Producers and Buyers Anticipate Skagit WholeSale Market Launch

June 22, 2010 [Mount Vernon, WA] - Area food producers are preparing to sell their products to wholesale customers in the covered parking lot of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op on Thursday mornings from 8-10 a.m., starting this Thursday, June 24th, and will be there every week through harvest season, interest provided.

The weekly market is designed to help area buyers and sellers decrease time and fuel costs associated with collecting and delivering local food themselves," says Lucy Norris, PSFN Project Manager. "The Skagit Valley Food Co-op and Puget Sound Food Network together identified an initial group of local vendors, now we need restaurants and food service buyers to show up." Buyers can either preorder from the farm, and then pay and collect at the market site, or choose to pick up later. Each vendor will choose their own invoicing and delivery options. Impulse buys are expected and encouraged.

The Skagit WholeSale Market is grounded in the harvest of all-star Skagit organic producers like Hedlin Farm, Skagit River Ranch, Ralph's Greenhouse, and Skagit Flats. Staples from Sakuma Bros, Twin Sisters Mushrooms, Hidden Meadow Ranch, Fresh Breeze Organic Dairy, and the newly formed Viva Farms will be complimented by delicacies from San Juan Pasta Company and Gothberg Farms. Seasonal appearances by other Skagit and PSFN member producers, and products from nearby and east of the mountains will appear throughout the season.

A collaboration between the Co-op and Puget Sound Food Network, it is the only grassroots business-to-business market of its kind in Northwest Washington.

Those interested in learning more or wish to participate as a Skagit WholeSale Market buyer or seller should contact Erin Treat at skagitcoop@gmail.com or visit PSFN at www.psfn.org. Map and directions to the Skagit Valley Food Co-op are posted at http://www.skagitfoodcoop.com/map.html.

For more background and information, please read our first press release from June 8th on our blog at http://psfn.org/blog/2010/06/seeking-buyers-for-the-skagit-wholesale-market-thursdays-starting-june-24th/, and follow All FOOD Considered, a blog created by Skagit Valley Food Coop.

Bike to Work Day May 21!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, 2010

Bike to Work Day is May 21
Kick-Off Event April 29

Snohomish County, Wash. - Converting car trips to bike trips is an easy
way to get healthy while getting somewhere at the same time. Burn
calories instead of fuel as Snohomish County celebrates National Bike to
Work Day on Friday, May 21

Event organizers encourage creative commutes that combine biking and
buses, biking to your carpool or vanpool instead of driving, or driving
part way to work and biking the rest.

Last year, more than 900 people stopped by Bike to Work Day
“celebration stations” in Snohomish County and Bothell. This
year, organizers hope to provide refreshments, free bike safety checks
and goodies to 1,000 people on bicycles.

Bike to Work Day Celebration Stations will be open the morning of
Friday, May 21 at: Edmonds Train Station, Lynnwood Transit Center,
University of Washington Bothell, Everett Station, Boeing Everett,
Marysville’s Comeford Park and McCollum Park in Mill Creek.

Bike to Work Day is the kickoff for the Snohomish County Bike Commute
Challenge. The challenge is to organize a team of co-workers or friends
who will continue biking to work at least once a week for a month.

To learn more about Community Transit Bike to Work events, stop by the
Bike to Work Kick-Off between 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 29 at the
Everett Public Schools’ Longfellow Building Annex located on 3715
Oakes Avenue, Everett or visit www.communitytransit.org/biketowork.

Local Bike to Work events are coordinated by Community Transit with
support from Everett Transit, Boeing, Clif Bar, B.I.K.E.S. Club of
Snohomish County, Harvy’s Bike Shop, Seattle Children’s Hospital
and many other community sponsors.

Did you know?
It takes about 30 minutes to bike five miles at an easy pace. That
burns about 300 calories - and gets you your daily exercise while
getting somewhere at the same time.

2009 Bike Commute Challenge Stats
145 Teams
817 Participants
564 Completed the Challenge
14,433 Total Trips
113,820 Total miles
30% New Participants

Cider Making - Principals and Practices

The Northwest Agriculture Business Center is bringing internationally-recognized cider production expert Peter Mitchell to lead an intensive week-long class in cider and perry production. Mitchell has over 25 years of practical experience in hard cider production. He is a certified UK and USA cider competition judge and an award-winning producer in his own right. If you have wanted to develop your skills in hard cider and perry making this is the course to attend.

“Cider Making-Principles and Practice” will be held at the Skagit Valley College campus in Mount Vernon, WA. The course will run 8:00am - 5:00pm daily, June 28 - July 2, 2010. Mitchell will cover industry foundations such as the cider market, business opportunity, orcharding, production methods and management, and quality control. The class will provide practical processing and laboratory work along with lectures. The week will also be filled with cider making workshops and a field-trip visit to commercial cideries. The format and content of the class is suitable for beginners, new businesses and existing producers (large & small-scale) alike.

You may register for “Cider Making-Principles and Practice” online at the NABC website, www.agbizcenter.org or contact Jake Fowler at NABC (360-336-3727). Registrants will be sent directions and schedule prior to the class.

Sno-Isle Movie Night!

Join us for a movie and community building on Monday January 25th, 5pm in the classroom, We'll be watching "The Future of Food", trying some tasty snacks, learning and sharing.

Buy Local! Snohomish Holiday Market

The Snohomish Holiday Market opened on November 19th located at 1234 First Street, Snohomish, WA. This building is formerly know as the Black Cat location.

The Snohomish Holiday Market will be open Thursday - Sunday from Nov. 19th to Dec. 27th (except Christmas and Thanksgiving).

The Market features over 6,000 sq ft of arts, crafts and other surprises. The vendors will change weekly so you'll want to shop often to visit the local businesses weekly.

For more information visit:
http://snohomishholidaymarket.com
http://snohomishholidaymarket.blogspot.com

For more information on becoming a vendor contact:
SnohomishHolidayMarket@live.com
SnohomishHolidayMarket@gmail.com

Please call Debbie at 360-282-3197 or Karen 360-348-2674 with questions.

Fall Workshops

September 24 6-7:30pm
Organic Skin Care & Scar healing with Essential Oils

Learn to make luxurious and healing skin care oils with essential oils, jojoba oil, carrotseed oil, rosehip seed oil and more! Learn how to be naturally beautiful and treat your skin with healing essential oils and natural ingredients which are gentle to your skin. You will make a 1/3 oz. smoothing, healing and age defying oil for your skin type. Pure organic rose, sandalwood, jasmine, helichrysum and MORE will be available!

October 19th 6-7:30 pm
Essential Remedies with Michelle Mahler
Pain relief & sleep management with Essential Oils! Find relief naturally with the oldest alternative therapy. Essential Oils from flowers and herbs have been used safely and effectively to treat inflammation, arthritis, carpal tunnel, back pain, for centuries. We will discuss the many applications of these miracle oils and learn how to utilize them in our lives. Class fee of $15 per student includes your own therapy oil and bath salts to take home.


November 16th 6-7:30
Essential Oil Holiday FUN workshop!

Come have a great time making bath salts and aromatherapy sprays for yourself and friends and family!they can help us to relax, unwind, find peace, focus, relieve pain, insomnia, grief and depression and aid in stress relief and memory loss You can make as many 2oz. cobalt blue glass sprays & salts as time allows for a $5 supply fee each:) where else can you smell and play with dozens of pure Organic Essential Oils? Don't miss this one, families welcome:) Home schoolers too!

Save 10% on all purchases THIS SUNDAY 9/20/09

It's that time of year again, Sno-Isle Natural Foods co-op wants to help our brothers and sisters out with a well deserved bonus! So, here's how this works, Sno-Isle Co-op owner? You get 10 % off! What about Skagit Co-op, or Madison Market, or PCC? Sure! You get it too! In fact, all you have to do is show your Co-op card at the check out.
What if you're not a owner or member of a co-op? Join on Sunday and you can take advantage of the savings too!
Also happening on Sunday: Samples galore, Gift bag giveaways, Live food demonstrations, mini workshops in our Wellness department.
We're open from 10 am - 6pm tomorrow, and the fun lasts all day.
Thanks for Loving your Co-op, We're loving you right back!

Event update

Our scheduled Essential Oil class with Michelle Mahler for today has been postponed until Monday August 24th. Please join us! The class is free, but with a small fee of $15.00 you can make things during the workshop to take home and are provided with a wealth of information.

Tuesday August 25 - Nordic Naturals will be here at the store doing a demonstration. Come on by!

Joy, Peace and Serenity with Essential Oils

August 20th 5:30-7pm Joy, Peace and Serenity with Essential Oils
Essential Oils are extracted from flowers and herbs and have been used safely and effectively for uplifting the spirit and bringing peace and tranquility since ancient times. Find relief from stress, negativity and depression naturally with the oldest alternative therapy. We will discuss the many applications of mother earths miracle oils on the Olfactory senses and your brain. 

Class fee of $15 per student (optional) includes creating your own blend to take home. Beginners welcome!

Preregistration helps keep workshops and classes from being canceled, and ensures continued classes on the calendar!
Sign up in the Co-op information room, or email info@snoislefoods.coop

Get Farming!

The Cultivating Success Sustainable Small Farming and Ranching Course starts Wednesday, Sept. 2 and will be held every Wednesday evening, from 6-9pm, through Nov. 18, with some weekend farm visits.

This course is excellent for individuals and couples who wish to start or redesign a small farm enterprise. It helps participants take a realistic look at their goals and resources and decide what type of small acreage enterprise is right for them. Students are exposed to all type of farming and ranching systems, guest farmers speak to the class, and field trips are taken to local farms.

The course fee is $250; some scholarships are available.

Courses will be held at the WSU Mt. Vernon Research Center, located at 16650 State Route 536
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (map and driving instructions).

This year's course will be taught in English and Spanish, using the "adult dual-language model" - That is, some portions of the course will be in English with Spanish translation, while others will be in Spanish with English translation. All printed materials are available in both languages and written work is completed in the participant's preferred language.

To register, or for more information, please reply to this email or call Sarita Schaffer at 206-914-7948.

Space is limited so please call today!

____________________________________________________________________

El curso “Agricultura Sostenible de Pequeña Escala”, está programado para el 2 de septiembre y será todos los miércoles por la tarde, desde las 6 hasta las 9 horas, empezando el 2 de Septiembre, terminando el 18 de Noviembre.

Este curso es excelente para personas y parejas que quieren empezar o expandir un pequeño negocio agrícola. El curso les ayuda a los participantes a evaluar sus metas y recursos y decidir cuál tipo de empresa pequeña agrícola más les conviene. Los participantes tienen la oportunidad de ver muchos sistemas de agricultura y ganadería a través de visitas guiadas y charlas con agricultores pequeños locales.

No hay costo para participantes hispanohablantes.

El curso tendrá lugar en el Centro de Investigación y Extensión Agrícola de WSU en Mount Vernon, que se ubica en 16650 Ruta Estatal 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (mapa y cómo llegar).

Los que completen este curso y también el curso “Planificación de Negocios Agrícolas” habrán cumplido con las condiciones para participar en un nuevo “Incubadora de Negocios Agrícolas” que ofrece a agricultores nuevos y minoritarios el acceso asequible a la tierra, agua, financiación, y la asistencia técnica con la producción y el desarrollo del negocio.

Espacio está limitado, por favor llame hoy para registrarse.

Para más información sobre el curso y/o la Incubadora de Negocios Agrícolas, por favor comuníquese con Sarita Schaffer al 206-914-7948 o envíele un correo electrónico a sschaffer@wsu.edu. Hablamos Español.

OWNER APPRECIATION DAYS

Looking to save money, with out sacrificing qualility? We have a quarterly Owner Appreciation Day, where Co-op members can save 10% off of their total purchases. Besides that, we have plenty of delicious things to try, raffles and gifts too! Here's the schedule:

September 20
December 20
March 20
June 20

See you at the store!

Workshops this Week

July 21 5:30 pm
Organic skin care with essential Oils. 5:30 pm at the Co-op classroom. The workshop is free, with an optional $15.00 supply fee paid to the instructor, so you can make and take home your own goodies. Really fun and informative!

July 25 11 am
Introduction to Raw foods with Maria Chavez. This has a $35 fee paid to instructor


Sign up for either of the 2 above workshops in advance so they don't get canceled!
You can sign up in our information room next to The Sol Deli, or email: info@snoislefoods.coop

FUN IN STORE DEMO THIS SATURDAY
July 25 11 am Bill from Vital Scents will be doing a demonstration in the store and answering your essential oil questions from 11-3!

What are you waiting for? A call to action!

Have a little extra time on your hands (through no fault of your own)?  Or are you someone who wants to make a difference in your world and need a place to start (or continue)?  We've just the thing for you. Volunteering on your Co-op's Board of Trustees (BOT) is a very rewarding opportunity. Notice my emphasis on the word YOUR. As a member- owner this "store" (oh, it's so much more than a store) belongs to you and a few other humans. It doesn't take a degree in business to be a BOT  member, although we won't turn you away if you have one!
Just a dedication to your Cooperative and a few hours a month is all it takes. The candidates for the BOT are elected by the member-owners of SNFC in October.  Don't let "running for election" scare you. There are no 'special interests' that will dog you and there is NO campaign fund to deal with!
Just a few of the REWARDS gleaned from serving your Co-op:
Great way to network
Looks good on your resume
Hang out with really cool people
Receive an extra discount on your Co-op purchases
Makes you feel good
You are contributing to the community
Doing your part to save the world from bad food, sweat shops, corporate farming, ect.....
Sounds good!  The sooner you call or write to us to find out more the better.  The Time is NOW. Contact Anita 425-334-4081 or Mollie at the Co-op: mollie@snoislefoods.coop

Stock up! Owner Appreciation Day TOMORROW!

It's our quarterly sale day! Owner Appreciation Day means samples, giveaways, and an amazing deal on your groceries! 10% off your entire purchase for co-op members. What if I'm a member of another amazing food co-op, you ask? Come on down! our Quarterly sale days are for all Cooperators! Just show your card at the register.

Spring Workshops at the Co-op

We are pleased to offer a monthly series of Aromatherapy workshops!

April 23 1-2:30 pm
Gentle Aromatherapy for Children

May 6 6:30 pm

Essential Oils Spray workshop

June 10 6:30 pm

Essential Remedies: Sinus, Asthma & Allergies

Please sign up in advance at the Co-op in our Information room.

$15.00 supply fee paid to instructor, Michelle Maher. For detailed descriptions, please see our current Newsletter! Questions? Contact Mollie@snoislefoods.coop