From the Board President: How Much Longer Until We Open Our Doors?

It was a year ago this month that the Cedar Falls Food Co-op almost signed an agreement for our future home. Unfortunately, the landlord withdrew the offer, so after almost 4 months of negotiations, we were back in the hunt for a new site.

Last year, as we were getting closer to signing the agreement, we also started making hints at some Co-op events – hints that we would be making an exciting announcement soon. We also started working with one of our committees on planning a site announcement party. Of course, as you know, there was no announcement. No party. No site.Continue reading

Now is the Time! Help Lead the Co-op through its Most Exciting Stage

The Peace Corps (1961): “The toughest job you’ll ever love.”

Nike (1988): “Just do it!”

Cedar Falls Food Co-op (2019): “It’s Up to You.”

Right now there’s an opportunity you should consider: Serving on a board to help launch an organization. If elected to serve on the board, you will be part of the leadership of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op as it journeys through the single most important event in its history: The grand opening of the store!

The deadline to submit applications to serve on the board of the Cedar Falls Food Co-op ends Sept. 14. Complete details can be found here.

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National Co-op Month marks our Member Share Scholarship Season

Have you been wanting to become a member-owner of the Co-op but financial constraints have kept you from purchasing a share? We have an option for you!

In honor of National Co-op Month in October, we will open up our scholarship application season. Due to the generous donations of several Co-op supporters, we will have $100 scholarships to award to several individuals. This means that you’ll only need to pay $100 toward your member-owner share. Stay tuned… we’ll have application details on our website starting in October. The application is a simple form, and the deadline is October 18. Questions? Contact info@cedarfallsfood.coop.

Our Popular Fall Food Fest Event is Coming Up!

Your Co-op is hosting its 6th Annual Fall Food Fest on Tuesday, September 24 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Community Center downtown Cedar Falls!  Come join Rooty, the co-op carrot and get free food samples from fabulous area vendors while you enjoy lively tunes spun by DJ Jumpsuit! Bring your appetite because the local vendor food samples are only the beginning;  Kubo and La Calle, two delicious local food trucks will be selling full meals  just outside. There will be activities for the kids via the Hearst Center of the Arts, a photo booth, and, yes, we will have door prizes. Not a member-owner yet? You can join that night. We’ll also have Co-op t-shirts and stickers for sale. Bring your friends and family. This event is free and open to the public.

Enjoy fresh local food samples and demos featuring many fabulous local producers, vendors, and businesses. The list so far includes:
ARROW ACRES GRASSFED BEEF/HOMAN HONEY
COUNTRY VIEW DAIRY

FARM SHED
KAISER FARM

SOLSTICE FARM
UNI LOCAL FOOD PROGRAM
WHISTLING THISTLE FARM
YELLOW TABLE FARM

Learn what’s going on with the Co-op while enjoying good community and showing your support for our local businesses, producers, vendors and much more. We can’t wait to see you there!Continue reading

Celebrating our Co-op Booth Volunteers….

At many community events, you’ll find our telltale orange tent or at least our table staffed by friendly people often wearing Co-op t-shirts and eager to talk about this amazing community-grown business we are founding in the Cedar Valley. If you haven’t stopped to say hello, please do! We have lots of great information, free refrigerator magnets, and the last of our founding member tote bags we are giving to new member-owners who are the first 1000+ to invest in their community in this important way. Continue reading

Upcoming Events

Please Join Us…

While our board and committee members continue important behind-the-scenes work on site selection, name change, and much more, there are also upcoming public events we are planning and welcome your attendance! The following events are for the whole community, meaning that you don’t have to be a member-owner to join in on the fun. We do hope you will ask questions at these events and consider investing in your community in this important way if you haven’t yet.Continue reading

Apple Time

When we lived in California, this time of year was one of my favorite times.  The apples were ready for harvesting. Our home was Petaluma in Northern California, a region that is wine and fruit country. Napa, Sonoma, Sebastopol and Santa Rosa are towns where good food, great wine and the best apples are grown. Good food comes from fresh ingredients, great wines happen because of the climate and the wine makers, and the apples grow in in excellent ground. You can pick your own apples or stop at an apple stand and get Gravensteins, then go for a picnic in the Red Woods. Gravensteins don’t ship well, but the local folks consumed most of the crop anyway. But you can find great apples from local orchards around here too such as Blueridge Orchard, Timeless Prairie Orchard, and Apples on the Avenue.Continue reading