Planning a home or office party? Tired of fried foods and chips? Now you can have delicious and healthy Sushi at your next event! Made to order, your sushi platter will be prepared with the freshest fish and all organic produce.

All platters come with wasabi, pickled ginger, soy sauce and chopsticks. Please mention any allergies when calling and provide 48 hour notice. Prices listed do not include tax and are for pick-up only. Drop-off platters are available for an extra charge.

The #1: 50 Pieces–$49.95
California Rolls–Spicy Tuna Rolls–Philly Rolls–Dynamite Prawn Rolls–Avocado Rolls

The #2:  75 Pieces–$74.95
California Rolls–Tuna Rolls–Southside Philly Rolls–Samurai Rolls–Spicy California Rolls–Eel Rolls
Shrimp Nigiri–Smoked Salmon Nigiri–Tuna Sashimi

The #3: 75 Pieces (Vegetarian)–$50.95
Spicy Veggie Rolls-Sunflower Rolls–Avocado Rolls–Cucumber Rolls–Sweet Tofu Inari Pockets

The #4: 100 Pieces–$99.95
California Rolls–Tuna Rolls–Spicy Tuna Rolls–Philly Rolls–Dynamite Prawn Rolls–Eel Rolls–Samurai Rolls–Dynamite Tuna Rolls–Shrimp Nigiri–Smoked Salmon Nigiri–Tuna Nigiri–Tuna Sashimi

We also offer on-site sushi preparation, for your party or event.

Need a customized or larger platter? We can do that as well. For pricing or to place your order, please call Scott at the Boise Co-op Meat & Seafood Department. Phone-472-4516

To see our daily sushi menu, please click here.

Freshness and flavor matter to us!

• We use only the freshest organic produce available.
• We use only real Chilean Rock Crab (never imitation!), fresh sashimi grade Yellowfin Tuna, and feature several unique, house-made sauces.
• You may get your roll made with whole grain brown rice upon request.
• All orders come with natural pickled ginger (no food coloring or aspartame), washabi and light soy sauce.
• Design your own roll (list at the bottom of this page), or order from our menu.
• Beautiful, affordable party platters are available! Click here for our Catering Menu.
  

Veggie Sushi -$5.99

• Spicy Veggie Crunch- Leaf lettuce, Sriracha, Carrot, Green Onion, Sesame Seeds, Cucumber.
• Sunflower Roll- Sunflower Seeds, Carrot, Roasted Red Peppers, Green Onion, Cucumber and Avocado.
• Inari Roll- Inari Tofu, Carrot, Green Onion, Sesame Seeds and Avocado.
• Rice Pearl- Inside/Out Roll. Cream Cheese, Green Onion, Carrot and Cucumber. Topped with rice pearls.
• Linda’s Roll- Sunflower Seeds, Mango, Cream Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers, Carrots and Avocado.
• Fire Roll- Inside out Roll. Carrot, Avocado and Cucumber. Topped with Togarashi Chili Spice.
• Inari Box- Six Sweet Tofu pouches, filled with seasoned Brown Rice, Green Onion, Sesame Seeds and Carrot.
• Veggie Chirashi Bowl- Made with brown or white rice. Carrot, Mango, Cucumber, Avocado, Carrot, Roasted Red Peppers, Green onion, Inari Strips. Topped with Sesame and Sunflower Seeds.
• Inari Combo- Half of any roll above with three Sweet Inari Tofu Pouches.

Seafood Sushi/Cooked – $6.99

• California Roll- Chilean Rock Crab, Avocado, Sesame Seeds. Rolled Inside Out.
• Spicy California Roll- Tobiko, Chilean Rock Crab, House Made Spicy Mayonnaise, Avocado. Rolled Inside Out.
• Dynamite Prawn Roll- Shrimp, House Made Spicy Mayonnaise, Carrot, Lettuce, Avocado.
• Samurai Roll- Chilean Rock Crab, Sriracha, Shrimp, Carrot, Green Onion, Avocado.
• Philly Roll- Cold Smoked Salmon, Organic Cream Cheese, Green Onion, Cucumber.
• Southside Philly Roll- Cold Smoked Salmon,Organic Spicy Cream Cheese, Green Onion, Cucumber.
• Kabayaki Unagi Roll- Freshwater Eel, Green Onion, Avocado.Topped with House Made Eel Sauce and Sesame Seeds.

Seafood Sushi/Raw – $6.99

• Tuna Roll- Yellowfin Tuna and Avocado.
• Spicy Tuna Roll- Yellowfin Tuna, Sriracha, Tobiko and Cucumbers.
• Dynamite Tuna Roll- Yellowfin Tuna, House made Spicy Mayonnaise, Carrot, Green Onion, Avocado.
• Hamachi Roll- Yellowtail Tuna and Avocado.
• Spicy Hamachi Roll- Yellowtail Tuna, Tobiko, Sriracha, Cucumber.

Chirashi & Combos – $7.99

• Chirashi (Scatter Sushi Bowl)- Rice Topped with Yellowfin & Yellowtail Tuna, Chilean Rock Crab, Cold Smoked Salmon, Shrimp, Avocado, Cucumber, Carrot, Sesame Seeds.
• Nigiri Combo- Half of Any Roll with your choice of Four Piece Nigiri.
• Nigiri Options: Ebi (Shrimp)
• Maguro (Yellowfin Tuna)
• Hamachi (Yellowtail Tuna)
• Sake (Cold Smoked Salmon)
• Unagi (Freshwater Eel)

Create Your Own Roll – $7.99

Let your creativity run wild!

FISH:

• Chilean Rock Crab
• Cold Smoked Salmon
• Freshwater Eel
• Hamachi (White Tuna)
• Maguro (Red Tuna)
• Shrimp
• Tobiko (Flying Fish Roe)

VEGGIES:

• Asparagus (seasonal)
• Avocado
• Cucumber
• Carrots
• Green Onion
• Jalapeno
• Roasted Red Pepper
• Mango (seasonal)
• Lettuce
• Sesame Seeds
• Sunflower Seeds
• Togarashi (Japanese Five Pepper Spice)
• Rice Pearl (Crisp Tapioca)

EXTRAS:

• Brown Rice
• White Rice
• Kabayaki Sauce
• Spice Ponzu Sauce
• Spicy Sweet Sauce
• Wheat-Free Tamari
• Sriacha
• Spicy Mayonnaise
• Cream Cheese
• Soy Wrapper (add $1.00)

(We have to say this: Consuming raw or undercooked meats, seafood, shellfish or eggs, may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.)

Please click here to read the agenda for this meeting.

Our Board can be reached at boardofdirectors@boisecoop.com

Ben Kuzma

We recently took time to do an after event postmortem of the Boise Co-op election process shortly after the ballot results had been tallied. Not surprisingly there are many aspects of the election process that could have gone more smoothly, but we are very pleased with the process overall. Some highlights of our analysis:

There were more votes than necessary to have a valid election:
The new bylaws put into effect last summer by the Board, established a quorum requirement to conduct Co-op business during an election (ballots from 1,000 or 3% of eligible member-owners, whichever is less).  We were concerned about a low voter turnout – we needed at least 784 valid ballots, but we received 967!

Member-owners voted overwhelmingly for the changes to our Articles of Incorporation:
The most substantive change to the Articles may have gone by unnoticed because even for anyone with a good understanding of the nature of the cooperative business model, it’s more complicated than what meets the eye. Although the newly changed bylaws gave the Board the language they needed to issue patronage rebates to member-owners, the old Articles of Incorporation did not give the Board the authority to issues shares which is necessary to act upon the new language in the bylaws. With this election we are – in the eyes of the law – a consumer cooperative entitled to all of its advantages; we now operate under the 7 cooperative principles; we are required to return at least 20% and up to 100% of the Co-op’s profits generated from member-owner purchases back to our members in profitable years and it will take a vote by a quorum of member-owners to make further changes to the bylaws or the Articles of Incorporation.

Board meetings and annual Member-owner meetings will be regularly scheduled and announced well ahead time to encourage participation:
With so little time between when the new bylaws that took effect at the end of the summer and when the election took place, there was little time to thoroughly plan for this event. The Board will develop a planning calendar that will lay out the important dates during the year – deadline dates for the election process; when the annual Member-owner’s meeting will take place; when and where regular Board meetings will take place. Forums will be arranged before the election so that member-owners may meet the election candidates. Committees that may include member-owners will be used for activities such a reviewing our financials or conducting an annual election. Our member-owners will be better informed about what’s happening at the Co-op during the next election.

The voting process will be streamlined:
The election process itself was adapted from the way several other food co-ops conduct their elections. It had high integrity with the use of double envelopes and with precise procedures about how the votes were counted and verified, but there is much that can be done to improve the process. It was at times cumbersome, fairly expensive (mailing ballots to ~24,000 households is costly!) and not very intuitive. We are looking at electronic voting, which is allowable under the new bylaws for potential future voting. If you have any ideas about how the voting process can be improved please let us know.

Thank you to the 974 member-owners who participated in this learning experience which was accomplished by courageously going forward and just doing it. In certain areas, the election could have gone better but it will improve as we gain experience with more practice. I look forward to the next Co-op election cycle with even more member-owners participating.

Tuesday, November 1, 6:00 pm
The Linen Building
(1402 Grove Street, Boise)

The Boise Co-op’s Annual Member Meeting and Board of Directors election will take place on November 1. This is an opportunity for our members to discuss ideas and concerns about the future direction of the Boise Co-op with our Board, General Manager, staff and fellow members. You’ll also be asked to elect three Board members and vote on proposed amendments to the Co-op’s Articles of Incorporation. This email will introduce you to our Board nominees and address other details you’ll need to make an informed decision. Please attend this meeting and exercise your rights as a shareholder of the Boise Consumer Co-op!

Function of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the governance body for the corporation under which the Boise Co-op is structured. Directors are responsible for overseeing the operations and finances of the Co-op with all that entails, and each offers his or her skills and experiences toward that task. The Board hires and oversees a General Manager who is responsible for day-to-day operations.

Three of our current Directors’ terms end in 2011, so Boise Co-op members will be voting to fill those seats. All three of the incumbents are running for re-election, and we are happy to introduce two additional candidates from within our membership. Directors elected in 2011 are expected to serve a full three-year term.

Meet the Candidates

Patrick Haas (incumbent)
Pat has been a member of the Boise Co-op for over 25 years and has served on the Board since 2005. Active in co-ops for over 40 years, he was a co-founder of a chain of neighborhood co-ops in Dallas in the early 1970s. He worked as an executive in the food service business for 26 years, and feels his experience in business and management has enabled him to assist the Boise Co-op in its transition to a more professional organization both in terms of finance and personnel. During his tenure on the Board, he has worked to put the “co-op” back into the business by improving communication with members, encouraging transparency and member participation, and sharpening the emphasis on local, healthy products and community support. Pat intends to continue to work for the benefit of the Boise Co-op and its member-owners.

Steve Lester (incumbent)
Steve has been a member of the Boise Co-op since its inception in 1973, and was a volunteer at the original location in Hyde Park. He works in natural resource management, and over the past 32 years has held positions with the US Forest Service, Idaho Department of Lands, and Idaho Department of Water resources. A member of the Boise Co-op Board of Directors since 2008, Steve has been instrumental in facilitating communication between the Co-op and its members, and has dedicated himself to enhancing member benefits. He played an active role in revising the Bylaws and hiring our new General Manager, and believes that being present at the creation of our new direction makes him particularly well-suited to help build a better Co-op. Steve sees himself as an “average member,” and brings that perspective to his work on the Board.

Robert Shepard
Robert has been a Boise Co-op member since 1993, and offers a diverse background in business development and operations, economic consulting, strategic planning and college-level teaching. His years of experience have honed his expertise in feasibility studies and the creation of business plans. He understands the value of customer service and respects the need to create a great shopping experience for Co-op members. He wants to be on the Board to help ensure that our shoppers’ money stays local instead of going to a corporate office in another state, and to assist the Co-op in its continuing mission to offer quality products in a quality environment with excellent service. Robert is committed to the sustainability of the Boise Co-op and its members.

Carole Skinner (incumbent)
Carole has been a Boise Co-op member since 1983, and is the owner and operator of The Flicks, a landmark business that has enriched our community since 1984. She is the recipient of the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (1997), Idaho Business Review’s Women’s Excellence in Business Award (2000), the United Vision for Idaho Award for Most Progressive Business Person (2002), and the Community Heroine Treasure Valley Public Access Television Award in 2009. She is a proud member of Think Boise First. Carole sees strong parallels between The Flicks and the Boise Co-op, which share many loyal customers and as well as a unique place in the hearts of our town’s citizens. She believes that her skills in marketing, resource management and community outreach over the past 27 years will be a strong asset to the Co-op’s Board of Directors.

Tara “TJ” Stevens
Tara has been a Boise Co-op member since 2004, and as an advocate of the local food movement believes the Co-op plays an important role in providing products, education and outreach to our community. She is a manager at REI, where she has developed systems and processes that ensure an efficient and profitable business, and is the Education Director for the Boise Rec Fest. Tara intends to bring to the Board a fresh perspective, a proven track record in business planning, and a passion for sustainable, local foods. She feels her distinct skills and experience as a business leader and champion of change will be an asset in keeping the Co-op relevant, competitive, and effective in the face of competition.

Proposed Changes to our Articles of Incorporation

The Board of Directors is asking members to approve amendments to the Boise Co-op’s Articles of Incorporation. The substantive changes that would be made by these amendments (number references being to the amended and restated Articles) are as follows:

• In Article II, to improve the statement of purpose, including adding the requirement that the Boise Co-op be operated on a cooperative basis and in accordance with cooperative principles.
• In Article V, to authorize the advantageous procedure of issuing shares to acknowledge the contributed capital of members.
• In Article VI, to facilitate the limited immunity of directors from personal liability.
• In Article VII, to facilitate the beneficial procedure of distributing patronage dividends.
• In Article VIII, to adopt sensible and equitible rules for liquidating distributions.

The amendments also eliminate unnecessary verbiage from the Articles, and would consolidate the original and all amendments into a single new document.  These changes have been reviewed by the Board and are believed to be advantageous for both the Co-op and its members.

To read our current Articles, please follow this link. There is also an amendment from November, 2003, which may be read here.

Click here to read the proposed updated Articles of Incorporation in their entirety.

Procedure for Voting

Voting officially begins on Monday, October 3, 2011. Ballots are being mailed to members, and you may also pick one up at the store. The locked ballot box will be located at the front of the store. The right to vote is limited to members who are current in their equity payments on September 30, 2011, or who are of low-income status. Each member number receives one vote.

For more information, please contact our Board of Directors at boardofdirectors@boisecoop.com

It’s no exaggeration to say that our members have an opportunity to determine the evolution of our store’s relationship and relevance to our community. Now is the time for all good members to come to the aid of their Co-op!

There’s a lot at stake in our upcoming Annual Member Meeting and Board of Directors Election, taking place on Tuesday, November 1. In addition to the board elections, we’re asking our Co-op members to cast their votes on substantive changes to our articles of incorporation – changes that would, among other things, ensure that our store operates in accordance with cooperative principles and, in keeping with those principles, redefine the meaning of membership.

It’s no exaggeration to say that our members have an opportunity to determine the evolution of our store’s relationship and relevance to our community. Now is the time for all good members to come to the aid of their Co-op!

The voting process is simple, and designed to guarantee electoral integrity. As a Co-op member, chances are good that you’ve already received your voting package in the mail. In which case, simply follow the instructions that accompanied your ballot and either mail it back or place it in the ballot box located next to the Member Information Kiosk located at the front of the store.

If you haven’t received your ballot in the mail, you can pick one up at the Member Information Kiosk. Make it a celebration and/or combine your right to exercise your member privilege with a shopping trip or repast. Grab a Deli sandwich, some of our fresh sushi, or maybe just a cup of fresh joe and a cookie…and rock the vote in a few easy steps:

1. Read up on the candidates running for our three Board positions and study the information on the changes to the proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation.
2. Vote for the three Board candidates of your choice and mark “yes” or “no” to the Articles of Incorporation Amendments.
3. Fold your ballot to fit into the small white envelope at the kiosk, then seal it and insert the envelope in the pre-addressed, larger envelope (the purple one). BE SURE TO WRITE YOUR CO-OP MEMBER NUMBER AND SIGN YOU NAME ON THE LARGER ENVELOPE – YOUR VOTE WON’T COUNT WITHOUT THIS INFORMATION!
4. Place your completed ballot in the ballot box next to the Member Information Kiosk.
5. Do your happy dance!

Having exercised your rights as a member, I encourage you to stroll through our store with a newfound sense of engagement and ownership. After all, it really IS your store!

Click here to see a YouTube video detailing the procedure for in-store voting!

The Boise Co-op will close today at 4 pm in honor of Labor Day.

We wish you a restful and enjoyable holiday!

If you ever wish to no longer be a member-owner of Boise Co-op, for whatever reason, your payment to purchase a share is returned in full with replacement equity that new member-owners provide. Membership is currently $50, plus a non-refundable $15 administrative fee. With that $50 investment, you become part owner of Boise Co-op, and a member with rights and responsibilities that are explicitly stated in our new bylaws.

In a sense, when you purchase a membership you are lending the Co-op money to keep our store in good order while you use its services. Community food co-ops become strongest when there are lots of these little “loans” from a large number of people, ensuring that the co-op does not have to rely entirely on traditional loans as a source of capital when it is needed. Lenders such as banks like to see high equity levels from many members because it shows that there is widespread support from many individuals in the community.

Some of Boise Co-op member-owners may also be members of retailers such as Costco, but they pay an annual fee to become a member – no equity is returned when they no longer wish to shop in their stores. Some of these people may actually become owners of that business, too, by purchasing their stock. Currently, one share of Costco goes for about $74 plus brokerage fees. The value of this share may rise or fall depending on many factors including profitability and market conditions. If these share-owning members could be distinguished from non-investor Costco members, the store greeters could welcome these customers as “member-owners” as well.

Another difference in our business model is that food co-ops are democratically controlled. As a Co-op member-owner, you own one share and are entitled to one vote to help determine things like the make-up of our Board of Directors, or to cast a vote to change our articles of incorporation –  the majority rules. As a Costco owner you have as many votes as the number of shares you own. If you had a spare $16 billion and could somehow purchase more than half of Costco’s shares, you would have controlling interest in the organization – the majority $$ rule.

Please read – Desire for control sends consumers to food co-ops at: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9P58CC00.htm
Here are a few excerpts from that story by Lisa Rathk:

“As more Americans look for more ways to control their spending — as well as where their food comes from — small grocers that are owned by their “member” shoppers and focus on local and natural foods are back in vogue.”

“Around the country roughly 300 cooperatives already run 330 stores, with at least another 250 under development, everywhere from New Orleans to Fairbanks, Alaska, according to Stuart Reid, executive director of Food Co-op Initiative, a nonprofit that provides resources and support for organizing groups.”

“The economy is certainly part of the reason, but another part of the reason is Americans are looking for ways to own and control the means of providing the services they want,” Andrea Cumpston, a spokeswoman for the National Cooperative Business Association,” tells Business Week. “For example, in the food co-op industry they’re looking to be able to own the store that provides them with their local foods and to know and trust where those foods are coming from.”

“As co-ops have evolved, they’ve shed some of their old image. A focus on local and artisanal goods — including locally raised or produced meats, cheeses, beers and wines — as well as the addition of delis and prepared foods have attracted a whole new food-centered generation of shoppers. This is a long way from the organic dried beans, granola and tempeh that once seemed to define these stores.”

Thank goodness food co-ops are not publicly traded companies governed by people who are not democratically elected. Food co-op boards are voted into office to make crucial decisions, and member-owners have just one vote each to help make some of those decisions. People don’t invest in food co-ops to gain influence within the organization nor to sell their share for a higher price. They routinely invest in food co-ops because they want to ensure that their community has access to a thriving food co-op as an alternative to a corporate business model – and to provide a fun place to meet their neighbors.

Having members as customers was a great idea and almost exclusively the domain of co-ops many decades ago. The membership model had been so successful at numerous food co-ops over the years that they are now ubiquitous in the corporate world as well. In many ways, the lines between these distinctly different business models have grown fuzzy over time. For example, years ago food co-ops were just about the only grocers selling healthful and nutritious food. Today these products are available nearly everywhere thanks in part to the influence that food co-ops had in the marketplace of ideas. “It’s good business to sell healthful nutritious food” – can’t argue with that any longer. Food co-ops across the nation have achieved that mission – our ideas have influenced other grocers and manufacturers to provide communities with better food choices. Food co-ops’ missions change over time, but there is still an underlying commitment to continue to meet the changing needs of its member-owners and to stay ahead of the curve.

Through our common affiliations with NCGA, we have discovered that there is strength in organizing ourselves as a virtual chain of cooperative grocery stores.  We are learning how to operate our stores more efficiently and how to use our limited resources more wisely. Food co-ops consequently have become a nexus in their community. We all benefit from the exchange of ideas that is occurring among food co-ops. We need to remain strongly connected to our own communities and continue to contribute to the marketplace of ideas. Thank you for your continued support of Boise Co-op.

Ben Kuzma

Click here for a recent Co-op blog post about the NCGA

Karen Zimbelman is the Western Corridor Development Director for the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA). During her recent visit to Boise I asked her some questions about the NCGA that I thought would interest our Co-op members and customers. Here are her answers.

Q: How do you describe the NCGA as an organization?

A: We are a co-op of co-ops. Our members got together to help themselves more effectively compete and do through the organization what they might not be able to do individually. We provide training services, access to supplies, help build efficiencies by amassing buying power, and support a lot of different programs and services that even include branded grocery bags and deli supplies. Every co-op’s competitive situation is different, but everyone is competing. It’s hard to compete just on product, so we also compete on the basis of what it means to be a co-op and on an identity based on that – it’s a differentiation based on what it means to be owned by our shoppers and our local community.

Q: Boise Co-op joined the NCGA as an Associate Member. How does that differ from full membership?

A: Members of the NCGA are owners in the same way that members of our co-ops are owners, so they have certain responsibilities to invest in the organization. In turn, there are voting and patronage rights that go with that investment. Full membership allows for profit sharing based on the amount of business you do. Associate co-ops are in “development” based on our criteria for membership. You can think of it as taking a step in the waters.

Q: What is the vision of the NCGA?

A: We want to help co-ops better serve their members and their communities by helping them operate more efficiently. This way the money they save can be used to support local producers, better compensate their staff, and invest in their local communities – as well as better compete against corporate chains.

Q: What is the relevance of the co-op concept in today’s world?

A: Many of today’s co-ops started out in the 1970s with the desire for natural products versus feeding the agricultural/industrial system. They remain relevant because we need to pay more attention to what we support with our food dollars as well as what we put into our bodies. Instead of private ownership and private benefit, we are collectively pooling our resources to get access to the kind of food we want. Beyond that, we can’t tell each co-op how to be relevant to its community – it’s the job of the community to tell their co-op how it’s relevant. We want the next generation to feel the same kind of passion as those who founded them in the ’70s about why a co-op is worth supporting with their grocery dollars. Ultimately, we want each of our co-op members to return value to their community rather than to a group of shareholders, while offering the healthiest choices to the customer.

Q: What’s your impression of the Boise Co-op?

A: We’re very excited to have the Boise Co-op as part of the NCGA – you have a great base to build from. Every co-op is unique, but what is most unique about this one is the way it has evolved as a large and very dynamic operation. It’s not just in the model of a natural foods supermarket, but that of a more unique specialty products retailer. It has very deep roots in this community.

Our Annual Member Meeting and Board of Directors Election will be held Tuesday, November 1. Three of our current Board members are seeking re-election, and Boise Co-op members may also submit an application to be considered for nomination for one of these seats .  If you are interested in helping shape the future direction of the Boise Co-op, our Nominating Committee would like to hear from you. The three Directors elected this year will serve through 2014.

Applicants must provide:

• An up-to-date resume
• A written statement of why you’re interested in being a member of the Boise Co-op Board of Directors
• A description of any special skills and talents you would bring to our organization
• Your Boise Co-op membership number

Please send these documents as email attachments to: boardofdirectors@boisecoop.com or leave them at our Customer Service counter in a sealed envelope addressed to: Boise Co-op Board of Directors Nominating Committee.

Please note that submitting an application is not a guarantee that you will be nominated.

Deadline for applications is Friday, September 9