In this month's newsletter:
- Interview with the GM & Board President
- Co-op Local Loyalty Program
- Preorder your local turkey
- Grab & Go Thanksgiving
- Irish Beef Stew & Soda Bread Cooking Class & Meal Kit
- Warm Winter Gear Donation Drive
- Looking ahead: Mistletoe Market
- Common Ground History Corner
- New Products
- Round Up For Good
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What's the Supply Chain Got to Do with it?
You may have noticed empty shelves and low or missing products around town, including Common Ground.
For this month’s CGFC Board newsletter article and General Manager article, I (Ming Kuo) wanted to hear from some real experts on supply chain issues –– Gary Taylor, CGFC’s General Manager, and Robert Taylor, CGFC’s Board President (and no relation to Gary. That we know of.)
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Calling All Local Businesses! |
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We are creating a local loyalty shoppers card!
With local businesses being hit hard by COVID, we are looking for ways to incentivize folks to shop local and collaborate with other neighboring business owners. You can offer a special promotion that we would advertise on our website database and in the program brochure.
Participation is completely free!
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Irish Stew & Scone
Cooking Class & Meal Kit
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Stay cozy this fall and learn how to make Irish Stew and Irish Soda Bread Scones in the next cooking class. Sarah, Co-op staff member and class instructor, will share her favorite family recipes, local farm stories, and walk you through making these staple recipes that are perfect for the cold weather and highlight peak harvest ingredients. Attendees can select either Irish Beef Stew using local beef or a vegetarian Irish Seitan Stew with homemade seitan. This $30 Meal Kit is portioned for four and includes all ingredients needed to cook these dishes. Add on a Guinness Nitro Four Pack, a bottle of Grenache Noir, or a bottle of Yalumba Viognier to pair with your meal and sip while you cook! |
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Warm Winter Gear Donation Drive
We're partnering up with Cunningham Township, Channing-Murray Foundation and the Urbana Free Library for a warm winter gear donation drive. Donations are already being accepted! Stop by any of the locations below to drop off clothing.
Stop into Common Ground & purchase a new pair of socks for the drive for $2. Common Ground will match up to $500 in donations!
The giveaway event will take place on Saturday, November 20th from 2-4 pm at the Southeast entrance to the mall.
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Co-op owner, Kinsey created these amazing graphics to teach how to dress for the winter! |
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Join us for the 5th annual
Mistletoe Market!
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Hosted by Norden at Home and MEW, join us in the Common Ground mall hallway to shop with local artisans, makers, growers and creators who will have their best locally made goods on offer. |
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Knife Sharpening is back in the classroom! |
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Saturday, October 30th 9-11 am
Saturday, November 13th 9-11 am
Saturday, November 20th 9-11 am
Saturday, December 4th 9-11 am
Saturday, December 11th 9-11 am
Saturday, December 18th 9-11 am
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Common Ground History Corner |
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As you know, Common Ground has been around for almost 50 years! Our local Co-op has decades of history, and we dug up some artifacts that showcase our story. Here's another wonderful gem from Common Ground's past. |
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Do you have old pictures, newsletters, or ads from Common Ground? Send them in to marketing@commonground.coop to have them featured in our next newsletter!
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Even though summer vegetables have been harvested, there will be plenty of produce available through November and beyond! We have lots of variety if you are looking for some holiday sides. Check out our recipes for Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms, Roasted Cauliflower with Lime Dressing, & Green Beans with Caramelized Onions and Walnuts! All 3 recipes are vegan & gluten-free, and can be made for under $3 a serving. |
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Grab & Go Thanksgiving has begun! |
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Our kitchen has already started making Thanksgiving favorites! Keep an eye out for the rest of the month as they hit the shelves.
- Smashed sweet potatoes & candied pecans - $6.99/pound
- Veggie & herb cornbread stuffing - $6.99/pound
- Mashed potatoes with kale & olive oil - $6/pound
- Cranberry sauce - $4.50/pound
- Lemon roasted brussels sprouts - $12.99/pound
- Savory veggie gravy - $4.49/pound
- Butternut squash mac & cheezy - $6.49/pound
- Savory seitan - $9.99/pound
- Herb roasted turkey breast - $15/pound
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Unity Vibration Grapefruit Sage Kombucha |
Made with organic cold-pressed grapefruit and organic rubbed sage. Sage is said to improve memory and alertness. A paradigm in kombucha - deep and savory and sparkly!
$3.89 each
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Hodo 5-Spice Tofu Nuggets |
These tofu nuggets are plant-based and ready to go! Try them tossed into a salad, grill with some veggies, or throw into a ramen! We have the perfect recipe for a comforting ramen to warm you up as the weather gets colder.
$6.79 each
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Vital Farms Hardboiled Eggs |
Vital Farms makes healthy, humane snacking easy with pasture-raised, hard-boiled eggs. Pick up a bag for breakfast on the run, lunch at the desk or pre/post-workout protein perfection.
$4.09 each
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Spero Sunflower Cream Cheese |
This plant-based cream cheese has 8 simple ingredients that require as little water as possible. The main ingredient, sunflower seeds, uses 96% less water than nuts! Available in 3 flavors:
- Original
- Herb
- Smoked Salmon
$5.50 each
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Mighty Spark Fajita Seasoned Chicken |
Made with premium cuts of all natural chicken, fajita seasoning, red & green peppers, and onions. This chicken is perfect for a warming chili!
$7.25 each
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Bilinski's Lemon Herb Chicken Sausage |
Packed with bright lemon, basil and oregano, this organic lemon herb chicken sausage is the perfect way to add some extra flavor to your favorite nostalgic comfort foods.
$7.99 each
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These delicious pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting are a great dessert, or even a sweet treat for breakfast. Grab them while they are in season!
$6.99 per 4-pack
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How can you resist those beautiful colors? This fall pie has blueberries and raspberries, with subtle hints of lemon, ginger and cinnamon. Grab a slice, half a pie, or a full pie!
Slice: $3.99
Half: $9.99
Whole: $16.99
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Beer & Wine Updates from Lisa |
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*Hot Buy*
Two Brothers Atom Smasher
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Named with our atom-colliding scientific neighbor in mind, this Oktoberfest-style lager is oak-aged, providing added layers of depth to the signature flavors of roasted malt, caramel and toffee found in Marzen style beers. But a beer this exceptional shouldn't be limited to just Oktoberfest. Raise a glass, stein or boot to Augustfest, Septemberfest and beyond!
$6.99 per 6-pack
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Château de Lascaux
“Garrigue” Rosé
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This little beauty just landed in the store. Rosé’s aren’t just for summertime sipping! This one is medium bodied and I would let this one breathe a bit to open up all the deliciousness. It will pair nicely with the hearty soups and stews of the Fall season. They use the term Garrigue as the estate is surrounded by “garrigue scrub” which is descriptive of the terrior that directly influences the flavors in the finished wine.
The blend is 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre
$15.99
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We’ve carried some other offerings from this producer for quite some time, so the addition of the rose was a natural!
Here are the notes direct from the winemaker: “Coral pink in color, super aromatic wine showing watermelon, raspberry with hints of wild roses and white nectarine. The palate is all about bright pomegranate and rhubarb flavours with a clean finish.” It is 100% Sangiovese and is also vegan.
$11.99
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Haut Lorca Bordeaux, Left Bank
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This is a new approach to Bordeaux! Made from organic grapes, with no barrel aging to avoid a standardization of taste. No oak (you won’t miss it!), 100% stainless steel. The blend is traditional Bordeaux: 65% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 2.5% Malbec, 2.5% Petit Verdot
Winemaker notes: On the nose: ripe red fruit with distinct mineral notes. On the palate: black current, raspberry, cherry and strawberries.
$15.99
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Last month we raised over $6,00 for Courage Connection! This local organization works to ensure everyone in our community has the education, support, and resources to live in safe, healthy relationships.
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October Round Up For Good: Rape Advocacy, Counseling, Education and Services (R.A.C.E.S) |
Mission: "We provide compassionate comprehensive support to those affected by sexual trauma. We care for our communities through prevention education programs that promote consent."
Project Proposal: The Round Up for Good Grant would be used to fund therapy services in Rantoul, IL for survivors of sexual violence. Many of our clients in the northern part of Champaign County and in rural Ford County find it difficult to get to Urbana for in-person therapy. Offering therapy services in the northern part of the county saves our clients much time and gas money as they utilize the crucial service of therapy after sexual assault.
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