It’s that time again!  Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market’s Board of Directors’ election is rapidly approaching.  Tidal Creek is a cooperative business that works to support high quality foods standards, fair trade, and local and sustainable products.  Anyone can become an owner of Tidal Creek by purchasing an equity share.  Equity shares are an investment in the store, so being an owner helps the Co-op build capital. It also means that you are an owner of a cooperatively run local business and 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.

What is the Board of Directors?
The Board of Directors of Tidal Creek is a group of nine Co-op members elected by the general membership in yearly elections.  Each year three seats are open for election, two vacant seats are filled for three years.

What are the functions of the Board?

1. Board represents Tidal Creek owners
2. Board establishes and works within cooperative policies
3. Board hires and oversees the General Managers
4. Board is responsible for acquisition and preservation of Co-op assets
5. Board preserves the cooperative character of the organization
6. Board assesses the Co-op’s performance
7. Board informs members

Who can run for a seat on the Board?  Who can vote?
Any owner who has paid their equity share for the year can vote and run in the election.

How many votes per household?
Each owner is entitled to one vote regardless of how many people are in the household.  If there are multiple owners in the household, then each is entitled to one vote.

How many people can I vote for?
An owner can vote for between one and three people in each election cycle.

So, why should you vote in the election? Voting in the annual election is an exciting opportunity provided to owners of the Co-op. There are many good reasons to vote, including the following:

1. Casting a vote allows an individual to express a choice among candidates who wish to become leaders of the Co-op. It’s up to each voter to locate available information about each candidate and to make an informed decision about how to vote. A democratic voting process urges owners to get involved and to share viewpoints about who should lead. Most owners have opinions about the way things should go, and they should use the voting process to express their preferences.
2. Supporting the electoral process helps to reinforce your cooperative leadership. Showing that you care with your vote tells candidates that they must be accountable to the owners.
3. Finally, taking time to vote reflects pride in your Co-op. Let everyone know that you care enough about your Co-op and its leaders to have a say in the election’s outcome.

If you would like more information or are interested in purchasing an equity share of Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market, stop in at any register to get started. Today there are more than 3,100 households that 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 and for your vote!

We would like to introduce you to a new local meat vendor that we are proud to be working with. Cane Creek Farm is in Snow Camp, NC, in the heart of Alamance County.  In addition to being home to the Ossabaw Island hog, they also raise Gloucestershire Old Spot hogs, Farmer’s Hybrid hogs, and their very own Crossabaw breed hogs – a mix of the Farmer’s Hybrids and Ossabaw Island hogs.  After merging with Braeburn Farm, cows suddenly became the other half of Cane Creek’s mission. The challenge of integrating the pigs and the Red Devon cattle herd has been rewarding, both in terms of land management and in providing an array of amazing products. The rest of the lively animal population on the farm is comprised of a Noah’s Ark of breeds including a variety of heirloom breed chickens and Saxony ducks, Katahdin sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats and miniature donkeys.  Visitors to the farm are constantly amazed at the happy interaction of all our species, and many have compared Cane Creek to a storybook or child’s vision of a farm.

Cane Creek’s farming practices differ from those of other, large scale, counterparts in almost every way. Cane Creek is a family owned farm and practices sustainable agriculture - rotating crops and animals to keep the soil healthy and to keep the animals on fresh forage.  The animals are never kept in confinement and have free range to graze, root, and wallow. The pigs always have access to fresh water and are either hand-fed or have free access to grain-based food, supplemented with everything from garden clippings in the spring and summer to pumpkins and peanuts in the fall.  Sheep, cows, and goats are all entirely grass-fed, and the feed never has antibiotics or animal by-products.  Cane Creek’s sows (that’s momma pigs, to you non-farmers) give birth as they would in the wild - by making a nest and raising their piglets without human interference.

Look for Cane Creek’s beef and pork products in the refrigerated meat section in Aisle 1 at Tidal Creek Cooperative Food Market.

Grocery News

We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a new vendor that we are very excited about.

Peace Coffee is located in Minneapolis.  In late November 1995, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) invited a small group of Mexican farm leaders to Minneapolis to discuss the U.S. Farm Bill. At the end of the meeting, Luis Hernandez from La Selva, a Mexican coffee cooperative, complained that despite all the talk, he hadn’t sold a single coffee bean. He looked at the IATP and said, “You guys should be selling organic fair trade coffee.”

Fast forward to December 1996, the first shipping container of coffee landed: 38,000 pounds of conventional and organic coffee from Chiapas. The IATP created a company, Headwaters International and later the brand name, Peace Coffee; the rest is history. After the first container, a partial container of Guatemalan Peace Coffee was purchased. A portion of the “profit” went to support Guatemalan peace efforts in collaboration with Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Rigoberta Menchu. To further their commitment to the environment, both social and ecological, they adopted the policy of bicycle-powered delivery wherever appropriate. Bicycle delivery in Minnesota …brrrrrrrr.

Since their beginnings in a basement office, Peace Coffee has expanded into a green building in the heart of south Minneapolis that houses both their offices and roastery, where they roast five days a week to provide super fresh, fabulous coffee.

Peace Coffee continues to grow. It seems fitting that their company evolved out of the conversation between policy analysts and coffee farmers: they pride themselves on expanding their business while staying true to their passion for good coffee and thriving local communities.  Tidal Creek is excited to be their first North Carolina retailer.

Co-op Kitchen News

We have spent a lot of time lately thinking about what the role of the Tidal Creek Kitchen is: to our customers and to the organization as a whole.  Tidal Creek has over 3000 owners.  There are some owners who would like the Co-op Kitchen to be 100% vegan.  There are also those who prefer to eat meat at every meal.  Some owners have allergies to wheat, gluten, soy, eggs, etc. And of course all of us would like to see variety from day to day, while always finding our favorite foods available. You can get an idea of the challenges we face in the Kitchen.

Our strategy is to loosely base each day of the week around a taste profile or ethnic bent.  On the hot bar, we attempt to provide two proteins: usually one is an animal based protein and the other is a vegetarian/dairy based protein.  We make a rice bowl with vegetables that is vegan and a soup that is vegan and an additional vegetable that is vegan, as often as possible. We use organic and local produce when it is available in the quantity and budget that we need.  Half of what we sell is at one set price and we have tried very hard not to raise that price to our customers, even as our costs have increased. We also try to avoid using soy in the food unless it is already soy based. Cheese or nut dishes are usually omitted, although the addition of either would be a welcome improvement.  And remember, when there is not a dietary option on the hot bar, there are the salad bar and grab-and-go to choose from.

We love the Co-op and the challenges it offers. Suggestions and feedback are welcome.  We continuously strive to expand and improve the Kitchen Department and appreciate your patronage!

Produce News

Premature spoilage of produce can be a troubling waste of money. But how can you win the battle when dealing with living organic foods? Conventional produce can be treated with inexpensive chemicals which aid in preservation. But these cannot be used for organic produce, as by definition no artificial chemicals are used during processing.

First of all, fresh organic fruits and veggies should be purchased in small bunches and eaten as soon as possible to maintain their optimal nutritional values and prevent loss.

Also, contrary to popular belief, storing your produce in the refrigerator is not always the way to make sure it lasts.  Most produce releases a natural gas called ethylene. When the gas is contained in a closed refrigerator it can cause all of your produce to spoil. So it may come as a surprise to some that the best place for some produce, especially unripened fruit, is on the counter top, away from direct sunlight.

For produce that you refrigerate, use a green bag, available at the Co-op. If you would like a complete list of how to store common fruits and veggies check out the article by Gretchen Goel, “Storing Organic Produce,” at bellaonline.com.

In Cooperation,
Your Produce Team

Wellness News

Crowded Buses and School Lunches – let us help you get your kids ready for Back to School!
Babies to teens, Tidal Creek has a quality multivitamin to meet your child’s needs. Get into a routine with everyday Owner Savings on Animal Parade and Vegelife vitamins. Want a gummy vitamin? Try kid-favorite Nordic Berries, they’re on sale in August! All Nordic Naturals for children are 15% off in August, so it’s the perfect time to give your kids a nutritional head start by adding Omega-3s – they are the essential building blocks for health and brain function. Give your kids a super start to every day, it’s easy with Amazing Grass’ SuperFood – 33 fruits and vegetables in one glass, and it’s chocolate!

Moms-to-be and Baby
We are excited to introduce Earth Mama Angel Baby Organics! Pregnancy teas and postpartum recovery to baby care, all Earth Mama Angel Baby products are made with only pure, natural worry-free ingredients. There is no better-smelling lotion than Angel Baby Lotion! And, once you fall in love with Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash, you can refill the self-foaming bottle in our bulk section!

Save your containers and refill in bulk, it saves packaging and saves you money! Also new in bulk is Zion Health Clay Bath Detox and Earthforce Oatmeal Bath.

Thank you for your continued support of our local business!
The Wellness Team

By Kirsten Lovan

The term organic isn’t a new label on an old product nor is it a marketing buzz word. Organic is not the latest trend, but a fresh look on the healthy traditions of generations before us. Organic represents a lifestyle that is simple, wholesome and fulfilling.  It is about supporting a movement where the people growing our food truly care about the soil beneath our feet.  It is also about informing consumers about how to better themselves and their children.

Organic farming practices do not include the use of genetically engineered organisms, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or synthetic fertilizers. All of these substances leave a residue on your food and in the soil for years to come.  Organic farming is less likely to create toxic run-off resulting in water pollution and soil contamination.  Organic farming also avoids the use of chemicals to repel insects because it values our relationship with all living things.  Organic farming methods result in foods with a higher concentration and wider variety of vitamins and minerals than conventional methods do. Our food is only as good as the soil that grows it.  If it’s not in the soil, it’s not in the food.

I personally choose organic foods and products for my family because I want them to be healthy while having a positive impact on the environment. I want to be sure that I only take what I need and give back more in return.  I want my children to grow up with these values that so many of us have forgotten.  I want them to know that they have choices.  Wouldn’t the world be a little better if all of us knew what an organic, locally grown, freshly picked blueberry tasted like? Unfortunately many of us have only experienced  huge brightly lit grocery warehouses.  I want my children, as well as my neighbors and friends, to know where their food comes from. We should all be able to see, feel and taste the goodness of food that nature intended.  I want my children to live in a world that is free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals.

We as a society have become disconnected from how we nourish our bodies.  We don’t have to be. What if a whole generation of children grew up experiencing this way of life, instead of being raised on packaged food or a quick trip through the drive thru? All it takes is a small change.  Changing the way we feel about our food and making conscious decisions about where it comes from.

You  don’t have to be financially well off to live this sort of life.  It takes commitment, a little bit of planning and some creativity.  You will find that you are spending more time out in your community and in the kitchen, but time is a small price to pay for the long-term health benefits and the safety of our food.  We should all enjoy our time together as a family and as a community.  Think about the examples we are setting for our youngest generation and the values we can instill now.

Check out my new featured blog, on Tidal Creek’s website, about the importance of choosing organic as well as the importance of local and whole foods. I will also be discussing other topics like ideas on how to involve your whole family, how to make your own baby food and packing lunches for everyone in the family.  I will post tested recipes that are basic, organic and affordable.  I’ll also incorporate a wide range of diets and lifestyle choices.  I am a young mother who wants to do her best for her family as well as serve my community. I have learned, and continue to learn, from the shared experiences with family, friends and co-workers. I have a fascination with food, how it’s grown, how it’s prepared and eating it mindfully. I am still learning about planning and ways to save money while eating healthy whole organic foods.  The blog will be open to any suggestions and anything else that you would like to share.  Thanks for reading and I look forward to sharing with you online.

Check out the blog “Choosing Organic” on the Tidal Creek website: www.tidalcreek.coop.