As your Co-op continues doing the important work of opening a full-service community-owned grocery business, the contribution of volunteers on each committee is crucial. One such committee that has been a steady and often-under-the-radar force is the Rooted Carrot’s finance team. Continue reading→

Patience is not a popular virtue in our instant gratification culture. We’ve become accustomed to having our wishes granted with the tap of an app or by simply shouting, “Hey Siri, build us co-op in Cedar Falls!” We wish it were this easy. Building a community co-op is pioneer work, one bumpy, risky, dream-filled step at a time. What does it take to get to the Promised Land?Continue reading→

Attendees enjoyed the Member mixer potluck and volunteer appreciation night at Washington Park last month! Please pay attention to the calendar of events and articles about upcoming events. We may not have a physical store at this time but we are a Co-op community and we want to bring together members and other people who may be interested in learning more about the Co-op. All of our events are open to members and nonmembers. The only exception is the Member-owner Annual Meeting. That is an opportunity for members only to get an update on the Co-op.Continue reading→

Join Our Board!

Do you have a vision and a passion for building and advancing a cooperatively-owned local business?

Do you want to be part of the team that helps to bring a unique grocery store stocked with locally-produced products to Cedar Falls?

Do you want to help make decisions regarding the store site, store design, and hiring of the general manager?Continue reading→

Regular readers of the Garlic Press (and Co-op member-owners) know there’s a Capital Campaign underway to raise necessary funds for the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market. But some have been wondering, “Why don’t I hear much about the campaign?” Good question!Continue reading→

Join Rooted Carrot Co-op members and potential members on the Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network Farm Crawl. The Farm Crawl is an opportunity for community members to learn how your food is grown and learn about local producers’ growing practices. You also have the opportunity to visit some backyard gardens and community gardens. The event is free, fun for all ages, and anyone can attend. You can find out more information at Farm Crawl 2022 | Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network (cvfoodfarmnetwork.org). Follow Cedar Valley Regional Food & Farm Network on Facebook and Instagram. The website will be updated with new locations every week so check back often! Continue reading→

You may have seen this recent article in the Courier. YES we are still actively seeking a site and YES we still have volunteers working daily on bringing a Co-op to the Cedar Valley!!!! Continue reading→

The Capital Communications Committee is dreaming up some fun ways to promote the Capital Campaign when it fires up again! One such project is a video to be recorded at area Farmer’s Markets. The Committee would LOVE your help with this—you simply will be recorded saying a few words about how the Co-op is important to you. Yep, that’s it! And market vendors who are members of the Rooted Carrot, we’d love your input too! Recording will happen at local markets in the near future – let us know by June 15 if you (and your family!) want to be part of the video. Call 319.535.0281 or email info@rootedcarrot.coop. Thanks, this is going to be FUN!Continue reading→

This year’s Up & Coming Conference for start-up food co-ops was arranged by the Indiana Cooperative Development Center and Food Co-op Initiative, and hosted by Willy Street Co-op in Madison, WI on May 19-21. The Rooted Carrot Co-op Market received a $500 scholarship to assist in attendance costs. These grants were made possible through the generosity of the Ralph K. Morris Foundation, the Cooperative Development Foundation, and Food Co-op Initiative. Board members Gina Maria Brown, Christine Sexton, Lisa Nelson, and Tom Wickersham took this opportunity to witness solidarity among cooperatives with over 50 workshops presented by consultants and peers. Each day the four board members broke into different workshop tracks based around the four cornerstones for startup food co-ops (Vision, Talent, Systems/Operations, & Capital).  Below are some reflections from Gina, Lisa, and Tom.Continue reading→

Did you know that the day-to-day work to open your Rooted Carrot Co-op is done by volunteers? It’s a huge endeavor to start a full-service cooperative grocery store, and we are grateful to all of the people past, present, and future who have given time and talent to this project.

In this June Garlic Press spotlight, we highlight and thank the Rooted Carrot Site Team and more specifically introduce you to two of the fascinating individuals serving on this committee.

The Rooted Carrot Site Team is responsible for researching and vetting potential store sites against the time-tested and data-driven requirements for a successful start-up food cooperative. Examples of the site team’s work include real estate research ranging from opening conversations to lease agreement work, market and industry study, teaming with partners like the city and local economic organizations, project management with architects, engineers, developers and designers and communication with those impacted, like future site neighbors and member-owners in general.

“Our site team’s goal is to vet these variables with an eye of potential rather than hasty dismissal,” explains co-chair Kate Dunning. “For example, some of the requirements can be achieved with thoughtful tweaks to the building plan or through stand-out signage. In the end, a site needs to meet most of the requirements in order for the site team to proceed in good faith on behalf of membership.”

Site Selection volunteers include co-chairs Kate Dunning (businesswoman and board member) and Christine Sexton (registered dietician and board vice president) along with Tom Blanford (businessman, capital campaign co-chair), Terry Stewart (retired military, former board member), Mark Westbrock (local producer, owner of Solstice Farm), Deanna Wheeler (real estate broker/owner), and Tom Wickersham (non-profit program director, board member, capital campaign co-chair).  

This current team has worked together for almost 3 years. “Our team is extraordinary,” Kate Dunning says. “The seven of us spur into action with energy, and divide and conquer in an organized and effective manner. The passion we have for this work plays out in the problem-solving and action that we carry to the finish line together.” This can be challenging, as that finish line may mean walking away from one project despite years of effort. However with this team’s robust and collaborative decision-making, new site opportunities open up which, in turn, receive the same detailed vetting and, if appropriate, execution of next steps.

If you have interest in assisting with this team, the co-chairs would appreciate hearing from you. Most specifically, they encourage individuals with legal expertise to reach out. Of course, all input is welcome. As the co-chairs point out, “We are acutely aware that our work is for our member-owners in that the better we execute now, the better the odds of sustained store success for years to come… and they WILL come!” 

Here’s a closer look into the experiences of two of the Co-op’s Site Team members:

Deanna Wheeler 

Since March of 2020, Deanna Wheeler has been an invaluable member of the Rooted Carrot Co-op Site Team. With her background in real estate, she has brought a critical lens to the important work of this committee. She dove in immediately, researching and vetting all possible sites – including existing buildings, potential new-builds – as well as revisiting prior possibilities and tending to any leads that were suggested. And she did this all during the first month of a global pandemic!

Deanna is good at prioritizing the Co-op’s needs and vision which is crucial in her role, along with legal counsel, representing our business in lease-work. Once our Co-op has a contractor, she will serve as the Site Team’s vital point-person. Committee co-chairs describe her as “hard-working and whip-smart” and highlight her strong communication skills. She is the one who makes sure the committee stays clear on both the big and small things.

When asked why she chose to volunteer, Deann first points to the way she was recruited – the ask came from a respected client and friend. “My  ‘Why’ (for this volunteer role) is  simply, ‘Why not?’” she says. “The way I see it, to be a part of something that will have a positive and lasting impact on the community is not only an important mission, but it is a necessity for me to give back to this community I love and have been a part of for over 30 years.” She fully believes in the mission of this grassroots effort. “This is so much more than just a ‘project.’ This is a long-term benefit for our community.”

A University of Northern Iowa graduate, Deanna majored in psychology. She has since raised 3 children in the Cedar Valley who are all adults now and, as she proudly describes, “flourishing on their own.” A business owner herself for more than 20 years, and in the real estate business over 30 years, Deanna appreciates the importance of locally-owned businesses. She also has a fondness for the outdoors and regularly takes advantage of the amazing Cedar Valley trail system, having trained for and run several half and full marathons. She lives by one of her favorite sayings: I can’t, therefore I must…We can all do better, be better… and just continue to strive to give back.

Mark Westbrock joined the Co-op soon after he and his family moved to town from New Mexico where they’d been active members of a co-op. “We were excited to find that there was an effort to open a food co-op in our new home,” he explains. A few weeks later, he began volunteering through the Operations Committee. In that role, he assisted with the pro-forma sub-committee, comprised of members of both Operations and Finance Committees. As soon as the sub-committee for the site formed, he joined and has been a member of that team ever since. “I thought I could be helpful in volunteering on the site selection team partly from my experience in helping run solar company back in New Mexico,” he explains. “Our business had to move locations twice, and I played a major role in finding our new buildings and managing the build outs.” When asked to step in as an interim board member for an unexpected vacancy, Mark quickly agreed and subsequently had a brief stint experiencing Board work.

Many Co-op member-owners recognize Mark as the face of Solstice Farm, a small, diversified farm that specializes in pasture-raised poultry, mushrooms, and fruit. Whether working on his farm, at his stand at the farmers market, or delivering eggs, chicken, and/or mushrooms to your doorstep, Mark is friendly and knowledgeable about his product, and is always experimenting with new ways of growing, raising, and/or processing food. Recently he’s been pressing and fermenting apples to turn them into cider. “We plan to have cider as a full-fledged enterprise on our farm soon,” he says. 

When asked what he looks forward to in our future Rooted Carrot Co-op, Mark has a plethora of areas to highlight. To start, he wants “a place to shop for food that was grown locally and/or produced with responsible practices.” Having been a member of an established co-op, Mark understands the benefits beyond grocery shopping. “It will be a great community gathering place,” he explains. “I look forward to seeing friends there as well as meeting new folks who have similar visions for the future of food in our society.” Last, but certainly not least, he looks at this through the lens of a local producer. “I look forward to the Co-op as a place where myself and other small farmers in our area can sell our food and have our sustainable farming practices highlighted for customers.” We couldn’t agree more!

Huge thanks to Mark, Deanna and all of the talented volunteers who are providing so much to bring our Rooted Carrot Cooperative Market to the Cedar Valley!  If you have time and talent for this committee or others, let us know.