Carrot Scavenger Hunt

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The Nameless Co-op Carrot (have you submitted your idea on our Facebook page yet?) has left six carrot buddies at several business partner locations around the Cedar Valley for you to find from today until Monday, August 22nd. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: find a carrot buddy, take a selfie with it, post it to Facebook, and tag Cedar Falls Food Co-op. We’ll post a photo clue every couple days to help you out. Find at least three carrots, tag us in selfies taken with the carrot at each locations, make sure you’re a CFFC member, and you’ll be entered into our August incentive drawing: a YETI tumbler that keeps your cold beverages icy cold or your hot beverages piping hot for an incredibly long time. (All new August members will be entered into the Yeti drawing automatically, regardless of scavenger hunt participation.) Go find those carrots!

Name the Co-op Carrot Contest

Now accepting any and all ideas for names for the Cedar Falls Food Co-op’s mascot, the Co-op Carrot. Let us know your favorite ideas. If we pick your suggestion, you can win a Co-op T-shirt! All entries must be submitted on Facebook by August 31. Finalists will be selected based on creativity and alignment with the Co-op’s mission and vision. A final selection process will take place at the Fall Food Fest on September 27. What are you waiting for? Get those creative (carrot) juices flowing!

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The fine print


All entries must be submitted by midnight on August 31, 2016. Suggestions must be posted on the Cedar Falls Food Co-op’s Facebook page. Once a winner is selected, the winner can choose from the T-shirts currently in stock. If there are multiple entries for the same name, the judges will consider the entries submitted first. No purchase necessary. Co-op Board members and their families are not eligible.

So Excited We’re Fainting!

July gets hot here in the Cedar Valley! Our newest member of the business partner program is no stranger to heat & yes…a little bit of fainting.

 

FaintingGoatWe are very excited to announce…and you may want to sit down for this one just in case…that The Fainting Goat Smokehouse Bar & Grill from Waverly, IA has graciously decided to offer our wonderful family of founding members a whopping 15% off of your dine-in meals at their delicious restaurant!

 

We love, love, love that our business partner program continues to mushroom outside of the Cedar Falls city limits because it is our vision to cater to the entire Cedar Valley community. We will all benefit from a full-service, cooperatively-owned grocery store in Cedar Falls!! And now our members will benefit by saving a healthy chunk of change when they dine-in at The Fainting Goat!! A veteran-owned farm-to-table concept with local Iowa beer on tap & beef, pork and poultry all are raised right here in Iowa, to support our Iowan farmers! Grill fresh. Grill local.

 

We are so grateful to all of our business partners for their trust & support in the efforts of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. Be sure to take your member card with you when you go out & about and take advantage of these offers! It’s good for all of us & our community as a whole. Finally, please check out our online business partner specials page for a full listing of all of our current business partners and the full details of each offer as sometimes restrictions may apply. Thanks!

Members are Making It Happen!

Who can best recruit new members? Existing members! For every friend you recruit to join, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $25 Cedar Falls Community Main Street Gift Certificate.

When you get a friend to commit to joining the Co-op, have them add your name to the “How did you hear about the Co-op” section of the membership application. Once they turn in their application with payment, you’re entered into the drawing. It’s that easy!

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From the Board President: Important Board News

There’s been a change in leadership of the Board of Directors of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. And coming up in July is an opportunity for you to serve on the Board.

First, with regards to the change, when Melanie Drake accepted the position of Outreach Coordinator, she resigned from the Board at the end of May. Melanie was one of the original members of the Co-op’s steering committee, which later became the Board when the Co-op incorporated in 2014. Melanie’s dedication to the Co-op is evident in all that she has done, including serving as the co-chair of the Membership Committee. In her new role, she’ll continue to move us closer to opening the doors on a full-service grocery store. She has great passion for this efforts, and I invite you to contact her to find out how you can help, too.

At the June Board meeting, the Board voted to appoint Terry Stewart to fill the vacancy, and to serve out the remainder of Melanie’s term. Terry has been a long-time advocate for the Co-op, and is currently a member of the Operations Committee. Most people know Terry and his wife Nita who sell organic produce at the Cedar Falls Farmers Market. Say ‘hello’ to Terry next time you’re there!

As the terms of the Board of Directors are staggered, this summer we will once again have an opportunity for Co-op members to run for election to the Board. Every year 3 seats are open, and each term is 3 years. Full details about how to become a candidate for the Board of Directors will be posted on this website starting July 25. I invite you to consider joining in this effort. It is demanding, but extremely rewarding work. As we get closer to opening our doors, you could be a key player in that step. Keep an eye out on our website and our Facebook page for complete instructions.

 

In cooperation,

Tom Wickersham

 

New Program Lets Members Help The Co-op

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Become a Membership Maven for a month

 

The CFFC Membership Committee has used monthly projections to determine that in order to open the store in 2018, we need to incur 370 members per year (which averages out to about 30 new members per month). To reach this goal, we need the enthusiastic support of active member-owners.  It takes the initiative of all owners to make the store a reality.  So, would you consider a one-month volunteer role as Membership Maven?

 

As a Membership Maven, what will you do?

It’s simple…you agree to help the Co-op reach its monthly membership goal. A membership committee member or our outreach coordinator will meet with you before your month begins to help you brainstorm a plan that will be effective. Then, during your assigned month, you (or your Maven team if you choose to work with a friend or several) commit to doing the best you can to reach our goal. This may include the following:

  • Hosting a house party
  • Asking friends to host a house party
  • Making phone calls to people you know who aren’t yet members
  • Plugging the Co-op on social media
  • Talking about the Co-op and benefits of member-ownership in the community

Continue reading→

Sturgis Falls Parade 2016 Photos

The Co-op Carrot and friends proudly marched in this year’s Sturgis Falls Parade. The brand new bicycle from Bike Tech was on display, too. New members who joined by the end of June were entered in a chance to win a sweet ride!

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Check out the rest of the photos below! Continue reading→

Beet Green and Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Summer Salad

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Photo: Beet greens with summer vegetables and vinaigrette

 

Make your salads pop with all the wonderful colors of summer!

Salad Ingredients:

Beet greens (and shredded raw beets)

Any fresh seasonal toppings! (Carrots, radishes, asparagus, borage flowers pictured above)

Dressing:

½ c. Whole grain mustard

¼ c. Local honey

2 Smashed garlic cloves

Pinch of salt

Pepper and dry herbs of your choice (thyme and basil are always good!)

¾ c. Extra virgin olive oil

¼ c. Lemon juice

⅛ c. Apple cider vinegar

⅛ c. Balsamic vinegar

 

Directions:

Add everything to a mason jar or empty dressing bottle and shake well. Keep refrigerated.

**Change ratios as desired! More honey to make it sweeter, more vinegar to make it tangier, more lemon for more sour, and more garlic for more zip!

Business Partner Spotlight: Eagle Peak Healing Arts Center

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If you’re having trouble with pain, a health issue or are just looking for a way to live holistically, then make an appointment with Eagle Peak Healing Arts Center Professional Acupuncture.  

Located in Cedar Falls, the staff at Eagle Peak offer a number of high-quality Traditional Japanese Medicine treatment options where the focus is on treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.  Acupuncture is appropriate for all ages and can be used to address issues such as pain, digestive discomfort, allergies, sinus congestion as well as insomnia.  

Practitioner David Mesenbrink has a Masters of Science in Oriental Medicine and is a Licensed Acupuncturist.  It was after his first experience with an Acupuncture treatment, which impacted him so profoundly, that he decided to dedicate himself to its practice.  

With your Cedar Falls Food Co-op membership your first treatment is $50 (regularly  $69).  Take advantage of your membership benefit by scheduling an appointment with Eagle Peak today for your own life changing experience!

Cocktails with the Co-op

“Cocktails with the Co-op”

Monday, July 18

5:45-6:45pm

Millrace (10 Main St., Cedar Falls)

All are welcome to attend 

The Cedar Falls Food Co-op Board of Directors is inviting you to an informal social hour at The Millrace just prior to the July Board meeting. Mingle with other co-op members and find out what’s new! Interested in becoming a member-owner? Stop by to find out how you can own it too!

Help save the co-op money… stop by and pick up your Founding Member tote bag! 

Beer & Membership Crop