Join together in supporting the Northeast Iowa Food Bank throughout the month of February.

The Rooted Carrot Co-op is scheduled to volunteer at the food bank on Saturday, February 22 from 9:00-11:00. Bring a friend or two or three… We can accomplish a great deal when we all cooperate to help alleviate hunger in our communities. 

In order to be prepared for the size of our team, please RSVP by 2/15 at membership@rootedcarrot.coop. 

If you are unavailable on the 22nd, we encourage you to find another time to volunteer. Click here for more information. 

This fall, member-owners, Board members, Community Relations Committee members, and Site Committee members got together to create a campaign to educate and inform the mayor and members of the Cedar Falls City Council on the benefits of our Co-op. The Don’t Wait, Cooperate Campaign enumerates the health, economic, and community-building benefits. Our goal is to gather city government support for our Rooted Carrot Co-op Market.

We had one-on-one meetings with the Mayor and each of the City Council members. We had a chance to tell our story and found the conversations to be very positive. We provided them with specific information through our new flyer that enumerates our over 1200 members, the economic value of buying locally, and the healthful benefits of organic local foods. We reminded them that several outside consultants have recommended that the city should have a grocery store near the downtown area, “like a co-op market”.

In December, the Cedar Falls City Council and city staff had their regular yearly goal setting sessions to plan on projects for 2025. Discussions at those meetings included helping Rooted Carrot Co-op Market find a location, and supporting our efforts to that end. Afterwards, Mayor Danny Laudick informed us; “At goal setting, most everyone was supportive of working with you guys to find a location.” This is an important step forward that lays foundations for cooperation with the city to find a location for the Co-op.

David Schachterle
Rooted Carrot Board member
Community Relations Committee

Thank You, Tomie, from IOWA MISO for the fun afternoon teaching us all about Miso!

This past Saturday February 1st, member-owners and friends joined together to learn all about Miso, taste Miso, and make their very own Miso. Tomie uses Organic Iowa Soy Beans. (We will let you know in a year how it turns out.)

For more information check out http://www.iowamiso.com/

Check our Facebook page to find a video from each of our Board members talking about our roles and why we are invested in our Co-op!

Our board members and committee members have been busy in 2025! We had Investor meetings and Proforma (financial roadmap) meetings this past month in addition to our regularly scheduled committee meetings. The Site Committee is revisiting all past potential sites as well as continuing to explore new leads. They have broadened their search to include empty lots after learning from two other Co-ops that own their land and buildings instead of leasing. The Community Relations Committee is continuing to educate leaders in the Cedar Valley about the Rooted Carrot Co-op and the impact on our community. The Communications/Membership Committee welcomed their UNI intern, Riley! They are excited for this opportunity. 

Jodie Huegerich, 

President, Board of Directors 

We are delighted to welcome Reinier “Tomie” Hesselink, maker of Iowa Miso, for this unique educational experience. 

What is Miso? Learn the history, types, and nutrients present in miso. 

Taste several kinds of miso, including traditional miso from Japan.

Taste miso soup from kombu dashi.

AND….MAKE YOUR OWN MISO with fresh rice koji prepared by Tomie. Then, let your unique miso ferment for 8-12 months to achieve the richest flavor. 

• When: Saturday, February 1, from 1:00-3:30
• Where: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4000 Hudson Road, Cedar Falls. 
• Cost: $50 per person, please be prepared to pay Tomie cash at class. 
• RSVP before January 25th so preparations can be made. Class size is limited to 15 people. 

Open to Rooted Carrot Co-op member-owners and friends. Please, each member-owner may bring one non-member friend only. 

The Rooted Carrot Co-op is promoting “Food Bank February” by supporting the Northeast Iowa Food Bank throughout the month. You are welcome to bring a food donation for the food bank to this member mixer event. 

This event brings together members of our community to share a table, a story, and a local food meal, while supporting our local food system. This locally sourced meal will be prepared by Diamond Event Center chefs.

February 5th 5:30-8 pm at the Diamond Events Center (5307 Caraway Ln, Cedar Falls). Social Hour is 5:30-6:30 p.m. with appetizers and a cash bar. Dinner and program begins at 6:30 p.m.

We are excited to have Daquan Campbell, founder of We Arose, as our featured speaker. He is a strategic and visionary business leader with a dynamic plan for improving community health. We Arose is a network of local farmers who supply local, affordable, healthy food options to local residents. He began this journey growing produce on a quarter-acre plot in Waterloo. We Arose has since grown and has a network of eight farmers with rural farms and urban gardens. Their mission is to elevate urban farming cooperation and vision is to inspire the younger generation to nourish themselves, their families and their communities. Campbell graduated from Waterloo East High School and earned a degree in business management with an emphasis in organizational leadership from the University of Northern Iowa. In college, he served as an Student Assistant and AmeriCorps VISTA with the UNI Local Food Program. We Arose is also the manager of the Waterloo Urban Farmers Market. 

Menu

Crostini Display (Social Hour) 

Parisienne vegetable salad (Smoked Onion, Carrots, Squash, Steeped Potatoes, Lettuce)Continue reading→

Join together in supporting the Northeast Iowa Food Bank throughout the month of February.

The Rooted Carrot Co-op is scheduled to volunteer at the food bank on Saturday, February 22 from 9:00-11:00. Bring a friend or two or three… We can accomplish a great deal when we all cooperate to help alleviate hunger in our communities. 

In order to be prepared for the size of our team, please RSVP by 2/15 at membership@rootedcarrot.coop. 

If you are unavailable on the 22nd, we encourage you to find another time to volunteer. Click here for more information. 

We want to stay in touch with you!

CFU has announced that they will be ending their email service in 2025. If you currently use @CFU for email, please update your email address by clicking the “update subscription preferences” link at the bottom of this email OR email us at info@rootedcarrot.coop with your new email address to ensure delivery of the Garlic Press and other important email communications.

Updated information available at: cfu.net/email

Account Holders with Last Names 

A-G: Email service ending July 1, 2025

H-N: Email service ending September 1, 2025

O-Z: Email service ending November 1, 2025.

Thank you for helping us keep you informed about the co-op!

Happy New Year! 

On December 10th Lisa Nelson and Dave Schachterle presented to the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors about the Rooted Carrot! You can watch the presentation here. Thank you Lisa and Dave! 

The Board is kicking off 2025 with several meetings! We are meeting with a Columinate consultant about updating our Proforma. This important document helps guide our financial decisions and shows the financial feasibility of our co-op. We also have two special meetings set up for our investors. We look forward to updating this group about our co-op.

We appreciate your support. Keep following us on Facebook and Instagram and reading every month’s Garlic Press! 

Jodie Huegerich, 

President, Board of Directors 

If you have someone on your list who is interested in healthy food, building community, and/or supporting local farmers & producers, the perfect gift is only a few clicks away! Surprise them with the gift of a Rooted Carrot Co-op Membership. It will positively impact the community AND allow them to access discounts at RCCM Community Partner businesses throughout the Cedar Valley.

Click here to get started today!