Go Co-op. Go Green. Check out what Valley Natural Foods is doing for Earth Day, April 22 Don’t miss these awesome freebies!

Eco Tip # 1: Did you know Valley Natural Foods has a large compost program? In addition to separating the usual compostable waste items like fruits, veggies, coffee grounds and certain paper products, Valley Natural Foods also includes meat scraps! We’re connected to the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility located in Shakopee, a facility that processes compostable items in a temperature range of 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks at a time—hot enough and long enough to handle those meat scraps! (And all this composting does not include the 4 cubic yards of stretchy plastic packaging material we also collect and send off to another recycling company—we’re pretty proud of that too!) Overall, our co-op recycles nearly 90% of our solid waste. If you’re interested in purchasing great compost for your yard or garden, click the SMSC link above for more information.

Eco Tip # 2: So lets talk about the metal scraps. We know of a good company if you’re looking to get rid of any metal material around your home or business. Rocko’s Metal Recycling will remove, haul and recycle auto parts, bikes and bike parts, air conditioners, furnaces, house radiators, metal fencing, metal patio furniture, washers and dryers, stoves and microwaves, metal siding, computer parts (no monitors), piping, wiring, lawn and snow blowers. They’ll even PAY you for your old junk vehicles! To contact Rocko’s, call Kathie (612-521-2368) or Steve (612-462-3887) or email them at ihaulscrap21@yahoo.com.

Earth Day is honored everyday when we compost or recycle regularly!

Green Spotlight:  Notes from Nancy Grant

Can a food co-op add sustainable ideas to its daily operations? Sure, the co-op encourages food producers to take the best care possible of their land and natural resources. But what about other opportunities for a “greener” approach?

At Valley Natural Foods the hunt is on to find ways to take better care of the environment right here in the store.

The first good idea: Replace the paper towel dispensers in the restrooms with electric hand dryers to cut down on paper waste. The second good idea: Encourage office staffers to use e-mail and other computer technology as often as possible, then print documents on paper only when absolutely necessary. Throughout the co-op, the idea is to use a little less paper, please.

Simple steps like these are part of a much larger effort to put the sustainability concepts in the co-op’s FRESH values statement into daily practice. Each greener choice must also make solid financial success, to support a healthy financial bottom line for co-op member-owners. In every department, managers and employees are making new, greener ideas part of the work day. The co-op recently published its first online Green Report describing these new approaches.

Watch for more ideas about energy efficient lighting, recycling programs, energy-wise choices for food storage and preparation (in the co-op’s kitchen and yours!) in upcoming issues of Healthy Updates.

Energy journalist and blogger Nancy S. Grant is a member of the Cooperative Communicators Association.

This past year, Valley Natural Foods partnered with Dakota County Technical College and the Salvation Army to encourage shoppers to use reusable bags. Through the donation of our Green Stamp Program, DCTC purchased reusable bags for the Salvation Army food shelf in Dakota County. They report that 80% of food shelf recipients are now using those bags.

Have you considered bagging your groceries into a reusable bag? We are interested to better understand your shopping habits in this area. Please take the following Online Survey to help us complete this project.