Building community, connections, and understanding is vital to the co-op moving forward. That is the goal for our new Rooted Carrot Co-op event called Brews and FAQs!

Member-owners are invited to come to a coffee shop or a bar for some brews (or any beverage of your choice, of course). Board members will be present to connect with fellow member-owners and answer any questions (FAQs) that may come up. 

There are two opportunities to come to Brews and FAQs in January. Please come on out, and watch for more dates this spring! 

• Brews & FAQs: Tuesday, January 13 | 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Urban Pie
• Brews & FAQs – Morning Coffee: Saturday, January 17 |  9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at Side Car Coffee on 1st Street

It is time again to lift up and encourage support for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank during Food Bank February! The Northeast Iowa Food Bank helps feed the growing number of northeast Iowans facing food insecurity across 16 counties. Volunteers are an important part of expanding the impact that can be made. 

RCCM member-owners will work together on Saturday, February 21 from noon – 2 p.m to help feed families right here in Black Hawk County. If you’d like to be part of the team, please email membership@rootedcarrot.coop by February 15th to give staff at the NEIFB time to plan for the size of our group. Space is limited. 

If this day doesn’t work in your schedule and you’d like to volunteer another time, go to the NEIFB Volunteer page and sign up today! 

If you are interested in donating food or money, or in corporate or planned giving, visit the NEIFB donations page for information. 

The RCCM board is excited to embark on a new year filled with possibilities. We are delighted to welcome Lisa Nelson as our new board President, bringing invaluable knowledge of the local food ecosystem and a deep commitment to community development. New board members Kathryn Gilbery, Rich Ross, and Marian Kuper are quickly integrating and offering refreshing ideas and enthusiasm.

Mark your calendars for February 4th! Kathryn Gilbery, one of our newest board members, will be a featured speaker at the annual Farm to Fork Dinner, hosted by the UNI-CEEE Local Food Program. This event is a great opportunity to connect with neighbors, farmers, and advocates to share a meal, stories, and a shared vision for a strong regional food system. We encourage you to attend. Event information and registration can be found here.

The search for a market storefront location is ongoing. We appreciate the leads provided by our member-owners, and our site team is diligently following up and discussing potential sites with local developers.

As a new board member, I am incredibly impressed by the dedication and resilience of our co-op members. Even without a physical storefront, the co-op significantly supported the health of the Cedar Valley’s local food system throughout 2025. Here’s a quick overview:Continue reading→

Exciting News!! RCCM volunteers are working to organize a spring membership event centered on VERMICULTURE! Or, more simply, worm composting. 

Why? How does this event fit with RCCM values? Sustainability is a core value of the co-op, working together to cultivate a healthy community through sustainable practices. Using worms to compost food scraps helps reduce the amount of food in local landfills, and the worms produce castings that can be used as fertilizer, reducing chemical fertilizer use AND helping you grow bigger, better produce at home. 

Education is also a core value of the co-op. As soon as the volunteer team sets a date with a knowledgeable presenter, we will share the details! STAY TUNED!! 

From: Bethlehem Coop Market – https://bethlehemcoopmarket.com/recipe/carrot-ginger-soup/

Recipe By: Justin Beaver, BFC Board Member and Sourcing Chair

–With a new year comes two things: resolutions and cold weather. And what better way to keep the chill away than a piping-hot bowl of soup?

Prep Time: 15 – 30 Minutes

Serves: 8

Difficulty: Easy

 Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 1⁄2 pounds carrots, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 fennel bulb, sliced
• 1 yellow onion, sliced
• 1 inch ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
• 1 Tbsp turmeric
• 2 cups carrot juice, if unavailable, substitute vegetable stock
• 4 cups vegetable broth, plus more as needed
• 1 orange, zested
• 1 bunch of thyme wrapped in cheesecloth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Steps

1. Over medium heat, sweat the onions and fennel in the olive oil until translucent.
2. Add the carrots, ginger and turmeric. Sweat until fragrant.
3. Add the juice, stock, orange zest, and thyme when fragrant.
4. Simmer until vegetables are tender. Add more stock, as needed, to keep the vegetables submerged.
5. batches, purée until smooth

Dietary Needs: Gluten-free, Nut-free, Vegetarian

Give the gift of a Rooted Carrot Membership! 

If you have someone on your list who is interested in healthy food, building community, and/or supporting local farmers & producers, the perfect gift is only a few clicks away! Surprise them with the gift of a Rooted Carrot Co-op Membership. 

It will positively impact the community AND allow them to access discounts at RCCM Community Partners throughout the Cedar Valley. 

Click here to get started today! 

The holidays are the perfect time to give gifts that not only delight, but also make a positive impact on our community. This year, consider gifts that support our local farmers and artisans right here in the Cedar Valley.

Click Here for some amazing ideas that will keep your friends and family smiling, while also helping your community thrive! 

A few of our VERY OWN board members have recently been recognized for the hard work they are doing to spread awareness about the importance of supporting local food in our communities!

• Mallory DeVries and the Healthy Harvest of North Iowa made history by winning the 2025 Farm Credit MarketMaker Innovation Award, the first time an Iowa-based project has claimed this national honor. Read More>>
• Kathryn Gilbery was named as one of the 20 Under 40 for her work as the Local Food Access Coordinator at UNI. Read More >>

Thank you both for your commitment and dedication to local food – the work you are doing is making a difference, and we are very fortunate to have you serve on the board for the Rooted Carrot Co-op!

This month, Rooted Carrot is pleased to welcome three new board members whose experience and passion will strengthen our work in the year ahead.

Richard “Rich” Ross of Waverly joins us with a deep commitment to food insecurity and health equity, shaped by his own lived experience. Rich works at Paha Cider and with Cedar Valley Makers, and brings a storyteller’s perspective to the board. He believes narrative is a powerful tool for breaking down barriers and helping communities reimagine what equitable access to healthy food can look like.

Marian Kuper of Reinbeck brings decades of cooperative experience, including her early years co-managing Cedar Falls’ former Cotton Top Natural Foods Co-op. She has spent much of her life engaged in co-ops, food buying clubs, and community organizations, and her hands-on understanding of cooperative operations and governance will be a tremendous asset as we move from planning into implementation.

Kathryn Gilbery of Waterloo works with UNI’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education as the Local Food Access Coordinator. Her background in local food systems and her firsthand understanding of how co-ops support farmers and keep food dollars local make her a strong advocate for building a year-round market for Cedar Valley producers.

We are also pleased to share this year’s board officer appointments. Lisa Nelson will serve as Board President, with Kathryn Gilbery as Vice President, Marian Kuper as Treasurer, and Mindy Doyle as Secretary.

We’re grateful for the leadership of our officers and for the energy and commitment of our newest members as we continue building a cooperative grocery store that reflects and serves the Cedar Valley.

Mallory DeVries

RCCM Board Member

By:  Co+op

Total Time: 

30 minutes; 20 minutes active

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 3 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large carrot, chopped
• 2 medium yellow or red potatoes, cubed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups turkey or chicken stock
• 1 (10.75-ounce) can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound frozen corn (about 3 cups), thawed
• 2 1/2 cups cubed turkey
• 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Preparation

1. Line a plate with paper towels and reserve. In a large pot over medium heat, sprinkle the bacon pieces. Stir occasionally until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared plate.
2. Pour off the bacon fat, leaving behind 2 to 3 tablespoons. Add celery, onion, carrot, potato and bay leaf; cook and stir over medium-high heat until vegetables start to soften, about 5 minutes.
3. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir in until well mixed, then gradually stir in stock. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Add can of soup and cream and mix well. Stir in corn, turkey and parsley, and reduce heat to simmer gently. Cook, uncovered, until the soup is warmed through, about 10 minutes.
4. Discard bay leaf. Serve with the bacon stirred into the soup.

Serving Suggestion

Serve with warm rolls or buttered toast for dunking.

Nutritional Information

370 calories, 13 g. fat, 55 mg. cholesterol, 1210 mg. sodium, 44 g. carbohydrate, 4 g. fiber, 21 g. protein

Link: https://www.grocery.coop/recipes/turkey-corn-chowder