Green Spotlight:  Notes from Nancy Grant

Cooking and serving lots of tasty foods from the deli kitchen takes great recipes and attention to the tiniest details. That includes thinking about energy use, water consumption, and ways to prevent waste.

Deli manager Jill Webster says the job’s easier because she’s surrounded by helpful “green thinking” team members.

Valley Natural Foods co-op general manager Susan McGaughey believes in purchasing the most energy-efficient kitchen appliances available that save money in operating expenses in the long run. Today’s co-op kitchen features large stand mixers, slicers, a high-tech convection oven, plus a ten-rack “combi” oven that can steam and bake different kinds of foods at the same time. Such multi-tasking is simple with programmable controls that help prevent energy waste.

Webster also counts on her keen-eyed deli staff members to turn off equipment when it’s not needed. Webster says her team members are also especially good at noticing dripping faucets and leaks, then fixing problems promptly to conserve water.

Ordinary day-to-day maintenance plays a big role in being energy wise, too. Webster follows a regular schedule to keep vents and all equipment parts clean and operating at peak efficiency.

Webster is especially pleased that deli shoppers can get involved in making “green” choices, too. The self-service area includes responsibly produced paper items for take-out orders. For shoppers who want to enjoy food and drinks on-site, Webster offers real glassware and serving dishes that can be washed and re-used again and again. That reduces trash going to the landfill, another planet-friendly strategy.

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

Click here to read the Valley Natural Foods Green Report 2010.

Join our growing Deli! We are in search of TWO talented, creative and professional Deli Leads to help manage the front of house and back of house operations at Valley Natural Foods.

Ideal candidates MUST have open availability, 1-3 years management and customer service experience, and a cheery, professional attitude. Organizational skills, creativity and the ability to lift 30-50+ pounds regularly are additional qualities we are searching for in an applicant.  Previous barista and/or catering experience are required for the Deli Lead-Front of House, and 2-4 years professional cooking/baking experience is required for the Deli Lead-Back of House.

Qualified applicants should submit a cover letter with wage expectations as well as a resume to hr@valleynaturalfoods.com

You can grow something from every color of the rainbow in your garden! It won’t be long before we’re back in our gardens so now’s the time to start planning. If you are the kind of gardener who likes to grow fruits, veggies, herbs and flowers from seed, check out the great selection of High Mowing Organic Seeds now available in the Valley Natural Foods produce department.

According to their Web site, High Mowing Organic Seeds is an independently-owned, farm-based seed company dedicated to supporting sustainable agriculture and providing farmers and gardeners with the highest quality certified organic seed. To learn more, visit highmowingseeds.com.

The February 2 Co+op Deals flyer offers good deals on selected  items for 2 weeks! Good deals become GREAT deals on three of those sale items when you combine them with your Jan-Feb 2011 Co+op Deals coupon book!

Look for:

Selected varieties of R.W. Knudsen Juice on sale for $2.99. Use a $.75 coupon and final purchase is $2.24!

Selected varieties of Cascadian Farm Frozen Potatoes on sale for 2/$5.00. Use a $1.00 coupon and final purchase is $1.50!

Adults and children’s Oscillococcinum by Boiron on sale for $10.99. Use a $1.00 coupon and final purchase is $9.99 each!

Stop by and pick up a February Co+op Deals  flyer and Jan-Feb coupon book on your next shopping trip here at Valley Natural Foods!

Member-owners of Valley Natural Foods are invited to socialize over light appetizers, screen Fresh, The Movie (click here for Press Release) and meet with the board of directors. Not a member yet? Join now at customer service, RSVP for the annual meeting by October 15 and attend the meeting on October 18!

EARN A 15% DISCOUNT IN NOVEMBER!

To receive a 15% discount in lieu of your monthly member discount for the month of November, you must:
• RSVP online or at 952-891-1212, #221, or in person at customer service by Oct. 15 and
• Register in person at the Oct. 18 membership meeting.
You must be a member-owner of Valley Natural Foods, RSVP and register to receive this special discount.

Don’t miss this annual event!
Location: School of Environmental Studies (Park in the MN Zoo Tiger Parking Lot)
Date: October 18, 2010

Agenda:
• 5:30-6:30 p.m. Light refreshments (served while food lasts)
• 5:30-7:00 p.m. Registration, Social Time and Information Booths
• 7:00-8:15 p.m. Movie Screening of Fresh, The Movie
• 8:15-8:50 p.m. Annual Meeting, member discussion
• 8:50 p.m. Prize Drawings (including $100 co-op gift card)

Exercise your right to vote!
Access the Annual Report, Annual Membership Meeting details and online Ballot at: www.valleynaturalfoods.com. Computer available to all member-owners at customer service. VOTING ENDS OCTOBER 15. Vote online, vote green!

Four-legged furry friends frolick for fun and funds!

Woofer and Hoofer walk is coming up on June 5 and because we love our four-legged friends we’re donating to the Minnesota Valley Humane Society’s fundraiser. As a member of the co-op you’ve already helped by voting to give a portion of the CCF fund to the Humane Society.

MVHS mission is: To prevent and alleviate animal suffering through shelter, adoption, education, collaboration and community outreach; and to strengthen the relationship between people and companion animals.

If you would like to support the Woofer & Hoofer fundraiser, sign up to walk and fundraise on your own OR contribute to Valley Natural Foods’ donation page. Visit our homepage and click on the Woofer & Hoofer banner.

Be sure to stop by our sponsor at Woofer & Hoofer to receive a pet food sample!

Wednesday, May 19 from 6:30-8:15 p.m.

Heritage Library

20085 Heritage Drive, Lakeville

Many children’s products have recently been recalled due to toxic chemicals, such as lead and cadmium. The Lakeville Friends of the Environment (LFE) is sponsoring this event, conducted by Clean Water Action as a part of the Health Legacy Coalition.

LFE advises families to bring the following items to be tested: children’s jewelry, vinyl toys such as rubber ducks and bath books, painted wooden toys or any other item you would like to test.

In addition to testing, Kim LaBo of Clean Water Action and the Health Legacy Coalition will present on common household products that may contain toxic chemicals. She will identify these chemicals, the products they are in and the safer alternatives.

Valley Natural Foods carries a great selection of non-toxic cleaners and beauty products. The co-op is also helping LFE raise funds to put on community awareness events such as this. If you are interested in contributing to LFE, collection cans are posted at each register.

For more information on LFE or this event, contact the group at 952-250-3320.

Gardening Matters Presents: 

6th Annual Community Garden Spring Resource Fair

Saturday March 27th 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sabathani Commmunity Center 310 E 38th Street, Minneapolis
 
$5 suggested donation 

A day filled with workshops and information about great local resources with a focus on community gardening, local food and community building. Valley Natural Foods is proud to be a sponsor of this fantastic event. Read the PDF flyer for more information or visit www.gardeningmatters.org

For more information, contact Gardening Matters at 612-492-8964
www.gardeningmatters.org
 

At this time of year, you can find many seasonal products stocked on our shelves for your convenience. Though many Kosher items are available year round here at Valley Natural Foods, look for a dedicated shelf of Kosher products this month including a variety of matzo items, cake meal and macaroons, among other good items suitable for dietary and cultural needs.

Other seasonal items for the month include:

Fresh seafood - take a look in our fresh seafood case to find a wide variety of fish items available.

Nitrate-free, all-natural hams fresh from Hidden Stream Farm are available in the meat department.

As you approach our store registers, you can find a nice selection of Bissinger’s natural candies including chocolate Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and natural jelly beans among other tasty candies sure to delight everyone.

Valley Natural Foods will host a free screening of Food, Inc. at the School of Environmental Studies in Apple Valley on Thursday evening, April 8.

This documentary film uncovers surprising, and often unsettling, truths about what we eat, how it’s produced, and the long-lasting impact on the health of each one of us, our children, our local economy and our community.

The screening will be followed by a panel of local fair-trade farmers, food producers and a community gard ening advocate who will share their perspectives, offer sustainable healthy alternatives, and respond to audience questions.

“In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment.

“We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults. Featuring interviews with experts and forward thinking farmers and social entrepreneurs, Food, Inc. reveals who we have become as a nation and where we can go from here.” Read More