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S U S T A I N A B I L I T Y S P O T L I G H T:

Have you heard about TerraCycle? They’re one of the most interesting recycling companies in the country. TerraCycle’s stated goal is to collect difficult-to-recycle packaging and products and repurpose the material into affordable, innovative products. All manner of otherwise unrecyclable materials have been saved from the landfill by their ingenuity.

The Co-op has collaborated with TerraCycle for a while now. Next time you’re in the store, check out the corner between the juices and the sodas near the front—you will see a special recycling receptacle for foil-lined energy bar wrappers (such as LÄRABAR). We are delighted to announce that the Co-op is working with TerraCycle to expand our extraordinary recycling capabilities to include a new product: Naked Grape boxed wine.

You read that right. Later this April, the Co-op will start selling boxes of Naked Grape wine. In addition to being a screaming deal, the wine-boxes and bladders are accepted by TerraCycle! Buy the box, enjoy it at home, and bring the packaging back—we’ll send it off to get recycled. In addition, for every package sent back to TerraCycle, Naked Grape will donate two cents to Clothes4Souls, a charity that provides free clothing for members of disadvantaged communities.

But wait—it gets even better. Whenever you bring back a clean package of Naked Grape boxed wine for recycling, our cashier will give you a coupon for $1 off your next purchase of the same!

Save money, help the earth,
& enjoy good wine.

All at your Co-op.

C H A N G E S A T L L A N O S E C O

PHOTOS BY KYLE DELMAR

Llano Seco Rancho products are undergoing a noticeable change. Llano Seco is transitioning their herd away from being USDA certified organic. While we at the Co-op obviously strive to carry as many organic products as possible, we understand the reasons why Llano Seco have made their decision, and will continue carrying their products.

The first question we all had upon hearing the news was, of course, “Why? Why drop the organic label?”. Two primary reasons:

1) Pig health. The organic requirements prevented Llano Seco from treating their herd with “dewormer” to keep the pigs’ digestive systems free of parasites. Pigs, because of their social nature and proclivity for muck, have a tendency to acquire parasites. Llano Seco will now be able to treat their pigs for parasites. However, the pigs will still not be treated with anti-biotics.
2) Price. The recent drought has caused the price of organic feed to rise dramatically. Llano Seco wants to try and keep their products affordable to as many people as possible, so they are switching to feed which is not certified organic. The pigs’ feed will remain GMO-free and vegetarian.

The above mentioned changes precipitated the loss of the USDA Organic label. Llano Seco have partnered with the Global Animal Partnership to independently verify that their herds are still being raised in the best possible conditions. Llano Seco’s dedication to animal welfare and environmental stewardship preceded their USDA certification, and the transition away from that labeling does not affect their core values in the slightest. We are proud to carry local, sustainably produced meats from Llano Seco.

If you have any questions or concerns about Llano Seco products, do not hesitate to ask us here at the store. Llano Seco has a very helpful information sheet about the change here.

P R O D U C E S P O T L I G H T:

GARDEN STARTS

Spring is truly here. Chico and the surrounding areas are blessed with good weather and excellent soil for year round gardening. As much as we love to have you support our local and regional produce vendors, we know the joy that comes with supplementing your food supply with the bounty of your own back yard. Thus, we are spotlighting our local seed and plant start vendors. Redwood Seeds have been providing the local community with certified organic, open pollinated seeds that are grown locally in Tehama County. They are grown specifically in the lower Cascade foothills, where hot dry summers are the rule. These seeds have adapted themselves over the years to our climate and should provide you with the results you’re looking for. You can also let the plants go to seed and use them in your garden the following year. Redwood Seeds Farm has a large variety of heirloom varieties of fruits and vegetables for the spring and summer seasons.

Sheri Scott has a nice selection of vegetable starts including: dill, parsley, fennel, chards, kales and lettuces.

Baba Ross Walcott from F.R.E.S.H. has some unique tomato starts: Black Prince Tomato, Pineapple heirloom tomato, Italian Heirloom Red, as well as the classic Beef Steak and Sun Gold.

We also carry Nederland Bulbs for a wide variety of flowers from Gladiolas to Dahlias. We will be carrying a modest amount of fertilizers, soil, and compost to help you get started. We will even be offering hats and gloves to protect your beautiful selves as you brave the sun and weeds, rocks and dirt.

Happy growing,
Kevin Durkin, Produce Buyer

We’ve all heard the phrase “Less is more,” right? Well, it’s wrong. Absolutely wrong. More is more. Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA features--you guessed it--seven hop varieties grown by Rogue. It also exclusively uses malts grown at Rogue Farms. The slogan for Rogue Farms is “Grow the Revolution” and this IPA is grown and produced within a 200 mile radius, which is almost unheard of in the beer world. The 7 Hop IPA clocks in at 8.02% ABV, and a whopping 90 IBU.

Color – Beautiful golden amber to gold color, clear to semi clear.

Aroma – Sweet malt, earthy, floral hops, tropical fruits, pineapple, grapefruit, green mango, candied orange peel, resinous pine.

Taste & Mouthfeel – Orange pith, resinous pine, orange marmalade, earthy hops, floral hops, grapefruit, lingering hop bitterness, medium bodied, finishes dry.

Overall – Wow! This was quite a surprise. The malt backbone holds up well against the barrage of hops with a definite linger of bitterness. This IPA is quite balanced. A very impressive offering , made even more appealing by the use of Rogue Farm’s very own farmed malts and hops.

Letter Grade – A The Rogue Farms 7 Hop IPA is fantastically hoppy and reasonably priced. The balance of the beer is almost unbelievable and reminiscent of Ballast Point’s Sculpin or, dare I even say it, Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company (with a hint of Blind Pig IPA, also from Russian River Brewing Company). Rogue nailed it. This IPA far exceeded my expectations based on previous Rogue offerings (Voodoo Doughnut Maple Bacon). Definitely worth a try and remember, life is too short to drink light lagers. Drink what ales you.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

16 oz container of DR. BRONNER's SAL SUDS = $8.69

32 oz bottle of DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR = $5.39

WARM WATER

32 OZ SPRAY BOTTLE

OPTIONAL:

5 ML bottle of LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL = $9.29

5 ML bottle of PEPPERMINT ESSENTIAL OIL = $13.69

5 ML bottle of TEA TREE ESSENTIAL OIL = $7.59

STEP ONE: Add 1/3 tsp of Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds to an empty 32 oz spray bottle

STEP TWO: Fill bottle with 24 oz of warm water

STEP THREE: Fill remaining 1/4 of the bottle (8 oz) with white vinegar

STEP FOUR (OPTIONAL): Add 20 or so drops of essential oil of your choice

STEP FIVE: Shake well before each use

Lemon Essential Oil

Add a few drops to your favorite homemade cleaners to infuse the scent of lemon throughout your home. Lemon essential oil can also help brighten and remove stains.

Peppermint Essential Oil

Add a few drops to your favorite homemade spray cleaners and spritz the mixture on areas that need particular antibacterial attention, like bathrooms and kitchens. As an added bonus, peppermint also acts as a natural pest deterrent.

Also, don't be afraid to mix your essential oils to create aromatic blends. Peppermint mixes especially well with other essential oils popular for cleaning, including lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary.

Tea Tree Essential Oil

Made from the Australian Melaleuca tree, tea tree essential oil is said to offer antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. It works especially well to get rid of mildew and mold around the house.

L E T T E R F R O M T H E B O A R D

We all know April showers bring May flowers, but what else does April bring? To some it brings a time to be out in the garden and get things planted for the summer harvest. It also brings tax time. Time to pull out all those documents you’ve been saving all year and hope you get something back. Although April brings a different meaning to everyone, it also brings a time to get together with family and friends. Earth Day is also in April, which marks the anniversary of what many consider the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

To your Board of Directors, April also brings spring cleaning. We will be getting together to clean out old ideas and bring in new ones. One main point of interest is owner-Board linkage. We will be working on better ways to keep owners informed and up to date on what is happening at their co-op. Another important issue is owner involvement. Our Board meetings are open to all owners and we would love to see you there. A couple Board positions up for election every year, as we are on overlapping terms. If you have any interest in a position, we encourage you to come down and see what the Board of Directors all about. Please feel free to contact us with any ideas or suggestions you may have on these or any other subject involving the co-op.

Phil Weintraub
Secretary, Board of Directors

It's market time! The Co-op will be rocking a booth starting April 10th with snacks and an excellent drink selection. Look for us when you're out about on Thursdays!