Four representatives of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op attended the “SMALL AND STRONG” Food Co-op Conference in Bloomington, MN, on November 7, 2015.  We learned from industry experts with organizations like Food Co-op Initiative, Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund, and CDS Consulting Co-op and networked with other Midwest food co-ops.  With topics like Financing the Startup Co-op and Designing an Effective Member Recruitment Campaign, we all returned with many new take-aways, but also with much reinforcement and encouragement.

For starters, we’re not in this alone: just in the Midwest, there are plenty of opportunities to collaborate with food co-ops that are in startup mode, as well as great consultants who make helping co-ops their life’s work.  We are making a difference for our community; a co-op strengthens the entire community and is a source of pride.  And while much of the funding for a food co-op comes from its member-owners, ownership is more than just capital. It’s a pledge of support and an important source of leverage.

We thank the Northcountry Cooperative Foundation and the other conference presenters and sponsors for this opportunity to connect and learn with other co-op folks in our region.  We look forward to attending again next year!

How would you like to treat your friends (and yourself) with a coffee break, baked goods, or even an epic living room dance party? This November, your Cedar Falls Food Co-op Board members and committee members want to THANK YOU for supporting the Co-op by offering their time and talents. The offerings range from landscaping advice to knitting lessons to live dinner music, and many, many more! Your co-op board is a talented bunch, and you won’t want to miss out on seeing some of their passions as well as a chance to experience one firsthand. Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter so you see these special incentives as they are posted. 

Here’s how it works: a couple times per week, the Co-op will post a new incentive on social media. The first person to join online after the incentive is posted wins it. Of course, all members who join, whether they win a giveaway or not, will be able to take advantage of all the benefits of membership. If you aren’t a member, this is a great time to join. If you are already a member, please help us out by sharing these posts and tagging friends who might be interested. 

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Are you taking advantage of the savings that our local business partner program provides Cedar Falls Food Co-op Members?

If not, you should DEFINITELY check it out because you could EASILY earn back your investment into the co-op just by sharing your membership card with well over a dozen local businesses that have shared specials to all of our card-carrying members.

We are adding new businesses as often as we’re able to. And this month we’re excited to welcome Laughing Tree Café, Mulligan’s & Singlespeed Brewing Co. to our list of growing partners.

We are SO thankful for all the local business owners that believe in us, our business model & our mission enough to partner with us & pass along savings to our amazing family of owners!! Yes, that would be YOU! Not only do you get to own a grocery store with your friends, but you get to save money at many local area businesses that you’re most likely already shopping at…and if you’re not shopping there, please check out these places because these people believe in the culture & community of our wonderful town!

Click here to go to the entire listing of Business Partner Specials on our website.

Co-ops are valuable additions to the communities they belong to. Watch this quick video to learn what your Cedar Falls Food Co-op can bring to our town!

Winter Getaway Package:

If you are considering joining the Cedar Falls Food Co-op, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. October is National Co-op Month, so what better time to join? In preparation for the upcoming winter months, if you become a new member this month, either with full payment or by starting our monthly partial payment plan, we will enter you into a drawing for a Weekend Winter Getaway Package. You and up to five others can escape to the Big Woods Lake Cabin in Cedar Falls. This two-bedroom cabin comes with a kitchenette, living room, and bathroom with hot and cold running water. Head to the cabin on a snowy winter weekend and enjoy free ski and snowshoe rental for your whole crew. In addition, you will have a package of goodies to help keep your tummies warm and filled including hot chocolate, red wine, and some healthy snacks. Special thanks to Black Hawk County Parks, Europa Cycle & Ski, and the Runners Flat for their generous donations to make this package possible.

If you’re excitement for fall and Halloween is dampened by concerns over the amount of processed candy handed out to kids, join in the Teal Pumpkin Project to help provide safe and healthy alternatives on Halloween night.

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There are so many fun things going on with the co-op this month it’s cRaZy!! As I’m sure you read in our newsletter already, we are transforming our business partner of the month program into our business partner program to include the many businesses that have opted to partner with us for different lengths of time. As we round out 2015, we’ll still have a few monthly offerings.

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While packing your bags for an end of summer vacation, healthy eating may not be at the forefront of your mind. But long travels don’t mean that you have to give up smart snacking. With a little planning and a few tricks you can eat well all the way to your destination.

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Picnics, cookouts, and fireworks, the 4th of July is a great time to reconnect with family and friends, but it can also be necessary to take extra caution around this time, especially with children and pets. To make sure you enjoy your holiday safely, here are some tips:

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Hello! My name is Elizabeth and I am looking for others to join me in promoting the Cedar Falls Food Co-op this summer at our local farmers markets! It’s a great (and fun) way to meet many supporters, share our progress, and recruit members!!

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