Tom Gallo has been making homemade pizza for almost as long as he’s been eating it. Using his grandmother’s “gravy” recipe, he added his own signature to make the delicious red sauce he uses today.

In early 2009, Tom decided it was time to work on a whole wheat pizza, a healthier version of a traditional ‘white crust’ pizza. From that sprang the idea of the Pizza Kit, and along with it, a host of new challenges. It’s fairly simple to create a great pizza crust after a 2-hour rise with all white flour. But the idea behind the Pizza Kit was to create a whole wheat pizza that’s delicious yet quick and easy: homemade in a kit!

Many pizzas later, in the spring of 2010, the dough was finally perfected. A few months later, Tom added a low sodium option and it was a great success as well. Then in January, 2011, Tom and Susan happily introduced their gluten-free version of the Pizza Kit and the response has been overwhelmingly positive with two thumbs up on the dough recipe from everyone, including the kids!

Tom and his wife Susan lovingly make the Gallo Pizza Kits from the commercial kitchen at Blue Ridge Food Ventures in Asheville, North Carolina. Tom and Susan see the Pizza Kit as a gift to be enjoyed by anyone who loves pizza. It’s “from scratch,” but without the time, work, and mess for the pizza lover.

Look for Gallo Pizza Kits in the grocery section of the store.

We all look forward to spending more time outside in the spring, and our shelves are already stocked with all you’ll need to enjoy the season! We have a large selection of sunscreens, each carefully selected using the Environmental Working Group’s list of top-rated sunscreens for broad-spectrum protection, with fewer hazardous ingredients. Many biodegradable options go a step further – protecting you, and our environment.

If you’re one of the many suffering with allergies this time of year, we think you should consider a neti pot! Touted by Oprah and Dr. Oz, the neti pot provides a physical irrigation of the sinus cavity, washing away the irritants that cause discomfort. We carry a variety of homeopathic, enzyme, and herbal products to help you survive allergy season.

There is a new wave of technologies harnessing the inherent power of mushrooms and fungal mycelium worldwide. We’ve expanded to the full line of certified organic medicinal mushrooms from Fungi Perfecti. Legendary mycologist Paul Staments formulates the Host Defense line of single and blended immune awakening mushrooms.

And finally, you’ll want to keep an eye out for new selections in our skin care area. We are adjusting to a more comprehensive collection of products to help you follow a better skin care regimen, no matter your skin type or price range. Coming soon, look for a whole new make-up line!

We thank you for shopping locally!
The Wellness Team

Spring has finally arrived! The warmer weather has us all peeking our heads out and beginning to enjoy the sunshine. This time of year, we start looking for fresh blueberries from Burgaw. Newberry’s Blueberries are a tasty treat that always reminds us that summer is right around the corner.

As you know, sourcing locally is important to the Fresh & Frozen Team. Our department endorses the Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act (S. 1773, H.R. 3286) that was introduced in 2011 by Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, along with 35 original co-sponsors. Passage of this legislation will improve upon existing farm programs, to effectively foster local and regional food system development. We urge you to support this comprehensive bill by contacting our State Representatives.

The Local Farms, Food, and Jobs Act: helps farmers and ranchers by addressing production, aggregation, processing, marketing, and distribution issues; and assists consumers by improving access to healthy food. The measure provides secure farm bill funding for critically important programs that support family farms, expand new farming opportunities, create rural jobs, and invest in the local food and agriculture economy.

We continue to load up on local produce, continually expanding our suppliers and variety. If you haven’t signed up for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, you still have time. More information is at customer service. This year Black River Organic Farm and Oakley Laurel Farm will be delivering their boxes here.

Black River Organic Farm isn’t just supplying our produce section with organic vegetables anymore. This winter Black River started bringing us Buff Orpington chicken eggs. Buff Orpington hens lay large brown eggs. These free-range chickens are on their way to being the first local, organic chickens in our area.

And it is seed time! The produce department has seeds from High Mowing Seed Company again this year. High Mowing is a seed distributor that focuses on heirloom and open-pollinated varieties, all of which are certified organic. If you don’t want to sprout your own, all kinds of vegetable transplants are now available from Federal Point Farm.

For adventurous gardeners we are offering the Back to the Roots’ grow-at-home mushroom kit this year. The kit grows up to 1 1/2 lbs of tasty, gourmet oyster mushrooms in as little as 10 days… right from the box! Just set the kit on a kitchen windowsill and mist twice a day. The soil inside is 100% recycled coffee grounds – safe and sustainable.

Fresh & Frozen Team

Spring is here! Lots of fresh, new items are on the shelves that will satisfy your taste buds as well as your dietary needs. Quinoa flour, walnut butter, raw bulk almonds, seaweed snacks, sprouted wheat flour, Pu-erh teas, organic diced peaches and pears (lunchbox size!), and more. Keep an eye on the bulk bins too for new items to satisfy your culinary needs and budget. Grains, sweets, and flours will become more rotational/seasonal as owner requests continue to help us supply the items you need.

If you’re new to bulk shopping, feel free to ask any Co-op employee for assistance. We have three different size, resealable containers and various bags for everyday use, or feel free to bring in your own container to refill. Buy as much or as little as you need! Savings in bulk are tremendous when compared to purchasing packaged products of similar quality. Don’t pay for fancy box labels – buy in bulk and SAVE!!

As Earth Day approaches, support your eco-friendly lifestyle by shopping at Tidal Creek. With fair trade, certified organic, biodynamic and sustainable products, our selection is one of the largest and most diverse in the area. If your plans include outdoor dining, be sure to try our compostable, disposable cups, plates, forks, spoons, etc! Compostable trash bags from Bio Bags are a must-have for the earth too! The company also makes compostable pet waste bags to keep your little critters on the eco-train as well.

As outdoor temperatures rise, you can hydrate with organic, all-natural juices as well as functional waters from the Co-op. Look for upcoming sales and displays on all your favorite drinks. For even bigger savings, Owners can always special order a case or more for an extra 10% discount on top of the sale price!

Our herb department has nearly completed its transition into larger, easy-pour, glass jars. Feedback has brought back a few favorites and Brandon is always happy to hear your requests. Sprouting seeds and supplies are back too. Remember to look for edible chia seeds in the bulk bins, while sprouting chia is in the herb section!

Tidal Creek’s beer and wine department continues to bring in a rotating selection of quality, craft elixirs for all tastes and preferences. Organic, vegan (yes, vegan!), biodynamic, no sulfites added, domestic, imported, and more are just a sampling of the selection offered. If you have any questions feel free to call or ask any Co-op associate for information. Special orders are always welcome! 10% case discount applies here too!

As we continue to push forward in our 30th year of being Wilmington’s only cooperative food market, remember that we are here for you. If you have questions, special needs, dietary issues, or GMO concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask any associate for help.

Happy Spring from the Grocery Team

I was wondering if there is any way to view your store’s inventory online? That would be really cool if you had a current and updated list of the products that you carried. I hope that I’m not just missing them.
Great suggestion! Although this is a feature we look forward to adding in the future, currently we are not enabled to display our inventory online. We’re happy to answer questions regarding our product selection by phone, email… even on Facebook!

Please carry Back to Nature Poppy Thyme crackers.
We have recently added several new varieties of Back to Nature crackers, and will try this flavor as well!

I continue to find the Wallabys non-fat and low-fat vanilla yogurt is out of stock. Why can’t a larger order be placed for this popular yogurt so it’s always on the shelf?
The flavors of Wallaby products are being rotated in and out due to limited shelf space. We will adjust our order to ensure more consistent stock. Thanks!

Please carry Red Star Nutritional Yeast Vegetarian Support Formula in the container. I have been ordering online, but would like to get it here.
We carry this item in Bulk. Buy as much or as little as you need, create less packaging waste, and save money!

Please carry Artisana Walnut Butter in a jar.
We have tried to order this product recently, and our supplier was out of stock. We will try again, so look for it soon!

I know about a program in another town involving taking leftover food that would be thrown out, and delivering it to community groups that are in need. I wanted to just see what you all do with your turnover of food, and if there is anyway we could help in order to help the community.
I’m so glad you asked! Fortunately our smaller operation demands low backstock, therefore minimal loss, and we compost or recycle any remaining waste. Rarely do our items require culling, and when they do we certainly find welcome takers among Co-op customers and staff. This is a great option for larger stores with excessive daily loss of sellable product. We charitably donate lots of product directly from the store shelf. Thanks so much for suggesting additional ways we might support those in our community who are in need, and keep the ideas coming!

Spring into Action! As you read this you probably have already experienced the shiny new changes of our Co-op Kitchen expansion and the product rearrangement of the aisles. We are finally at the end of the tunnel! How wonderful to see the end result of yet another of our General Manager’s mindful visions. He and his talented staff did an excellent job in making the renovations a seamless transition, and there’s so much more to come!

While we are enthusiastic about the spacious and inviting changes in the store, the intent is not to rehash the wonders of this accomplishment. It is to illustrate how quickly things change and why it is vital for us to keep planning for the future. This year we will experience another big change – the opening of a Whole Foods grocery store on Oleander Drive. If anything, we feel this will serve to strengthen our Co-op. When owners understand the unique advantages cooperatives have over more traditional grocery stores and natural food chains like Whole Foods, the choice is clear. Our owners appreciate our genuine commitment to the local community and local sustainable agriculture. Another distinct advantage is that Tidal Creek is owned by people in the community. Our 3,000 Co-op owners democratically elect the store’s Board of Directors, that decides the Co-op’s long-term goals. Lastly, despite these tough economic times, our Co-op continues to thrive and that’s due to the loyalty of our owners.

With this in mind your Board of Directors is in the process of determining where the Co-op will be by the end of the next ten years and beyond. What a great time for you to get involved! We need people with proven leadership skills who can work in a team to understand the implications of these findings and use them to develop an appropriate long-term plan. Although we can’t individually ask all 3,000 of you to run for the Board, we can call on you, meet you for lunch or coffee, and tell you more about the work, the time commitment, and the valuable contribution you can make to Tidal Creek Co-op and the broader Co-op community by your service.

Here is how your skills and experience might translate into specific expertise needed by the Board:

• If you own or manage a business you most likely have the ability to help evaluate the marketplace and the competition.
• If you have experience in the grocery or natural foods industry your knowledge about anticipated trends could be vital.
• If you have facilitation, administrative, or organizational skills you can help us complete our tasks effectively and efficiently.
• If you have written and oral communication skills you can help us collect data and deliver our message to the membership.
• If you have financial or legal expertise…need we say more?

If you recognize yourself in any of these scenarios; or if you just want to help make sure that Tidal Creek Co-op is around ten years from now, the Board of Directors needs you to help define the future of our Co-op. Please feel free to contact any of the current Board members if you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity. Board applications will be available in June, so let’s get started!