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EAT LOCAL MONTH IS HERE AGAIN!

This year will be the 5th year that CNFC is celebrating September as Eat Local, America Month! Hosted by natural food co-ops nationwide, the initiative highlights the great taste of local food while celebrating our communities' farmers and other food producers who make it all possible.

Not sure where to start with your local eating venture? Local products are everywhere! You can discover local foods at restaurants, our many Farmer's Markets, straight from the farms, and (of course) here at the Co-op. Find for local products on our shelves and in our bulk dept by looking for these shelf tags:

And there's no better way to shop local than in our produce department! We define “Local” as grown within the greater Butte County area in a radius of 150 miles. However, the majority of our local farmers and growers are located the in a 50 mile radius with many being within 10 miles of Chico. Our Produce Department buys directly from over 50 farms and small growers in and around Butte county ranging in size from backyard gardeners to full production organic farms. Butte County is blessed to have an amazing agricultural diversity being able to grow tomatoes, citrus, and passion fruit to broccoli and kale.

Not only do we have a great diversity of local produce but our local farmers are dedicated to Organic farming and sustainable agriculture. All of our local produce is either Certified Organic or sustainably grown using OMRI (Organics Material Review Institute) approved input and home grown fertilizers. During the 2014 growing season the Co-op has been visiting many of our local growers to get a better understanding of each individual’s unique growing practices and extra efforts they take to enhance the soil, ecosystems, and general well being of the land they steward and the produce they grow. We have been thoroughly impressed by the amazing efforts and passion that all of our growers have for organic and sustainable agriculture. We are proud to support all of the farms and growers who sell to us.

In 2013, Chico Natural Foods Cooperative averaged 22 percent of all of our purchases directly from local farmers and growers, peaking at 33 percent at the height of growing season. That translates to over $127,000 directly to local farmers which in turns stays in our local economy. We aim to increase that number this season and in the upcoming 2015 season by working more closely with local farmers, coordinating planting and harvesting calendars, and helping immerging small growers find their niche in our department and local food movement.

So come in to the Co-op during September to help support the local food movement and all of the amazing farmers and growers who help make our department a vibrant, beautiful, fresh and tasty part of your Chico Natural Foods Cooperative shopping experience.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Two new board members have recently been appointed to the board, and we have new spots opening up for this year's election! Please give a warm welcome to these talented and generous individuals:

Alec Binyon

A native Chicoan, Alec is co-owner of The Naked Lounge Tea & Coffeehouse and Great State Coffee Company, a craft-coffee roasting company serving wholesale and retail customers. He has managed a number of small businesses (the first of which was The Naked Lounge which he helped open in 2001) and was the original owner of Empire Coffee in the restored passenger train car on Orange Street. Before returning to his coffee roots by purchasing The Naked Lounge, Alec served as Sales and General Manager of the Chico News & Review. For seven years he led the paper through growth, stability, and survival through the Great Recession. He has served on the DCBA board and regularly conspires for bicycles.

Scott Richman

Many of the Co-op's shoppers know Scott from his many years working at the store. He was first hired in 1994 and in the ten years prior, was head of bread production at Ponce Bakery, formally located in Chico. Scott moved to Chico in 1978 to earn a graduate degree in Sociology from Chico State, and he immediately became a working member at the Co-op and has worked in that capacity at all four of the storefronts occupied by our co-op over the years. He has completed a record number of years on the Board of Directors here at the store as well, starting from the time he worked as a baker, and has served at least once in each of the four officer positions of the Board.

Interested in joining the Co-op's Board of Directors? Read through the Board Manual, and fill out an application! Applications for the 2014 election are due by September 26th.

NEW PRODUCTS!

Iced Coffees!

Coffee, milk, & sugar. Ready to drink. From the well-reknowned Blue Bottle Coffee, and Stumptown Coffee Roasters.

Immaculate Baking Company

Baking just got easier with these convenient newready-to-bake items from the Immaculate Baking company. Tested and approved by our staff!

Queso Del Valle Cheeses

Mexican cheeses from Southern California cheese company, Karoun Dairies.

Bento Box Lunches

From Laptop Lunches.
They are reusable, recyclable, long lasting, and dishwasher safe. And they contain NO phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), PVC, or lead.

NEW FACES!

Welcome our newest Co-op employees!

Jenn!
Lead Baker

Andrew!
Cashier

Jeff!
Cashier

Auburn!
Produce Stocker

Hailey!
Prep Cook

Jayme!
Prep Cook

OWNER-ONLY SALES

In addition to our regular red-tag sale items for all shoppers, owners also get these select products at 20% off throughout the month of August! Look for the blue tags.

GROCERY
Hampton Creek Just Mayo
So Delicious Select Creamers
Cool Haus Ice Cream Sandwiches
Organic Prairie Sliced Lunch Meats
Glutino Bagel Chips
Koyo Udon & Soba Noodles
Napa Valley Sesame Oils
Surfsweets Candies
Straus Sour Cream
Annie's Homegrown Frozen Pizzas
Natural Sea Tuna
Newman's Own Alfredo Sauce
Yummy Earth 30 Count Lollipop Bins
Thunderbird Energetica Energy Bars

PRODUCE
Certified Organic Spinach Bunch
Certified Organic Sweet Potatoes Garnet, Jewel,& Japanese

CO-OP KITCHEN
Rice Pudding Four Varieties

WELLNESS
Naturtint All Hair Dyes
Yerba Prima Psyllium Husk Caps

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818 Main Street
Chico, CA | 95928 US

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