First, thank you to those of you who attended or reviewed the information from one of the two special meetings the Board organized last summer. Around that time, many of you took up the invitation to participate in an advisory vote to gauge your opinion on whether the Board should continue the effort to bring our grocery store to bear. We recognized that for many of you the lack of a site this many years into the work was stressing the trust you provide the Board.

It was important to have that conversation with you, including reviewing sites that offered potential and the factors that led to their failed viability. We also shared that the two most promising options at the time were 3+ years out. After those meetings, the advisory vote indicated that 70% of member-owners wanted the Board to continue the effort.

There is no perfect site, and our responsibility to member-owners is to investigate sites with an open mind for varying degrees of the following requirements: 7,000ish square feet, a square or rectangular building, 20+ parking spaces, accessible for 52’ semi-trailer deliveries, dock access, ground floor entry, good ingress/egress, and a high traffic location.

You have heard those important nuggets before, but we take any chance we can to re-emphasize them because those details increase the inquiries and leads that come our direction. Even so, I’m aware that the most pressing question is ‘What’s happening now?’

The 5-member site team meets monthly. In the past 12 months, we have explored and visited several potential locations along both sides of University Avenue, re-examined several sites that had been explored years ago, and held fresh conversations, including tours, with some property owners up and down Main St. We began partnering with the Community Relations Committee, a team formed just over a year ago to drive community conversations with elected officials, city staff, businesses, and other stake holders. The teaming has been robust and exciting, and has led to effective education, heightened curiosity, and open doors.

Since late winter, we have been spending most of our effort on a specific site that meets most of the above criteria and would provide the co-op with new opportunities. This site requires a unique approach, and we are focused on doing that well. In the meantime, we remain open to other potential sites so that all exploration is just and fully accountable.

We understand how difficult it is for you to not receive full information, but we are committed to sharing what we can even if the sharing can only go so far. The work is being done, and the talent is here to see it through, thanks to a lot of volunteer hours and a bonding of hearts and minds to always take the next step. When we can share more we will. Nothing will be more satisfying for the Board than to share great news with you. Your trust, help, and engagement help us keep the work moving forward.

Kate Dunning, Site Team Chair

Gather with friends for a member mixer potluck picnic on Wednesday, July 10, 5:30 at Washington Park in Cedar Falls.

Bring a dish to share, your own reusable tableware, and a friend or two to Washington Park to mix, mingle, and reconnect with your co-op community at this family-friendly, casual event. Water with mix-ins will be provided, and we will have disposable tableware available, too!

Whether they grow it, buy it, or create it, co-op members always have yummy, interesting potlucks. Come and see for yourself! You won’t be disappointed.

Cedar Valley Farm Crawl is August 11, 2024 1pm-5 pm

This is a family-friendly event for all ages and gives the public an opportunity to meet local producers and learn more about what locally grown or produced food is available. 

$20/vehicle and $10/bike rider 18 years and older. New in 2024–local food tastings and a guided route for both vehicles and bike riders!

Register HERE for the event by July 11, 2024 or until the event is sold out. Spots are limited to 25 vehicles and 25 registered bike riders. Participants are encouraged to carpool. Families are encouraged to participate in the bike ride and only 18 years and older need to register and pay the fee. 

More information at https://ceee.uni.edu/farm-crawl. 

Participating locations for vehicles: Cook’s Fruits and Vegetables, Fitkin Popcorn, Litteaur’s Garden Produce, Varda Farms & Apiary, and We Arose Demonstration Garden. 

Participating locations for bike riders: We Arose demonstration garden, Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center garden, Litteaur’s Garden Produce, Northeast Iowa Food Bank garden, and Peoples Community Health Clinic garden. 

Contact: Jodie Huegerich at jodie.huegerich@uni.edu

Join us for the Farm Crawl After-Party!

Anyone is welcome and no registration is required. This will take place at We Arose Demonstration Garden (300 Peek St. Waterloo). We will have a vendor booth in addition to UNI Local Food Program, SILT, Practical Farmers of Iowa, and more!

Food will be available for purchase at this event from Concept Kitchen.

The Community Relations team has been hard at work getting this new committee off the
ground and out into the community. After the member owner meetings last fall, it was apparent
to the board that the membership saw a need for a community outreach and education team to work towards developing open lines of communication with local officials. As a result, this
committee was formed.

We have been engaging in conversations with local leaders in an effort to showcase the benefits
of the Rooted Carrot and to express the desires of the membership to move this project forward.
We have identified key individuals that can be helpful in working towards the goal of a site for
the future storefront. We have also had meetings with the site team as we identified that our
work might overlap in many areas at this point in the process.

Moving forward, we may be reaching out to you, our members, to encourage reaching out to
your city councilperson to let them know how important this project is to you and the community.
It is so important to let your local leaders know what you want your community to look like and
when it comes to the Rooted Carrot, reaching out to your elected leaders might make the
difference in compelling leaders to work together with us to achieve the goal of a cooperatively
owned grocery here in the Cedar Valley.

Nick Phillis
Board Member

Happy Summer! The Board of Directors and committees and volunteers are keeping busy! Our Community Relations Committee is making good connections and our Membership/Communications Committee is at farmers markets and planning fun events for all of us. In addition they bring us lots of information through our monthly Garlic Press and social media posts. 

The Board approved our 2024-2025 fiscal year budget that started July 1st. We are planning for board members and committee members to attend the Up & Coming Conference in September in Michigan. 

We are planning a volunteer appreciation for August and possibly bringing the Fall Festival back in September. Also watch for information on the member-owner annual meeting and how you can apply to become a board member starting November 1st. 

Jodie Huegerich, 

President, Board of Directors 

• Cedar Falls Farmers Market – July 13th & Sept. 28th, 8:30-12 at Overman Park
• Waterloo Urban Farmers Market – July 27th, 8-12 at Riverloop Plaza
• Waverly Farmers Market – June 8th & August 24th, 8:30-12 at South Riverside Park, just south of the fire station on 1st St. SW

The annual Farm Crawl, hosted by the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network, UNI Local Food Program, We Arose, and Waterloo Bicycle Works, will be held August 11 from 1:00-5:00.

Take this opportunity to meet local producers and learn more about all they do to bring their goods to consumers.

Again this year, the Rooted Carrot Co-op is excited to support this effort by partnering to host an after party from 5:00-7:00 at the We Arose demonstration gardens. This year there will be vendors at the after party, and food will be available for purchase. Come share your love of local producers with others!!

NOTE: This year’s farm crawl will include tastings AND a guided route for both vehicles and bikes. Thus, registration will be required. Please visit https://ceee.uni.edu/farm-crawl for details!

The board of the Rooted Carrot Co-op takes the fiscal health of the co-op very seriously. Monthly financial reports allow the board to closely monitor the income and expenses, with the goal of opening a cooperative grocery always at the forefront. The May meeting of the board included work on the proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. Many thanks to Gina Brown, past treasurer, and our current treasurer Allie Hartz for their leadership on this!

The Grant Committee is exploring some exciting grant opportunities on the horizon. While we did receive word that the RCCM was not awarded the grant that was mentioned in the April Garlic Press, our application was so impressive to the committee that RCCM was one of the top 3 finalists! This affirms the mission and direction we are heading, and also is recognition for the Grant Committee’s efforts!  

This is just a small sample of the many ways the Rooted Carrot Co-op board and committees continue the work of building support, creating important connections, and fulfilling the mission of the Rooted Carrot Co-op. As a board, we appreciate all who are along on the journey.

Lisa Nelson
RCCM Board Vice-president & Membership/Communications Chair

One of our Rooted Carrot values is Education: We encourage informed choices by educating ourselves and our community on issues of food, wellness, the environment, and human rights.

According to a new report by Feeding America, a nonprofit, nearly 11% of all Iowans and more than 15% of Iowa children are considered food insecure. The report is based on data from 2022, which is the most recent available. For details, here is the link to the report: ‘Map the Meal Gap’: Iowa’s hunger problem is worsening

This is sobering news.

How can you help? Volunteer and/or financially support Northeast Iowa Food Bank (neifb.org) and/or small pantries in your area and stay informed on policies that are affecting Iowans. Check out the Iowa Hunger Coalition and sign up for their monthly newsletter that guides you in taking action to help fight hunger and food insecurity.