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Beans, peas, pasta, nuts,  lentils, soup mixes,  dried fruit, granola, cooking oils, flour and more! The bulk trail at Valley Natural Foods has pretty much everything you need for snacks and meals, usually at a deeper discount than packaged grocery items. So what is stopping you from shopping bulk? Maybe you are overwhelmed by the over 300 choices, maybe you are not sure how to cook those beans or lentils or maybe you don't know how shopping the bulk trail works. Buying in bulk has economic and environmental benefits. A Portland State University Food Industry Leadership study found that, on average, organic bulk food items are less expensive than their organic packaged counterparts. Manufacturers also save, on average, on bulk foods materials and delivery costs, helping reduce the amount of product packaging going into landfills. So why shop bulk? -You can buy only what

By Valley Natural Foods Staff When I first learned about B Corp Certification, I thought oh no, another certification on top of non-GMO, USDA Organic and Fair-Trade labels that will confuse people. However, after doing a bit of research, I realized that B Corp Certification is the creme de la creme of third-party validation, focusing not just on whether a product is organic, fair trade or non-GMO, but on the organizational level too. This certification reflects analyzing a company's environmental performance, how it treats its workers, its governance in regards to transparency and engagement practices and how well its products and services improve the lives of its customers. To receive B Corp certification, a company must fill out a lengthy assessment that measures its success in the areas mentioned: worker impact, environment, governance and customers. Companies that receive at least an 80 out of 200 points, qualify

This post is from our April/May 2012 issue of Living Naturally when our Produce Manager Kim Dvorak visited Equal Exchange banana producers in Peru. Written by Susan Budig Banana bread, banana splits, bananas straight from the peel, banana mashed for the baby, banana muffins with nuts, and sliced on morning cereal; the list keeps going: don’t forget the smoothies and pudding, too! Bananas, as an edible commodity, are sold more than any other fruit worldwide. Its importance as a food crop ranks after rice, wheat and corn. Unique to crop production of bananas, however, is that their growth is exclusive to the tropics. [caption id="attachment_30182" align="alignright" width="366"] "I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” -Produce Manager Kim Dvorak on her experience in Peru. Photos by Kim Dvorak.[/caption] Scott Patterson, Midwest sales manager and worker-owner at Equal Exchange, which supplies Valley Natural Foods with bananas, said,

Valentine's Day is here! Valley Natural Foods has got you covered and has plenty of options of thoughtful last-minute Valentine's Day gifts for the people in your life. Flowers This one is a classic. Giving flowers to someone special is bound to light up their day. We currently have a variety of bouquets of flowers from the vibrant to classic roses. We also have single roses available. Find these lovelies in our produce section as well as the demo kiosk for a limited time. Chocolate Another time-honored gift is chocolate. At Valley, we have a great variety of chocolate, perfect for any type of connoisseur on your list. We carry milk and dark chocolate in many forms from fair-trade to vegan. Sweet Treats If you are in need of a gift to share, Valentine's Day cakes are a great option. We also have heart-shaped brownies, cookies and cookie

Valley Natural Foods carries fair-trade avocados from Equal Exchange. Keep reading to find out more about Equal Exchange and why fair trade matters. What is Equal Exchange? [caption id="attachment_30018" align="alignright" width="447"] Statistics from the 2016 impact of Equal Exchange avocados.[/caption] Equal Exchange works to create "a trade model that respects farmers, builds communities, and supports the environment." The company started in 1986 and initially began working to try to fix the food system with fair-trade coffee in Nicaragua. They have since provided support for small farmers of crops like bananas, chocolate, cocoa, nuts, dried fruits, olive oil and tea. Equal Exchange was founded on the ideas of being (from the Equal Exchange website): A social change organization that would help farmers and their families gain more control over their economic futures. A group that would educate consumers about trade issues affecting farmers. A provider

2018 is here. Phew. With the new year comes a new wave of motivation that we definitely welcome. The list below includes some tips for things to do with that new-year motivation to make a healthy 2018. Find an excuse to walk more. Even if it's just a quick trip outside, walking has the potential to do wonders for your mental and physical health. Try new foods as often as possible. If there something new and intriguing in produce, give it a try it might be a new fave. Are zoodles a thing you've been eyeing for a while but never took the plunge, now's the time. Drink more water. Consider getting a Klean Kanteen or other reusable water to cut down on waste as well as chemical exposure. Wake up on time to give yourself some "me" time. Less

On Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17, 2017 we will be offering a FREE evanhealy gift to the first 20 customers with a purchase of $50 or more in evanhealy products!* Come visit the kiosk on Saturday, December 16 from 11am-2pm to talk to an evanhealy skincare expert who can help you pick the right products for your skin-type.                                                                                                  Beauty Based on Experience Evan Healy is a holistic aesthetician who started her career in the natural personal care industry in 1984. With her extensive background in aromatherapy, homeopathy and Ayurveda, she started evanhealy

Win Groceries, Give Groceries! Generosity is its own reward, but if you’d like the opportunity to give to others and get great groceries yourself, stop by the co-op in early December to participate in the “Goodness Giveaway,” featuring great Co+op Basics groceries. Valley Natural Foods will be giving away an assortment of Co+op Basics items valued at $75 to one lucky winner and making a $75 donation in the winner’s name to 360 Communities Emergency Food Shelves. Win the gift of healthy food and support an organization in our community that provides healthy foods to many of our neighbors. Locate our Co+op Basics shelf display between aisle 5 & 6, and fill out an entry form for a chance to win. No purchase necessary. Concern for the Community One of the seven cooperative principles is “Concern for the Community.” Providing healthy foods for the

Gray Duck Chai Teas Gray Duck Chai started in 2011 when Katey Nieber couldn’t find a chai tea in Minneapolis that matched the superior quality and flavor of one she had tasted in Seattle. With a background from the Culinary Institute of America she started concocting her own custom chai blends. She partnered with Jon Alden, a fellow chai enthusiast and the rest is history. All of their chai teas are made from 100% organic ingredients, containing just the right balance of robust freshly ground spices, black tea sourced from the Assam region of India and then lightly sweetened. We now carry the following varieties: Burnt Sugar and Ginger Rooibos and Minnesota Honey Nine Spice Blend These locally produced chai teas can be found in Aisle 5 near the boxed teas and instant coffee. Fig Food Company Organic Soups Introducing 100% plant-based organic soups from

In the midst of the transition from summer fruits and veggies we get the super fruit that is the pomegranate. The fruit itself is in seed form underneath thick red skin, and offers a challenge for those seeking the vibrantly flavored fruit. The super fruit designation comes from the fact that pomegranate juice is super high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are useful in helping cells fight off damage from free radicals which can come from exposure to air pollutants, chemicals and UV rays. Antioxidants are said to fight off cancer. Pomegranates are also high in Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Vitamin C is essential for many processes in the body. Vitamin C also of course helps boost immunity. See below for more information about this super fruit and how to use them. Pomegranate Health Benefits Very high in antioxidants High in Vitamin C and K