As was reported in the Courier (3/13/16), the national chain, Natural Grocers, is in the process of opening a store in Cedar Falls at University and Rownd. Earlier, representatives of Natural Grocers reached out to the Cedar Falls Food Co-op to explore the possibilities of collaboration and to share details of their plans. They noted that the Cedar Falls location would be one of four locations they are planning on opening in Iowa this year. (The first one has already opened in the greater Des Moines area.)

Rightfully so, Co-op member-owners want to know if this project will impact the efforts of the Co-op to open and to be successful after opening. The Co-op Board wishes to assure the member-owners and future member-owners that the addition of Natural Grocers to the area will be a positive influence on both the local food landscape, as well as the Co-op’s efforts to open its doors. Consider the following:

• We acknowledge that Natural Grocers would be deemed a competitor, but the store demonstrates a growing interest in organic and natural food. Having more options for healthy, organic food in the area is a good thing for the residents of the greater Cedar Valley, and will help in our overall efforts to educate shoppers on the value of organic.
• A recent market analysis conducted on behalf of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op showed sales forecast for the Co-op as being “above average.” In fact, the projections were just a few points shy of the “best” rating levels. This finding took into account having Natural Grocers as part of the competition in the area.
• Natural Grocers will be a very different model than the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. For starters, their stores are heavy on vitamins and supplements. Additionally, these stores don’t have delis. The Cedar Falls Food Co-op will be a full-service grocery store that includes a deli for fresh, healthy prepared foods.
• The Cedar Falls Food Co-op will have a strong commitment to the local economy. In addition to its commitment to carry food and products from local growers and producers, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op will be owned by the community and run by a community-elected Board of Directors. Natural Grocers is a Colorado-based corporation. A greater percentage of the money spent at the Co-op will remain locally.
• Lastly, Co-ops are popping up across the U.S. in part because co-ops emphasize community as part of their business model. The efforts to open a co-op in Cedar Falls are driven not just by having the right products on the shelves, but by having a community-centric business that can serve as a meeting and education place, that can instill a sense of pride in the community, and that can serve as hub for community building.

The Cedar Falls Food Co-op is still committed to being in or near downtown Cedar Falls, and we will continue our dialog with representatives of Natural Grocers to explore possible partnership opportunities in the future. Rather than thinking of them as a competitor, we can think of them as a potential partner in making the greater Cedar Valley a better, healthier place to live and work.

Hand outs from the conference.

The Up and Coming Food Co-op Conference, coordinated by the Indiana Cooperative Development Center and Food Co-op Initiative, is an amazing opportunity for start-up co-ops to gather together, share their experiences, and learn from those who have succeeded before them. This event embodies a number of the 7 cooperative principles, including providing co-ops with a space for education, training, and information (P5); cooperation among co-ops (P6); and concern for the community (P7). Our previous attendance to this conference has helped us in our success thus far, and everything we learned from this year’s conference will help us go even further.

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com·mu·ni·ty

1. a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.
2. a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Community…This is why my husband, Charles and I call the Cedar Valley home. We feel the same sense of community with the Cedar Falls Food Co-op as it will be so much more than a place to buy groceries.

As member-owners we all have the same goal in mind, and that’s to get our co-op doors open. How can we make this happen? If all of us take the time to share our excitement for the co-op with our own community of friends, family & neighbors, we will be that much closer to shopping at our co-op!

Our research shows us that house parties and individual connections are the fastest way to grow membership. Please help us reach our goal by inviting your personal community to a house party. What does a house party consist of? It’s a gathering of your people, and it can be as simple as having friends over for cocktails or dessert (or both!). In our house, it would be toddlers and a potluck! However you gather, please at some point share your enthusiasm for the co-op and why you’re a member-owner. If you’d like, a board or committee member can be available to answer questions and take memberships on the spot. Find more details about House Parties here.

Charles and I feel so strongly about the co-op that our business, Fosters Mattress, is donating a queen size mattress set. The Co-op has extended this offer, so that if you host a party before March 31, you’ll be entered in the drawing to win the mattress set. Don’t delay – when you’ve selected a date, please contact us at info@cedarfallsfoodcoop.org to let us know about your plans, ask us questions, and get your name entered in the drawing to win.

Thanks for sharing your passion for the co-op and letting me be a part of your food community!

All the best,

Sarah Foster

Membership Committee

Jenna Berendzen seems to wear a lot of hats: mom to boys Max and Samuel, wife of Peter, nurse practitioner at Allen’s Women’s health, student studying integrative mental health, board member at House of Hope a transitional program helping homeless women and children get back on their feet, and of course co-op member. In fact, Jenna is a member of three co-ops! She’s originally from the Twin Cities so she grew up shopping at co-ops, then joined Oneota in Decorah while going to school at Luther, and now she’s an owner of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op!

“I’m excited about it,” she explained, “because it’s more than just a supermarket. I love it from a personal and professional standpoint.” Health and wellness is her career, but also her passion. In her work at Allen Women’s Health she treats people regardless of their ability to pay and what she see’s is that “healthy food along with access to community resources is key. And our community would be perfect for that.”

She explained that, “We’re both from bigger cities, so when we moved here ten years ago it took awhile to adjust, and now we just love it! We go to the farmers market and take the kids to the rec center. We’re CSA subscribers, too. We just signed up for our second season with Kaiser farms.”  She thinks the Cedar Valley, which has been a perfect fit for her family, will also be just right for a co-op. After all, she says. “You don’t have to be in the Twin Cities or a metropolitan area to have a thriving co-op.”

The co-op has helped the Berendzens feel even more strongly tied to their community. “A lot of our friends have joined the co-op as well, and that really makes it feel like we’re in the right place.” You know the slogan we love to use, “I own a grocery store with my friends!” ?  That sounds a lot like Jenna’s story, but maybe we could add, “I own so much more than a grocery story with my friends!”

Did you know that there are over 140 food co-ops across the U.S. that are actively working to open a store, just like the Cedar Falls Food Co-op? All of these co-ops are working on growing their membership levels. Did you know the most effective method to raise new members? Existing members!

Research shows that member-owners already have a vested interest in their co-op, and they are the best at promoting to others the value and benefits of joining. Did you know the best way they can promote co-op membership? By hosting house parties.

A house party is very simple. You choose an approach: a potluck, a movie night, a dinner party, etc., and invite some friends to share some laughter and conversation. All we ask is that at some point, you share your passion through your story of why you support the co-op. If you want, a board or committee member can be available to answer any questions and take memberships on the spot. That’s it!

Right now, we’re offering an incentive to every member who hosts a house party by the end of February. For every party you host, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a new queen mattress set, courtesy of Business Partner Fosters Mattress. Check out the House Party handbook for more info on hosting your house party. Help the Co-op grow!

With temperatures dropping and the unpredictability of Iowa winters, you might have packed up your bike for the year. But with some small modifications and clothing additions, you can keep up your bike commute through everything Mother Nature has to throw at us.

Chances are, your normal bike will be suitable for most winter conditions. If you have a standard road racing bike you’ll want to look into getting tires with a more aggressive tread. Mountain bikes, hybrids, and fat tire bikes work great. Some riders will switch to old singlespeeds during the winter because there are fewer moving parts to get gunked up with salt and grime. Adding a fender can help keep you clean and pedals with more grip, like BMX pedals, will help your feet stay on the pedals will leaving them free if you need to put them down in a hurry. Unless you plan to clean your bike after every ride, it’s best to leave it in a cold area, so there is less of a chance for ice to form on the gears and brakes. Pay extra attention to lubricating all your gears to keep you bike running smoothly.

Visibility is key during these darker months. Bike lanes and paved trails are often not plowed, leaving you to share more of the road with cars. Adding extra lights to your bike (and body) and wearing a safety vest can help insure that motorists notice you. The majority of the time, plowing and salting will mean the road conditions are not all that unusual. Keep an eye out for slush and icy, especially on turns, or areas that have been packed into ice from the weight of cars. The key is to take your time and give yourself extra room to maneuver.

Dressing for the winter on a bike is simple: layer, layer, layer. Start with a base wicking layer, then an insulating layer, and finish with a wind- and waterproof shell. For your legs, you typically need one less layer. Jeans covered with a windproof shell tends to work well. Balaclavas and buffs do a good job of keeping your face warm, and ear muffs or skull caps layer well under your helmet. Ski goggles or sunglasses keep the wind out of your eyes, and helps cut down on the glare from snow. Mittens, specifically the “lobster-claw” style, are best for your hands because they keep your fingers closer together and therefore, warmer. On especially windy days you can layer glove liners with a windproof mitten shell. For your feet, it’s most important that your footwear be wind- and waterproof, so more often than not boots are a better option than bike or athletic shoes.

Unfortunately, even with the best planning, sometimes what winter has in store for us is more than we can bear. Bikes break down, conditions get a bit too harsh, and you have to call it quits. Be sure to plan (and test) your route ahead of time, and if possible, have it run near bus routes in case you need to catch a ride. Also be sure to keep a stocked safety kit and cell phone on you in case of emergency. Safe riding out there!

On Tuesday November 10th, the Cedar Falls Food Co-op’s Board of Directors held its first ever annual member meeting.

Eager anticipation filled the room as President of the Board, Tom Wickersham, greeted all of the attendees and kicked off the meeting with board member introductions. Member of the board, Erica Graen, presented a recap of the Co-op’s events, community involvements, presentations, local business partnerships, membership drives and achievements this past year. It’s been a fun and busy year!

Treasurer of the Board, Kristel McClenahan, presented the financial report as well. Revenues look strong and thus far, operating on budget. 

Membership Committee member Brenna Griffin shared ways to talk to friends about the Co-op and introduced our newest member incentive program. Please make sure to like and follow our Facebook page on a frequent basis so as not to miss all of the wonderful talents that our board and committee members have creatively put together to share with new members that join online.

Members had the chance to participate by voting for our first-ever board member elections. The meeting also held an open forum for questions from members in attendance such as when the co-op will open, where will it be located and how we can help grow membership. Based on our current membership numbers, the co-op is nearly through phase one of our three phase timeline. Currently, we have more than 260 members. If each of us invited and encouraged 2 or 3 friends to join the co-op, we’d be at the final phase and preparing to open the doors of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op much sooner!

The evening ended with the unofficial count for the votes and introduction of our newly elected board members, Jess Cruz, Brenna Griffin and Sheri Huber-Otting, plus the the drawing of the winner of the Winter Getaway Give-Away. Congratulations to new CFFC member, Cindy Miller…have fun at the Big Woods Lake Cabin!

Thanks to everyone who has made 2015 a great year for community-building in Cedar Falls! Let’s keep the momentum going!