Nothing says summer like a fresh cut watermelon. It’s fun to try new recipes and perfect when you find one and have all the ingredients on hand. So, the new tasty side dish was a yummy mixture of flavors and textures– sweet watermelon, juicy cucumbers, crisp red onions, salty feta cheese, raw honey, and tart lime juice. The blend of characters danced on the tongue after each bite of the sweet-savory salad. This dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. Find the recipe at https://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/watermelon-cucumber-feta-salad/. The photo is of the actual dish made using this recipe. It was delicious! Continue reading
Events – June 2018
Upcoming Events
Coffee, The Co-op, and Cottonwood Canyon
Thursday, June 7 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Cottonwood Canyon “The House” (Cedar Falls)
All are welcome at this casual event. This is a Plus-one mixer, so we encourage member-owners to bring a friend who would benefit from discovering more about the Co-op. While you’re there, enjoy a beverage and one of the many delicious meal selections off of the Cottonwood Canyon menu. Don’t forget your membership card, as this business gives 10% off of your order if you are a member-owner. If you join that night, we’ll sweeten the deal for you with a complimentary gift. We hope to see you there!
Contact outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Co-op Field Trip to Oneota Community Food Co-op in Decorah Iowa
Tuesday, June 12, departure time: 8:30 a.m. – Estimated return time: 2:00 p.m.
Do you want to see a cooperative grocery store in action? Join us on this trip to visit a store that is around the size and scope that we are looking for in our own co-op. We’ll get a tour of the store, have a chance to shop there and grab lunch there or elsewhere downtown Decorah, Iowa. If you are interested in attending, we’ll need a headcount to determine the number of cars for our carpool. Please RSVP by June 10 to outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Sturgis Falls Parade
Saturday, June 23, 9:30 a.m. to noonish
Bring your energy and join your Co-op friends (including Rooty the Co-op Carrot) to march in the Cedar Falls Food Co-op Parade entry. We’ll gather at a to-be-specified location around 9:30 a.m. for the parade start at 10 a.m. Bring the family, and wear your Co-op t-shirt and good walking shoes. We always have tons of fun! If you plan to join us, please let us know by emailing outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Co-op Book Club
Monday June 25, 4:45 p.m. Location TBA. Join the Facebook Group for details.
We are excited to continue our book club this month with How not to Die by Michael Greger, MD. Check it out and come join our lively discussion! Questions? Contact info@cedarfallsfood.coop.
Co-op Potluck
Tuesday, June 26, 6 – 8 p.m. at Second State Brewing (Cedar Falls)
Want to sample a variety of dishes while engaging in good conversation? All are welcome! Bring a dish to share and if possible, your own table ware. Our potlucks are family-friendly, and we encourage you to bring guests as well. Second State is a business partner, so don’t forget your card if you are a member-owner to get a discount on beer draws. Questions? Contact info@cedarfallsfood.coop.
From the Board President: What Does Maddie Poppe Have to do with the Cedar Falls Food Co-op?
Even someone like me who doesn’t watch a lot of TV couldn’t escape the Maddie Poppe news – Clarksville’s own won this year’s American Idol competition. There were celebrations everywhere. Tons of coverage in the papers and local news stations. “Maddie Poppe Fever” was a thing. And signs everywhere. Clarksville hosted a parade and declared May 15 as Maddie Poppe Day. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds attended Maddie’s concert at the Butler County Fairgrounds.
So, what’s the big deal? Why all the attention? The answer is simple: local pride. As one concert-goer noted, “We may not have any stoplights in Butler Co., but we do have a shining star.” Note the possessive quality of this statement. People in northeast Iowa, and across the state, are taking pride in “one of our own” winning a national contest.
What are YOU proud of about the place you live? Folks in Dyserville are proud of their Field of Dreams. Waterloo is proud of Dan Gable and the Sullivan Brothers. Iowans are proud of the Bridges of Madison County and RAGBRAI. If you’re from Decorah, you’re proud of one of the best breweries in the world.Continue reading
From the Coordinator – June 2018
Save money today through store and other business discounts: Your $200 member-owner investment comes back to you and then some when you take advantage of our Business Partner Specials.
73.
This is the number of area businesses offering deals and discounts to Co-op member-owners, so don’t forget to carry your member-owner card. From New Dawn Yoga in Cedar Falls to the Shinehouse in Evansdale to Wild Carrot in Waverly to Jameson’s in Waterloo, businesses throughout the Cedar Valley partner with the Cedar Falls Food Co-op in this important way.
Member-owners who are already taking advantage of these business partner deals often marvel that they have gained back most of their member share cost with the money they’ve saved at these establishments. I’ve certainly done so via classes at Three Pines Farm, my free sheet set from Fosters Mattress, many trips to Cottonwood Canyon, Cup of Joe, and Sidecar for my coffee fix, dining out at various business partners including Ginger Thai and SingleSpeed, grabbing a brew with friends at Lark or Second State, getting running shoes at the Runner’s Flat, and purchasing gifts at Miss Wonderful, Mohair Pear and Purse-N-ality. My list of savings goes on, but you get the point.
Member Spotlight: Andrew Stephenson
Andrew and Molly Stephenson met while in the same graduate program at Iowa State University. Andrew hails from Madison, while Molly grew up in Edina. Both completed their undergraduate degrees, and have also successfully completed a master degree program in Wildlife Ecology and Sustainable Agriculture. Andrew had previously completed his undergraduate degrees in French and Anthropology at Grinnell College, while Molly studied Animal Science at the University of Minnesota.
Continue reading
Broccoli Slaw and Top Sirloin Marinade Recipes
Easy, yummy side dish with a kick and an aromatic marinade…
It’s always nice to find new ways to incorporate more vegetables and fresh organic ingredients. It’s a bonus when people love new attempts. The new endeavor was a fresh broccoli slaw mix with a kick paired with an aromatic marinade for some top sirloin. Use the basic recipe on the back of the broccoli slaw mix package to start and then add a honey chipotle dressing for the added kick, and use two apples instead of one. This recipe went well with sloppy joes one night and some marinated thin top sirloins another night. The marinade had such a wonderful aroma so, give it a try. There is nothing like the smell and taste of fresh organic garlic! Is there? The ingredients blended so well together while the flavors danced on the tongue. A fabulous mingling of tasty goodness. Enjoy!
Board Happenings: May 2018
Take a minute to see what your Board has been up to!
So far this year, our volunteer have contributed more than 1,200 to helping build our store! This amounts to over $30,500 is wages! This shows how our co-op is truly a community effort! Thanks for all your hard work, and we couldn’t be prouder to share this effort with our amazing community!
– Budgets and legal and consultants, oh my! With the end of the fiscal year upon us, and getting closer to launching our capital campaign, our meetings have been dominated by the development of next years budget. We’ve also been working on hiring legal, site selection, and design consultants to make sure that we’re making the absolute best decisions when creating your store!
– It’s almost time for Board elections! We’ll start accepting applications in July, so if you or someone you know is interested in serving on the Board keep an eye out for updates.
Win a Kayak and Help Your Co-op Reach 850 Member-Owners!
June is here and your Cedar Falls Food Co-op is doing another amazing membership campaign. Current and new members could walk…errr…paddle away in a kayak!
We are on our way to 850 member-owners, which will bring us get closer opening the area’s only community-owned grocery store. Thanks to Crawdaddy Outdoors in Waverly, we got a great deal on a Heron 9XT kayak that some lucky member-owner will win!
We are on our way to 850 member-owners, which will bring us get closer opening the area’s only community-owned grocery store. Thanks to Crawdaddy Outdoors in Waverly, we got a great deal on a Heron 9XT kayak that some lucky member-owner will win!
Three Great Reasons to Host a House Party in June (Giveaway Alert!)
1. Hosting a House Party is a great way to connect with your friends and community AND one of the most effective ways for the co-op to gain member-owners. Previous house parties have ranged from pie and wine to soup suppers to pizza on the patio. You decide what, who, and when, and the CFFC membership team will help you inform your friends and neighbors about the co-op. This is a low-pressure, short-term commitment–that truly is a lot of fun!
2. Any hosts of house parties booked in June will receive your choice of a pound of coffee or a growler of beer from one of our business partners for you and your guests to enjoy.
3. Hosts of house parties booked in June will be entered into a drawing for a pair of pillows generously donated by our business parter, Fosters Mattress. Rest easy knowing you’re doing your part to grow our co-op community.
For more information about house parties or to get your date on the calendar, email outreach@cedarfallsfood.coop.
May Events
Co-op Connections
Thursday, May 10; 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Single Speed Brewing in Cedar Falls
Gather, meet, connect. This is a casual event where you can drop in or stay the whole time. All are welcome! Single Speed offers 10% off of a meal of $20 or more to Co-op member-owners, so don’t forget your card.
Cedar Falls Food Co-op Potluck
Tuesday, May 15 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Second State Brewing in Cedar Falls
Bring a dish to share and, if possible your own table ware to reduce garbage waste. Bring the family, bring a friend. Everyone is welcome. If you are a member-owner, bring your card to receive a discount on beer draws.
Cedar Falls Food Co-op Book Club
Tuesday, May 29 at 4:45 p.m. in Overman Park (weather permitting)
The book to be discussed is The Necklace by Cheryl Jarvis. Get a copy, get reading, and join the lively discussion, plus meet new people or reconnect with friends. All are welcome! If weather is such that this must be moved to indoors, we’ll provide notice on our Facebook page that day.