By Kenna Eaton, GM of The Food Co-op

Each month, I report to the board on how we are progressing on our long-term goals, which we call our Ends. These Ends reflect our aspirations—what we want to accomplish—and they are what makes us different from a regular grocery store. We publish these reports as a blog to keep our member-owners up to date on what we are doing.

 

The reports are organized by our five Ends, although not all are discussed in every report. Our Ends say that, as a result of all we do—

-    Our community is well-served by a strong cooperative grocery store, integral to the lives of our customers, our farmers, and our producers.

-    Our community has a resilient local and regional food economy, supported by our Co-op and our community partners.

-    Our staff and board have the knowledge, skills, and passion to make our cooperative thrive.

-    Our members and customers are proud to shop at a local cooperative grocery that is working to reduce its impact on the environment.

-    Our community is informed, engaged, and empowered to join us in making a difference.

 

December General Manager’s Report

Working Together to Nourish our Community

Market

The 2023 results of the two “best of” awards by our local papers are in, and we couldn’t be more excited! Thanks to everyone who voted for us! From the Peninsula Daily News we won Best of the Peninsula Jefferson in:

#1 Best Health Foods Store, 

#1 Best Produce

For Jefferson County Leader, we won:

#1 Best in Desert 

#2 Lunch Special 

#3 Produce

Following up on our successful program launched last year, we were able to make planning for you holiday meals even easier this year. Starting November 1, customers were able to pre-order holiday meals, house-made pies, and holiday meal sides. 

Food System

So far this year we’ve added some great new vendors. Here’s brief recap of 2023:

New Local 5 vendors:  Cearra’s cinnamon rolls, Gray Fox jam, HIllsider Farm microgreens, Take Haven bath salts, and Becky Stinnett Photography’s calendar.

New Local WA vendors:  HotBabe hot sauces, Sylling’s elderberry syrup, and through Puget Sound Food Hub and Blue Dot Kitchen, seaccharones (vegan kelp puffs) and Samish Bay cheese and yogurt.

In the past year, some Local 5 vendors have paused or changed their production.  Mystery Bay no longer produces yogurt, to focus on their chevre.  Both Wild Crow Pie and White Lotus Farm have taken a break from production, although White Lotus bread should be returning to the shelf in late December. Sadly, both Lamb Farm Kitchen (dried apples) and Redcoat Goats have closed. 

Amongst the 120 new Local WA items, lots of new beers each season, and 60 new Local 5 items, several are new product lines from existing vendors. These include SpringRain jams and fruit syrups as well as The Grainery breads and pastas.  All have been great additions to our product mix. 

Also, we just heard that La Cocina is taking a break from wholesale. During this break they will be looking at their systems and equipment to help them be more efficient and profitable. You can still buy their products directly from the restaurant.

Environment

 Finally, the roundabout work was finished just in time for Thanksgiving. During the process it was a little painful for all our vendors and customers, whether trying to get to the Co-op by truck, car, or any other method. On the plus side, some asphalt was used to patch the rough entrance between us and Penny Saver, a right of way (ROW) which is technically Jefferson St. As with any new traffic pattern, it’s still a bit challenging to determine how to navigate the ins and outs, but we’re hopeful everyone will find their way here regardless.

Outreach

Big News! We now have a question on our pay devices at the cash register to help us build our Farmer Fund and our Change for Change program. For the holidays, Change for Change at the registers will go to the Jefferson County Food Banks. Funds raised from October through December will go to Co-op gift cards for the Food Bank to give to their customers. We hope this will help fill some of the food security gaps, allowing recipients to supplement their holidays with the healthy food of their choice.

We are currently accepting applications for our first annual Farmer Fund grant now, $2500 to be awarded in January 2024.