Q: Gluten Free Pizza Crust
A: We have the Namaste gluten free pizza crust mix

Q: Will you please get more chocolate covered blueberries. I love them
A: We can’t find a clean source. Sorry.

Q: When the coupon flyer is mailed to owners please don’t make the cashiers not have them handy to answer questions.
A: Co-op Advantage savings coupon books are mailed to co-op owners quarterly and are a fantastic owner benefit. They are mailed to the store and to the owners from the printer. We provide extra books for distribution in the store, but wait to make them available until owners have received their copy. Cashiers do have access to them for reference points.

Q: Please carry less produce from so far away (ex. grapes from Africa). Buy more local or at least regional.
A:  The Co-op exists to meet the needs of is consumers and owners. We ordered grapes due to the overwhelming requests, but had no local source. We strive to provide as much local produce as possible, but this is difficult during the winter months.

Q: Sell bottled water that is glass – maybe Vox? All of your smaller bottles are made of type 1 plastic.
A: We will look to see what we can find.

In a 2 month period we received 27 specific product requests from you! Thanks for helping us better serve you!

2009 Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
Thanks for giving us feedback in the Tidal Creek Co-op customer satisfaction survey this past winter. Here is what you told us.

• 99.4 % of respondents travel by car to get to Tidal Creek.
• 41.6% of survey participants travel between 5 and 15 miles to shop at Tidal Creek and 7% travel more than 25 miles to shop here
• 35% of respondents have been members for 1 – 3 years.
• The top three ways member-owners prefer to receive information are: mailings, emails, in store postings.
• To Co-op Member-Owners the following items are important (listed in order of importance): member-owner specials, member-owner appreciation days, member-ownership, patronage refund, ability to vote for the Board of Directions.
• Tidal Creek meets customers needs best in: cleanliness, staff knowledge, staff friendliness/courtesy.
• Tidal Creek meets customer needs less well in: price, location, selection, quality and availability of brands family likes.
• Tidal Creek meets customer needs best in: grocery, dairy, produce, and bulk.
• Tidal Creek meets customer needs less well in: meat/poultry/fish and seafood, deli/ready to eat.

Volunteers for the Co-op
Co-ops have along history in owner involvement through volunteering in the store. This program was dismantled several years ago to address fair labor laws. Just like you, we miss the program too. So we double checked with the laws and according to the Wage and Hour Division of the United States Department of Labor, cooperative members do not appear to be volunteers because the services volunteered are not for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives but rather are for commercial business purposes.  Therefore, the cooperative members are considered “employees” and are subject to the minimum wage and overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Volunteers are welcome to support the Co-op in our outreach events, both in store and in the community. Ask for an application at the customer service desk.

Bee pollen Boycott
We understand it to be very disruptive for bee hives to extract bee pollen. Bees are important part of our eco-system. Because of this the Co-op has removed bee pollen, royal jelly, and propolis from our shelves.

Should you run for the Tidal Creek Board of Directors?
The purpose of the board, on behalf of the cooperative membership, is to see to it that the cooperative 1) achieves its Ends (appropriate results for appropriate people at appropriate costs) and 2) avoids unacceptable actions and situations (Executive Limitations).

With summer fast approaching comes our annual notice of Board elections which take place in early fall. This year three seats will be open, that of Tanner Postma, Joe Kertesz, and Melissa Foley. Tidal Creek owners will vote during August and September before the Annual Meeting on September 19th. The Board represents the membership to identify a vision and direction for the Tidal Creek Co-op, and to ensure fiscal responsibility as well as compliance with Board policy. The Board is not involved with the day-to-day operations of running the store. That is the responsibility of our general managers, Craig Harris and Jessica Burtt. Members enjoy the opportunity to actively participate in shaping the direction of our homegrown community store, a unique Wilmington business. Board meetings are open to any co-op owner.

If you are a Tidal Creek co-op owner that would be interested in running for the Board position, we encourage you to come to a Board meeting to get a taste of policy governance in action (held on the 4th Monday of each month). You are also encouraged to talk to individual Board members about what is involved in the job. A Board term is three years. Aside from attending the monthly Board meetings, Board members are expected to contribute to committee work, attend general membership activities such as appreciation days, annual meeting and attend annual retreats.. If you want to increase your involvement with your co-op please talk to a current Board member to learn how the board functions. The Board members are listed in every Co-op Current and on the website, www.tidalcreek.coop/about/board-of-directors. You can contact the Board via email at board@tidalcreek.coop (put Attn: Board in the attention line). If after talking to a Board member you want to put your name in for the election, application will be available at Customer Service. Deadline for name on ballot is August 20th. Deadline for newsletter publicity is July 1st.

Grocery News
We love a good deal at the grocery department. One of our favorite days of the week is when we select our crazy good deals, but this summer the craziness wont stop there.  We have a couple of  deals to look for to this summer. First is a buy one get one free special on Green Mountain Gringo chips and salsa. For the entire month of June, when you buy a jar of Green Mountain Gringo gluten-free salsa and get a free bag of tortilla chips! Green Mountain Gringo chips and salsa are produced locally in Winston-Salem, NC.

Another promotion that we’re excited about is the G.T.’s Kombucha give-away! From June 1st to Aug 31st you will get an entry ticket for every bottle of Kombucha that you buy. We will then hold a drawing each week, and if one of your tickets is drawn you win a free case of Kombucha. So, keep your summer coolers stocked with any of the great flavors of Kombucha we offer and don’t forget the chips and salsa!

Grocery Team

Produce News
Organic Certification – Our annual Organic Handling Certification inspection is fast approaching.  The Produce Department originally received our organic handling certification in 2005 and we remain the only certified organic produce department in Wilmington.  Each year a licensed inspector reviews our organic handling plan to ensure that we are in compliance with the USDA NOP (National Organic Practices) Final Rule.  Our handling plan is a detailed document that outlines our receiving, storing, prepping, cleaning, packing, labeling and displaying, employee training, pest management, and documenting procedures.  The inspector then visits our department and performs audits to ensure that we are adhering to our plan.  The Produce Department’s Organic Handling Certification means that our customers can count on the integrity of the products on our shelf.

While our department is certified, many of the local products we carry are marked pesticide-free and transitional and are not yet certified.  More and more local farmers and small scale growers are realizing that soil depletion is a reality and the only way to maintain healthy, fertile soil is to grow in traditional ways.   These local pesticide-free and transitional products fit in well with our department view, and by purchasing these products you reinforce the farmers’ commitment to continue down the path toward their own certification.  We support their transition and will maintain a market for their product by continuing dedication to our own department certification.

Thank you for choosing pesticide-free and organic foods!

The Produce Team

Co-op Kitchen News
Beach season has arrived.  Why not make life easier for yourself by taking advantage of the variety of fresh foods prepared by the Tidal Creek Deli Department?

Whether you are on your way to the beach, or returning home, we can help you with freshly prepared meals.  Fresh sandwiches are prepared in the kitchen daily.  All our salads are made in-house with fresh organic produce. A wide selection of grab-and-go salads is available for your convenience.  Customize your meal from selections in the grab-and-go section and from our food bars to satisfy the various cravings of your friends and family.  There are so many options in the Deli that can easily be packed into your cooler for an enjoyable day on the beach or on the way home. Tidal Creek is a convenient, family-friendly stop for a healthy take-out or take-home meal. Don’t forget… refreshing organic smoothies are made all day long.

Thanks
Deb Lovan and the Co-op Kitchen

Wellness News
We are continuing our efforts in the Wellness Department to provide you with high quality products, good values, and a user-friendly layout that will make it easier for you to find and compare the products that interest you. We’ve grouped all the multi-vitamins on one side of the aisle as well as combined nearly everything for children into one consolidated section. We’ve also added larger sizes of some of our most popular products —to save you money. And if you find the dizzying array of offerings overwhelming, just remember, your Wellness team is always happy to help you find your way!

You may have noticed that our Bulk selection has grown. Shopping in Bulk saves you money and it helps to save our environment when you bring and fill your own containers. Don’t forget to get your container weighed before filling it: that way you only pay for the weight of the product –not your container; you can buy as little or as much as you like! Look for these new Bulk items: bulk jojoba oil, bulk vegetable glycerin, and bulk castor oil from Down to Earth.  Also new is bulk unrefined organic shea butter from Je M’appelle—there really is nothing like it! And, coming soon, the wildly popular soothing oatmeal bath from Earth Force in bulk!

Summer is now finally upon us, and that means sun care. Naturally, Tidal Creek has you covered! If you want to avoid all the chemical-laden sunscreens on the market -and we think you do, stop by and check out our selection of all-natural, broad-spectrum sun blocks. Our preference is for products that protect against UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays with natural barriers such as zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide that sit on the outer layer of the skin and reflect or scatter harmful rays. We carry local ones from Burt’s Bees and Green Cream Machine, as well as Badger, Aubrey, and Mychelle. If you don’t like the white appearance of barrier sunscreens, we carry tinted sunscreens as well! And if you tend to err on the side of too much sun, you’ll want to stock up on Save Your Skin -a fine mist spray for re-hydration and sunburns, or After Sun Soother by Burt’s Bees.

Want a healthy, sun-kissed look without the sun exposure? Try Beach Colours self-tanner by Caribbean Solutions, or fruit enzyme bronzing from MyChelle’s Del Sol.

And remember people aren’t the only ones who thrive in the warmth of the summer: don’t forget the bugs. Tidal Creek can help keep them at bay with a variety of products from Badger, Aloe Life, and Burt’s Bees.

We thank you for supporting local business. Have a great summer!

Wellness Team

Feds tell court they can decide what you eat

‘Plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish’

Attorneys for the federal government have argued in a lawsuit pending in federal court in Iowa that individuals have no “fundamental right” to obtain what food they choose.

The brief was filed April 26 in support of a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ban on the interstate sale of raw milk.

“There is no ‘deeply rooted’ historical tradition of unfettered access to foods of all kinds,” states the document signed by U.S. Attorney Stephanie Rose, assistant Martha Fagg and Roger Gural, trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice.

“Plaintiffs’ assertion of a ‘fundamental right to their own bodily and physical health, which includes what foods they do and do not choose to consume for themselves and their families’ is similarly unavailing because plaintiffs do not have a fundamental right to obtain any food they wish,” the government has argued.

Originally Published at www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20879.cfm

Haitian Farmers Commit to Burning Monsanto’s Hybrid Seeds

• By Bev Bell
  Daily Kos, May 17, 2010
  Straight to the Source
  
  

“A new earthquake” is what peasant farmer leader Chavannes Jean-Baptiste of the Peasant Movement of Papay (MPP) called the news that Monsanto will be donating 60,000 seed sacks (475 tons) of hybrid corn seeds and vegetable seeds, some of them treated with highly toxic pesticides. The MPP has committed to burning Monsanto’s seeds, and has called for a march to protest the corporation’s presence in Haiti on June 4, for World Environment Day.

In an open letter sent of May 14, Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, the Executive Director of MPP and the spokesperson for the National Peasant Movement of the Congress of Papay (MPNKP), called the entry of Monsanto seeds into Haiti “a very strong attack on small agriculture, on farmers, on biodiversity, on Creole seeds , and on what is left our environment in Haiti.”[1] Haitian social movements have been vocal in their opposition to agribusiness imports of seeds and food, which undermines local production with local seed stocks. They have expressed special concern about the import of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_20852.cfm

Contract Poultry Growers Demand Federal Action to Restore Fair Markets

First Government Hearing to Address Lack of Competition in Poultry Industry

Huntsville, AL – On Thursday, the Campaign for Contract Agriculture Reform, a national alliance working to provide a voice for farmers involved in contract agriculture, offered rare testimonials on the impact that lack of competition in the poultry industry has on family farms. The next day, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) held the first workshop ever to address the issue of competition in poultry markets.

In the U.S., most chicken is produced in a contract system where large poultry companies (called integrators) enter into contracts with individual farmers who grow the chickens for them. The growers never own the birds, but do build new barns to meet company specifications and are responsible for waste generated by the birds.

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/press/

Book Review by JoAnn L. Fogler

Gluten-Free; Quick and Easy by Carol Fenster, PH.D

Gluten-Free; Quick and Easy is the latest of Dr. Carol Fenster’s five food allergy cookbooks.  Fenster is considered to be one of the top wheat-free and gluten-free experts in the country. According to Fenster, about twelve million people suffer from various food allergies and sensitivities.  She serves as a consultant to a variety of health professionals and associations. She married into a wheat farming family, and while her father-in-law spent his entire career helping the world grow more wheat, she spent the last two decades leaning how to avoid it.

What is gluten? Gluten is actually a storage protein of wheat. For people with celiac disease, it is the gliadin fraction of gluten in particular that is problematic. Other grains also may be on the avoid list for the celiac person such as barley, rye, spelt, kamut, triticale and possibly oats.  There may be other proteins in the gluten that affect people who are sensitive to wheat.

Fenster defines celiac disease as an inherited autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive process of the small intestines. When a person with this disorder consumes gluten, the individual’s immune system attacks the small intestine and inhibits the absorption of important nutrients into the body. The disorder should be managed by a gastroenterologist who performs a series of tests.

In Gluten-Free; Quick and Easy, Fenster tries to make the gluten-free lifestyle as easy as possible. She suggests minimizing the number of ingredients for any given recipe by incorporating flavor-intensive ingredients as well as ready-to-use products.  Today there are many gluten-free mixes available, and many places to get gluten-free foods.  Fenster does warn shoppers to read labels carefully, however, as gluten can be hidden in many other ingredients.

The recipes in Gluten-Free; Quick and Easy also offer ingredient substitutions for a variety of other specialty diets including dairy-free and vegetarian, among others.   There are useful charts to help get this lifestyle off to a great start.

One issue I had with this book is that some of the recipes are rather long and the bread recipes, especially, are somewhat involved.  Also, there are no pictures and vegetarians might find it to be a bit heavy on animal foods.  In spite of these shortcomings, Gluten-Free; Quick and Easy will be a useful addition to your gluten-free cook book collection and even those who do not need to eat gluten-free will enjoy the recipes.  Here are a few for you to try:

Overnight French toast

½ c packed brown sugar
2 T butter or buttery spread
1 T light syrup (maple or other)
6 slices gluten-free bread
2 large eggs
1 ¼ c milk (cow, rice, soy)
1 t canola oil
1 t vanilla extract
½ t cinnamon
1/8 t salt
1 T sugar

Generously grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. In a small saucepan, melt the brown sugar, butter, and syrup over medium heat until boiling. Pour into the prepared pan.  Arrange the bread slices in the prepared pan in two rows lengthwise.  In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, oil, vanilla, ¼ tsp. cinnamon, salt and whisk until blended. Pour the mixture over the bread, making sure all the slices are covered.  Cover the pan with foil and refrigerate overnight.  The next morning, preheat the oven to 350F. Spray the bread with canola spray. Combine the sugar and remaining cinnamon sprinkle on the bread.  Bake 40 minutes or until browned. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

Chocolate Pudding

1/3 c unsweetened cocoa
1/3 c sugar
3 T cornstarch
¼ t salt
2 c milk (cow, rice, soy, potato, using rice increase cornstarch to 4 tbsp.)
2 squares semisweet chocolate
½ c gluten-free chocolate chips
1 T butter or buttery spread
1 t vanilla extract

Whisk together the cocoa, sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium heavy saucepan, until thoroughly blended. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat and stir in the chocolate, butter and vanilla. Pour the pudding into 4 goblets or small bowls. Makes 2 cups.

Roasted Rosemary Potato Wedges

2 lbs small red potatoes or fingerlings, washed and halved
2 T olive oil
2 T dried rosemary, finely crushed
1 t salt
¼ t freshly ground pepper

Preheat oven to 400F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Toss the potatoes with the oil, rosemary, salt and pepper in a bowl. Arrange the potatoes in a single layer, cut side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wedges are golden brown. Serves 4. Easy and quick.

Macaroni and Cheese

3 c milk (cow, rice, soy)
¼ c rice flour
2 T unsalted butter or buttery spread
¼ c grated parmesan cheese
1 t dry mustard
½ t salt
½ lb gluten-free pasta, cooked al dente
1 c gluten-free bread crumbs (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease an ovenproof baking dish.  Place all but ¼ cup of milk in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in rice flour into remaining ¼ cup milk until smooth and then whisk into the milk in pan. Add the butter and cook constantly until the mixture thickens.  Remove the pan from heat and stir in the cheese and mustard, and salt until the cheese is melted. While the pasta is still hot, add to the sauce and toss to coat thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs (if using) and a dust of paprika.  Bake 25 to 30 minutes until cheese is bubbly and bread crumbs are browned.  For speedier results, broil the dish until the bread crumbs are browned and crunchy. Serves 6.  Yummy!

As we move into the summer season and our gardens begin to bear the fruits of our labor, we are reminded of all the hard work that goes into making our co-op successful.  In the past few months, the Board has continued to work on the Planning Committee series focused on four topics: Gate-Keeping of Natural Foods; Ownership Linkage; Community Outreach & Education; and Cooperative Business Models.

One thing that the Board learned during the Planning Committee meetings is that our owners don’t necessarily understand the cooperative business model. So, what is a cooperative anyway? A cooperative is an organization made up of people who choose to work together or pool their resources in order to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and desires through joint ownership and democratic control of a business enterprise.  Cooperatives differ from traditional ventures in that they are based on self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, and solidarity.

Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market is a cooperative business that works to support high quality food standards, fair trade, and local and sustainable products.  Anyone can become an owner of Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market by purchasing an equity share.  Equity shares are an investment in the store, so being an owner helps the co-op build capital, however co-op owners share great benefits:

• You are an owner of a cooperative run local business
• You can participate in the governance of the co-op by voting, by becoming a member of the Board of Directors or by serving on a Board committee
• You benefit from an owners only savings shopping list, over 110 products at an average of 22% off
• You receive a 5% off coupon in each newsletter (look for the one on the reverse side of this newsletter)
• You receive a free subscription to this newsletter, which includes notices of events, recipes and other information to help you live a healthier lifestyle
• You can special order products at a 10% discount – increasing your savings
• Your grocery dollars stay in the local economy
• You are an owner of a store that provides the best locally grown, certified organic and natural products.

Today there are more than 3,100 households which enjoy the benefits of ownership!  That’s a lot of people working together to fulfill our vision of fostering and nourishing the health of the individual and our community through a thriving natural foods cooperative business.  Thank you for working with us!

The Board and the ownership would also like to extend our thanks to outgoing Board member Melissa Foley. She has served as our Secretary for several years, has been integral to our work over the past, and will be hard to replace.  Melissa we will miss you!