CO-OP NEWSLETTER -- AUGUST 27, 2018
Weekly News & Updates

Dear Members and Friends,

As summer winds down toward Labor Day, local and regional farms have swelled our produce section with delicious fruits and vegetables.  We hope you'll fill your market baskets and feast on all this bounty!
 

In the Store this Week

Zach's peppers & eggplants
PRODUCE

Local

Aurora Farms:  basil, cilantro
 
Blue Moon:  blueberries, red & yellow onion, scallions, green bell peppers, garlic
 
Dog Island:  shiitake and blue oyster mushrooms
 
Federico Farm:  micro-greens, zucchini & pattipan, purple bell peppers

Forage Farmstead:  wilt and lettuce mixes, garlic

The Farm @ Roche Harbor:  kale, head lettuce

Nootka Rose Farm, Waldron Island
Horse Drawn:  honeydew, cantaloupe, cilantro, parsley, purple potatoes

Mama Bird:  greens, English cucumbers and tomatoes

Maple Rock:  lettuce mix, green beans, beets, caraflex cabbage, carrots

Nootka Rose:  cauliflower (purple & white), broccoli, gailon, napa
cabbage, red, yukon gold & fingerling potatoes

Old Copper Farm:  garlic, kale
Strasser Farm, San Juan Island

Pear Point Farm:  strawberries

Sweet Earth:  cherry tomatoes, padron peppers, strawberries

Strasser Family farm:  summer squash

Zach Chan:  shishito, jalapeno & Italian peppers, cabbage, parsley


Regional:

All Seasons:  Crimini mushrooms

Maria Dennis:  Sunglow nectarines, Dino Egg pluots, Gala & Sansa apples, Bartlett pears, various plums

Left to right:  peach, nectarine, pear, Dino Egg pluot, Gala apple, Sansa apple,  
Santa Rosa plum, Tilton plum


yummy figs!
Hedlin Farms:  snap peas

Hopewell Farm:  broccoli

Ralph's Greenhouse:  carrots

Top Hat:  Shiitake mushrooms



Beyond :

Avocado
Bananas
Grapes
Grapefruit
Oranges
Lemons
Watermelon


BEER, WINE, CIDER 

There's lots of new stuff in the wine and beer section and it's all been reorganized. There are several new sustainable Pinot Noirs, by Patton Valley Vineyards, Art and Science, and an absolutely lovely Rosé of Pinot Noir by Beckham Vineyards, all out of Oregon.  



NEW IN HABA

Inner-eco Probiotic Coconut Water:  
 
I n both 1oz and 15oz sizes .  Check out
inner-eco.com for lots of great facts about this coconut water kefir probiotic drink.
 

We Welcome Sunbeam Candles to our Co-op:
 
Sunbeam candles, from Ithaca, New York, are handcrafted beeswax candles made with SOLAR POWER! Additionally, Sunbeam ships carbon-neutral, and is a certified living wage employer. And most importantly, the candles look and smell amazing and have long burn times.  The beeswax aromatherapy line and manifestation pillars are made with pure essential oils.



BAKERY

Barn Owl is back to morning deliveries Tuesdays and Fridays. They were able to work it out.



NEW

Firefly Kitchens Kimchi & Krauts from Seattle. It was suggested by a member and will help fill the gaps left by Kraut Pleasers and Sujin's leaving.
It's due to arrive on Tuesday.



TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK:    MANY THINGS

UNFI

UNFI messed up our order badly last week and we received 1/20 of our order. They assure us everything will come on the 28th. We apologize for any inconvenience.



SALE 

Alive Kombucha Cola will be 25% off until it's gone.
 


About 36 Weekends


36 Weekends is a group of volunteers with a passion for kids who need your help. Some of our island kids go without food over the weekend. Nearly 40% of our school kids are enrolled in the free and reduced price lunch program.

36 Weekends offers a solution to weekend student nutritional needs by providing basic, kid-friendly food items over the weekend during the school year.

More information can be found at www.sji36weekends.org




We are currently selling 36 Weekends canvas bags in the store for $20 with all proceeds going to the program. We are also collecting spare change for them at the register.





Late August Musings

Well, I was all set to write about making chili rellenos this week -- even took a couple of photos.  Then I must have just enjoyed my dinner too much and realized as I was smacking my lips afterwards that I had totally forgotten to take the rest of the photos, even though my phone was sitting right by the stove the whole time.  I have more poblano chilis and will make more rellenos soon so you'll still get to see the project.  They are so good!

So instead I think I'll just share how things are going in my garden at this point in the summer and I'd love to compare notes with the rest of you. 

For starters, I'm having a terrible tomato year, what gives?  I put my tomatoes in the prime crop rotation spot in my garden, have faithfully irrigated, even did a bit of mid-season fertilizing with fish emulsion.  My Sungolds and Sweet Millions are fine, but the rest are wimpy and look like they aren't getting enough water.  I am stumped.  My Principe Borghese usually makes tons of fruits so I have bags and bags dried and frozen to use over the winter.  This year I'll be lucky to get one bag.  I haven't harvested one Pineapple yet, and only one of my Provençals.  The San Marzano are OK, but the Stupice plants are only around 2/3 as tall as usual.  I have some Cosmo Volkovs in the hoop house and they are doing well. 















Left: Poor little Principe Borghese!

Right:  Only one Pineapple is ripe.


Happy tomatoes in the hoop house

Where are the beans?

I suppose it's just another lesson in the mystery of growing crops and there are things you just can't control.  I think the smoke in the air cooled the temperature.  It did the same thing last year, and I'm toying with the idea of putting up my plastic tunnels again; I have no idea if it's going to get warm again or if fall is here.  The climate is changing and although we in the NW are pretty safe from extremes, all bets seem to be off on what to expect as far as ripening times go.




I've got lots of apples and pretty good pears, the plum tree is loaded, but those plums seem to be late.  The berries are on schedule, and I've had a bumper crop of squashes. 


No problem with the squash


In the hoop house things are more normal: lots of good peppers, cucumbers and eggplants.  It's a bit of a controlled situation in there of course, and it doesn't evaporate after irrigation as quickly as outside.  Oh -- and my beans are just now starting to produce, isn't that late?

So here's a chance to really trade opinions with me.  If you will allow me, I'll do next week's column with your responses.  Please write and chat with me about your experiences this year: alicedeane@rockisland.com.

Or grab me when you see me around and we can gab!

-- Alice Deane

 

Special Order Tree Fruit

This Thursday's delivery from Orondo will bring Bartlett Pears and more Sunglow Nectarines for case orders.

Maria reports that their pear orchard is almost ready for organic certification, so these Bartletts are basically organic now. Pears have to be picked green; otherwise the flesh is grainy. They will take a week or two to ripen when you get them home.



Members can order Pears and Nectarines by the case by following the instructions sent Friday evening. No orders are taken through the Co-op.


News from Maria in Orondo



Last week it was raining ash on the other side of the mountains. Maria's son Eric suited up for a bike ride on Sunday.

On Monday Maria sent a photo of part of the orchard.  "This is down a tree row right by the shop -- cherries. It is about a four/five acre block. Can't see the end of the row. Should be able to see the hills out the other side, across the river.  And you saw Eric with his mask on yesterday. The hills are not visible in that picture either."

"What do the trees think of it?" I asked.

"They are thinking it's getting winter and they are ripening faster than they should be. All of a sudden we are three weeks earlier than last year and we started out a week later."




--  Maria Dennis  


Volunteer

  
Shopkeeper Openings:
 
Monday 12-2
Tuesday 10-12, 12-2
Thursday 10-12, 2-4
Friday 10-12, 2-4
Saturday 2-4
Sunday 2-4

Other Opportunities: 
 
We are also looking for volunteers for the following:  
  • Produce department
  • Meat/cheese department 
  • Help with farmers markets and other events 
 
Volunteer Benefit:


Volunteers earn co-op cash to spend in the store at the rate of $4.60 for every two hours of work. Any hours worked within the quarter will count towards co-op cash. All cash earned during the quarter is to be used during the following quarter, with transactions recorded at the check stand.


Contact Information:

If you would like to volunteer, please email Sarah at the co-op with "VOLUNTEER" in the subject line: sanjuancoop@gmail.com

Or phone the co-op at  360-370-5170.  You can also leave a message with the cashier.  

Thank you!       
 -- Sarah  



Next week look in this space for the proclamation adopted by the County Council last week: September 2018 "National Preparedness Month."  
  _____________________________________ 
 

Disaster Preparedness  
 
It's the end of August -- you still have a few days to add this month's emergency supplies and finish your tasks.

Purchases:

A box of crackers or graham crackers, five per person
Dry cereal or instant oatmeal, 2 weeks worth per person
2 boxes of large, heavy-duty garbage bags

Activities:

Make a small preparedness kit for your car. Include food, water, blanket, small first aid kit, a list of important phone numbers.
Secure water heaters to wall studs if not already done.
 
Starting Now?

If you want to start now, look for the three handouts at the Co-op:  

1. 12-month Household Preparation Calendar
2. Neighborhood Preparation Calendar
3. Immediate Response -- "Disaster! Now what?"


SPECIAL ORDERS
 
Information about special ordering
 
Special Ordering is a Member Benefit. Save on items you use often--bathroom tissue, pet food, canned goods, pasta, bulk beans, and even chill or frozen items. The markup on member special orders is 20% over wholesale for taxable and non-taxable items. You can request a special order information sheet at the store or via email:  sanjuancoop@gmail.com
 

Distributors:

UNFI

UNFI orders are every week.
Order deadline is Midnight Saturday
Pickup: after 3pm on Tuesday
Please be prompt for chill and frozen items.

azure
    
Azure Standard orders are every other week.
Current order in transit:  Pickup August 24
Next order deadline:  Midnight September 1
Pickup:   After 10am Friday September 7
   
 


DELIVERIES THIS WEEK


MONDAY:  
Mama Bird salad greens, Zach's Fresh Sheet, Federico Farms, The Farm at Roche Harbor, Organically Grown Company (OGC).

TUESDAY: 
Daytime:  Blue Moon Farm, Mama Bird tomatoes & cucumbers, Dancing Seeds, Horse Drawn Farm, Barn Owl Bakery, Jones Family Farm, UNFI. 
Evening:  Jim's Jerseys and Old Silvana Raw Milk, Samish Bay Cheese, Puget Sound Food Hub.

WEDNESDAY:  
Maple Rock Farm, Sweet Earth Farm, Fresh Breeze Milk, Lopez    Island Creamery, Grace Harbor Farms,  

THURSDAY: 
Daytime:  Aurora Farms, Local Goods, Mama Bird salad greens, Nootka Rose Farm, Federico Farms, Forage Farmstead, Maria's Fruit.  

Late afternoon Fairhaven Mills, Sujin's Kimchi, Pablito's Salsa, Jack Mountain Meats & Acme Cheeses, 
5b's Gluten Free Bakery , Organically Grown Company (OGC).

FRIDAY: 
Daytime: Barn Owl Bakery, Jones Family Farm.  
Evening
:  Puget Sound Food Hub, Bakery San Juan, etc.


SATURDAY:  
Sweet Earth Farm, Sunnyfield Farm on Lopez, Twin Brook Milk, Maple Rock Farm, Dancing Seeds Farm.

SUNDAY:  
Blue Moon Farm, Waldron Island.
   
 
 
STORE HOURS

Monday - Friday: 10 - 7       //      Saturday & Sunday: 10 - 5
 
 
Phone:  360-370-5170

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Monthly Meetings

This evening, August 27 
September 17, October 16
Heritage Bank meeting room at 6:30 pm.
 
All members are welcome to attend meetings.

Any member is welcome to speak at the beginning of Board meetings.  Please contact the Chair or any Board member at sanjuancoopboard@gmail.com about the topic of interest, with the understanding that due to the amount of business the Board has to attend to, brevity is appreciated.

NEWSLETTER

Editor: Eleanor Hartmann

Contributors:  Paul Richards, Sarah Benson, Alice Deane, Bethery von Dassow, Jeremy Jennings, Adrienne Brooks
 
Thank you for supporting your San Juan Island Food Co-op 
Mission Statement
The San Juan Island Food Co-op strives to provide access to local and regional food and goods that are organic, sustainable, and fairly produced, with the smallest carbon footprint.
The Co-op encourages conscientious consumption
and nurtures community connections.
San Juan Island Food Co-op | Friday Harbor | 360-370-5170
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