Honest Weight Coop Scoop: What Gives? November/December 2023

Coop Scoop

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What Gives? ∙ November/December 2023

https://www.ohmycodvegan.com/

Reframing Our Giving and Receiving Relationships

Ethical Capitalism?

Creating Simple Gifts from Bulk Aisle Ingredients

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June/July 2021 What • November/December 2023 Features Features

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Re-examining Gift Giving Traditions

By Natalie Criscione

Healing From Heartburn

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By Rebecca Angel

By Ann Lapinski

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Reframing JoyGiving during Our and Receiving COVID Relationships

Can Regenerative Agriculture Heal Our Food System?

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Meet

By RuthStephanie, Ann Smalley Caleb, and their new baby Nora!

By Rebecca Angel

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By Ruth Ann Smalley

Happenings at the Co-op

Happenings at the Co-op

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Tey Art Inc. Alpaca Socks

Incredible Edible Gardens

By Pat Ellis What’s Fresh

Fresh News!

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All Benefit

By Deanna Beyer

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from Local Relationships

What is

By Lucia Hulsether a Co-op Co-op 101

Co-op 101

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CO-OP Comic

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What’sProducer Profile

By Anastasia Rodgers Fresh By Pat Shar Honest to Goodness

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Free Food Deanna Beyer FridgeByAlbany

Be the Change

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By Natalie Criscione

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The Food Pantries for the CapitalFavorite District Melanie’s

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Be the Change

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Pasta e Fagioli Soup

Recipe Corner

By Melanie Pores

Skin Deep Naturals

By Melanie Pores

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Double Up Food Bucks!

Producer Profile

News!

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By Deanna Beyer By The Pat Coop Sahr Scoop is for informational purposes only, and not intended as medical or health advice. Always consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. The views of our guest writers do not necessarily reflect those of Honest Weight, and we do not take responsibility for them.

Coop Scoop

HWFC Zen Cookies

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

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Honest Editors

in love with knowing our creations would be traveling with their families near and far. The conversations they witnessed, the different traditions they had a seat at the table for.

Making each pie last year came with a bit of melancholy, as it was my last official season in HWFC bakery. I have since moved over to marketing as Education Coordinator, which is how we find each other here.

Natalie Criscione remembers shopping at the Quail St. Honest Weight location.

She wears many hats: educator, writer, artist, musician, property manager, advocate, volunteer. She loves being part of the Coop Scoop team!

Ruth Ann Smalley PhD, is our Content Editor. An educator and writer, with a 4-digit Co-op member number from the early 90s, Ruth Ann offers wellness, writing, and creativity coaching through her practice at www.vibrant-energies.com or www.ruthannsmalley.com.

Colie Collen is a flower farmer and designer raising a funny little kid in Troy. You can find her work at www.flower-scout.com

Anastasia Rodgers is the new Education and Engagement Specialist at HWFC. They love learning, creating and having as much fun as possible along the way! They can be reached at: education@honestweight.coop

Pat Ellis has been a shopper at HWFC for years and became a member a year ago.

She enjoys participating in the creative energy of the Scoop’s editorial team and is excited about contributing more in the future.

Lucia Hulsether is a teacher and writer currently based in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her first book, Capitalist Humanitarianism, is available from Duke University Press. www.dukeupress.edu/capitalist-humanitarianism

Mathew Bradley is our Layout Editor. He has been the Lead Designer at Honest Weight since the new store. Outside the co-op, he enjoys writing music with his band, tending to his garden, and training his English Cocker Spaniel, Cricket, for field work.

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Letter from an Editor

By Anastasia Rodgers

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is the season, again. Since I started at Honest Weight in 2017, Thanksgiving has been a blur of pies. Before my time in the bakery I never really understood the hype of pie. If you can believe it, several hundred pies later, I’ve warmed up to them. I reveled in disbelief of their never-ending demand.

Rolling out fresh pie crusts by the dozens, stirring a 60 pound batch of apple pie filling, waking up at 3am to beat the kitchen staff in for oven space became the thrill of the season. We all worked together through the chaos and I fell

Perhaps that’s why holidays feel so pressing.

They mark the ending of a year, and so many things can change before a new beginning commences. The faces around our table this year may not be here next year, bringing a feel of urgency akin to cramming for a big test. Making sure to get in some quality time with family and friends, before everyone retreats into winter hibernation mode.

For years I have been working on learning how to express this love and gratitude beyond the context of gift giving. For years, the holidays haunted me with pressure to find the perfect gift for each person. The pressure to stretch my wallet and patience to their limits, had me dreading the festivities. As I reevaluated and changed my spending habits around the holidays, I found my loved ones were not offended or hurt when I didn’t show up with as many gifts as usual�they were grateful I showed up.

Throughout this edition we go over the many different ways gift giving can look and change, how spending habits impact our community, and how to make the season your own! We hope the remainder of 2023 is kind to you, and look forward to 2024 with you as we introduce the Coop Scoop’s newly imagined quarterly edition!

wool. As well as being water resistant, it also wicks moisture away from your skin. There is no lanolin in alpaca, so the fiber is less allergenic.

Tey Art Inc. Alpaca Socks

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There are a variety of colorful and artistic sock designs for you to choose from as a great gift or stocking stuffer!

By Pat Ellis

f gift giving is part of the “Holiday Tradition” that you enjoy, we have a suggestion for you. Take a look at HWFC’s collections of Tey Art Inc.’s alpaca and alpaca blend socks.

Tey Art Inc. has become recognized for its vibrant, textural collections of finely crafted women’s clothing and accessories made from sustainable fibers such as alpaca, wool, and cotton.

They are committed to working with factories and co-ops that subscribe to Fair Trade Labor standards.

Alpaca is more than twice as warm and 3 times stronger than sheep’s

WHAT GIVES?

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By Deanna Beyer

What is a Co-op?

By Lucia Hulsether

If you’re new toWe Honest Weight, How AllyouBenefit might be wondering what makes us different from from any other grocery Local store. There are lots of things, but Relationships probably the biggest is that we’re a community-owned co-op!

L

ook around most grocery stores—mainstream or otherwise—and you’ll probably notice little signs around a select few products: Local! Locally made!

Local farm! It seems like “local” is all the rage, and for good reason. As many of us try to align our consumer habits with our political values, buying from local vendors can be a way to keep money circulating within regional economies, deepening partnerships within the community, and reducing the environmental impacts of shipping and production.

Honest Weight has spent the last forty-two years making local relationships a pillar of our mission. Last year, we maintained relationships with more than 285 local farms and 319 local producers. Local means a radius of 250-miles or fewer and hyperlocal means a radius of 100-miles or fewer.

Just imagine the reduced overall carbon footprint if more of us filled our carts with seasonal products from regional vendors, rather than defaulting to items that traveled thousands of miles by aircraft and semi-truck to reach the store.

And who needs long-haul shipping when there are so many great options at your neighborhood grocery store? At the Co-op, more than 4,2 00 p r od u cts are classified as local or hyperlocal.

F r om over 50 varieties of apples provided by Salad, Hot Bar, regional orchards and Cafe are each autumn, to the 60 bakeries, Back, with r oa ster i es, a n d New Option! restaurantsawho supply ingredients to the in-house After what has seemed like forever, the Honest k i t c h e n , t oWeight t h e Kitchen is excited to have re-opened both the dozens of creamerSSalad Bar and& HHot Bar, including daily soup ies whose products offerings. AndAlso in other big news: they have also stock the ice cream launched the brand-new Build-Your-Own Burger & and cheese aisles, Fries Bar, available from from 11am to -7pm dailyeach the representation of local suppliers day.is Take it from those of us who’ve been lucky u n m a t c h eenough d — to sample them, (including meat, vegetarian, and growing. and vegan options), this is a MUST TRY for all! After grabbing your food, you are welcome to enjoy your Oh, and did we meal in our newly reopenedre-opened Café mention that owners save an extra 5% (in addition tospace, the or out on beautiful, sunny patioYou’ll withknow lots ofthem comfortregular discount) on our certain local products? able seating. by the green “LOCAL” tags nearby.

When it comes to shopping with economic and environmental sustainability, there’s no need to goGlass the extra mile. The Recycling Co-op has you covered.

Piolt Project

Z e r o Wa s t e C a p i t a l District has launched an ambitious Glass Recycling Pilot Project here at the Co-op, to ensure that the glass is truly being recycled rather than heading to the landfill. To make it successful, we need your help! Instead of throwing clear glass in your single stream bin at home, bring it to the Co-op.

Honest to Goodness

By Anastasia Rodgers

Just follow these simple steps: • Locate the collection bins near our bike lockers • Only place clear, clean glass in the bins • Make sure to remove both the lids and little plastic rings (labels are ok)

Seasonal Local Produce

Coop Scoop

What could be fresher than all of your favorite produce arriving daily from local farms? (could we include a couple of relevant farm names here?It’s growing season and we’ve got farm-fresh fruits and veggies from all over the area. So, whether you’re looking for nNon-GMO sweet corn, crisp cucumbers, or super juicy, tiny strawberries, we’ve got you covered! Be sure to check out all the beautiful new arrivals next time you’re here.

ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY WRIGHT-SEDAM AND ANASTASIA RODGERS

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Re-examining Gift Giving Corner Traditions

By Natalie Criscione

become until many years ago (on one of my many “why” days) 2 cups fresh when I proposed yet another gift-giving guidegreens for my husband and four children. (e.g, kale, spinach, or a mixture The newest proposal neitheroffitgreens) the holiday narrative that I had conscientiously constructed1over years, nor didwater it adhere 1/2 the cups coconut or to the cultural “norm” so excessively promoted by industry.

coconut milk

Although it offered (or, so I hoped) approach to gift-giving 1 cupan almond milk that represented a more clearly-defined social consciousness, I cup pitted, chopped dates, soon discovered an additional 1bonus: conversations.

Many of them. Whether at the dinner table, in theovernight car, or just in passing, soaked that “why” question blossomed into examinations of economic, 1 cup fresh frozen cooling political, environmental and social issues, andor more.

Melanie’s Favorite I Date-Sweetened Fruit Smoothie have discovered, and perhaps you have too, that some people are peculiar about gift-giving. I know this because I am one of them.

We bring our own ideas and traditions to any given celebration. We assume that everyone understands our approach because, well, face it, that’s our approach. We tend not to question ourselves. We just do what we do. We don’t ask “why”.

By Melanie Pores

Until. The day we do ask.

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I did not realize how much certain things meant to my own family, or even how steeped in tradition we had

fruithave passed, and Well, it is now November of summer 2023, decades (e.g, blueberries, blackberries, the evolving guide, though not completely embraced by its intended audience, continues tochunks lend itself to ongoing discourse of mango) about big issues. And, there have been noticeable gift-giving 1 Tbsp ground flaxseed refinements along the way as well.

1-2recently scoops updated proteintopowder Here is the current draft, most add the “re-home” category where, instead of giving something, an (pea protein powder for vegans) unused or unwanted item (specifically, something large and 1/4 tsp ground cardamom cumbersome) is actually removed from the home.

And, the answer is yes, if you ask, I do have something in mind that may 1 tsp cinnamon require the muscles of four young adults.

n Ayurveda, the 5000year- old “science of life,”, the emerging heat and humidity of the early summer can be challenging, especially to individuals with a “Pitta” constitution like myself, who tend to overheat and dehydrate easily.

As the temperature and humidity rise in the surrounding environment, the body is also experiencesing a surge in temperature and beginsning to Thrift: discover and give awesome second hand items accumulate moisture internally. People of all constitutionsgive in something you already have Re-Gift/Sift: this season need to be mindful Craft/Art: support a craftsperson/artist or make something yourself of fluid intake and electrolyte balance.

Experience: give show tickets, a gym membership, dinner out, etc.

To this end, I thought you Write it:here words/music are so meaningful (story, song, poem, letter, etc.) might enjoy is a healthy blended fruit recipe, thatthink you soap, candles, soup mix, chocolate, etc.

Consumable: can either enjoy as a yummy Plant: houseplant is nice and so is a tree drink or easily pour it intoa an ice pop tray and place in your Books: banned or not freezer to help keep you hydrated. It’s a healthy, andDonate: delicious money/time to a non-profit way to attend to your body's Adopt a Family: provide food/gifts thirst, as soon as it arises, and to restore your body’suse electroWrappings: only recycled, reused, or up-cycled materials lyte balance. find a new I hope Re-home: you will enjoy my home for an unwanted/unused item simple recipe for a date sweetened fruit smoothie.

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Natalie's Holiday Gift Guide

ILLUSTRATION BY JEFFREY WRIGHT-SEDAM

1 tsp vanilla extract 1 -2 Tbsp healthy fat (e.g, coconut butter, coconut oil, avocado or almond butter or other nut or seed butter)

1. Pour coconut water/ or coconut milk, and unsweetened almond milk, filling a high-speed blender to the 2 1/2 cup mark for 2 quarts of smoothie. Add the greens.

2. Start blending on low and, as greens start to break down, increase to medium speed until completely broken down and smooth, approximately 45-60 seconds.

3. Add in soaked dates and cooling summer fruit.

4. Add ground flaxseed, protein powder, and cardamom, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

5. Add 1 to 2 Tbsp healthy fat.

Blend until smooth.

6. Serve immediately or pour in an ice pop tray and freeze.

Enjoy!

Fresh News!

Double Up Food Bucks is a nationwide fruit and vegetable incentive program, servicing millions of SNAP users, active in 20+ states at over 800 farmers markets, CSAs, farm stands, mobile markets, and grocery stores.

The program gives shoppers $1 for every $1 spent with SNAP, so you can purchase even more produce.

A match of up to $20 a day could mean $40 for healthy foods. Why is this important? Because too many people don’t have access, even with

By Ann Lapinski government aid, to the amount of healthy food needed to support famihis is the time of year where we share our love lies. Sign up is free and the dollars with treasures from our kitchen. The Co-op has a never expire. wealth of ingredients that we can easily use for In New York State, Double Up has

By Deanna Beyer gifts to friends, family, neighbors and more. My suggescontributed to 1.1 million pounds of tions are for easy, medium, and one more time-conhealthy food sales to over 24,000 suming foodFree gifts.

Here weestimates go: tion of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition customers, at more than 130 sites Hunger America Assistance Program) benefits that spanning 23 counties. that this past year has seen a 67% Toastis up a batch we’ve seen in a single year. Which Visit of ourdukkah.

Service Desk to sign up increase foodinsecure York- blends, Bottlein up some of our New mixes,spice or granolas.

Dukkah awesome, versatile Egyptian nut, bulk falafel mix into awhy nice we’re canning add to participate sojar, excited in is an and go to honestweight.coop for seed, moreand ers. For Andexample, here atscoop Honest Weight we’re spice mix.

Sprinkle it on plain hummus, add to oil for the instructions and gift that away.

If you want to add someDouble Up Food Bucks! information on the program. on track to have the highest redemp-

Creating Simple Gifts from Bulk Aisle Ingredients

Double Up T Food Bucks!

4.

1.

thing special, make some yogurt tahini sauce:

Combine 1 cup greek or greek style yogurt of choice, 3 Tbsp Tahini, and 1 Tbsp Lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Or, use the Cuban Rice and Beans Mix, add instructions, plus a jar of salsa. There are plenty of other mixes to choose from, so you can be creative!

2. Make your own tea bags.

It’s so much fun to make your own tea bags from Honest Weight’s high quality selection of bulk teas. Purchase some tea sacks and fill them with teas of your choice. One teaspoon of tea is good for 8 ounces of tea. Feel free to get creative by mixing 2 teas that you like.

3. Make your own chai spice mix. Combine the following: 4 Tbsp ground cinnamon 3 Tbsp ground ginger 3 tsp ground cardamom, 3/4 tsp ground cloves, 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

This mix can be added to loose black tea using 1/2 tsp per 1 tsp tea. You can also make it into a chai drink: place 1 1/2 tsp chai mix in a cup, along with 2 tsp hot water. Add 1 cup heated almond milk or other milk of choice. Mix with a whisk and drink.

For ease of giving, dress your chai spice mix up in some small jars from the Coop.

Coop Scoop

Coop Scoop

bread dipping, or sprinkle some on a salad. The flavors are wonderful. Here’s how to make it:

DUKKAH ½ cup walnuts or hazelnuts

1 Tbsp whole cumin seeds

⅓ cup almonds

⅛ tsp ground allspice

3 Tbsp sesame seeds

½ tsp sea salt

1 Tbsp whole coriander seeds

½ tsp black or white pepper

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, toast the walnuts and almonds until fragrant. This will take several minutes. Watch the nuts carefully. (An alternative is to toast the nuts separately in the oven at 350 degrees for about 6 minutes.)

2. Add coriander and cumin seeds to the skillet and then sesame seeds and toast until sesame seeds start turning brown. Let everything cool then transfer to a food processor.

Add the allspice, salt and pepper to the mix. Run the food processor until nuts are broken up into small pieces.

3. Don’t over process or you’ll get a nut and seed butter! Place in small jars for gifts. You can double this recipe, which works best if you use the oven for the nuts.ose who might like a little extra heat, toss in a little smoked paprika or red chili flakes.

Ann Lapinski is retired from her first career as an attorney for the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation. She loves the new adventures that retirement brings to her. She has been a member of HWFC since the early 1980s.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATHEW BRADLEY Heal

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Ethical Capitalism?

By Ruth Ann Smalley & Lucia Hulsether

We s p o k e t o o n e m e m b e r - o w n e r w h o s e n e w book, Capitalist Humanitarianism, unpacks t h e p r o m i s e o f t h e “ t r i p l e b o t t o m l i n e .”

Join the conversation!

N

ovember kicks off an onslaught around “the holiday season.”

Rushing to ring out the year by wringing out all possible profit, commercial outlets ply us with narratives of cozy celebrations, generosity, gratitude, and luxury fantasy fulfillment. Media of all kinds falls into line, as the marketing of specialized decor, gifts, food, and lifestyle accessories escalates.

Even those who don’t—or can’t—participate must navigate the holiday maelstrom. They may experience psychological pressure to conform through social or workplace norms. Many bear the extra stress in their labor on busy retail floors.

In the northern hemisphere, it makes sense that the harvest, followed by the descent into a colder, darker season, has historically evoked desires to foster social harmony and reinforce support networks. Being thankful, sharing food, giving gifts? Absolutely nothing wrong with any of that. Especially if doing so helps strengthen relationships of reciprocity, mutuality. These relate to the Latin roots of the word festive: feast, fellowship, generosity.

But the marketplace relies on capturing these more ancient drives, by pushing material purchases wrapped up as offerings to “tradition.”

It is easy to dismiss this as simply “how capitalism works.” But the social and ecological repercussions of the push for infinite growth on a finite planet are becoming ever harder to ignore. Can we square these conflicting forces?

If we do choose to participate in these seasonal observations, there’s the perennial favorite of the homemade gift (or even a regifted item) such as baked goods, DIY lip balm, or personalized coupon books (where the giver offers help or companionship). Another way to dodge the clutch of corporations is a gift certificate from a local indie artist/producer. The creative possibilities are limited only by the giver’s time, capacity, and pocketbook, which, it must be acknowledged, may be truly constrained.

If money is less of an object, the possibility for socially conscious consumerism has also been increasingly held out to us: we can buy fair trade products; choose items from companies that share a percent of their profit with good causes; or even make a donation to a philanthropic organization in the name of the recipient.

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WHAT GIVES?

Coop Scoop

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCIA HULSETHER

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ore is So much m hen we possible wgine—and a learn to im aterially m to n e th d rlds beyon create—wo scripts for the narrowange that social ch provides. capitalism

”

The acts of co-optation at work in the case studies you present are astonishing.

It felt like the “giant squid” of capitalism was repeatedly metabolizing notions of fairness and social justice critiques into a new slick narrative of enlightened business.

Specials. We also accept SNAP benefits. Even efforts that might have started out with good intentions seem to have of gotten How is Honest Weight part the sucked in. Can you describe whatlocal you mean local food system? If buying is by “capitalist humanitarianism”? important to you, we’re one of the best

places around to shop. Co-ops I use form “capitalist humanitarianism” in two strong relationships with local, ways. In one sense, it’s a catchall for the small-scale producers, whichnumerous means you projects that have tried to make can find products that aren’t typically capitalism serve a social purpose as well as available at traditional supermarkets. a financialAtone. Think fair trade, microfiHonest Weight, we work with oversocially 285 responsible investing, “buy nance, local farms and 319 local producers; that one” products, social impact one to give list is always growing. And bonds, becauseB-corporations…even we co-ops like get daily deliveries, it means fresher, Honest Weight. But it’s also the hope that lower-impact food that hasn’t travelled underlies these various projects: the hope across the country for days. that capitalism, for all these problems, can be a tool for social justice.

Shopping for special dietary Can you say more about what you mean needs? We get it. It’s easy to find tasty by the “hope” that “capitalism can be a tool food alternatives in every department at for social justice”? the co-op. Our friendly staff can also the past decades, more of us have make suggestions if you’reOver feeling howofcapitalism-as-usual—with its overwhelmed by the choices,seen as many them are on special diets, too!pursuit of ever-cheaper labor, expropriation of the earth’s resources, and privatizaof basic rights to healthcare, housing, How does Honest tionWeight and education—is at the root of multiple support the local community? crises, time from the immiseration the global Most co-ops devote significant poor to the climate emergency. Capitalist I don’t want to be the Grinch here, but . . . us a little aboutand how you chose this resources to educational humanitarian What is a Some community-owned you knew the “but” was coming. of particular topic? programming, community develop- projects acknowledge these problems, but they also imagine that, with co-op? a grocery store owned by its these latter options are alsoIt’s spinning a tale ment, outreach We the tools of capitalism can be I arrived at this topic as aand college student initiatives. some tweaks, members, usually the people who shop that doesn’t quite match up with capitaldonate 5% of our net profits to local organizer in economic and racial justice marshaled to heal and empower the here.

These areCapitalist the people who cooperaism’s realities. In her recent book, campaigns Atlanta. Iorganizations, noticed not-for-profit run free they have systematically communities manage and control the business.in and around Humanitarianism,tively Skidmore College profeshow the public relations offices of big harmed. and low-cost educational programs The membership makes all kinds of sor Lucia Hulsether takes the reader ones with that are open to long all, and areThat always what corporations—including foods and behind the scenes.decisions, Unpackingincluding the methods promise may be especially seducrecords of labor, environmental, andcollaborate with products are on the shelf, and what looking for ways to of numerous well-known organizations tive to people like you and me—relatively human rights abuse—were advertising and their a n d b r a n d s —fstandards r o m f a i r those t r a d eproducts , to partners in the community.

We offer well-off folks who tend to benefit (at least themselves using the social justice have to meet (think growing buy-one-give-oneproducers schemes, to microlendmany for mem-from the current system, and marginally) language that I had learnedopportunities in movement practices, ingredients, etc.). At ing services—the book clean presents a yet are uncomfortable with its human and ber-owners to help with this commuspaces. A major soda company was poisonHonest Weight, we’ve nuanced picture of a complex, highlygot about 14,000 environmental costs. nity engagement. ing rivers in India but branding itself as a members. problematic landscape. champion of multicultural inclusion. A Capitalist humanitarianism soothes that That makes it a difficult read. I’ll admit college with of women’s What otherempowco-ops are in the instead of experiencing my discomfort: Who can shop here? Everyone is a mission to gasping, sighing, and muttering erment was paying poverty wages to the economic area?

You can find co-ops every-participation in terms of welcome: anyone can shop at the co-op. If expletives all the way through. But it also Black women cleaned dorms.toI Honest complicity with oppressive structures, I am In the addition Weight, you decide to become a member, you’ll whowhere! feels absolutely necessary to face up to wanted to know: there where did rhetoric to see each purchase or purchase a “share” of the co-op, become are this several othersnow youencouraged can what Hulsether has uncovered through come from? investment as an opportunity to be in eligible for lots of additional discounts on check out: Niskayuna Consumers careful research and painstaking fieldwork. solidarity with poor workers around the products, and have voting rights on Later, in graduate school, my questions Co-op, Chatham Real Food Market So, in a season when you may be asking world. decisions that affect the store.

Honest evolved.

They became not just about Co-op, Mohawk Harvest Cooperative yourself how to give while still giving a Weight member-owners canwhat choose to corporations were and saying about FoodWhat are some examples of the ways Market, Cambridge Co-op. damn, interviewing Lucia—who is also a invest their time at the store, serve on but how people—especially themselves, it operates? member of our Scoop editorial one of our committees, or work with people on athe Left committed to social team—seems timely.

There are so many! A lot of my research every co-opof has its own program, in order to receive a bigger and While democracy the redistribution focused on distinctive vibe, we are all founded onmicrofinance, or the practice of discount combination (up to 24%) onoftheir groceries.

Because of a powerful wealth—began to get on board with the dispensing small working capital loans to the same basic principles: research and analysis, along with idea that they (we!) could make more of people who would not otherwise be eligible What isessay, on offer?

We believe elements of the personal Capitalist voluntary and open aneveryone impact by · working within free membership for financial services. A lot of microfinance our community should access to Humanitarianismindoesn’t read like a have market systems. democratic member control affordable, conventional scholarly book. high-quality, Can you tell natural foods · member economic participation and products for healthy living. So we · autonomy and independence offer things like Co+op Basics (a line of 9 PHOTOGRAPHY LUCIA HULSETHER ·BY education, training, and informaover 450 high-quality foods and house-

tion

These microbanks routinely charged upwards of 35% interest on loans that can be as low as $25 or $50. The rationale for this rate was (and continues to be) that poor people posed a high credit risk and needed a lot of overhead support–and, besides, the MFI rate was very low compared to what the local loan sharks would charge them. It’s all relative, right?

Besides profiting from people already at an economic edge, many microlending programs subject their indebted borrowers to extreme measures of surveillance and control. I’ve heard of banks calculating credit scores based on how “happy” indebted clients seem when they are talking to their loan officers. I’ve seen banks issue “group loans” in which neighbors promise to mutually guarantee a debt, and to confiscate the valuables of anyone who defaults.

Many banks get involved in the reproductive decisions of their clients, to the point of requiring them to take contraceptives or to pledge not to have children.

I would not accept such treatment for myself or my friends. Why would I accept it for anyone?

What’s an example from your research that might speak most directly to an audience such as Coop Scoop readers, in terms of our values as members of a food co-operative?

During my second summer in Guatemala, I spent some time with the senior-most official of a microfinance bank engaged in practices like the ones I just described. I asked her about how she came into her job, and I think about her answer every time I step into Honest Weight.

She told me that she had majored in Russian Studies in college and graduated just before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Her language skills made her a shoe-in at the Department of State. Her first job involved traveling to former USSR countries and, in her words, “converting them from communism to capitalism.” I asked her how she went about this concretely. She did not miss a beat: “We set up co-ops.”

At the time, I was stunned. I had always understood cooperatives as a step away from traditional free market capitalist

Coop Scoop

structures of ownership, exchange, and profit. I had never thought about how, under different circumstances, co-ops could also be a step toward greater privatization and individualism.

To be clear: I am still committed to my local co-op, but in the years since that interaction I’ve become more aware of how these projects can swing in both conservative and progressive directions. I now see cooperatives as more ambivalent spaces with as much potential to resist traditional capitalism as to mimic or even accelerate it.

Every time I step into Honest Weight, I try to ask myself: if this is not a panacea but a transitional place on the way to something else, where am I headed?

”

institutions (MFIs) have been celebrated as a mode of development that offers people in the Global South—often women, typically very poor—a sustainable pathway to economic empowerment and independence. But, as I witnessed firsthand while shadowing the staff of American MFIs operating in Guatemala, this is not the full story.

tion: no more purchases from the Bezos monster). But above all, I find hope when I join with others in the fight for social democracy and shared resources, from food to healthcare to housing to education to public space and beyond. There are so many ways to plug in. I could offer my own list of inspiring projects—Troy DSA, the Sanctuary for Independent Media, Environmental Advocates NY, the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement, Troy 4 Black Lives, labor union organizing campaigns, public libraries—but it would be incomplete. To me the best principle is to start where you are, to partner with others, and to keep showing up. What local needs are unmet? Who is showing up to advocate at

Every time I step into Honest W I try to ask myseight, elf: if this is not a pan cea but a transi aal place on the tionto something elway se, where am I hea ded?

”

It’s hard not to come out of these accounts without feeling angry and frustrated. You must have experienced people who react by trying to “shoot the messenger.” How do you cope with the expectation that some readers will simply want to be told “what to buy instead”?

I know that my book can be tough. I wanted to resist the impulse to make it all okay, or to just offer a better thing to buy at the end. I feel like mainstream consumer culture has taught so many of us that when we feel bad about something, we can calm those feelings by shopping or spending money. This “buying as solution” instinct even extends to feeling bad, or angry, or just plain grieved, about capitalism. It is so deep.

I would invite us to consider that the answer isn’t in buying things. It may well be in not buying things (my current resolu-

zoning, board of education, and budget meetings—and how might you connect with their work? Who needs partnership?

This is all harder, but I find there is a deeper reward than what I can find in a consumer transaction.

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about the issues you raise in the book?

In case it wasn’t clear…buying fair trade coffee is better than buying plantation coffee. But I would encourage us to look at this less as an act of triumph and more as a form of necessary harm reduction. It isn’t nothing, but it cannot be the ending point of my politics. So much more is possible when we learn to imagine—and then to materially create—worlds beyond the narrow scripts for social change that capitalism provides.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LUCIA HULSETHER

10

Free Food Fridge Albany

November

By Natalie Criscione

With the onset of the COVID 19 Pandemic, and despite its ongoing risk, benefits are being removed and the demand for basic needs like food and nutrition is rising. Since the early days of the pandemic, Anderson has sought answers. They use their support skills to advocate for those who find themselves in a phase of food insecurity and encourage others to reach out within their own communities to better understand a neighbors’ needs. “Do not be afraid,” says Anderson, “to step into an unknown territory to help someone, to create solidarity.”

Producer

They felt the time was right to not only introduce the Free Food Fridge (FFF) to Albany but to “reimagine what abundance looks like for an individual and how we can turn that abundance into food for someone.”

For Anderson, the concept of the FFF represents “community coming together, working together, truly for each other” while also seeking to address food insecurity.

Their timely efforts were noticed within Albany communities, but also on a larger scale when they appeared on the cover of the March ‘21 Time Magazine!

T

hroughout the Capital Region, on a sidewalk, in a parking lot, or next to a building, you may come across a colorfully painted refrigerator. And if you open that fridge, you will likely find fresh produce, healthy meals, and food provided for anyone who needs it—whatever they want, anytime. It is one of a network of thirteen fridges sponsored by Free Food Fridge Albany, the result of a passionate individual’s vision and interest in Food Justice.

Jammella Anderson (they/them) knows that people are hungry. They know what it is like to be a child who opens a fridge or cabinet only to find it empty; and they recall the confusion that punctuates such moments. Anderson refers to the “trauma of the scarcity mindset” that so many people experience, one beset with barriers on all sides (housing, education, nutrition, societal).

Like many young children, they were not able to fully process the associated stigma and “what that does to you psychologically” until they were older and able to think about what they had most needed.

Years of reflection and work as a community advocate, doula, and yoga teacher led Anderson to ask difficult questions about addressing community needs. They were guided by questions such as “How can we help each other and stand with each other?” and “How can we show public officials that if we are getting the support we need, we are going to support each other?”

13 11

Despite the publicity, Anderson’s team is small and needs are vast. Besides many dedicated volunteers, and one employee, there is also Marigold, the 2015 Ford “veggie wagon” that is “just large enough to fit a fridge” and held together by duct tape and love. Although, these days, “we are pushing Marigold to the limit, we are outgrowing her,” Anderson says wistfully.

Profile

By Pat Sahr

W

e typically devote this space to introducing you to one of the many producers whose creations grace our shelves. For this edition, we’re pointing our focus back toward Honest Weight itself, to celebrate one of the many long time favorites served up by our own deli and bakery. While the original Quail St. storefront sold house-made sandwiches, the food service aspect of Honest Weight didn’t really come into being until about three years into occupancy at the Central Ave location. Further expansion into that building afforded space for a much-anticipated kitchen, offering baked goods, deli, and takeout options. The move to our present location expanded our offerings even further.

Many of us probably take for granted that we’ll be able to grab a house-made curried chicken salad, a Bomb-Diggety Dill dip, or an oatmeal breakfast bar. But a lot of history and ongoing effort is wrapped up in our in-house creations. Here, we pay homage to the hugely popular Zen cookie!

AUGUST

HWFC

Zen Cookies When asked what one can do to help, Anderson is quick to reply that stocking and maintaining the fridges is daily the most immediate need, and one that anyone can help with. Yes, volunteers are needed, and it is easy to become one! Just visit the website or join their patreon to contribute or volunteer: • https://freefoodfridgealbany.com/stock-a-fridge • https://patreon.com/freefoodfridgealbany And while you’re doing that, say “yes” to the November-question at the Co-op, “Would you like to round up to the nearest dollar?”

Consider it a starting point, a gateway to unknown territory that just might bring us all closer to supporting and understanding each other.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY FOOD DEB PERELMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

BY FREE FRIDGE ALBANY

Zen Cookies are a favorite offering in the bakery department at the Co-op. They have been around since the early days of the old store; however, the name of the creator has been lost to the years. Why was the word “zen” attached to this recipe? Perhaps because the original baker made it with focused attention and love and, of course, high quality ingredients. Baked with local maple syrup, organic canola oil, whole wheat pastry flour, oats, sea salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, raisins, chocolate chips, dried coconut and walnuts, Zen Cookies have been a beloved staple in the bakery for more than 20 years. They are produced in batches of 400, and the store sells about 2,000 a month. You might say they are a tradition. Treat yourself to a dozen and enjoy!

Pat Sahr has been a member of the Co-op since 2005. She contributes to the Coop Scoop as the writer of the Producer Profiles. Sahr says, "It’s a pleasure being part of the Honest Weight family, and I've especially enjoyed communicating with the various producers whose products are sold at the Co-op!"

Reframing Our Giving and Receiving Relationships

By Ruth Ann Smalley

F

or many, this season comes with the flip side of gratitude: the stress of feeling unable to find or afford a suitable gift. Maybe we can seek other options–both as to the substance and the source of a potential gift? Here are some possibilities to consider that go beyond just this season. We’d also love to hear about what alternatives you’ve come up with.

Co-Worker Connections: So Much Better than Secret Santa When I was juggling the changing material needs of two sets of aging parents, I was relieved to find help from within the Co-op. A co-worker was thrilled to acquire my parents’ no-longer-needed utility vehicle (just the model he’d always wanted!). I needed a twin bed for an infirm, widowed in-law who was moving their bedroom downstairs: another co-worker was looking to give one away. When I mentioned this to a third co-worker, she declared, “that’s a co-op, working like a co-op!”

Absolutely right.

It is ok, even beneficial, to let others know what you have or are looking for. Honest Weight’s bulletin board can be a source for similar exchanges, and clothing swaps held in our community room have been fun and helpful to many.

Little Free Libraries Ours at Honest Weight is probably bigger than most, but these little literary nodes are all super for keeping the gift moving. They’ve been around long enough that people may take them for granted. Here’s a nudge to think again, though. You can score good stuff there. They’ve been a gift to me, as a giving outlet. Knowing that others will freely enjoy them, it's easier part with books I care about but don’t use anymore (or those beloved children’s books now that my kids are grown). I know an author who periodically “seeds” little libraries around town with new copies of their picture book. Many free books are still in mint condition—let’s make it more acceptable to give “pre-owned” gifts!

Buy Nothing Groups I’ve been a member of an Albany FB group for about a year, and let me tell you, it’s fascinating. It’s a bit reminiscent of reading the customer comments/requests bulletin board in Honest Weight, but with more rules. The mission: “Give, receive, lend, share, and show gratitude in hyper-local gift economies, where the true wealth is the connections between real neighbors.”

Little Free Library Right Outside of

Honest Weight!

11 Coop Scoop

You can make requests or offers. Items I’ve posted have been snapped up immediately. With offers of everything from clothing and furniture to “gifts of knowledge,” it's a cornucopia of possibility. People exchange information about where to find reliable services and medical providers, or about a site in the neighborhood where goodies have just been spotted on a curb. There are almost always (multiple) expressions of interest for even the quirkiest items. My favorite: the offer of the remaining portion of a takeout entree that was “just too spicy” for the person posting!!

The responses are heartwarming and surprising. People often ask for extremely specific things—the loan of gold high heels, size 7, for the prom; a big bag of tea lights; some cat litter; or particular food items—and more often than not, someone has it to give. And is even willing to drop it off! Watching these exchanges can be eye-opening, both about the level of need in the community, and the generosity in response. If you aren’t already in a group for your neighborhood, I’d highly recommend it.

If you’ve gotten creative about re-imagining giving, let us know! We’d love to hear about it, and maybe even feature your ideas in our blog.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY LIZA MOLLOY INFOGRAPHICS

BY DR. MADELINE

12

Corner

Simple and Delicious:

Repurposing Leftover Pasta with Your Garden Veggies and Herbs

By Melanie Pores Servings: 4

S

oups and stews are wonderful creative ways to repurpose leftovers and thereby reduce food waste. As the Summer wanes and Autumn has arrived, now is a great time to prepare a tasty, healthy, Pasta e Fagioli soup using your leftover garden bounty. My recipe below is somewhat informal; I’m not specifying exact quantities of vegetables and leftover food items, so you have plenty of flexibility as you combine leftovers from your fridge and your garden.

Melanie Pores is a retired bilingual educator, an HWFC member since 1978, and the facilitator of HWFC’s Spanish Conversation Group since 2015, currently on Zoom, Fridays 10am to noon.

Melanie’s Pasta e Fagioli Soup 1. Prepare a tomato soup base by popping a bunch of whole tomatoes in your blender and whizzing them until smooth.

2. Add a tablespoon or two of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil to a big soup pot on medium heat, and toss in a cup of finely chopped onion. Cook chopped onion until caramelized, constantly stirring to avoid burning.

3. Once the onions are golden, add a clove or two of minced garlic, along with any leftover basil as well as any other Italian herbs (i.e., oregano, fennel seeds, etc.) leftover from your garden. Continue cooking and stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute.

4. Now add the whizzed tomato mixture into the soup pot and cook down the tomato, onion, garlic, and herb mixture, until this flavorful base begins to thicken a bit.

5. Next, add in any leftover cannellini beans and/or chickpeas you have on hand, or open a can. Stir them into the soup pot along with any greens, cooked or raw, left from your garden, such as collards or kale, plus any additional veggies you’d like to add, such as: red, green, yellow, or orange sweet peppers, green beans, zucchini or yellow squash, etc.

6. Now add whatever leftover cooked pasta you may have in the fridge, and continue to cook until fragrant and well-combined.

7. Taste your soup and adjust your seasoning with salt (or coconut aminos) and pepper to tailor your Pasta e Fagioli soup to your taste. For those who might like a little extra heat, toss in a little smoked paprika or red chili flakes.

Coop 13 Scoop

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY LESLIE JAN/FEB 2023JEON

14

FreshNews!

News!

Fresh

In the greater Albany area, where 40% of the residents are living either below the federal poverty line or within the parameters outlined by United Way’s “ALICE” (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—a comprehensive picture of financial hardship) index, food pantries provide a valuable service.

“Would you like to round up to the nearest dollar?”

Double UpUp Food Bucks is aisnationDouble Food Bucks a nationwide vegetable widefruit fruitand and vegetableincentive incentive program, servicing millions of SNAP program, servicing millions of SNAP users, active in in 20+20+ states at at over 800 users, active states over 800 farmers markets, CSAs, farm farmers markets, CSAs, It makes afarm lotstands, ofstands, mobile markets, and grocery stores. mobile markets, and grocery stores. “cents” to answer “yes.”

And, it’s not just those experiencing The program gives shoppers $1 $1 forfor The program gives shoppers poverty who are seeking the aid of food every $1 spent with Natalie Criscione SNAP, so so youyou cancan every $1 spent By with SNAP, The Food pantries. A large population subsisting just even more produce. purchase even more produce.

Pantries for the above the defined poverty line is also purchase Honest Food Co-op’s A match of of upup toWeight $20$20 a day could A match to a day could Capital District struggling, sometimes making hard choices Be the Change program began $40$40 forfor healthy foods.

Why is is that involve paying either rent or utilities, or mean mean healthy foods.

Why on October 1, 2021.

It is a paying for either food or prescription this Because too many thisimportant? important?

Because too many program that all shoppers medicine. During a month when there is an people don’t have access, even with can peoplesupport don’t have withto

By Natalie Criscione as access, they even choose extra expense like a medical bill or a car government aid, to the amount of government aid, to the amount of round up to the nearest dollar repair, a family can rapidly experience s I reflect upon my interview with food needed tothe support famihealthy food needed to support famiamount at cash register, financial hardship. We are talking about healthy Natasha Pernicka, Executive Sign upup isdonating free and dollars incomes that can be described as “survival lies. lies.

Sign is free and dollars thus thethe difference Director of The Food Pantries for budgets, not thriving budgets,” says Pernicka. never to the month’s highlighted expire. never expire. the Capital District, I find myself thinking organization.

In In New York State, Double UpUp hashas New York State, Double about the organization’s “tag line” which is: What does that mean? How does one know ByBy Deanna Deanna “Working together we canBeyer doBeyer more than any where they are on the continuum, or how to contributed to to 1.1 1.1 million pounds of of contributed million pounds Most recipient non-profits, one of us alone.” I think about the volunteers locate a pantry? “It’s important for people to healthy to toover 24,000 healthyfood foodsales sales over 24,000 and staff, hundreds of them, who operate know,” says Pernicka, “that food pantries are says Amy Ellis, of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition at at more than 130Outreach sites Hunger tion of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition customers, customers, more than 130 sites HungerFree FreeAmerica Americaestimates estimates tion nearly 70 individual pantries in Albany, not income based; anyone who is experiencCoordinator, are “local, grass23 23 counties. that this past year hashas seen a 67% Assistance Program) that spanning spanning counties. that this past year a 67% Assistance Rensselaer, Schenectady, andseen Saratoga ing financialProgram) hardship canbenefits gobenefits to a foodthat pantry roots, Capital Region based, seen in in a single year.

Which Visit our Service Desk to sign upup increase in foodinsecure New Yorkwe’ve seen awith single year.

Which Visit our Service Desk to sign increase in foodinsecure New York- we’ve counties.

I think about The Food Pantries and come home groceries.”

That isis is a volunteer-run,” organizations staff and drivers who tirelessly work to why message that should come asparticipate a relief to those we’re so so excited to to participate in in and go go tothat honestweight.coop forfor more ers.

And here at at Honest Weight we’re why we’re excited and to honestweight.coop moreon ers.

And here Honest Weight we’re are often chosen based provide food and services to those pantries in Double who find themselves faced with difficult information UpUp Food Bucks! onon thethe program. on track to to have thethe highest redempDouble Food Bucks! information program. and staff on track have highest redemp“shopper, member,

December

Double DoubleUp Up AFood FoodBucks!

Bucks!

their collective efforts to end hunger.

And I think about you, the Honest Weight Food Co-op shopper, who rounds up to the nearest dollar every time you check out at the register. It’s a seemingly small gesture, but it is crucial. Not only does the change add up, but you become part of a larger group, “working together” for the greater good.

These days, greater good is needed more than ever. Times are tough. The child tax credit ended last year, SNAP Emergency allotments were cut, inflation continues to rise (with food inflation climbing even higher), and people are “turning to food pantries who had never had to turn to them b e fo r e ,” says Per ni cka. “Last year we delivered 3.6 million pounds of food and we are experiencing an increase this year.”

70,000 people in our area turn to food pantries each year, and the numbers are rising.

choices. One can easily locate a nearby pantry through the The Food Pantries’ Connect Map: https://map.thefoodpantries.org/ .

October AUGUST

recommendations.”

So far, the program has

And, if you’re in a position to help, visit been a huge success. Monthly https://thefoodpantries.org to find out how yields average over $5,000 you might volunteer your time or make a (that’s like a good-sized donation. As of this writing, “30% of the Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscinggrant elit, a smalltincidunt local organization sednotdiam nonummy nibh to euismod ut laoreet member food pantries are sure if they every month!); the first dolore magna volutpat.

Ut and wisiinenim ad will have enough resources to make it to thealiquam erat veniam, ullamcorper full exerci year tation of the program end of the year.” Simply minim stated: we are all quis nostrud suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex eaBecommodo consequat. needed.

(2022), the Change raised

Duis autem vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate

$69,357. velit esse molestie consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat During the month of December, when you nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissay “yes” to the question “Would you like to sim qui blandit zzril delenit augue duisof The cooperative power round up to the nearest dollar,” know you arepraesent luptatum te Pantries feugait nulla facilisi. small acts (small change) “working together” with dolore The Food Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consup. ectetuer elit, to help them access and deliver food, Thereadipiscing isutnolaoreet doubt sed diam nonummy nibh adds euismod tincidunt purchase diapers and formula, supple-aliquam erat t h volutpat. a t “ H WUt F Cwisi s henim o p p eadr s doloreand magna ment individual pantries in their fundraising a r e exerci ex t r etation m e lyullamcorper generous minim veniam, quis nostrud efforts. Change will not happen alone. suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. people,” says Ellis.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet

"On Thursday, October 12th Bakery Manager Meaghan McGugart attended The Food Pantry's annual Harvest Celebration on behalf of Honest Weight to participate in their Chef 's Challenge.

Honest Weight has been participating in this fundraiser for over five years! Local Chefs compete using food pantry staple items in creative ways, Meaghan created a delicious "allergy-free" fudgy brownie using black beans!"

Coop 13 Scoop Coop Scoop

Coop Scoop Coop Scoop

MARCH/APRIL 2023 PHOTOGRAPHY

BY DEB PERELMAN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 Heal Heal

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