Organic & All Natural Yogurt from Conscientious and Humane Dairies

My husband, Nate, loves the Stoneyfield low fat organic yogurt, especially the fruit-on-the-bottom peach or the chocolate underground.

My personal favorite flavor of yogurt is coffee, which can be hard to find. So I was super excited when I sat that the co-op was stocking Coffee Yogurt from Brown Cow. The coffee flavor only comes in their “Cream On Top” variety. I might be the only one on earth, but I actually prefer my yogurt to be not-so-rich and creamy. It’s probably sacrilege, but I just scoop off that top layer of cream which leaves me with a leaner yogurt that is perfect for a light breakfast.

Local Farmer in the House: Kate from Cane Creek Farm

As I turned the corner to the dairy section, I ran into this lovely lady picking out some chocolate milk.

Kate, shown here with a sleeping piglet out at Cane Creek Farm.

That’s right, another local farmer at the co-op. For the last year, Kate has lived and worked at Cane Creek Farm, located in Snow Camp about 15 miles from Company Shops Market. Cane Creek, owned by her cousin Eliza,  is best known for their heirloom breed pigs that has been featured on the pages of foodie magazines such as Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Gourmet Magazine and the New York Times. Kate was shopping for more ingredients to make frozen smoothies, something that keeps her cool though the unseasonably hot days we’ve had of late. She recommends trying the Talenti Sorbetto, either on its own or blending it up with fresh fruit for a cool smoothie treat.

P.S. Don’t tell anyone but in addition to being yummy, most of Talenti’s sorbettos are vegetarian (some vegan), dairy free, hfcs free, gluten free and fat free. The great taste you want without the stuff you don’t.

Cleaner Drinking Water Without the Guilt

Before checking out, I filed up a couple of gallon containers I brought with me with filtered water. The machine is located in the endcap between the dairy section and the produce section and offers your choice of reverse osmosis filtered water or deionized water. I think this is a nice compromise between bottled water and tap water. Most of the time I drink tap water. But some days the tap water has a funky smell and a slight taste to it that makes me not want to drink it. That’s when I turn to filtered water. Because you can bring your own container and reuse your gallon water jugs, you reduce the plastic waste that is created when you buy bottled water and then throw out (or even recycle) the containers when our done. You also reduce the embodied energy and cost associated with transportation of bottled water because this water that is filtered right here at the store without transportation in bottles from another location.

Sarah Cook
Communications & Brand Management
Company Shops Market

Guess who stopped by the market today? Steve Tate from Goat Lady Dairy in Climax, NC. They make amazing delicious goat cheeses that you can find here at the market.

That makes three local farmers I saw in the store today. Steve Tate, Charley Sydnor of Braeburn Farm Grass-fed Beef in Snow Camp, and Sam Moore of Moore Farm in Gibsonville. Isn’t it cool to have a market where you can meet the people who grew your food? ~ Sarah C.

1) Hold your container up to the dispensing spout. 2) Flip the switch on to start making fresh nut butter. 3) Flip the switch off when your container is full.

Oh, and if you want to bring your own container like we did, be sure to have a cashier tare (pre-weight) the container before you fill it. That way they can subtract the weight of the container, so you pay only for the weight of the peanut butter (and not the container).

~ Sarah C.

Hello from Company Shops! Thanks for your ownership. When the vision for this co-op began several years ago, a goal was set to have 2000 owners by opening. With your purchase of an ownership, we’ve reached that goal. You’re member # 2000! I’d love to hear from you about your choice to became an owner and why you love Company Shops. Also want to let you know we are set to open by this afternoon. Stop by the store if you get a chance! Thanks, Tricia

We did hear back from Jim & Karry and this is what they had to say:

We have been waiting for this to happen for a long time. So glad we could be the ones to hit your goal. We are spreading the word as best we can.   It’s great to help the downtown area by supporting a new business. Looking forward to a long and healthy future visiting downtown and the Company Shops.

Thank you Jim & Karry. And thank you to all of our owners. We wouldn’t be here without you.

Saturday & Sunday, 4/16-17/2011 Piedmont Farm Tour
CFSA is honored to have 40 outstanding farms this year, with six new farms. New in 2011: Lindale Organic Dairy (fifth generation dairy, supplies Organic Valley), Ever Laughter Farm (young farmers using permaculture design),
Cozi Farm (hens, cows, sheep and hogs near downtown Saxapahaw), Herb Haven
(medicinal plant sanctuary), Castle Rock Gardens (back after a few years’ absence, poultry, goats, rabbits & veggies) and Hickory Mountain Farm (new farm with a CSA for produce, eggs, meat and bread.) Tickets are on sale now — $25 per carload in advance. Day of event — $30 for the tour or $10 per farm. Tickets at CFSA’s website and Weaver Street Market stores. Full details, maps, links at www.carolinafarmstewards.org

Ingredients
A Documentary Film
The local food movement takes root.

“At the focal point of this movement, and of this film, are the farmers and chefs who are creating a truly sustainable food system. Their collaborative work has resulted in great tasting food and an explosion of consumer awareness about the benefits of eating local.”

“American food is in a state of crisis. Health, food costs and our environment are all in jeopardy. A movement to put good food back on the table is emerging. What began 30 years ago with chefs demanding better flavor, has inspired consumers to seek relationships with nearby farmers. This is local food.”

Visit IngredientsFilm.com to learn more about the film.

You can realize substantial savings on infrequently used ingredients by purchasing only the quantity you actually need in the bulk food section of the grocery store. Company Shops Market plans to have a bulk food section much like the one shown in this video.

*This video created by BulkIsGreen.org

The citizens of NC are clamoring for higher quality, fresher, tastier, and healthier food options. They want delicious food grown with a conscience that come from right here in the piedmont, as evidenced by the rise and growth of Co-op groceries in our area. Company Shops Market plans to open this spring (Go us!). Durham Central Market is in the fund-raising stage where over 880 people have already signed up and put their money into the pot to say that they want a co-op grocery in their town. Chatham Marketplace opened in 2006 to serve the Pittsboro and surrounding community. Weaver Street Market has expanded to multiple locations including Hillsboro and a mini store in Southern Village.

I see this as a great sign of a movement towards more health, happiness and wealth in 2011 and beyond!

Sarah Cook

When we talk about buying bulk, we aren’t talking about buying huge packages of food from a warehouse like Sams Club or Costco. We’re talking about buying food and ingredients that are not pre-packaged. When you shop the bulk food section of a natural foods grocery, you can buy whatever quantity you want, large or small.

Here is a real world comparison of the time and expense of shopping pre-packaged food versus the time and expanse of measuring and labeling ingredients in the bulk foods aisle. Company Shops Market plans to have a bulk food section much like the one shown in this video.