Author: Evan Friedley

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Featured, Fresh Deli, Product Pick of the Week, Staff Stories

Over the last six years she has been working as a deli shift lead, Sandy is amazed at the amount of food the co-op’s little kitchen produces and the large amount of customers it is able to serve daily. Now she feels the deli’s breakfast options, which include breakfast sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, and hot oatmeal, fill a nice niche that was missing before. It pleases Sandy how the co-op seeks to meet more and more needs over time, which relates to the store’s mission of helping to create a healthy community. And when you are tired from getting up at 3:00 a.m. to do your Black Friday shopping, hopefully the deli’s breakfast options can meet your need for food fast! The deli’s drive thru opens at 6:30 a.m. on Black Friday, November 27 to give you that boost you need to do

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Uncategorized

Our staff chose cranberry salsa as a product they love and want to share with you, our customers, this week from November 15  through November 21. Timi, who works in Valley Natural Foods’ produce department, chose to share her story as to why she loves this product. When one thinks about the holidays, it is easy to think about traditions. However, as Timi asks, how many green bean casseroles do you really need? While traditions are comforting and full of memories, sometimes it is fun to be different and to bring unique and diverse foods to family gatherings. What is more unique than a mix of minced cranberries, jalapenos, red onions, cilantro, lime juice and honey to create our produce department’s house-made cranberry salsa? For Timi, she had never seen anything quite like it, especially the combination of jalapenos and cranberries, which produces a sweet and

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Featured

Click here for Cory's homemade bone broth recipe.  Click here to download Cory's bone broth tips. Click here for Cory's beef stew recipe using homemade bone broth. Our staff chose stewing beef as a product they love and want to share with you, our customers, this week from November 8 through November 14. Cory, who works in Valley Natural Foods' meat department, chose to share his story of why he loves stewing beef. For the last month, Cory is all about preparing beef bone broth using stewing meat and fresh bones. He even keeps a quart in the freezer for when he runs out and then every few weeks, he will make a new batch. Although he cannot pinpoint bone broth as the exact reason he is feeling sharper than ever these days, he does know it most likely plays a part. He admits that bone

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Education, Farm Partner

By: Loris Sofia Gregory, Healthy Kitchen & Home Coach, Apple Valley, MN, Guest Blogger *The local items listed in this blog post are subject to limited daily availability July gifts us with a healthy abundance of flavorful fresh produce: the crisp nutrient-packed greens of basil, broccoli, cabbage, cilantro, cucumbers, dark leafy greens, garlic scapes, parsley and zucchini; the succulent yellows, reds and oranges of beets, berries, carrots, melons, radishes, romaine and summer squashes; and the captivating earthy rainbow of heirloom tomatoes. Satisfying summer meals and optimum health are not the only benefits of eating a rainbow of FRESH & LOCAL produce. When we buy local, we help our local farm families earn a living, which in turn preserves farmland around us. Buying fresh local food also supports our local economy and saves money through minimizing and eliminating processing, packaging, marketing and transportation costs.

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Uncategorized

Here's a sneak peek of the new logo! Soon we will be unveiling a fresh, new look for Valley Natural Foods. Large visual changes are in progress now through August including removal of existing vinyl graphics and a fresh coat of paint. Project goal: The goal of the project is to make things clearer and easier to find in the store. Fresh Values Our values haven’t changed, but you’ll see some changes in our appearance to better reflect our values, as well as the quality of the products we offer to our customers. Project Steps We talked to staff members and owners and collected a consensus for what Valley Natural Foods really “looks” like. Did you know we were originally organized by a group of families looking for healthy food? Keeping in mind the history and the mission of the business along with feedback we developed

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Co-op Gardens, Featured

Greetings! Many of you are asking about the metallic brown/black beetles that are all over your bean plants, roses and grapevines. These are the much despised Japanese Beetles, and they are everywhere. [caption id="attachment_23585" align="aligncenter" width="347"] Japanese Beetle. Too bad they can’t just be earrings.[/caption] Earlier in the spring, I was really hopeful we wouldn’t see too many of them because I didn’t find too many JB grubs in the ground. (Their grubs are the white ones with the orange faces.) They over-winter underground and start to emerge late June-mid July where they start a gluttonous party that would put the revelers of Dionysus to shame. [caption id="attachment_23586" align="alignnone" width="230"] Dionysus. Like the Japanese Beetles, he’s got your garden by the grapes.[/caption] JB’s will notoriously go after just about anything edible, and even some things that aren’t. Gardener chat sites are filled with discussions about them, any

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Featured, Wellness Center

[caption id="attachment_23232" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Jiaogulan Immortalitea is available in the bulk tea and spice area of Valley Natural Foods near the wellness department. The co-op also sells the ceramic mug pictured in the general merchandise area and the wooden tea baskets are available in the wellness department.[/caption] All information in this post is adapted from an article by Valley Natural Foods’ wellness department associate and herbalist, Chip Greene. Stop by the wellness department and get more information from Chip on this amazing tea. Valley Natural Foods’ wellness department is excited to bring you a unique, specialized organic bulk herb tea called Jiaogulan or Immortalitea, grown in Northern Thailand in the foothills of the Himalayas. This herb cultivates in low-laying vine or ground cover leaf clusters and its seed has vegetable origins, deriving from the cucumber family. Jiaogulan is a Gynostemma pentaphyllum herb tea,

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Local Profile

by Susan Budig From farm-to-city takes on new meaning at the 31,000-square-foot structure in northeast Minneapolis known locally as the Food Building. A unique facility owned by Kieran Folliard, creator of the Irish pub scene in the Twin Cities, has opened its doors to farmborn artisanal food production. It’s now home to the Lone Grazer Creamery. Rueben Nilsson, co-owner and head cheese-maker, started the business because he wanted consumers to understand the connection from farm to table. “The idea was to create a place where people could come and see where their food is made,” he says. It’s a place to blend the art and science of cheesemaking crafted from the milk of Minnesota grass-fed herds. A Creamery in Urban Minneapolis Cows are not common in the Twin Cities except during the State Fair at the end of summer. Nilsson was attracted to the idea of making

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Uncategorized

Summer vacation and warm weather brings thirsty kids to the kitchen looking for something to drink. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly advises against energy drinks for children and adolescents because of high amounts of caffeine and other stimulants. Doctors only advise sports drinks during or after rigorous exercise because of the sugar content (concern for obesity and dental caries). What can we do to keep kids hydrated and satisfied during the active summer months? 1. Water, water and more water! Mineral waters are especially helpful on those hot, active days when kids need to replenish electrolytes lost during vigorous play. The Kids Health website: http://goo.gl/u4ZA99 gives the perfect explanation for children, telling them why water is important and how much they should be drinking. 2. Healthier sports drinks. For those hottest days when kids are active outside, you can make healthy

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Farm Partner, Grocery, Local Vendor

The farm has been in the family for just over 100 years. Tim’s parents, Jon and Lisa Zweber took over the operation from Jon’s father in 1984. A couple of years ago, Tim and his wife Emily joined a long standing tradition by becoming partners in Zweber Farms. Tim’s younger siblings, Sarah, Steven and Samantha still help out on the farm, and one day, Tim and Emily’s children might decide to do the same. Meanwhile, Tim and Emily’s three children ages 7, 5, and 2 like to do the chores with their Papa, and already know all about chopping corn and making haylage. There are always challenges with running a farm; however, the Zwebers have learned to create positives out of negatives. Sited in the Big Woods Area, much of their acreage is characterized by rolling hillsides that taper into tight

13750 Co Rd 11, Burnsville, MN 55337

Call us during store hours at: 952-891-1212

Valley Natural Foods Co-op works in partnership with the South Metro community to support health and well-being through education and expertise in local, sustainable food and wellness services.

Store Hours:

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Daily

Coffee & Juice Bar In-Store Hours 8:00 a.m. –7:00 p.m. daily

Coffee & Juice Bar Drive-Thru Window 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, November 28 – Closed for Thanksgiving Day

Tuesday, December 24 – 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (early closing)

Wednesday, December 25 – Closed for Christmas Day

Tuesday, December 31 – 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. (early closing)

Wednesday, Jan 1 – 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. New Year’s Day Hours

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