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Author name: Chequamegon Food Co-op

Get to Know Tomatoes

The French and Germans, who first met the tomato in the 16th century, dubbed it “the apple of love,” and “the apple of paradise.” Our less-romantic name for the fruit dates back further, though, to the Aztecs, who called it “xitomati,” or “plump thing with a navel.” Both in Europe and America, it took a […]

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What’s Fresh? Tomatoes!

What’s Fresh? Tomatoes! Tomato season is upon us and we are loaded up with a large selection of fresh, local, and organic varieties. We have cherry tomatoes from Great Oak Farm in Mason, Wisconsin, Bay Produce in Superior, Wisconsin,Hungry Hill Farm in Washburn, Wisconsin, and Hermit Creek Farm in Highbridge, Wisconsin. There are also slicer

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Make Lunch Easy with Salad in a Jar

Is there anything you can’t do with a canning jar? They can be used to freeze homemade margarita mix, ferment pickles, display a collection of beach glass, organize screws and nails, and store bulk grains.

So it should come as no surprise that there’s yet another amazing (and handy) thing you can do with canning jars: they make a perfect container for a lunch-on-the-go. Meet your new fresh and healthy friend: salad in a jar.

Start with a clean, dry mason jar. For a small to medium salad with few greens, a pint jar is perfect. If you like a lot of greens, or want to make a large salad, use a quart jar. Wide-mouth canning jars are easiest to fill, but regular jars work for smaller ingredients just fine. Depending on how hearty you like your salads, fill the jar as follows:

  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of your favorite dressing to the jar.
  • Next, add the hardest, least-absorbent ingredients. Chopped veggies like carrots, celery, fennel and onion can marinate in the dressing on the bottom and absorb flavor without compromising their texture.
  • Next, add cooked beans and/or firm grains like rice, barley or spelt; things that won’t get too soggy if they sit on top of, or in, the dressing.
  • Proteins such as tofu, cooked chicken, ham, or tuna can be added next.
  • Then add cheese and any softer veggies or fruits that are complementary to your mix. Berries, sliced apples and pears are good seasonal choices, but don’t forget dried fruits like raisins or cranberries that are nice year-round.
  • Next add cooked, light, absorbent grains like quinoa or couscous, or pasta.
  • Then seeds, nuts or croutons—stuff you’d like to keep fairly crunchy.
  • Finally, fill to the top with chopped salad greens.

Twist on the top, stick the salad in the fridge, and you’re good to go! When you’re ready to eat, the salad will be dressed by the act of emptying the jar, so shaking is not necessary but you can give it a gentle shake just before emptying if you like. Enjoy your fresh, crisp salad and be prepared to soak up compliments around the lunch table with your fun and functional salad in a jar.

 

Republished with permission from strongertogether.coop.

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What’s Fresh? Bell Peppers!

What’s Fresh? Bell Peppers! Many people know and love green bell peppers, but they also come in shades of red, orange, yellow, and even purple. Bell peppers contain carotenoids, a type of phytonutrient that not only gives them their color, but also offer anti-cancer properties. These colorful, crisp veggies are also loaded with vitamin C.

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Behind the Scenes: The Making of Food

Today, the vast majority of U.S. food is produced by an industrial system that churns out commodity crops (like corn and soybeans), which are then turned into processed foods for human consumption or fed to livestock to produce cheap meat. But now, more than ever, people are showing interest in finding local, sustainable alternatives. Humans

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What’s Fresh? Cucumbers!

What’s Fresh? Cucumbers! Cucumbers have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties due to their phytonutrient content. They also contain polyphenols and lignans that have potential anti-cancer benefits. This week in the cooler you’ll find organic cucumbers from Hermit Creek Farm in Highbridge, Wisconsin. Confetti Cucumber Salsa Cucumber Mint Gazpacho with Lemon Greek Orzo Salad Minty Watermelon

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Let’s Party: Free Food, Music & More!

It’s our 40th anniversary and we’re celebrating 40 years of cooperation with a summertime party you won’t want to miss. Join us for our 40th Anniversary Block Party in the parking lot at the Co-op on Saturday, August 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. What can you expect? Look for our local food tasting event,

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We’re Nominated for Retailer of the Year!

Chequamegon Food Co-op has been nominated for a Retailer of the Year award by New Hope Network for its micro-loan, Produce Promises and CHIP for Change programs. New Hope Network is a consulting firm for the healthy lifestyle products industry.

The awards, presented at Natural Products Expo East in Baltimore, Md., will honor four retailers in the categories of Innovation, Sustainability, Best New Store, and Community Engagement & Outreach. Three natural grocers have been nominated in each category. Maya Wenner, Chequamegon Food Co-op grocery manager, will represent the grocery store at Expo East. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, September 23, 2016.

“We want to thank New Hope Network for recognizing our commitment to local foods,” said Meagan Van Beest, marketing and member services manager. “Our community benefits in so many ways from the partnerships we have developed with local farmers and value-added food producers. We keep more money in the local economy, support a variety of jobs, and reduce our environmental impact by decreasing the miles products travel before reaching our shelves. Add to this how good it all tastes, and local food is a win-win.”

Chequamegon Food Co-op’s micro-loan program is a revolving loan fund for agricultural producers and processors. Produce Promises is a purchasing agreement program where the Co-op asks local farmers to commit to growing and selling a certain amount and type of produce to the Co-op. The CHIP for Change donation program lets customers round up their purchase total at the Co-op’s registers to help fund the micro-loan program.

In 2015, the Co-op collected $20,934.60 in CHIP funds and loaned out $22,450. The goal of all three programs is to support and grow the regional farming and food processing economy and increase the amount of locally and sustainably produced products available for sale.

Chequamegon Food Co-op was founded in 1976 and is currently celebrating 40 years as a cooperative, community-owned grocery store. The Co-op is an innovative leader in the local food system, developing relationships with local businesses to provide the freshest local food and highest-quality value-added products.

To learn more about Chequamegon Food Co-op and its community programs, please contact Meagan Van Beest, marketing and member services manager, at (715) 682-8251 or meaganv@cheqfood.coop.

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What’s Fresh? Cherry Tomatoes!

What’s Fresh? Cherry Tomatoes! Cherry tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants, including cancer-fighting lycopene. They also help with heart health by lowering overall cholesterol levels. Pints of cherry tomatoes from Great Oak Farm in Mason, Wisconsin are here this week. Honey-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Cherry Tomato Salad with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing Easy Cherry Tomato Pasta Sauce Baked Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes

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