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