We will be at the Waverly Farmers Market on Saturday, July 11 from 8:30 am to noon.

Stop by the booth to say hello and pick up a yard sign!

Iowa loves ranch dipping sauce! You’ll love it even more when it is made with fresh, local dill!

Ingredients

• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ tsp dill* adjust according to taste, dried or fresh
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¼ tsp salt
• ⅛ tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all the dry seasonings in a small bowl.
2. Combine the yogurt, milk, and Worcestershire sauce in a separate bowl.
3. Whisk together all the ingredients.
4. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour up to overnight before serving for the flavors to fuse.
5. Serve chilled and enjoy!

From our friends at Healthy Harvest of Northern Iowa. Be sure to check out all the recipes!  Shop local.

Recipe Link: https://www.healthyharvestni.com/homemade-ranch-dressing/

Building community, connections and understanding is vital to the co-op moving forward.

Brews and FAQs is the perfect opportunity to connect, learn, and ask any questions about the co-op.

Member-owners and friends are invited to Urban Pie TOMORROW, June 3 at 5:30 p.m. for some brews (or any beverage of your choice, of course). Board members look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions (FAQs) you may have!

Thank you to everyone who committed to supporting our local growers through this amazing opportunity!

• The first pickup date will be Wednesday, June 17. (Please note this date has been updated)
• Pickup location is again at ThreeHouse Collaborative Campus Ministries at 2422 College Street in Cedar Falls. 
• Pickup time is from 4:00 to 6:00 pm

This partnership and your support of it is another example of the impact we all have when we work together to fulfill the shared vision of the Rooted Carrot Co-op!

Mallory DeVries, Board Member

As I near the end of my time on the Rooted Carrot Co-op Market Board, I have been thinking a lot about what it takes to keep a project like this moving forward.

After more than a decade of searching for the right home for the co-op, it would be easy for the work to lose momentum. A long timeline can wear people down. It can make even a strong vision feel distant.

But that is not what I have seen.

What I have seen is a group of board members who continue to show up with dedication, patience, and a clear belief in what Rooted Carrot can become. Month after month, they bring their professional skills, community knowledge, thoughtful questions, and steady commitment to the work of building a cooperatively owned grocery store in Cedar Falls.

That dedication matters because this work is not only about opening a store. It is about creating a different kind of grocery model for our community.

Food co-ops are designed to keep more value local. They build stronger connections between shoppers, producers, and the local economy. Nationally, food co-ops purchase from local farms and producers at significantly higher rates than conventional grocery stores, with local purchasing estimated at about 2.5 times the conventional grocery rate.

For Rooted Carrot, that means the future store has the potential to create a meaningful new market channel for local farms, food businesses, and producers while giving Cedar Falls area shoppers more access to locally produced, nutrient-dense foods.Continue reading→

We will be at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market on Saturday, June 20 from 8:30 am to noon.

Stop by the booth to say hello and pick up a yard sign!

By: Co+op

https://www.grocery.coop/recipes/berry-shrub

Recipe Information

Total Time: 24 hours total; 30 minutes active

Servings: 10

You don’t have to ferment your own beverages to reap the benefits of probiotic drinks. In this easy shrub, active apple cider vinegar provides a bit of good bacterial culture as well as tartness to balance the sweet berries and sugar.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces fresh raspberries, blueberries or blackberries, washed
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup active apple cider vinegar
• Ice and club soda, to serve

Preparation

1. In a two-cup storage container with a lid, mash the berries with a wooden spoon. Stir in the sugar and vinegar, then cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.
2. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and strain the fruit, pressing with a spoon to extract all the liquids. Discard (or eat) the pulp.
3. Store the liquid in the refrigerator for up to a week, tightly covered, before serving. To serve, place two tablespoons of shrub in a glass, fill with ice, then add club soda to top it off. Stir and serve.

Serving Suggestion

Skewer fresh berries and freeze to make a fun stir-stick that can be enjoyed with the drink.

Nutritional Information

70 calories, 0 g. fat, 0 mg. cholesterol, 0 mg. sodium, 17 g. carbohydrate, 1 g. fiber, 0 g. protein

Farmers markets are more than a shopping destination—they’re vibrant hubs of flavor, connection, and community. Every visit supports the hardworking producers and celebrates the unique food culture of your region. Check out the UNI Local Food Guide!

As we navigate the choices for our culinary experiences, here are five compelling reasons why you should make visiting your local farmers market a priority:

1. Taste the Difference: Local produce at farmers markets is fresh, seasonal, and bursting with flavor. These ingredients elevate your meals while celebrating the hard work of your region’s farmers.
2. Support Your Neighbors: Shopping at farmers markets directly supports local farmers, artisans, and small businesses, keeping dollars in your community and strengthening its economy. 
3. Build Connections: Farmers markets bring people together. Chat with growers, share recipes with fellow shoppers, and be part of a community that values good food and shared experiences. In fact, sociologists estimate people have 10 times more conversations at farmers’ markets than supermarkets.
4. Discover the Unique: Beyond fruits and vegetables, farmers markets showcase a diverse array of artisanal products. From farm-fresh eggs to handmade jams and baked goods, these markets offer a treasure trove of distinctive items you won’t find in conventional stores. Explore the stalls, and you may uncover hidden gems that add a touch of local flair to your daily life.
5. Empower Producers: For many farmers and artisans, farmers markets are where it all begins. Your support helps them build confidence, grow their businesses, and turn their passion into a sustainable livelihood..

The Last Bite: Make farmers markets a regular part of your week and watch your meals–and community–thrive! 

Source: Mallory Devries, Board Member and Communications Staff for Healthy Harvest of North Iowa and Iowa Food System Coalition, consultant for the UNI Local Food Program.

What happens when Iowans shift just a little more of their food spending locally? It adds up.

This season, we’re joining the Iowa Food System Coalition and partners across the state to take on the Iowa Local Food Challenge!

Pick a goal that works for you, whether it’s one meal a week or a portion of your grocery budget, and start building the habit. You’ll get recipes, seasonal ideas, and simple ways to find local food along the way.

👉 Join us! iowafoodsystemcoalition.org/challenge

Building community, connections, and understanding is vital to the co-op moving forward.

Brews and FAQs is the perfect opportunity to connect, learn, and ask any questions about the co-op.

Member-owners and friends are invited to Urban Pie at 5:30 p.m. on June 3 for some brews (or any beverage of your choice, of course). Board members look forward to connecting with you and answering any questions (FAQs) you may have!