The cold weather brings upon us the season for braising. The opportunity to not only put something hearty and comforting on the table, but to perfume the house with the savory aroma of the best the season has to offer. 

Using good ingredients as a foundation, we can bring the very best out of some of the less utilized cuts on the market with very impressive results.

In this instance, I have used a pork shank. My favorite pork at the moment is coming from Marks Family Purebreds. The marbling and freshness of the products is second to none. This dish can also be done with beef, or certainly some of the great Lamb from Yellow Table Farm if it is available.Continue reading→

Planning your year-end giving? What a better time than now to make a tax-deductible, year-end gift to the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market Capital Campaign! 

Why choose the co-op?  

1. It’s easy
2. It’s tax-deductible
3. It’s a long-term INVESTMENT in a healthy, sustainable future for the entire Cedar Valley.

The capital raised will fund construction, hire staff, purchase equipment, and stock the shelves. All the things we need to open OUR Rooted Carrot Co-op Market! 

We are nearly HALF WAY to our goal to raise the funds we need to open our store. Help us get past that next mark. DONATE NOW

LEARN MORE about Rooted Carrot’s Capital Campaign and other investment opportunities.

Since around 2000, a couple hundred food co-ops have opened across the U.S. This spike in new stores is the first since the 1960s and 70s when food co-ops like New Pioneer (Iowa City), Oneota (Decorah), and Wheatsfield (Ames) also opened their doors. Today, over 1.6M people are members of food co-ops in the U.S. 

How did these co-ops come to be? The answer is simple: these grocery stores started because people joined together to make it happen. Community members worked cooperatively and invested time and resources to give birth to their own food co-op. That is what’s happening now here in the greater Cedar Valley – we are working together to make our community a better place to live.Continue reading→

Please join us!

We know that December is a busy time of year with all the decorating, planning, shopping, wrapping, baking, and more.  You know…making those lists and checking them twice!  But it is also nice to slow down, take a moment to enjoy the season, and visit with friends new and old.  The bonus is you only have to make one thing for dinner that night!

Please join other Member-Owners on Wednesday, December 7th for a Member Mixer Potluck at Second State Brewing (203 State Street, Cedar Falls).  The event will run from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00-ish p.m.  

Bring:

• One dish to share
• Your table service (‘tis the season to be green)
• Family and friends (non-members welcome, too!)
• The recipe (if you made your fabulous dish, people will want the recipe).

This event is family friendly.  But don’t forget that Second State Brewing offers 10% off draws for members if you would like a glass (or two) of holiday cheer! 

Hope to see you there!

Our Community Partner program offers special discounts &/or promotions from area businesses to the Co-op member-owners. We currently have 70 partners – some have multiple locations!

We have a list on our website. You can also access the list on our Web App (available for both Android and iOS devices). Please visit the web page or app often as we continue to add new partners, and update or make changes to our current partner’s discounts.

The app is also your owner Member Card. You can also access the website from within the app. 

As a member, please thank our community partners when you visit!  

Don’t forget about the Co-op as you think about gift giving this year. Order your custom made Co-op gear through The Rooted Carrot Swag Store.

In the coming days new merchandise will be added to the online store including a winter beanie and long-sleeve t-shirts made with the same soft cotton that has made Rooted Carrot Co-op t-shirts so popular. Show your support by sporting your new gear and sharing with others who support the Co-op.

Just a reminder – to guarantee items before the holidays, please be sure to order by November 30. Some items may be available after that date, but our hosts at Iowa Sports Supply, who maintain the online store, will not be able to guarantee all items after that date. 

Of course, the gift of membership to the Co-op is also a generous and appreciated gift. Visit the membership page on the website for more information on how you can give the gift of membership. Or write to membership@rootedcarrot.coop with any questions. 

Give the gift of the Co-op this year and share your support with your community!

Our volunteer team is growing!!

Several people signed up to help grow our co-op in ways both big and small.  This all adds up to added energy and shared enthusiasm, which helps keep us moving forward to our goal! Thank you!!

Here are some tasks that YOU can do to join the team!

– Deliver Yard Signs
– Create Social Media Content
– Write Press Releases
– Create Job Descriptions
– Work a Tabling Event
– Edit Policies & Procedures
– Plan & Implement a Member Mixer
– Phone for Capital Campaign

Please email info@rootedcarrot.coop or complete the form at  https://rootedcarrot.coop/volunteer/ and let us know how YOU will help make our co-op grow!!

Welcome new board members Tom Blanford & Dave Schachterle! And welcome back to Jodie Huegegrich who is returning for a second term on the board.

We are so excited to welcome these new board members at our November board meeting, and we look forward to all that they bring to the team.  Thank you to those who voted in the board election.  We appreciate your time and input.

An enthusiastic group met at Gravitate for our Member/Owner Annual Meeting. We heard updates from board members on the progress of the co-op, finances, and capital campaign plans.  Connections were built, friends reconnected, and the snacks and drinks were superb!!

When you give a Co-op Membership, you invest in something that will have a long-term positive impact on our community. AND each time the recipient visits one of our Community Partners, they will be reminded of your generous gift! It truly is a gift that keeps on giving!

Visit the website to give today!

Everyone knows the saying “Many hands make light work!” Currently we have a small handful of  Rooted Carrot volunteers doing a lot of work to keep the effort of bringing the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market to our community. Please continue to read this article to see how you can get involved. You don’t have to be a member to volunteer. You don’t have to spend hours each month. You can choose to be on a committee and/or volunteer for weekly or monthly tasks that are needed to make the Co-op successful. Continue reading→