Boise Co-op - Boise's Green Grocery Store Since 1973 » Newsletter

How much do YOU know about Earth Day?

robin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 18:57:38 +0000

April 22nd is Earth Day, as you surely know. We at the Boise Consumer Cooperative encourage you to take a minute and think about some fun Earth-Day related facts that will hopefully provide some good food for thought for the remaining 364 days of the year…

Obviously the idea is energy conservation through reduction of waste, where waste is unavoidable, and re-using and/or recycling materials that can be re-used and/or recycled.

For our part, the Boise Co-op, in cooperation with Idaho Power’s Commercial Building Retrofit Incentive Program, has over the last year upgraded over 90% of the stores lighting. In addition, we have upgraded the efficiency of product coolers, made improvements to climate control and made the containment of refuge and grease abatement far more efficient.

These efforts have helped the store to become “greener” which has in turn resulted in significant cost savings.

The retrofit lighting project alone accounts for an estimated cost savings of over $15,000 per year in improved energy efficiency,

according to the Co-op Facility Manager Don Watson and the Idaho Power representative for energy conservation.

This energy conservation project represents one aspect of the Co-op’s commitment to reducing the over-all footprint of energy waste and general negative impact upon the environment – a complement to our rigorous waste reduction and aggressive recycling programs employed on a daily basis at the Boise Consumer Cooperative.

WATER

· About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. (California Energy Commission, 2006)

· Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. (EPA, 2008)

· Leaky faucets that drip at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water each year; A leaky toilet can waste about 200 gallons of water every day. If your fixtures have leaks, you should get them repaired! (EPA, 2008)

· The average bathroom faucet flows at a rate of two gallons per minute. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth in the morning and at bedtime can save up to 8 gallons of water per day, which equals 240 gallons a month. (EPA, 2008)

· A full bath tub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons. (EPA, 2008)

· If your toilet is from 1992 or earlier, you probably have an inefficient model that uses between 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush. Newer, high-efficiency toilets use less than 1.3 gallons per flush — that’s at least 60 percent less water per flush! (EPA, 2008)

· If just 1 percent of American homes replaced an older toilet with a new WaterSense labeled toilet, the country would save more than 38 million kilowatt-hours of electricity — enough electricity to supply more than 43,000 households for one month. (EPA, 2008)

· Most people realize that hot water uses up energy, but supplying and treating cold water requires a significant amount of energy too. American public water supply and treatment facilities consume about 56 billion kilowatt-hours per year — enough electricity to power more than 5 million homes for an entire year. (EPA, 2008)

· If all U.S. households installed water-efficient appliances, the country would save more than 3 trillion gallons of water and more than $18 billion dollars per year! (EPA, 2008)

· The average washing machine uses about 41 gallons of water per load, whereas newer, high-efficiency washing machine models use less than 28 gallons of water per load. (EPA, 2008)

· The typical single-family suburban household uses at least 30 percent of their water outdoors for irrigation. Some experts estimate that more than 50 percent of landscape water use goes to waste due to evaporation or runoff caused by overwatering!

· Consider installing a drip irrigation system to water your lawn and garden. These systems use between 20 to 50 percent less water than conventional in-ground sprinkler systems. They are also much more efficient than conventional sprinklers because no water is lost to wind, runoff, and evaporation. (EPA, 2008)

· If one out of every 100 American homes was retrofitted with water-efficient fixtures, we could save about 100 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year — avoiding 80,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gas savings would be equivalent to removing nearly 15,000 automobiles from the road for one year! (EPA, 2008)

· Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled! Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! (EPA, 2008)

· A recent government survey showed that at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013. (EPA, 2008)

ALUMINUM

· Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours or a tv for 2 hours.

· The aluminum beverage can returns to the grocer’s shelf as a new, filled can in as little as 90 days after collection, remelting, rolling, manufacturing and distribution.

· An average of 113,204 aluminum cans are recycled every minute of every day.

· Recycling one ton of aluminum saves 37 barrels of oil.

· Recycling 125 aluminum cans saves enough energy to power one home for 1 day.

· It takes 4 tons of ore to produce one ton of aluminum.

GLASS

· It takes approximately 1 million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill.

· In the U.S. today, 34% of all glass containers are recycled.

· Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass.

· Glass never wears out – it can be recycled forever.

· Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy used to make glass.

· Glass containers save 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of glass recycled.

PAPER

· Americans use over 67,000,000 tons of paper each year, or 600 pounds per person.

· It takes more than 500,000 trees to produce the newspapers Americans read each Sunday, yet only 30% of all newspapers are recycled.

· Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity – enough energy to power the average American home for 5 months.

· Producing recycled paper requires about 60% of the energy used to make paper from virgin wood pulp.

· Every day, Americans buy 62 million newspapers and throw out 44 million. That’s the equivalent of dumping 500,000 trees into a landfill every week.

· If everyone in the U.S. recycled just 1/10th of their newsprint, we would save the estimated equivalent of about 25 million trees a year.

· In the manufacturing process of recycled paper

· 74% less air pollution is generated

· 35% less water pollution is generated

· 58% less water is required

· 64% less energy is required

· One ton of high-grade recyclable paper can substitute for approximately 3 tons of wood in making new paper products.

· Every year more than 900 million trees are cut down to provide raw materials for American paper and pulp mills.

PLASTIC

· Plastics require 100 to 400 years to break down in a landfill.

· Producing new plastic from recycled material uses only two-thirds of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials.

· For every 7 trucks needed to deliver paper grocery bags to the store, only 1 is needed to carry the same number of plastic grocery bags.

· By using plastic in packaging, American product manufacturers save enough energy each year to power a city of 1 million homes for 3 _ years.

· As much as 40% of selected plastic parts from damaged or discarded cars are repaired and reused.

· Over 1.5 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic bottles were recycled during 1999, accounting for 22% (by weight) of all plastic bottles produced in the U.S.

· PET bottles (soda & water) and HDPE bottles (milk, laundry detergent) are the most commonly collected plastic materials in community recycling programs.

· 95% of all plastic bottles in the U.S. market are manufactured from PET or HDPE. 56% of recycled PET finds a market in the manufacture of fiber (carpet & clothing). 29% of HDPE recycled bottles go into making new bottles and 18% goes into the plastic pipe industry.

· Recycling 1 ton of plastic can save 1-2 thousand gallons of gas.

· Every year we make enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the state of Texas.

STEEL

· Recycling tin and steel cans saves between 60-74% of the energy used to produce them from raw materials.

· 1 ton of recycled steel saves the energy equivalent of 3.6 barrels of oil, and 1.49 tons of iron ore over the production of new steel.

· Steel cans were recycled at the rate of 58% in 2001.

· The amount of steel recovered through recycled packaging in 2001 (nearly 1.5 million tons) would yield enough steel to build 185,000 steel framed homes.

· In 2001, nearly 2 million tons of steel was recovered from recycled appliances.

· The steel from the more than 39 million appliances recycled last year yielded enough steel to build about 160 stadiums the size of the new Pittsburgh Steelers stadium.

· In 2001, there were 26 cars recycled every minute across the U.S.

· Each year steel recycling saves the energy equivalent to electrically power about 1/5th of the households in the U.S. (or about 18 million homes) for 1 year.

· Every ton of steel recycled saves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1,400 lbs. of coal and 120 lbs. of limestone.

· Annually, enough energy is saved by recycling steel to supply Los Angeles with electricity for almost 10 years.

· You can make 20 cans out of recycled material with the same amount of energy it takes to make 1 new one.

BATTERIES

· Battery acid is recycled by converting it to sodium sulfate for laundry detergent, glass and textile manufacturing.

GENERAL

· The average person throws away 4 pounds of garbage PER DAY.

· Paper is the most common item found in our trash.

· Product packaging accounts for 1/3 of our trash.

· Solid waste disposal is the third largest municipal government expense after police protection and education.

· The nation’s annual generation of municipal solid waste rose steadily from 88 million tons in 1960 to 232 million tons in 2002.

· Recycling all of your home’s waste newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 850 lbs. a year.

· The garbage in a landfill stays for a for about 30 years.

· In 1995 over 200 of the world landfills were full.

· Each person throws away approximately four pounds of garbage every day.

· One bus carries as many people as 40 cars!

· More than 1/3 of all energy is used by people at home

· Most families throw away about 88 pounds of plastic every year

· We each use about 12,000 gallons of water every year

· 1/3 of all water is used to flush the toilet.

· The 500 million automobiles on earth burn an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day.

· Each gallon of fuel releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.

· Approximately 5 million tons of oil produced in the world each ear ends up in the ocean.

· The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a traditional light bulb for four hours

· For every 2000 pounds of paper (1 ton) recycled, we save 7,000 gallons of water free from chemicals.

· Recycled paper requires 64% less energy than making paper from virgin wood pulp, and can save many trees

· Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees

· The amount of wood and paper we throw away is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years

· Earth is 2/3 water. but all the fresh water streams only represent one hundredth of one percent.

· 14 billion pounds of trash is dumped into the ocean every year

· It takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make new ones

· 5 billion aluminum cans are used each year

· 84 percent of all household waste can be recycled.

· Computers pose an environmental threat because much of the material that makes them up is hazardous. A typical monitor contains 4-5 pounds of lead.

· Each year billions of used batteries are thrown away in the United States. This constitutes 88% of the mercury and 54% of the cadmium deposited into our landfills

· Approximately only 10 percent of every landfill can be cleaned up.

· Ivory comes from dead elephants, its best not to buy it.

· Fur coats often come from endangered animals, it’s best not to buy them.

· One gallon of motor oil can contaminate up to 2 million gallons of water. so dispose of properly!

· Here is an example of the water we use everyday:

3-7 gallons for toilet,
25-30 gallons for tub,
http://www.planetpals.com/50-70 gallons for a 10 minute shower,
1 washing machine load uses 25-40 gallons,
1 dishwasher load uses 9-12 gallons

· Here is an example of how long it takes some things take to break down:

plastics take 500 years,
aluminum cans take 500 years,
organic materials, take 6 months,
cotton, rags, paper take 6 months.

Please keep these recycling and waste facts in mind over the course of your day – remember, we ALL must do our parts to keep the world a green and environmentally healthy place to live!

**For more information about Earth-friendly products available at the Boise Co-op, click here.

-Dylan Haas

Deli Top 10 List

Todd — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:12:08 +0000

Top Ten Things for sale in the Deli that you may not be aware of:

1. D’ Artagnan rendered duck fat. $8.99 for a 7oz. tub. Absolutely fantastic! This succulent oil substitute can be used to coat a pan, fry your favorite vegetables or meats or simply add for flavoring – you name it! D’Artagnan rendered duck fat is a staple of European cooking, and is a frequent ingredient utilized in our very own Culinary Programs and Classes. Nutritionally similar to olive oil, it is low in saturated fat, with a good combination of poly and monosaturated fats. D’Artagnan’s Duck Fat is all-natural, with no added preservatives or artificial ingredients so please – “don’t fear this fat”.

2. Lorina Blueberry Soda. $4.99 for a 25oz. bottle. More French goodness! We offer several flavors of refreshing flavors from Lorina, including the more familiar lemonade and pink lemonade, however blueberry looked to be the most interesting. All Lorina flavors are still packaged in the old-style “flip-top” bottles, so once they’re empty they can have a variety of uses such as act as an attractive vase for flowers or perhaps to store decorative glass beads – whatever suits your fancy!

3. Pain Is Good jerk flavored microwave popcorn.$2.99 per bag. Yes. For real – microwave popcorn flavored with a meat marinade. Personally, I am accustomed to popcorn that doesn’t taste like meat – call me crazy – and hot enough to be painful? I’ve only ever tried jerk flavoring ON meat. But, this microwave popcorn has had repeat customers, so what do I know…

4. Pain is Good Bloody Mary mix. $6.99 for 25 oz (wine bottle size). Sticking with the Pain… This looks rather thick, as in concentrated, and zesty. With a name such as this- is there any doubt? Mix to taste- perhaps depending upon what time of day it is.

5. Goat Gouda. From Holland- $19.00 per pound. I just really wanted to say “Goat Gouda”. However, it is a palpable product, and sells well.

6. Boars’ Head Sauerkraut. $1.79 for a 1lb. bag. Being half German – I know a thing or two about Sauerkraut. And the Sauerkraut available from Boar’s Head is not “wallowing” in brine- like many (other) store-bought brands packed in glass. This kraut is crisp and ready for a grilled hot dog, or pastrami sandwich. Yum!

7. Mrs. Olsons’ Potato Lefse. $4.59 for a 9.6oz pkg. My other half is Norwegian so we know good Lefse when we taste it. For myself, I grew up on hand-rolled, very thin sheets of this unleavened potato bread. Mrs. Olson’s Lefse is fairly neutral in flavor ( just like Norway), and versatile for wrapping around meats, cheeses, or swipe with a bit of butter (or duck fat!?!) and warm it up. Not unlike a Scandanavian tortilla. Try one, and you will quickly find yourself envisioning many home and picnic uses.

8. Rugelach. (pronounced ROO -ge-lock) 99 cents per piece. Found in the Deli Espresso case, these little gems are rich pastries rolled with an assortment of nuts, fruits, chocolate and cut to size in order to provide a one or two bite pleasure! There are several flavors available, with occasional blends, such as raspberry and chocolate, for example. These mini-pastries are borderline addicting – slip one in your loved ones’ lunch pail.

9. Earth Cafe vegan/gluten free cheesecakes and pies. $4.99 per piece. Considering the recent interest in gluten-free living, this is a new product that we have been eagerly awaiting to debut. These vegan/gluten free goodies are located in the “grab and go” case near the entrance to the Deli along with pre-wrapped (not-so gluten-free) sandwiches and other take out items. While other gluten free desserts are offered in the frozen foods section of the Co Op, these are ready to eat, and enjoy immediately.

10. Flourless Tortes. $21.99 for a 6 inch round. Yet another gluten-free, fresh-baked goodie, and this one is made right here at home in our very own Co-Op Bakery. No concession in flavor here, you won’t miss the flour, whether your diet prohibits it or not! Chocolate lovers, Torte lovers, this is for you!

-Todd Giesler

Boise Co-op Progress Report, November 2009

Member Services — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:53:33 +0000

Boise Co-op Progress Report

November 2009

The Boise Co-op is a local, member owned cooperative with a mission to provide healthy, great tasting food at reasonable prices since 1973. Our customer-driven organization strives to assemble the best people and resources to deliver the finest sustainable and specialty products to the community. Boise Co-op features a comprehensive grocery department of natural, organic and ethnic products, a full service deli, over 300 domestic and imported cheeses, locally-grown and organic produce and highest-quality meats. The Co-op also offers unique gifts and housewares, full service health and beauty departments and an expansive selection of local, domestic and imported beer and wine. Located at 9th and Fort Streets in Boise’s North end, we are open seven days a week. Non-members are always welcome.

Boise Co-op has enjoyed great success in 2009. We worked hard to cut unnecessary expenses to safeguard us during this low economic time, and as a result had our best year ever! We proudly achieved this level of success through hard work and dedication of our staff, and the continued support of our loyal customers. In turn, we have not laid off any employees, nor have we asked employees to work for any less. Our success is proof of the dedication and team effort of all.

The Co-op values its loyal members and strives to maintain transparency to all, while providing continued education and member rewards. This year we welcomed Linda Ledbetter to the position of Member Services Coordinator, serving as liaison between Boise Co-op members and employees. Her focus is to add value to Co-op membership, providing benefits such as special pricing on products and educational opportunities. Members receive benefits and store information via our newly debuted email newsletter, and can get up-to-date at the new in-store kiosk/information bulletin board at the front of the store. To join our newsletter, please visit www.boisecoop.com or stop by store kiosk.

Also new to the Co-op are cooking classes! We are very excited to provide a full Culinary Education Program, with classes offered weekly. With culinary educator Sylvie Ryan at the helm, our amazing instructors provide a wide variety of classes for all ages and experience levels. Many of the classes are hands on, and perfectly paired wine is provided courtesy of the Boise Co-op Wine Shop for those 21+. Learn to transform everyday ingredients into spectacular dishes simply and affordably. Discover the value and benefit of cooking with fresh and local ingredients. Fun, delicious, informative and members receive special discounted rates! Visit our website for more information, but reserve your spot quickly, as these classes have been selling out.

Boise Co-op was honored this June, when Easter Seals-Goodwill President and CEO for the Northern Rocky Mountain territory presented the Co-op with the 2009 Business of the Year Award “for outstanding commitment in promoting the dignity and independence of people with disabilities and disadvantages.” The Co-op sold tulip bouquets and donated a percentage of net sales during our annual wine and cheese event to project P.L.A.Y., a play based, in-home early intervention program for children in the Treasure Valley diagnosed with autism.

Currently, we are partnering with the Hispanic Business Association to raise funds for Idaho teachers in need. On Wednesday, October 28th, Boise Co-op will donate 4% of the day’s net sales to the Hispanic Business Association’s Dollars for Teachers program. Funds will be distributed to the 25 hardest-hit school districts in Idaho, to help teachers purchase the supplies they need. Visit our website to learn how you can help.

At Boise Co-op, we encourage consumers to be conscious of resources and waste. Conservation starts locally, and Boise Co-op asks you to be proactive in your consumer behavior: SHOP CONSCIOUSLY AND USE REUSABLE BAGS. We now have reusable shopping bags from post-consumer recycled material for 99 CENTS available at the front of the store. Thank you to all who commit to waste reduction!

Over the next couple weeks, watch for a new face to our produce department! We’ll be undergoing a remodel, and we’re excited to bring you a much more comprehensive and expansive produce area.

For more information about Boise Co-op, please visit www.boisecoop.com or call customer service at 208-472-4500.

Thank you all for your continued support over the years.

~Robin Zimmermann, Boise Co-op Marketing Director

Onion Soup with Madeira

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:59:07 +0000

Thanks to all the great Co-op members who helped make our Four French Soups for the Soul class such a success! If you missed out on the fun, here’s the recipe for one of the incredible soups that Sylvie, our Culinary Educator, presented. Try this on a stormy autumn night to warm you inside and out.

Onion Soup with Madeira

Serves 6 – 8

4 oz. Butter or ½ cup Cooking Oil
3 – 4 Onions, thinly sliced
½ cup Whole Wheat Flour
½ cup Dry Madeira
8 cups Vegetable Stock or Broth
1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
1 Tbsp Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Pepper to taste
Large pinch of Dried Thyme
Large pinch of Ground Mace
For the Garnish:
1½ cup Grated Gruyère
1 Egg Yolk
2 Tbsp Butter
6 – 8 slices toasted Whole-Wheat Bread

Heat the butter in a large saucepan or casserole (Le Creuset is best). Sauté the onions until translucent (about 6 minutes), allowing them to turn slightly golden and caramelized.

Sprinkle in the flour and stir well. Stir in the Madeira and stock or broth. Boil for 20 minutes, then add the cheese, salt, pepper, thyme and mace. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the garnish. Blend the cheese, egg yolk, and butter to a paste. Spread a little on each slice of toast and brown under the broiler (griller) . Serve the soup in individual tureens, floating one slice of cheesy toast on each bowl.

Cook’s Note: You may use a dry sherry or port, or even dry white wine instead of Madeira.

~Sylvie Ryan, Boise Co-op Culinary Educator

Featured in Grocery: These Crumbs are Magic!

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:51:33 +0000

There’s nothing we love more than a product that tastes amazing and offers about a zillion ways to make our food taste better. So, you can bet we LOVE Magic Crumbs, an ingenious new gourmet panko that will elevate your meat, poultry, fish and tofu into the stratosphere.

Magic Crumbs come in flavors ranging from Smokey BBQ to Pommerey Mustard to Cajun to Toasted Coconut, and they’re so simple to use. For instance, try substituting Cajun or Tex-Mex Magic Crumbs for plain old regular breadcrumbs in your meatloaf. Need to add some flavor and thicken your own home-made pasta sauce? Add some Italian magic CRUMBS the pot while it is simmering. Want to bring some magic to the grill? Try some Black Pepper crusted skirt steaks. Or, maybe you’re in the mood for some crunchy Cajun crusted tofu.

Need some help with your vegetables? Here’s a Magic Crumbs veggie idea that your whole family (even the kids) will love. Pre-heat your oven to 375 F. While the oven heats, steam some broccoli for approximately 2 minutes. While steaming, mix your favorite magic CRUMBS flavor with a little olive oil and water. When the broccoli is done steaming, transfer it to an oven-safe bowl. Cover the broccoli with the Magic Crumb mixture. Bake for approximately 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the oven, place it on the table and ENJOY!!

Sylvie’s Pantry Challenge for November

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:47:57 +0000

There is a reoccurring theme in most households, a situation that occurs around the end of the month, a couple of days before the paycheck finally arrives. It never fails: At this particular point in time, the refrigerator seems emptier then ever, and so does the pantry. Luckily, I come from a long family line of very resourceful women, so I consider this a challenge to use whatever food is left to create a decent, satisfying meal. Here’s what happened…

Sylvie

In the fridge:

2 large Leeks
A half a block Parmesan Reggiano-grated
1 large Tomato

In the pantry:

300g of Spinach Fettuccine
1 tsp. Olive Oil
Crushed Chilies- a pinch
Salt and pepper to taste

The Recipe: Spinach Fettuccine with Leek and Tomato Marmalade

Serves 4
Preparation time: 15 minutes; Cooking time: About 20 minutes

Chop leeks, first in half lengthwise, then crosswise into thin slices. Poor the oil in a skillet and sauté leeks on medium to low heat for 10-15 minutes, or until they are slightly golden and soften. Start boiling the water, cook the fettuccine in boiling water, 10-11 minutes for al dente pasta. Cut the fresh tomato, skin on, in small 1 inch cubes and mix with the leeks, sauté for an additional 3 -5 minutes.
To finish, dress the fettuccine in a pasta plate, pour the desired amount of the leek and tomato sauce over the pasta, sprinkle a small amount of fresh grated Parmesan Reggiano over the dish. You may grind some fresh ground pepper over the dish to your taste.

Cook’s note:
The leeks have a soft buttery texture and sweet flavor prepared this way. They complement the pungent taste of the aged Parmesan. The tomato adds a fresh twist to the dish. You may add chicken, tofu or poached eggs to this further complement this meal.

Bon appétit!

~Sylvie Ryan, Boise Co-op Culinary Educator

Stressed for the Holidays? Our Deli Can Help!

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:45:35 +0000

Well, Fall is upon us and the holidays are quick to follow. We know how crazy this season can be and how precious time with family and friends is, so leave the cooking to us! We have a variety of soups, lasagnas and other entrees in our Grab-and-Go Section that are delicious and require minimal baking/heating time.

We will be also be offering turkey breast, fresh baked pies and a variety of side dishes to help complete your Thanksgiving meals. Look on our website in the next week or so for a comprehensive list of Thanksgiving fixings and pies that will be available.

We look forward to serving you!

~Brandi Wilson, Boise Co-op Deli Manager

Thanksgiving Never Tasted So Good!

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:39:20 +0000

The holidays are upon us! No worries. No Fret. The Boise Co-op has everything you need!

There are many wonderful sales in the grocery department for the month on November:

Wholesome sweeteners are up to 30% off! Indulge healthfully!
A large selection of organic stocks and broths are running at 25% off!
Don’t forget the Organic cocoa, holiday teas, and mulling spice! Keep everyone warm and cozy throughout these cold months.

We also have all your pie needs covered, with a great selection of organic pumpkin puree, fruit, and even wonderful, locally-baked, ready-to-heat pies made from scratch. And, new this year is an ingenious pour-and-bake pumpkin pie mix. Just think: you can offer to help by making desert, but all you really have to do is pour the pie mix into the pie shell and stick it in the oven. You’ll be back to watching the game in five minutes!

We also offer many gravy selections this year to make everyone’s life easier and stretch those leftover mashed potatoes for days!

For that misunderstood vegetarian in your household, we have lots of alternative selections, including a full-on roast feast! Our tofurkeys are wonderful, too, and to go along with your meatless entree, we have a vegan mushroom and “giblet” gravy that even carnivores would love.

And hey, don’t forget about our great seasonal beer selection!

Kudos to our wonderful customer service staff whom will bend over backwards to help you all!

Have a wonderful holiday!

~ Scott Perry, Boise Co-op Grocery Department Assistant Manager

The Beauty Moment for November: COLOR!

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:30:27 +0000

Let’s talk about color, shall we? I love color… bright and bold, soft and muted, deep and burning. Color is the new black! Maybe it’s just me, but I’m in the mood to mix it up with some color. I want to paint walls, line eyes and stain lips. I want to douse myself in color… maybe as a way to stave off the winter drearies, but mostly I feel the need to ignite the passion of living in such a rich climate. There are so many ways to add color to our lives, our faces, our fingernails.

Here we go, here we go, here we go….

Lip Stain and Pout Gloss by Terra Firma Cosmetics: You asked for it and we found it! Thanks to our mighty (insert muscles here) team of professionals who ran around the internet to bring you what you want. It’s natural, it’s pretty, it sparkles and it lasts for hours. Dear me, how will I ever choose between Cayenne and Pomegrante? Bloom and Sedona?? Scandalous and Au Naturalle??? I tell you what, that is my kinda problem Sista…that is my kinda problem!

Question…how many lip products do you carry with you every day? I currently count seven in my handbag. Whew… not too many. They all have a purpose and can be layered one on top of another. Some have a slight shimmer, some have a bit of shine, some are pure moisture. Like Pangea’s Pyrenees Lavender with Cardamom Lipbalm. Calming, antioxidant and not as perfumy as one might think. Bursting with fantastic oils like Tamanu, Hemp Seed, and Sunflower, plus Shea Butter… and all of it is organic. Praise Joshua!! (He owns Pangea.) So, you see, they all play an important role, don’t judge! I asked a friend today and she showed me eight in her bag, with a slight giggle of excess. Honestly, we love it and it’s fun and the men in our lives don’t need to understand, they simply like the way we smile.

Another miraculous find is Eyebrow Mousse from Blinc. This is a product I will not live without, dammit!! I have looked for many years to find anything natural for eyebrows that both shades and shapes. It’s tricky…and important.You see, the brows are like a frame for a beautiful piece of art. Without the frame, one can still see and appreciate the beauty of the art, but if you frame the art, as with the eyes, IT POPS!!!

Blinc Eyebrow Mousse comed in 6 shades from Light Blonde to Black. One to match every skintone and haircolor, plus, it contains hexapeptide-14 which is an anti-aging ingredient found in high-end skin care. Hallelujah!!! I feel a little more polished and put together and like my face isn’t fading into the background. Dark Brunette is my shade…in case you were wondering.

As we age, we lose the color in our hair, lips and cheeks, and adding a little brightness back into the skin keeps us vibrant and feeling good. It is important to me. Many women are afraid of color cosmetics, of looking “made up” with too much or the wrong color. Somehow…well, actually,I do know how…make-up got a bad rap. Heavy-handed and uninformed with regards to technique and customer preference, the usual cosmetic counter experience can be disappointing. I don’t believe in using cosmetics as a mask, although many women have shared this view with me as the reason they have avoided using make-up. I have always thought of make-up as a way to enhance the features we inherently possess.

Next, let’s add some shine and color to those lovely tresses. Short or long, straight, curly or just plain unruly, all hair types can benefit from the right product. Covering gray? No problem. Change your mind about getting in to your stylist for another weave? We’ve got the answer. Permanent or Semi- Permanent? Got ‘em. Yes, you can do it and we can help.

Surya Henna Cream is a beautiful option for some sassy, shiny color! It is plant-based with henna playing the role of the conditioner more than the actual color. Without the use of peroxide, ammonia, resorcinol, PPD, heavy metals, parabens, or synthetic fragrance, even sensitive individuals can safely use Surya Henna Cream. I love it because it works like regular color, and guess what…? No stink. Amazing!! It washes out in 7-10 washings, so if you want to change it up with a new shade and you are like me, only washing your hair a couple times a week, it can last 4-6 weeks. Remember, there is no going lighter with Surya or any other henna/plant based color.

If you need a bit more shine without a color change, I invite you to play around with John Masters Organics Shine On. Containing Carrot Seed Oil and Sea Kelp and high in vitamn A, it adds lots of shine (hence the clever name) without any weight or stickiness. Plus,if you are looking for a product with some “green power” John Masters Organics is the leader, truly.

I leave you with two thoughts…

The first is a quote from my old friend Charlie “All I ever wanted to do in life was color.”

And the second may take a little more contemplation: How would it feel if you loved everyone?

♥ from Cathy, Personal Care Manager

The Best Natural Flu Fighters from Our Vitamin Aisle!

Member Services — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:27:53 +0000

“News Flash!
The Swine flu is coming! The Swine flu is coming!!”

If you’ve listened to the news lately, you’ve heard this over and over again. Believe me, working in the Vitamin Department, we’ve come across a lot people with some sort of flu-like illness already, along with a ton of people trying with all their might not to catch it. I’m not sure whether these people are dealing with the actual swine flu, but whatever it is, nobody wants it.

Luckily, there is no need to panic! We have a whole section of products that can help protect you from all the nasty bugs! Here’s just a few that we all are particularly excited about:

One of our all-time favorites is a homeopathic flu remedy with an odd name: Oscillococcinum. We all keep them on stock at home so we can kick any flu bug as soon as it starts. For most people Oscillo works, whether they are just coming down with something or have a full blown attack of the flu.

If you go to their website, you will find summaries of the studies that have been conducted with oscillo. There’s info on how it can reduce the severity and shorten the duration of the flu. Personally, what I love about this product is that there are no strange side effects or contraindications with other medications or herbal supplements. So, you don’t end up feeling all sped up or drowsy from Oscillo. During November we will be running a sale on it too. It doesn’t get much better than that!

The other product we all rely on is from one of my favorite brands, New Chapter. It’s called “Immunity Take Care,” and is an extract of elderberry, which is traditionally thought of as a anti-viral and immune enhancer. Admittedly, there are quite a few elderberry extracts out there and I’ve found relief from many of them. Yet, this particular elderberry is different. It has a unique extraction process that ensures a guaranteed dose in each lozenge. Here’s a link to their website for more information.

No matter the reason, the elderberry in Immunity Take Care can have some striking results with cold and flu symptoms. I can’t imagine how I made it through the flu season before I had this product in my arsenal. It’s been that helpful for me. This, too, will be on sale during November, along with the entire line of New Chapter products.

Herb Pharm has some truly superior liquid extracts. If you’ve never tried to take a herb or herbal formula in a liquid extract, this is the brand I would suggest you begin with. During November, several Herb Pharm products will be on sale. Their Immune Defense Tonic is an amazing immunity enhancer. It has an assortment of herbs to protect you this season. We also have their Echinacea/Goldenseal compound on sale, as well as their straight Echinecea extract. One of my personal favorites is the Neutralizing Cordial Compound for upset stomachs. It’s really calming, and for me, it works wonders when I’ve overindulged during the holidays.

We’ll have these products and more on sale through November to help you stay healthy this season. Trust me, when you’re working in the Vitamin Department, you’ve got to learn a zillion different ways to protect yourself from the daily onslaught of colds, flus and who knows what that comes straight at you. We’re always happy to share what we’ve learned!

Heidi
Boise Co-op Vitamin Manager

Boise Co-op - Boise's Green Grocery Store Since 1973 » Newsletter

How much do YOU know about Earth Day?

Deli Top 10 List

Boise Co-op Progress Report, November 2009

Boise Co-op Progress Report

November 2009

Onion Soup with Madeira

Onion Soup with Madeira

Featured in Grocery: These Crumbs are Magic!

Sylvie’s Pantry Challenge for November

The Recipe: Spinach Fettuccine with Leek and Tomato Marmalade

Stressed for the Holidays? Our Deli Can Help!

Thanksgiving Never Tasted So Good!

The Beauty Moment for November: COLOR!

The Best Natural Flu Fighters from Our Vitamin Aisle!

“News Flash! The Swine flu is coming! The Swine flu is coming!!”

“News Flash!
The Swine flu is coming! The Swine flu is coming!!”