mightyriverbc

Happy New Year!

2011-12-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Obviously, it's been a while since I updated this site! Just a note to let you know order/delivery dates for 2012. It would be great if we could add a few active members to get our monthly average back up to $1,500+. As for now, we are still eligible for 6% discount, but need to maintain at least $1,000 per month order average.

In 2012
Finalize order by January 18 / Order delivered on January 23
February 15 / February 20
March 14 / March 19
April 11 / April 16
May 9 / May 14
June 6 / June 11
July 3* / July 9
August 1 / August 6
August 29 / September 3
September 26 / October 1
October 24 / October 29
November 21 / November 26
December 19 / December 24

August already!

2011-07-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

August's order is coming soon! Please have your order finalized by Wednesday evening, August 5. Our delivery will be Monday morning, August 8.

We are still adjusting to our new driver and the new route. We will assume our delivery is at 8:30 a.m. unless we hear otherwise from the driver at 7. If the delivery will be much earlier than 8:30, you will get a call. Please be prepared to come early if necessary to help unload the truck!

We are very interested in increasing our ordering membership by four or five families. If you are interested in joining, please email the coordinator.

March / April

2011-03-20T05:27:00.000-07:00

March order will be delivered on Monday, March 21. The new delivery time is "some time between 8 and 10 a.m." so I will try calling the driver to narrow this down and then let people know if it's going to be more than 15 minutes either side of 8:30 a.m. At least it won't be freezing cold (we hope)!

Remember, we now get a 10% discount on non-sale items - hooray! To keep this level of discount, we will need to ensure a solid $1,000+ per month. It appears that there are fewer sales noted in the catalogs, so having this club discount will be important.

Also remember that our fuel surcharge will depend upon the price of gas and will be split evenly among ordering members.

For April, please have your order finalized by Wednesday, April 13 for delivery on Monday, April 18.

By the way, this year's Earth Day celebration in La Crosse will be on Saturday, April 16. For more details, see Green La Crosse.

MONDAY ORDER

2011-02-19T14:29:00.000-08:00

Even though the weather is supposed to be bad, we ARE having a delivery on Monday morning, Feb. 21 at ***8:30 a.m.*** (remember, the driver said 8:30).

Please be there on time!

If you are supposed to return a mispick, please bring it.

Any questions, email me.

FEBRUARY

2011-02-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

eep! It's hard to keep up these days. Our February order will be delivered on Monday, February 21 at ***8:30 a.m.*** (time change by driver). Please have your order finalized by Wednesday evening, February 16.

We are trying to split 30# case of organic raisins on sale this month. Check the FB page for discussion on that or email the coordinator.

Later this month, the Midwest Organic Conference is Feb. 24-26 in La Crosse. This is one of the largest conferences of this type in the country! Register online by Feb. 16.

January 2011

2011-01-09T17:23:00.001-08:00

Our next order will be delivered on January 24. Please have your order finalized by the Wednesday evening before (Jan. 19). Our deliveries occur every four weeks so for 2011, that will be Jan. 24, Feb. 21, Mar. 21, Apr. 18, May 16, June 13, July 11, Aug. 8, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Oct. 31, Nov. 28, Dec. 26.

Remember to request to be on the Mighty River FB page if you're not already.

December order

2010-12-07T09:08:00.000-08:00

Ack! My computer blew up last night as I was finishing this.

Our next UNFI order will be delivered on Monday, Dec. 27 at 9 a.m. Please finalize your order by TUESDAY evening, December 21. It's possible fewer people will order for this one (out of town for holidays, etc.) so I will keep members updated about our order status. Please be sure to let the coordinator know if you are ordering any RAIN CHECK items (things you ordered on sale for Nov. 29 that were not delivered).

Use the DECEMBER catalog (the same one we used for our November 29 delivery).

I think I have all the credits straightened out!

Some food news:

Read the Worldwatch Institute's State of the World 2011: Innovations that nourish the planet.

It's very important what we eat! "A major new study shows that a pregnant mother's diet not only sensitizes the fetus to those smells and flavors, but physically changes the brain directly impacting what the infant eats and drinks in the future." - from Science Daily

Financial Times commodities editor explains why the UN considers the global food market in "critical" condition.

Three Rivers School and Cameron Park Farmers Market are holding winter markets on selected Saturdays this winter: December 11th and 18th, 2010; January 15th and February 12th, 2011. All Markets are held from 10a.m.-2p.m. at 901 Caledonia Street.

Local Harvest

2010-12-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

This just in from Local Harvest:

Turn the calendar page to December and some people start to think about cookies. Lots of cookies. Now I love a good peanut blossom as much as the next guy, but in December I start thinking about citrus. It's been months since we've had any in the house, but 'tis the season!

This year, for the first time ever, we are offering Page oranges, which I'm told are fairly rare. They are renowned for their exceptional flavor. Pages are smaller than the average orange, which makes them perfect for snacking. Ours came from Pete and Cindy Spyke at The Orange Shop in Citra, Florida. They recommend ordering a big box so you have plenty to squeeze for juice. Of Page orange juice, Pete says, "Life will never be the same again!" Now through December 21, Pete and Cindy are offering free shipping on single variety boxes of Page oranges, and on combination boxes of Page and Citra navel oranges.

Another good option is the ever popular Satsuma Mandarins from Chaffin Orchards in Oroville, CA. These easy to peel beauties come with free shipping, and now through December 18 are on sale for their lowest price of the season.

Need a good gift idea? Give someone you love some fresh-off-the-tree citrus, from LocalHarvest! Need a little juiciness at home? Order a second box for yourself!

With best wishes for healthy, happy holidays,

Erin

--
Erin Barnett
Director
www.localharvest.org

November - Part 2

2010-11-03T16:49:00.000-07:00

[UPDATED WITH CORRECT DATES!]

Our next order will be delivered on Monday, November 29. We will order from the DECEMBER catalog. (Our December 27 order will also be from the December catalog.) Please have your order finalized by Wednesday evening, November 25.

If you ordered something that was out of stock on Nov. 1 and still want it, please add it to your order and email the coordinator to remind her that it's a "rain check" item.

============================================
Food related stuff that may be of interest:

[ADDED SOME NEW ARTICLES 11/14]

Dangerous Chemicals in Food Wrappers Likely Migrating to Humans - "University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood."

McDonald's and PepsiCo to help write UK health policy - "In an overhaul of public health, said by campaign groups to be the equivalent of handing smoking policy over to the tobacco industry, health secretary Andrew Lansley has set up five 'responsibility deal' networks with business, co-chaired by ministers, to come up with policies. Some of these are expected to be used in the public health white paper due in the next month."

Every Person Emits Two Tons of Carbon Dioxide a Year Through Eating - "A team of researchers from the Universidad de Almería (UAL) has estimated the environmental impact of the Spanish diet and role that human excrements play in the life cycle of food."

Daily dose of beet juice promotes brain health - yum!

San Francisco has banned Happy Meals and other junk food/toy combos.

High levels of BPA cause sperm problems - the stuff that's still in many plastics that contain food - can linings, food containers, water bottles, etc.

NOVEMBER

2010-10-19T10:33:00.001-07:00

We will have two deliveries in November. For the November 1 delivery, please have your orders finalized by Wednesday evening, October 27. Use the NOVEMBER catalog.

For the November 29 order, use the DECEMBER catalog and plan to have your order finalized by TUESDAY evening, November 22 (a day early because of Thanksgiving.)

You might be interested in this video of journalist Gwynne Dyer talking about his new book, Climate Wars. It's a pretty scary thing, but it's nothing new if you've been paying attention. The gist of it is that we are not going to be able to grow the (same) crops in near future. This, according to Dyer, will mean mass starvation as the nations' breadbaskets dry up, mass population movements, and increasing resource wars.

You can listen to an hour long Wisconsin Public Radio University of the Air program that aired recently here: http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/uoa/uoa101017.rm

Even the Pentagon is worried.

It's a reminder, too, to vote on November 2. (Did you know that all but one of the Republican candidates running for Senate this cycle is a climate change denier? (funded by energy industries?))

OCTOBER!

2010-09-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Yikes - it's been a while since I've updated this site!

Our new members and continuing support from "old" members have helped us maintain our 6% discount on non-sale items. Let's KEEP IT UP!

Some interesting food related items for you to consider:

I recently heard an interview with the author of the new book, The Coming Famine. He makes the argument that "[t]he era of cheap, abundant food is over," and leaves us with several good ideas that just make sense. Scary but good.

If you haven't seen the movie, Food Inc. yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!? See it now. (You can stream it from Netflix). There's also a PBS program about it here.

A new study has come out showing lower pesticide residues AND higher nutrition values (for some nutrients) in organic foods. You can read about it here. Of course, this contradicts a study that was done last year showing no difference!

Another study suggests that compounds in non-stick cookware may be associated with increased cholesterol levels in children and teens (from ScienceDaily.com - a great site).

And, if you're a Margaret Atwood fan, you might be interested in this interview about her newest book, The Year of the Flood. (Not exactly food related, but Margaret Atwood is so great!)

New Products at Iowa Warehouse

2010-04-25T10:41:00.000-07:00

We got a reminder from Nikki Stimmel about new products at the Iowa warehouse for the May order. You can get more info at the UNFI site, but note that "Prices are not guaranteed; rapidly changing market conditions may result in occasional price changes."

In addition, there are some good specials this month including
Aldens Organic Ice Cream (various flavors) 15% off
Balance Bars = 25% off
Biokleen = some products 25% off
Bulk Thompson raisins (30#) = 15% off
Farmer's All Natural Creamery = 15% off several dairy items
Nature's Path cereals = 25% off

and much more.

By the way, if you missed the documentary Food, Inc. shown in La Crosse and on PBS during April, I urge you to find it and view it. You may be able to view it online through the PBS link above; it is available through Neflix.

April order and miscellaneous

2010-03-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

April order - finalize your order by Wednesday evening, April 14. Delivery date is Monday, April 19.

Miscellaneous:

1. Boo-hoo! Annie Chun's IS now owned by a big food conglomerate! But I still love the potstickers!

2. Corporate Crime Reporter says that UNFI and Whole Foods are leaning on organic companies to NOT support the the Organic Consumers Association. This is not good. Whole Foods denies it. UNFI = no comment. Send your thoughts to UNFI at info@unfi.com.

3. LOCAL FOOD THINGS COMING SOON!

* April 5 = Greens, eggs and cheese at the Myrick Hixon Eco Park at 5 p.m. Part of Earth Week. Tickets = $20

* April 7 = FOOD FIGHT: THE DOCUMENTARY and U.S. Representative Ron Kind. Film at 2:15, discussion with Rep. Kind at about 3:30. For more information, contact Professor Carol Miller, miller.caro@uwlax.edu, 785-6777.

* April 8 = FRESH: THE FILM at the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St. at 6:30 p.m.

* April 13 = Will Allen, founder and CEO of Growing Power, Inc. an urban farm and learning center in Milwaukee. FREE. 7 p.m. at Main Hall Auditorium, UW-L

* April 15 = FOOD, INC. an Academy Award nominated film about our food system. Starts at 6 p.m. at the Franciscan Spirituality Center, 920 Market St. FREE.

* April 17 - CSA farm bus tour

* April 21 - NO IMPACT MAN - one human's quest to live a zero impact life. 6:30 p.m. at the La Crosse Public Library, 800 Main St. FREE

* April 24 - La Crosse Earth Fair from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food, info, music, fun. Three Rivers School, 901 Caledonia St., La Crosse AND the companion Green Tech Fair at Western Technical College. Free shuttle between events.

More info at www.GreenLaCrosse.com

New stuff coming from UNFI

2010-03-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

Just got this:

Dear Buying Clubs,

I am pleased to announce the arrival of some new Brands and Products into the East Region warehouses.

There will be almost 400 new products available to order by May 1.

The items will initially be brought into all warehouses (CYDAIGS); only items that are proven to sell will be retained.

Here's the file.

I hope you enjoy the new selections!

Thank you.

Nikki Stimmel
Buying Club Services

March delivery

2010-03-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

March's delivery date is Monday, March 22. Have your order finalized by Wednesday evening, March 17. Remember to remove any items you had in your basket for February that you do not want in March!

Potluck

2010-03-14T14:03:00.000-07:00

Use the comment button to discuss what food or buying club related things are on your mind.

URGENT RECALL FROM UNFI

2010-03-13T15:30:00.000-08:00

Urgent Recall
March 9, 2010

Dear Valued Customer:

We are requesting that you immediately cease distribution of the product listed below containing non-organic black pepper. Based on our records, you purchased the items below sometime between 10/26/09 and 3/4/10.

This recall is for products containing non-organic black pepper supplied by Mincing Overseas Spice Company of Dayton, New Jersey because the ingredient has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Though the source of the contamination is still unclear, we have made the decision to recall out of an abundance of caution because of possible contamination. To date, no illnesses have been associated with these Frontier products. For updated information, go to the CDC or FDA websites.

"Consumption of products containing Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms) endocarditic and arthritis."

We are currently working to get these products back in stock with an alternative pepper supply and will inform you as soon as we have more information.

Again, we thank you for your understanding and continued support of Frontier.

Items Listed Below

Item # Description Lot # (s)
31236 Muchi Curry powder 0004, 9350
11830 Curry powder 0007, 0029, 9350, 9351
12210 Pepper black coarse grind 9327, 9357
31134 Peppercorns black whole L/M 9299, 9306, 9357
43954 Curry powder 9352, 0042
18381 Pepper black coarse grind 9339
33634 Pepper fine grind 0020
33572 Herbs of Italy 9355
33666 Salad Sprinkle 0005
31214 Garlic N Herb blend 0005, 9351
95572 Oriental Seasoning blend 9356, 9363, 0061
73682 Pepper Black Fine Ground 0008
28592 Thai Seasoning Blend 0015
28598 Veggie Pepper Blend 0034, 9352
31214 Garlic N Herb 0035, 9363, 9344, 9334, 9324

If you have any of the affected product, please contact UNFI claims at 800-451-4520 extension 42515.

Thank You,
Bridget Cabrera
Customer Service Rep.
UNFI Iowa City, IA
1(800)323-2131 EXT 21126
Fax 319-358-9865/319-337-4592

Miscellaneous food related news

2010-01-18T15:29:00.000-08:00

In case I haven't mentioned it before, one great food blog is La Vida Locavore.

And here are a few food-related articles of interest to those seeking more wholesome, sustainable food and other products:

* Chemicals coat apples decades after Alar scare

* Are 'Natural, Organic, Eco-Friendly' Products Really What Label Claims?

* Environmental Working Group: Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides

* US High Court To Hear Monsanto Appeal In GM Alfalfa Case

* FDA on BPA: Our hands are tied

* Action Alert: Senate Bill 510: FDA Food Safety Modernization Act

* Window cleaning chemical injected into fast food hamburger meat

Please add others!

2010 Order/Delivery dates

2010-01-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Order by Wednesday evening, Jan. 20 for delivery on Monday, Jan. 25

Order by Wednesday evening, Feb. 17 for delivery on Monday, Feb. 22

Order by Wednesday evening, Mar. 17 for delivery on Monday, Mar. 22

Order by Wednesday evening, Apr. 14 for delivery on Monday, Apr. 19

Order by Wednesday evening, May 12 for delivery on Monday, May 17

Order by Wednesday evening, June 9 for delivery on Monday, June 14

Order by Wednesday evening, July 7 for delivery on Monday, July 12

Order by Wednesday evening, Aug. 4 for delivery on Monday, Aug. 9

Order by Wednesday evening, Sept. 1 for delivery on Monday, Sept. 6

Order by Wednesday evening, Sept. 29 for delivery on Monday, Oct. 4

Order by Wednesday evening, Oct. 27 for delivery on Monday, Nov. 1

Order by Wednesday evening, Nov. 24 for delivery on Monday, Nov. 29

Order by Wednesday evening, Dec. 22 for delivery on Monday, Dec. 27

If November, December or January have two delivery dates from the same catalog, we may skip one. We'll discuss when the time comes.

January 25 Order and New Product Numbers

2009-12-30T20:03:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder that our orders for delivery on Monday, January 25 must be finalized by Wednesday evening, January 20.

Also, here's the latest from UNFI about the revised product numbers. I will send out new foodlink catalog around January 10.

12.30.09
Dear Buying Clubs,

UNFI is implementing the Product Number Expansion the weekend of January 8th-10th. This upgrade will result in the 6 digit (5 digit number plus check digit) item numbers expanding to a 7 digit (6 digit number plus check digit) item number.

Web Ordering Users:
You will begin to see the expanding item numbers when you perform a product search. The current posted pricelists will still be valid. The Web ordering site will accept item numbers manually entered with or without the leading zero.

Foodlink Users:
Your ability to send orders and/or retrieve pricelist files will be impacted. It is important to note the information below to ensure you obtain the newly revised 6 digit (plus check digit) product number pricelist prior to sending your order to UNFI.

* Midnight Friday January 8th thru 10pm Sunday January 10th : You will not be able to send an order or retrieve a pricelist.
* 10pm Sunday January 10th: Download the latest pricelist file for January 2010; this will now be in the new 6 digit (plus check digit) product number format. Send order(s) in as normal.

If for any reason the product number expansion project is postponed we will inform you. If you send an order in prior to the weekend shut down; your order will be processed as normal.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Buying Club Services Line at 800-323-2131, ext 21158, 21116, or 21139.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Nikki Stimmel
Buying Club Services

Next order?

2009-11-04T07:50:00.001-08:00

If you are a MRBC member, please VOTE about whether or not we should skip the Nov. 30 delivery date. As I mentioned in the email to members, the Nov. 30 delivery will actually be out of the December catalog!

Please respond to your club email with your preference.

It's so great getting the 6% discount! I hope, whatever we decide, we will be able to retain it.
----------------------------------------
On a completely different note, from the we told you so! and the we TOLD you so!! category, recent reports show that canned goods (including soups, tuna and green beans) have measurable levels of BPA (Bisphenol A).

BPA is the chemical that is used in plastics to make them more pliable. About a year ago, the alarm went out because many baby toys and products are made with BPA.

A Consumer Union report says:

"The findings are noteworthy because they indicate the extent of potential exposure," said Dr. Urvashi Rangan, Director of Technical Policy, at Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports. "Children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies. The lack of any safety margin between the levels that cause harm in animals and those that people could potentially ingest from canned foods has been inadequately addressed by the FDA to date."

Please read the report for more details and specifics.

Recommendations:
• Choose fresh food whenever possible.
• Consider alternatives to canned food, beverages, juices, and infant formula
• Use glass containers when heating food in microwave ovens.

June Order

2009-05-26T07:03:00.000-07:00

Remember - mailed subscriptions have ended - you must now order your catalog along with your other stuff. Two people still have not paid the club for their subscriptions! We are not a bank! Please send your checks in now.

Our June order will be delivered on Monday, June 15 at about 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. Our new regular driver, Mike, says the time will be unstable for a while. ***Please have your own order finalized by Wednesday evening, June 10.***

I've had a couple of inquiries and am reposting the revised Basic Member Info this month:

MIGHTY RIVER BUYING CLUB - basic information

1. Our club must order at least $750 worth of product every month or they won't deliver to us. We do not have a per member minimum but we ask that you keep our club minimum in mind when preparing your order. *You do not need to order monthly but if we have a lot of members who don't order regularly, our club won't be able to sustain itself. Currently we have about 8 to 10 active ordering members. If our club orders at least $1,000 worth of product for at least six months, we may earn a 7% discount on everything (except no further discounts on sale items). UNFI assesses clubs' orders twice a year to determine discounts. (*We may change our policy to require members to order at least x times per year - stay tuned.)

2. What you see in the catalog is what you get - if the catalog description is "12/8oz" then you are ordering a case (CS) of 12 - 8 ounce containers. Sometimes the catalog description is "1/32oz" - that means you are ordering ONE - 32 ounce container. If the description says, "12/8oz" but you only want 4 or 6, you will either have to order all 12 yourself OR find someone to split with. We have done this successfully before with cases of individually packed items AND bulk items. But it is up to you to find the splitter(s). When you join the club you will be on the group email list and can use that to seek splitters.

3. Our orders are delivered at ABOUT 8:45 a.m. on Mondays at Our Savior Lutheran Church (corner of 6th and Division). We are on a four week delivery rotation. The remainder of this year's delivery dates: June 15, July 13, August 10, September 7, October 5, November 2 and we will either skip the second November delivery (11/30) and have our last delivery on Dec. 28 OR we will have two in November and skip the December.

4. Your order must be finalized, in most cases, by Wednesday evening before our delivery date so I can finalize the whole group order by Thursday afternoon.

5. Everyone who orders is expected to help unload the truck. If you can't make it for some reason, please email the group or contact a friend well before the delivery date to find someone who can pick up your stuff and pay for it at the delivery time/day.

6. All payments MUST be made at time of delivery. Payment should be made by check payable to MIGHTY RIVER BUYING CLUB for the correct amount. If necessary, cash payments may be made. NO CREDIT!

7. To maintain a cushion in our club account to avoid bank fees, each ordering member, after two trial orders, will help capitalize the club with a payment of $5 to the club (above and beyond the order, tax and shipping amount) until an amount of $25 is deposited. Should they leave the club, the $25 will be refunded within a reasonable period of time.

8. UNFI charges tax on taxable items. If fuel prices increase dramatically, UNFI may charge an additional shipping charge of $5 to $25. If the fuel charge is added, the ordering club members will split this charge equally.

9. Paper catalogs must be ordered by members for the following month on each month's order (UNFI no longer mails individual subscriptions). A .pdf of the price list is available for download at the UNFI website. The coordinator also emails a monthly FoodLink catalog. (Ask the coordinator about FoodLink - a way to view and search on the catalog.)

10. The coordinator maintains a blog at http://mightyriverbc@blogspot.com where you can find links and more information. Contact the coordinator by email at cvmaren@mwt.net or leave a phone message (be sure to leave your number! at 608 788-4039.) If necessary we will call a meeting but most of us would prefer not to.

Run for your lives!

2009-04-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

Ok - I just wanted to know who really owns Nature's Gate. Because so many "natural" products are now owned by not-so-natural big multinational corporations, I try to do a little research before purchasing.

I still haven't found out about Nature's Gate, but I did come across this cheery news:

A cancer-causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in some of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics by a study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association, including products from Kiss My Face, Nutribiotic, Jason, Ecover, Citrus Magic, 365, Alba, Lifetree, Giovanni, Seventh Generation, Method, Earth Friendly Products, Sea-Chi Organics and many other brands . 1,4-dioxane (often just called dioxane) is a clear, colorless, organic compound that's a liquid at room temperature and is a known human carcinogen.

The study was conducted by the Organic Consumers Association
(www.OrganicConsumers.org) in conjunction with Dr. Bronner's
(www.DrBronner.com) and David Steinman, author of The Safe Shopper's Bible. It sought to determine the levels of 1,4-Dioxane in one hundred different consumer products, ranging from dish soaps to shower gels. Around fifty of the products tested were found to be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, while another fifty (or so) were found to be free of the cancer-causing chemical.

That article came out last year, but another equally disturbing one came out just last March:

Many children's bath products contain chemicals that may cause cancer and skin allergies, according to a report released Thursday by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Twenty-three of 28 products tested contained formaldehyde, the report says. Formaldehyde — considered a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, — is released as preservatives break down over time in a container.

Thirty-two of 48 products contained 1,4-dioxane, also considered a probable human carcinogen by the EPA, is a byproduct of a chemical processing techniques used to make petroleum-based ingredients gentler to the skin. Nearly two-thirds of products tested, including Johnson's Baby Shampoo, contained both chemicals, according to the campaign, a coalition of environmental and health groups that includes the Breast Cancer Fund and the Environmental Working Group.

Maybe in the it doesn't matter who owns Nature's Gate! I think I should rather spend the time learning to make our own soap.

MAY ORDER

2009-04-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our May order will be delivered on Monday, May 18. Please have your order finalized by Wednesday evening, May 13.

CATALOG SUBSCRIPTIONS: Your last mailed issue will be June. After that, you must order your catalog when you place your order. The cost per issue is $1.50 plus tax. So, if you want a July paper catalog, you must order it on your June order.

NEW MEMBERS: We welcome new members! Please look through the resources on the right and email the coordinator with your name, address, phone number and email address if you'd like to join.

CLUB CAPITALIZATION: After two trial orders, every ordering member will need to invest $25 in the club. This will give us a little cushion in case of a payment or billing problem. For new members, after two trial orders, you will be charged an extra $5 per month ordered until you have $25 invested in the club. This will be refunded as possible when/if you leave the club.

SPECIALS IN MAY include:
* Alden's OG Ice Cream (3/48oz)
* Clif ZBars (18/1.27oz bars OR 6/6/1.27oz bars)
* EnviroKids cereal bars and cereals

Watercress for sale from Dancing Doe Farms (in case you wondered about the picture.) Email Cathy.

For gosh sakes, people! DON'T BUY BOTTLED WATER!!!! If you wonder why, watch this movie (available through NetFlix): FLOW: For Love of Water or read this FAQ from the National Resources Defense Fund. If you might be interested in starting a local action to end bottled water use in our schools, please Email Cathy.

April Order

2009-03-24T06:45:00.000-07:00

[REMINDER: Now's the time to start a-plantin'! Start indoors - broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, peppers, eggplants.]

Your April order should be finalized by Wednesday, April 15 for delivery on Monday, April 20. Despite the time mix up in March, Greg (the driver) assured me that our delivery time will be 8:45 a.m. UNTIL they rebid (among drivers) the routes in May.

On special in April:
* Organic Thompson seedless raisins (30#) - 342600
* Organic rolled oats, thick (50#) - 484899
* Organic French lentils (25#) - 659680
* Cafe A Organic coffees in 6-1.25# pks (works out to $5.21/# and I think these are also fair trade) - 301838, 301796 and 3018520
and much much more.

Here's the .pdf of the April catalog.

Thought you might find this website, La Vida Locavore, interesting. The new "dirty dozen" list came out recently. If you can't afford to buy all organic (like me!) at least consider it for these veggies and fruits which have been found to have the most pesticide residues (it's from the Environmental Working Group):

Dirty Dozen
1. Peach
2. Apple
3. Bell pepper
4. Celery
5. Nectarine
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Kale
9. Lettuce
10. Grapes (imported)
11. Carrots
12. Pears

Clean Fifteen
1. Onion
2. Avocado
3. Sweet corn
4. Pineapple
5. Mango
6. Asparagus
7. Sweet peas
8. Kiwi
9. Cabbage
10. Eggplant
11. Papaya
12. Watermelon
13. Broccoli
14. Tomato
15. Sweet Potato

Next order - February 23

2009-02-02T17:46:00.002-08:00

Our next delivery is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23 at 8:45 a.m. Please have your orders finalized by Wednesday, Feb. 18 in the evening. Again, please continue to seek new members.

Here is a link to the .pdf of the February catalog.

As I mentioned in an email, I am listening to the audio book version of Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. It is great and highly recommended.

The peanut/peanut butter recall for Salmonella is growing daily (you can get updated lists here) and includes some products you'd think should not be on the list including Clif bars, Health Valley and Kashi products, Bear Naked and more. Don't assume organic or natural products are safe. Check the list and be careful.

Also, you may have heard that some high fructose corn syrup (in just about everything) has been found to contain mercury from the process used in manufacturing. Recent studies have found mercury in many products from colas to ketchup and bbq sauce (and ice cream and oatmeal and chocolate syrup ... anything that has hfcs in it - just about EVERYTHING.) Here's a good article on the problem. And here's a link to a study that shows, "over 30% of products containing the substance tested positive for mercury." And here's a list.

For more on HFCS - what it is and why it's in so much "food", please watch King Corn.

As for the next food order, if it's just too difficult for us to put an order together every four weeks, I can check into the possibility of ordering every eight weeks.

February Special of note:
Cafe A has three coffees on sale (#301838, #301796 and #301820) - a case is 6/1.25# bags and the cost on sale is $39.06 which works out to about $5.21/# for organic, fair trade coffee. (We got the Italian roast (dark) last month (also on sale) and it is superb. Don't want 6 packages? Ask others to split.

January Order

2009-01-08T07:48:00.001-08:00

Your order needs to be finished by Wednesday evening, January 21 for delivery on Monday, January 26.

Does anyone want to go together on an order for Wisconsin grown certified organic seed potatoes? They sell 10# and 50# bags. Cost is $20/10# bag and $60/50# bag. They have many varieties and I'd like to get at least two or three varieties but not necessarily 10# of each. If I could find one or two others who grow potatoes in summer to go in with me, I would order and pick up and deliver. Please email cvmaren@.mwt.net if interested. See info and order form here: http://potato.vermontvalley.com/potato_files/varieties.html

December Order

2008-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

We will have a delivery on December 1 (orders need to be finalized by November 25 evening.) We will not have another delivery until January 26 (skipping an order), so please order accordingly.

You can view the pricelist for this order as a .pdf file here.

If you wish to subscribe to the monthly PAPER catalog (UNFI is DIScouraging this), please email coordinator. Be sure to include your mailing address. You will be charged $18.99 (sales tax + $18) in December or January.

FIREFLY BAKERY (owned by MRBC member, Jill Peterson) is taking HOLIDAY ORDERS!

It's time to start planning the Thanksgiving meal! Here's what I'm offering this year, some classics, some new twists on the traditional Thanksgiving flavors, and some items for the bread basket. Place your order by Sunday, November 23rd.

Pickup will be at my house (southside of La Crosse) between 4 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Other times may be an option; if you can't make it those times on Wednesday, but you'd still like to order, email fireflybaking@gmail.com

Thanksgiving 2008 menu

Breads and pastries

Bread $4.50

Focaccia loaves (roasted garlic, caramelized onion, Parmesan and herb) $5.00

Special Thanksgiving items:

Apple Pie - A Thanksgiving classic. 9" pie (serves 8-10) $16

Cranberry Pecan Tart - Tart cranberries with pecans and orange zest in a sweet pastry shell. 9" (serves 8-10) $22

Caramel Walnut Tart - This one is a decadent treat! Rich caramel and walnut filling topped with a layer of milk chocolate ganache. 7" (serves 8-10) $24

Pumpkin Cheesecake 6" (serves 8) $18 8" (serves 10-12) $22

Eggnog Bundt Cake with Whisky Glaze - Not your traditional Thanksgiving dessert, but this is one my favorite holiday treats. 6" cake (serves 8-10) $16

November 3

2008-10-22T05:56:00.001-07:00

Our next delivery is November 3. Orders must be finalized by Wednesday evening, October 29. If you'd like a .pdf of the November pricelist, go here: www.marketplaceco-op.org/UNFI_catalogs.htm

Some November sales to ponder:

30# organic raisins are on sale. (342600)

Clif Bar - Spiced Pumpkin - are on sale. These are very yummy! (345751)

Organic Cafe Altura is on sale (as always) but there are three flavors on sale in a case of 6 - 1.25# packages (sale price ends up being under $5/#!) (301838, 301796, 301820)

Also (not connected to UNFI) - Organic Prairie has an online store. They are having a sale on several great meats right now. Check out the sale page.

October 6

2008-09-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Our next delivery is Oct. 6. Please have your orders finalized by Oct. 1. Member, Jill Peterson, has started a bakery! Let's hope she'll bring some info to the next order delivery OR upload her pricelist in the comments section here. We have lots of eggplants (eggplants are the new zucchini apparently). If anyone wants any, please let me know!

October order due 10/1

2008-09-12T06:45:00.000-07:00

Please have your order finalized by the evening of Wednesday, October 1. The delivery will be Monday, October 6. If you'd like a .pdf of the October catalog, it is now available. Sorry I missed our meeting! I will try to get more info about switching banks as it is available. There's a program in Viroqua on Thursday, September 18 you might be interested in.

It's about connecting people to their local farmers.

Mark Kastel, co-founder of the Cornucopia Institute, one of the country's 
preeminent organic industry watchdogs, will give a talk Thursday, September
18, at 7 p.m., at the Greenman Music Hall in Viroqua. 

Kastel, perhaps the most provocative voice in the organic community, will
discuss how farmers and consumers can join together to protect the integrity
of the organic label. Although thousands have heard his fiery oratory around
the country this is the first time Kastel, a Vernon County resident,
will speak in the area. This November he is a featured keynote speaker at the
Weston A. Price Foundation convention in San Francisco.

Will corporate investments in industrial scale farms, monopolistic practices,
and foreign imports decouple the organic farming movement from
the environmental, animal husbandry and social justice ethics that consumers
believe they are supporting? And, in order to protect us from the fallout
from factory farm livestock production (E. coli, salmonella), will federal
and state government partner with agribusiness to mandate that all fresh
food be sanitized or sterilized before sale? Kastel will have some answers
followed by a town hall style discussion.

Corporate agribusiness and the USDA seem to have one clear goal: produce
the cheapest possible food, regardless of quality, and if contaminated, use
technology (irradiation, fumigation, heat treatment, etc.) to fix production
problems after the fact.

From 5:30-7 p.m., prior to Kastel's speech, everyone is invited to break
bread with farmers.  Several of the area's top value-added agricultural
producers will sell and sample their wares in the Viroqua Public Market
at 215 S. Main Street.  Sibby's Ozone restaurant will be open with organic
ice cream, meals, beer and wine.  It's an evening all about the meaning
of food and community.

The event is free and open to the public and is sponsored by the Viroqua
Food Co-op, Kickapoo Free Press, Valley Stewardship Network, The Cornucopia
Institute and Viroqua Public Market. For more information: 625-2042 or
cultivate@cornucopia.org

September 8 - next order

2008-08-26T10:21:00.001-07:00

Our next order will be due by Wednesday, September 3 for delivery on Monday, September 8. Remember, the truck arrives at about 7:45. You must pick up your order no later than 8:30.

We'll try an online meeting on Thursday, August 28 at 7 p.m. Be by your computer and we will email/IM. An agenda will be available tonight.

Organic Prairie's online store is having a sale. A case of 10 8-ounce Premium Organic New York Strip Steaks is 30% off - $49.50. Here's the link.

If anyone is interested in renting freezer space at Three Rivers School, please contact Emmy Carlson. Her email address is in the group email cluster. This will help you and help the school be more efficient.

We still have some corn for sale, though it's going to be over ripe soon. We also have eggplants, some basil, some peppers and some tomatoes (very late to ripen this year!) Email me if you are interested.

JULY ORDER

2008-07-02T09:42:00.001-07:00

Well, my phone lines are goofy or my modem is out or something! As soon as I can I will email the July Foodlink pricelist. July orders are to be finished by Wednesday, July 9 for delivery on Monday, July 14! Yikes!

We have chickens available for $2.25/lb. They are big and tender. Sizes range from 2.5 to about 5 lbs. dressed. Heavier birds will be available later in July. We also have strawberries, lettuce, chard and snow peas. Check out the website: www.DancingDoe.biz.

You might also think of attending the Kickapoo County Fair, July 26 and 27 in La Farge. Besides the tons of food, entertainment, workshops and kid's stuff, Frances Moore Lappé will be a featured speaker and will lead a workshop. More info at Organic Valley's web site.. The picture above is from last year's event.

July order

2008-06-16T20:38:00.000-07:00

Your order for July should be finalized by Wednesday evening, July 9. It will be delivered on Monday, July 14. Remember - you must pick up and pay for your order on Monday OR arrange in advance for someone else to do that for you. I am not able to pick up others' orders, deliver them or pay for them until you have the money!

I am having some trouble with my computer's phone line but will try to send the foodlink catalog out by the end of next week (June 27) or before.

We've gained some new members! Yea! But some of our old members are not ordering regularly! Boo! If you know of others who are interested in ordering, please have them contact Cathy.

I heard a very interesting interview with Paul Roberts, the author of the book, The End of Oil. He's written a new book - The End of Food.

You can hear the program here. I highly recommend it.

Our garden is growing - let me know if you are interested in fresh, organically grown (but not certified) lettuce, chard, strawberries and snow peas. Check out our website.

June Order

2008-05-20T08:33:00.001-07:00

As we seek new members to provide some cushion for those of us who can't order a lot every month, we need to make sure we do have enough to place an order! Please make sure you note the date your order must be finalized (Wednesday, June 11) and the date the order will be delivered (Monday, June 16).

There are some problems with web ordering - you must remove items from your basket if you don't want them in June (if you ordered a May special, for example, that will still be in your basket). There is still no way to search on sales or prices without putting things in your basket and removing them.

I will continue to send the FoodLink pricelist - use foodlink to check prices and then enter your order on the web.

We (Dancing Doe Farms, LLC) will have veggies, eggs and chickens for sale over the summer. Call to find out what's available - right now we have some water cress and a very limited quantity of asparagus (our patch is not mature enough yet to pick at will). Also, I have a friend who has some goats. If you might be interested in purchasing small quantities of goat milk or goat cheese, please contact me and I'll put you in touch with him.

May Order

2008-05-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

First, Organic Prairie/Organic Valley has an online store. This month they have og ground beef and og uncured hotdogs on sale. If interested, here is the link.

Our order will be delivered on Monday, May 19. Please plan to be there at 7:45 - the truck has been earlier and earlier over the months. Your orders need to be finalized no later than Wednesday evening, May 14.

Keep in mind that UNFI is adding a fuel surcharge based on the price of fuel. Last month, our surcharge was $20 (plus tax). Expect it to be higher this month. We will all split the fuel surcharge evenly.

Next order - May 19

2008-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Web ordering seems to be going smoothly. I hope they fix the price/specials problem soon. I will still send out foodlink product list if you want to use that program to put your order together.

At our last delivery the driver told me that we should be finalizing our order by THURSDAY, so from now on, please have YOUR order finalized by Wednesday evening if possible.

Things went very smoothly at the April 21 delivery. Welcome, John and Jill (new members). Our total was more than $1,000 in April. If we can keep this up for a few more months, we might get the quantity discount back!

Please continue to spread the word!

News and Reminders

2008-03-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

UNFI WILL revise the web ordering system to show items on sale and prices. This will be done before they phase out FoodLink.

I think most of you thought web ordering was very easy and I'm glad we'll be switching to this. I will still send FoodLink price lists until the revisions mentioned above are finalized.

Our next order will be delivered on Monday, April 21. Please mark your calendars!!!!! I will "commit" our order on Friday, April 18 at noon. You will have until then to get your order on the web. You do not need to "commit" your order - I will do that for the whole club. If you are not web ordering, then get your order to me (by mail or voice) no later than Wednesday, April 16. I will be checking our "basket" from April 15 - 18 and will email all if it looks like we're going to be low.

A few reminders and suggestions:

The truck has been arriving before 8 a.m. so if you are able to be there a little before 8, that would be good. Or you can call me between 7 and 8 to find out about timing if you wish.

Again, mark your calendar so I am not left sitting at the church waiting for people to pick up their orders. If you can't be there, make arrangements ahead of time with someone else to pick up and pay for your order between 8 and 8:30 a.m. (the earlier the better).

If you are ordering for other people, have them pay you BEFORE the order pick up date. You can make any adjustments with them after that.

If you belong to a club, organization or faith group, please solicit new members. I will work on a flyer and it will be available here by the weekend.

Note that with web ordering, it's easier to do splits. Please take some time to look at the splits info.

For March - Web Ordering!

2008-02-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

This is super exciting! No more leaving long messages on Cathy's machine! No more getting ONE when you really ordered TWO. Now YOU control your own food destiny!!!

All current members have received info about web ordering including url, username and initial password. I think it will be much easier than FoodLink!

Of course those of us with dial up will have to wait for things to load up, but we are stoic and used to the pain by now!

Here are a couple of major flaws (it appears - I am waiting to hear). One: I don't see anyway of searching for specials. Now THAT's a major problem! and two: there don't appear to be any prices at all on the catalog of items on the web based order system.

Hmmmm.

More soon.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-02T11:38:00.001-08:00

Our next delivery will be Monday, January 28. Orders will be due to the coordinator by Tuesday, January 22 (look for your email with new price list coming during the first week of January.)

Raisins and some organic cheeses (along with lots of other stuff) are on sale in January.

We discovered an addictive granola a few months ago. Golden Temple's Wild Blueberry and Flax granola is amazing. It's a great snack and a fantastic breakfast (we like to add organic raisins and some locally grown apple chunks to ours.) It's on sale at 15% off for a 25# case in January and 20% off in February. Try some. Golden Temple is an independent (not owned by a big food conglomerate) natural food company. The ingredients are organic and Kosher. Really. Try some.

By the way, you can get detailed product info for most things available through our club by logging onto the UNFI Buying Club site at http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/PRODUCTS/Login.aspx. Your user name is our club number (###) (contact coordinator if needed) ###@unfibc.com and password is the club number.

Harold Dale and his wife raise bees in Stoddard and sell honey (Nancy's Honey) in the area. Right now they don't have any honey in stores, but they will sell from their home (bring your own container if you wish). If you're interested in some locally produced honey, contact the coordinator for more info.

Dancing Doe Farms, LLC of Chaseburg still has some nice, fat chickens in the freezer. They would make the perfect home aroma (and several meals from roast to soup) for one of these cold winter weekends. Sizes range from about 5 pounds up to nearly 8 pounds! Contact the coordinator if you're interest.

Do you know of other LOCAL sources for good nutritious food? Please email the coordinator or add a comment with your suggestion.

Last month I got some organic milk (on sale) and it was great. The producer, Farmers' All Natural Creamery is in Iowa and certified in Iowa. Right now, not on sale, it costs a little more than the Horizon Organic products, but with the Cornucopia Institute's one cow rating for Horizon, and a four cow rating for Farmers', I'd still go with the Farmers'.

Anyone want to split a case of 4 gallons of OG fat free (skim) milk?

Be sure to keep up on Who Owns Organics? at this website. Verrrrry interesting.

December Order

2007-11-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

Your order needs to be in by November 28 for December 3 delivery. Let's really work to build our member roster in the next few months!

Note - 30# of organic raisins are on sale in December. Great deal. There are also some good prices on bulk coffee (great gift!), Choice teas (not as good as last month's discount, but still not bad) and Farmers' All Natural Creamery organic milk gallons (four to a case), which is on sale.

Which brings me to ... would anyone like to split a case of OG skim? I'd like two gallons and need someone to purchase the other two.

And that brings me to Cornucopia Institute. Started a few years back by some Coulee Region area folks, "the Cornucopia Institute is dedicated to the fight for economic justice for the family-scale farming community. ... The Organic Integrity Project acts as a corporate watchdog assuring that no compromises to the credibility of organic farming methods and the food it produces are made in the pursuit of profit."

It was the Cornucopia Institute that sued when they learned Wal-Mart was selling non-organic items as organic. And they've been great about letting people know about important legislation that needs support. You can check their Action Alerts or subscribe to their RSS feed.

For now, check out their Organic Dairy Report.

October Order

2007-09-26T09:58:00.001-07:00

Please remember your orders are due to the coordinator by Tuesday, October 2 evening. We might be adding one or two new members this month!

BTW, I think it's still on special - last month I got 25# of granola! Yikes! But it's sooooo good! Its the OG blueberry and flax. Yum.

Anyway, we will eventually eat it all, but if anyone is interested in getting a bag of it or so (I think I have 8 or 9 gallon bags full!) please email me! You can pay me what I paid per pound (don't have that info handy - email me.)

AND - we have great, free range, non-medicated feed eggs for sale for $1.50/dozen and wonderful meaty, juicy free range chickens for sale, $2/pound. I can vouch for the fact that these birds led pretty wonderful chicken lives - on pasture, with their buddies, in a hoop house, morning council under the apple tree, lots of table scraps and over ripe tomatoes and zucchini, etc. etc. etc. It's a different universe from some birds that you might by in the store!

Finally, PLEASE LISTEN to Michael Pollan's (author of Omnivore's Dilemma) speech broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio and available to listen to here: http://www.publicradio.org/tools/media/player/news/features/2007/06/07_cgilbert_pollen

August Order

2007-07-25T07:58:00.000-07:00

Orders for the August 13 delivery are due to me by Tuesday, August 7.

We missed several good specials by not making our July minimum. Please redouble your efforts to find new members! Let me know if you want to borrow the club's paper catalog OR I can email a pricelist to anyone interested.

- cathy

Next order delivery May 21

2007-04-25T14:43:00.000-07:00

Your order is due to the coordinator by Tuesday, May 15. Please talk about splits here.

If you like sprouts, there's a great one pound Frontier Herbs organic "Sprout Spree" salad mix which includes organic red clover seed, organic radish seed, organic alfalfa seed, organic red lentils and organic green lentils. They are great. Fresh greens all the time that you grow yourself in a jar in the window!

Some news that may interest you. The Women's Health Study has found that red and processed meats seem to be linked to breast cancer. Women who reported eating more of these products had a significantly higher risk of cancer:

The link was stronger among postmenopausal women, with red and processed meat seeming to particularly raise their risk of breast cancer. Women who ate the most red meat (2 or more ounces per day) were 56 percent more likely to develop breast cancer than the women who ate no red meat.

Another interesting article is about the risks of high temperature cooking of meats, especially for men:

Back in the late 1970s, Felton, as well as researchers in Japan, began discovering a range of carcinogens in cooked meats. Eventually, they identified 20 such compounds – known as heterocyclic amines or HCAs – and learned how the compounds form during cooking. In 2002, Felton received a five-year, $1.5 million P01 grant from the National Cancer Institute to explore the human cancer risk posed by these mutagens, employing science and technology originally developed for national security uses.

"As soon as you get over 350 degrees Fahrenheit – in the frying pan, the broiler or on the barbecue – these compounds show up," Felton said.

If you know of someone interested in joining the club and they'd like to look at a catalog, please let the coordinator know.

Truck due at 8 a.m. on April 23

2007-04-20T22:23:00.000-07:00

Please be there before 9 a.m. to get your order. Also, catalog subscription money is due and will be added to your invoice.

Next order delivery - March 26

2007-02-25T22:09:00.000-08:00

NOTE: Use the March catalog again!

Your order is due by Tuesday, March 20. Please let the coordinator know if you will not order.

Does anyone want to split 5# of og alfalfa seeds (for sprouting)? Please email Cathy.

Feb 26 SPLITS

2007-02-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Want to split 5# of og alfalfa seeds (for sprouts)? Please let me know. - cathy

Next Delivery: Feburary 26

2007-01-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

Please get your orders to me by Tuesday, February 20. - cathy

Discuss splits here please!

January 29 order

2006-12-04T06:22:00.000-08:00

Your orders for the January 29 delivery are due by Tuesday, January 23. I believe we use the January catalog and will clarify here with an update.

NEW MEMBERS: Please email the coordinator for instructions about ordering and help with FoodLink.

SPLITS: Use this blog to arrange splits.

Thanks, Cathy