance to win a year’s supply of Seventh Generation products? All you have to do is fill out an entry form and place in the Seventh Generation drawing box. At the end of April, Valley Natural Foods will randomly draw out one lucky winner who will receive 30 coupons redeemable for FREE Seventh Generation products–no purchase necessary! Look for Seventh Generation entry forms located near the entrance area in the Valley Natural Foods produce department!

Seventh Generation is also running a Green Your Town Makeover contest! All you have to do is like them on Facebook and you will be connected for a chance to win! Plus, they will be giving away 500 Green Home Starter Kits–you can enter once a day!

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.

Join us for Earth Day here at the co-op!

The first 100 customers through our door on Earth Day– Sunday, April 22–will receive a FREE reusable tote bag (1 per customer). And, if you bring your own mug to the deli, we’ll give you a FREE cup of Fair Trade coffee (1 per customer).

During Earth Week, Sunday April 22 through April 28, reusable tote bags will be on sale for $.99 each. Double green stamps will be issued for using your reusable tote bag. Collect or donate your green stamps (value: $.05 per stamp).

At the co-op, every day is earth day. We call it: sustainability. It’s part of our business practices, our buying standards and our commitment to local food production. When’s the last time you shopped at a grocery store that had a community garden? Go Co-op. Go Green.

Wow! The Class of 2012 graduation season is just around the corner! Join us in the Valley Natural Foods deli on Saturday and check out our deli Graduation Party Preview for some great party ideas. We’ll be presenting our catering program and showcasing our delicious coleslaw, potato salad, a variety of dips and our beautiful catering trays. Deli staff will be available to answer questions or help you plan your event!

Graduation Party Preview
Saturday, April 14, 2012
11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In the deli by the salad bar!

If you participate in our Run for Hope 5k on May 12, 2012 you will not only receive a T-shirt but an awesome swag bag full of yummy items!

BE SURE to REGISTER by APRIL 20th to be guaranteed a t-shirt! The registration cost is only $28.25.

Your FREE swag bag will include bars from Clif Bar, Pro Bar, Nature’s Path, Think thin,  Annie’s Organic, and fruit squeezable smoothies from Happy Squeeze and Happy Morning, a trail mix from Enjoy Life,   and tea from Choice Organic Teas . On race day you will receive water from either Ice Box or Evamor,  a banana from Equal Exchange   and a yogurt from Chobani! These are all companies who donated product for this event and we sincerely appreciate it!

A special thanks also goes out to our Plantium sponsor Amica Insurance, our Silver sponsor Life Wellness Center, and Bronze Sponsors, Dakota Electric Association and Crown Rental.  Your support is greatly appreciated!

100% of all  sponsorship and participation funds will be donated to Hope For Tomorrow Mentoring, a non-profit organization of volunteer business professionals who mentor students in Dakota and Hennepin County schools.

Join our fun, hard-working team at the Valley Natural Foods deli because our deli is growing! There are three positions available right now–just click on the job title link you are interested in to see complete job descriptions and how to apply!

Cook

Deli Crew Member (Juice Bar/Barista)

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!

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.