March/April 2017 LexTalk

News from the Lexington Cooperative Market

March/April 2017

LexTalk to

Hertel with L ve Thank you for the love!

The notes you wrote have been added to the actual foundation of your store.

Letter from Tim Spring is early this year! As I’m writing this column, it is March 1st and 60 degrees outside. The trees are starting to bud, snowdrops are up, and windbreakers have replaced parkas. Customers in the store and people on the street are pausing to delight in the unseasonably warm temperatures. The early spring is great for maple syrup and other spring crops like asparagus and peas. Our contractors are definitely benefiting from the mild winter we’ve had; construction is progressing quickly at 1678 Hertel, and we are expecting to have our second store open by midJuly. This news is both thrilling and overwhelming for those of us working to make it happen.

Over the next few months, our staff will be working hard to prepare for a second store. Every system in the Co-op is being retooled to support two stores, from our product selection process to our phone system. We are hiring and training 40 new people and promoting several others into new roles. We are working to keep up with project timeline and decisions: ordering equipment and product, deciding on wall colors and signage, ordering awnings and spatulas, twist ties and mugs for the breakroom. And on top of all that preparation, we are focused on keeping the Elmwood store full, fresh and friendly every day when

you come in. It is a lot of change and takes a lot of focus, but it is good practice for the added complexity of running two stores.

Once we open, our biggest challenge will be to attract new Co-op customers and generate the sales necessary to make the new store a success. You can help with this! During our move to Elmwood in 2005, one of our longtime owners wrote letters to 100 of her friends inviting them to join the Co-op. We received 75 new owners from those letters.

Could you do that?

You can help in other ways as well: email us your ideas, help us recruit a team of friendly, hardworking people, and as we get closer to the opening, put a lawn sign in your yard to show your co-op pride. We don’t have the marketing budget of a Whole Foods or Wegmans. What we do have is the grassroots power of 14,000 owners.

Last week we held three owner forums to talk about price. These forums continued the discussion we began at the Annual Meeting last October.

Fresh Deals for Everyone!

Our Fresh Flyer is now Fresh Deals for Everyone! Beginning March 1, 2017 we are sharing the savings on our favorite fresh picks with everyone in the community.

Look for the new signs around the store to point you to the savings!

Attendees had many good things to say about how the co-op meets their needs. And they also identified fruits & nuts, meat, cheese and paper goods as products that contribute to a high price image for the co-op. In many of these categories, we know that we have a high price image because we have chosen to carry a premium product. For example, most of our nuts and fruits are from Tierra Farms out of Albany, which are more expensive than what you might buy elsewhere, but the taste and freshness are out of this world.

Over the next few months, we will be evaluating our pricing in these areas to see where we can be more competitive.

We will also look at our product line and will work to offer more choices so you can choose the premium product or the good alternative, depending on your priorities and your budget. Please do email me at tim@lexington.coop when you see a price that you think is particularly good or one that seems out of whack. I’m also interested in which products you only buy organic and which items you will buy conventional if there is a choice. All of this helps us do our job of meeting your needs.

Thank you all for all your support and patience as we move forward toward our new, two store Co-op.

Organic Fair Trade Bananas

79¢

/LB

everyday

Over the past decade Equal Exchange has created a newtwork of more than 1,000 banana growers in South America who are revolutionizing the industry. These growers are prioritizing fairness, education, health, and family over profits. And its working! More than 134 million bananas have been sold in the US alone! We’re proud to sell organic, Fair Trade bananas at a better price.

! s a n a n a Go b

Spread the word! with our letter writing campaign!

We are asking our owners to reach out to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to spread some Lexi Love and encourage ownership.

Think of people in your life that are passionate about natural foods and supporting local business and reach out.

We’ll supply all the letter writing materials including stamps! Send to 5 or 125 of your friends, there is no limit.

Maybe your story goes something like this: I feel so great knowing the Co-op is working to keep my money in the local economy; more than any other grocery store in Buffalo. When I cannot buy directly from the farmers, Lexington is the next best place to go!

We’re Hiring!

We are building a friendly, hardworking, skilled team that is committed to the Co-op, passionate about food, and consistently satisfies every customer.

Available Positions Manager Positions: • Manager on Duty • Prepared Foods • Grocery • Produce • Asst. Store Operations Coordinator Positions: • Grocery • Bakery • Cheese • Meat and Seafood • Prepared Foods

Benefits

Or this: I love the Co-op, its like owning a store in my community with a bunch of my friends. And now, I’ll be owning two grocery stores... you’ll love it, why don’t you join!

Contact Joann for all the details!

Write yor story and send it to us with your friends addresses.

We’ll print out the letters and send them! joann@lexingotn.coop or 886- 1036 x 107

Or this: My husband and I used to browse around the co-op when we just started dating and picked out veggies together- how romantic- I mean it! Fast forward years later, my brother was diagnosed with Celiac and my son went gluten free too.

Its just nice to know there a place with great food, good prices and knowledgeable staff. The Co-op is a beacon of hope to a lot of people.

I’m glad its in the community. ( J.Molino- Pernick)

• • • • • • • • •

Check our website for more opportunities

Hiring for both locations!

Apply online

Entry level wage of $11.45/hour www.

Overnight shifts available lexington.

Health Benefits coop Paid Time Off Long Term Disability Life Insurance 401K Plan 19% Discount Lexington Co-op Ownership Share

Familiar Face The Co-op was my first job after coming to the US from Congo. In Africa, I worked as a nutritionist in a hospital. I love working at the Co-op because it is family here. The managers are so good. They give me opportunities to learn, improve my skills, and teach me how to make food safer. I appreciate the wages here because they allow me to support my family.

Neema, Lexi’s Kitchen Team Member

ANCIENT GRAINS Old is new again! “Ancient” means “unchanged” when it comes to grains. They have been grown the same way with the same flavor profile for hundreds of years, with no modifications in the seed.

Ancient grains are hearty growers requiring less irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides to grow!

Barley (hulled) Eat: as a cereal Cook: Boil 3:1 water to barley. Simmer for 40-60 minutes- until water is absorbed and desired chewiness is achieved. Fluff with a fork

RE CR NC IIN Millet Eat: anywhere you use quinoa Cook: Toast for 15 minutes in a pan.

Boil in 2:1 water to millet. Simmer for 30 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Farro Eat: soups, salads, or as a rice Cook: Boil 2:1 water to farro. Simmer for 40 minutes- until most of the water is absorbed.

Other ancient grains include spelt, teff, kamut, and rye And look for our new Heritage Purple Prairie barley.

SPROUT IT OUT

Any whole grain (including all ancient grains) can be sprouted to unleash the key nutrients and flavors held inside. Often digestion is better and there is more protein available in sprouted grains and beans.

It’s simple! All you need is a mason jar, cheesecloth and water.

1.] Rinse, drain, then soak your grains for 12 hours.

2.] Fill a mason jar 1/3 with grains and cover with cheesecloth.

3.] Rinse and drain every 12 hours until spouts appear (1-5 days).

Notes: • Sprouting shortens shelf life- store in a refrigerator for up to a week. Always cook before eating.

• You can also sprout beans, lentils, and raw nuts through the same process.

Many nuts will not sprout with the traditional “tails” but the soaking process makes them more nutritious!

AL LOC

FIVE POINTS BAKERY soaks all their flour for a day before baking their bread!

E E L L B B I I D D E E R R

e

BULK SALE BULK BASICS for Owners!

Bulk Basics are 15% off for Owners everyday of the week! Choose from 20 + of our best sellers and your favorites to help you stock your pantry with as

much bulk as you need or as little as you want.

Just look for the 15% off label on the bins!

BE A O HER

Make bulk buying even more sustainable everyday! bring your own containers from home! Just have it weighed at any resister before filling up.

(super)

POWER BARS 1/2 cup flaxseed meal 1/4 tspn salt 1/2 tspn ground cinnamon 1/4 tspn ground ginger 1/4 tspn ground nutmeg 1/2 cup honey 2 ripe bananas, mashed 1/2 cup peanut butter 1 cup dried apples, diced 1/2 cup almonds, chopped 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 cups rolled oats

1. Preheat oven to 350ÂşF. Grease a 9 x 13 inch glass casserole dish.

2. Mix together all of the ingredients except the oats.

3. Add the oats and mix well.

4. Spread the mixture evenly into the casserole dish, pressing down firmly to create a smooth top.

5. Bake in the oven on the middle rack for about 25 minutes. Let cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into even bars.

BULK FAVORITE

Employee-owned Tierra Farm has been involved with organics before organics were cool! Starting out decades ago as an organic vegetable farm, then expanded to become a organic nut and dried fruit manufacturer and distributor to keep the lights on in the winter.

To build this business out of Albany, NY- Tierra Farm worked to cultivate strong relationships with the best organic farmers in the world to ensure fair business practices and preserve the organic integrity of their product.

Beyond organic, Tierra Farm’s products are all nonGMO, gluten-free, kosher, and processed naturally in a peanut-free facility.

WO W!

Friendly to their growers, friendly to their customers, and friendly to the environment, Tierra Farm generates more than 70% of their power from solar panels and recycles more than 60% of their waste.

Tierra Farms loves to sample at your Co-op!

812-7641

i’s Chef Sal x a Le

Quiche

d

Learn to build an irresistible quiche with local ingredients, perfect for any meal of the day!

CRUST

Lexi loves handmade, all butter, flake-it-‘til-youmake-it crust - get the recipe lexington.coop/blog

CHEESE

Lead with mild, smooth First Light goat chevre (East Bethany, NY) or a nutty gruyere. Extra points for using more than one kind!

for any meal!

MAKE IT A MEAL

FILLING

Let local, in-season ingredients shine: fresh asparagus, spring greens, sauteed leeks. Don’t forget the T-Meadow bacon! (Lockport, NY) We love eggs from Meadow Creek Farm (Interlaken, NY) and half and half from Organic Valley, a fellow co-op!

NEW FROM LEXI

i’s

h ng i

d Alp

S ha Omega

n

Ap

ril!

T Meadow or Wardynski’s Polish Sausage

Pa ra e sta v Prima

grill with onions and sauerkraut or simmer in beer seasoned with caraway seeds!

Garrett Valley Spiral Ham

pre cooked, seasoned, and sliced , easy & delicious! humanely raised with no antibiotics or hormones

al a

For one 9” quiche, use 4 large eggs, 1 pint half & half, 1 cup cooked ingredients, 1 cup cheese

e m i t g n i spr faves!

b ou r o Tab r le Fa

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RATIOS

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Lexi’s grab & go quiche ready for your oven!

Standfast or Finger Lakes Farm Brisket

flavorful and tender all natural, beef from our region!

Sustainability Superheroes Taking care takes work! Learn more about sustainable choices at your Co-op!

International

National

- Small independent Scottish salmon farm

- 100% Employee Owned

- RSPCA assured fish welfare program

- B Corp certified

- 98.5% water to 1.5% fish stock.

Feeding that mimicks wild salmon habits

- Divert 99.9% of waste by recycling during brewing process

- Rotational fallowing strategy maintains sea bed quality

- Sustainable business role model by selecting vendors who are in line with their goals

Loch Duart Salmon

New Belgium Brewing

Always fresh! Deliveries on Tuesday and Friday every week!

Lexi’s Local

Hot Bar

PUSH Compost Buffalo, NY

We use

- Collects co-op food scraps from the store, turns

local and or

it into nutrient dense compost, and sells it back to us. Your garden will love it!

Fruition Seeds Naples, NY - Biodiversity is increased by growing and breeding organic, open-pollinated seed.

Plant your garden with these great seeds!

sustainably raised meats & seafood on our hot bar!

- Finger Lakes Farms Pork & Beef local!

- Free Bird Chicken local!

- Wild Caught Fish

807 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 716.886.COOP Opening soon at 1678 Hertel Ave

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUFFALO NY PERMIT #801

Open to Everyone 7 am - 11 pm daily

cheese madness

For one week, 8 of our favorite cheeses will face off in a fight to win the title of favorite Co-op cheese!

t l ocal go2a -2 Sun 3/26,1

chedda0-6r:30 , 4:3

Mon 3/27

fl avored

:30-6:30

,4 Wed 3/29

aged

Thurs 3/3

0

, 4:30-6:30

First Light chevre Painted Goat chevre Prairie Breeze

Fri 3/31 4:30-6:30

MontAmore

Cotswold Chive & Onion

Beemster Aged Gouda

ship champ4i/2o,1n2-2 Sun

Kingdom Caramelized Onion

God’s Country Aged Swiss

March 26-April 2

Sat 4/1 12-2

Come ready to sample and vote for your favorite cheese to advance!

Which cheese aged better?

Which local goat cheese reigns supreme?