annual report & election issue 2016
Does It Make a Difference Where I Shop? P. 11
#whyinewpi a year of pictures f ro m o u r i n stag r a m P. 26
Co-op Leadership Answers Tough Questions Inside
published by: NEW PIONEER FOOD CO-OP
In this Issue This Year's Highlights
p. 4
General Manager's Report
p. 6
Board President's Report
p. 8
Ballot and Candidates' Statements
p. 14
22 S. Van Buren St. • Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 338-9441 open daily 7am–10pm 1101 2ⁿd St. • Coralville, IA 52241 (319) 358-5513 open daily 7am–10pm 3338 Center Point Rd. NE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 (319) 365-2632 open daily 8am–9pm STORE SUPPORT OFFICE 22 S. Linn St., Unit 2A • Iowa City, IA 52240 (319) 248-6400 open Mon.–Fri. 8am–5pm
www.newpi.coop EDITOR Allison Gnade MANAGING EDITOR Jenifer Angerer CATALYST DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION Richard Blazek CATALYST PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Partridge, Mel Roling, Allison Gnade, and many more PRINTER Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, WI
ANNUAL
(Foun Cele bra di Therneg Co-opte M s retiraeCarbreyember) ment ’s !
Board of Directors Meetings All owners are welcome! September 28, 2016
6:30 pm, New Pi Cedar Rapids 3338 Center Point Road NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
October 23, 2016 Annual Owner Meeting - Details at right.
October 26, 2016
6:30 pm, New Pi Store Support Offices 22 S. Linn St., Unit 2A, Iowa City, IA 52240
Owners are welcome to share their views with the New Pi Board:
Owner input wanted! Join the Board & Staff for a discussion: What aspirations do you have for your Co-op? How do you see the Co-op serving your needs—and the community—in 5 years? In 10 years?
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
(year indicates when term expires) President JANET RAZBADOUSKI (2017) (312) 476-0943, jraznpboard@gmail.com
Vice President JEN KNIGHTS (2016) (319) 331-6631, knightswhowrites@gmail.com
Sunday, October - 4 PM Sun., October 26,23, 2-42PM
Park Lodge at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area THE KIRKWOOD ROOM AT GOVERNOR'S RIDGE 515 KIRKWOOD AVE., IOWA IA 52240 579 McCollister Blvd.,CITY, Iowa City
Secretary JON FOGARTY (2016) (319) 400-4911, jon@jonfogarty.com
CAROLINE DIETERLE (2016) (319) 338-8674, caroline-dieterle@uiowa.edu
CALVIN NORRIS (2017) (319) 355-2603, cal_norris@msn.com
Caitlin Slessor (2019) (319) 389-6431, cslessor@gmail.com
ZARA WANLASS (2019) (319) 800-9046, zwanlass@yahoo.com
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new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
New Pioneer Food Co-op Mission Statement New Pioneer is a cooperatively owned business, fully serving the needs of the natural products consumer. We emphasize high quality, fair prices, and product information. We are an environmentally and socially responsible member of the community we serve. New Pioneer’s mission is to serve the needs of its members and to stimulate the local agricultural production of natural and organic foods by providing a market for such foods.
The Cooperative fully recognizes the value and dignity of work and shall place a high priority on the health, welfare, and happiness of all its employees. The Cooperative shall strive to set a community standard for the best possible working conditions, training, wages, benefits, and opportunities for advancement for its employees.
Thank You to All Our Hardworking Staff! We wouldn’t be what we are today without them ! Thank YOU, dear shopper, for supporting your Co-op, and creating great jobs for wonderful people.
We’d like to give a special nod of appreciation to those who have been with us through thick and through thin :
30 Years + Steve M. Patti Z.
20 Years + Miss Nik Theresa C. Dave P. Eric C. Matt H. Tom C. Doreen E. Chad C.
15-20 Years
Craig A. Sandy P. Jason P. Lynn A. Matilde A.-Z.
Miss Nik, 2014
Patti Z., 1985
Craig A., 2001
Miriam A., 2008
Doreen E., 2012
Eric C., early '90s
Matt H. back in the day Genie M., 2016
Dave P., 2013
Steve M.
10-15 Years
Miriam A. A. Jenifer A. Barbara M. Matt L.-P. Joe G. Jessie K. Maggie M. Mike K. Genie M. Lorena S.-A. Jesse K. Tim S. Jon C. Chuck H. Michael A.
Tom C., late '90s
Chad C., 2015 Tim S., 2015
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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$41,133
This Year's Highlights
donated back to our community just in fiscal year 2016 !
Fiscal Year 2016 By the Numbers
100%
This is All Possible Because of You ! You do all this just by buying groceries at New Pioneer.
of profits stay local
The dollars you spend at the Co-op make all of this happen!
4,214
23,585 9 2 ,5 f Heads of 140aves o organic lettuce Lo ouse H ade M w Pi Ne read B
Gallons o local mil f k
45,348
Poun grass-feds of d beef
18,979
Pounds of locallyroasted coffee
Bags used fiscal year 2015: 55,800 paper bags d inate m i l e We andled h gs! ic b a plast
4
+232,800 plastic bags 288,600 total bags used
Bags used fiscal year 2016: 246,600 paper bags We used less bags, and no handled plastic bags, but we are using a lot more paper bags! We need your help to keep our bag usage low – help by bringing your own! Thanks!
new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
81,961 pounds “We are so appreciative of our partnership with New Pi ! From the very beginning of Table to Table, you have been an integral part of our food rescue effort!”
of food donated to Table to Table
– Bob Andrlik, Executive Director, Table to Table
28,600 p ound s o
of loca l,
rganic carrot s
YOU contributed
$2,922,837
to local producers
this year through your purchases at the Co-op !
2015: $2,333,354 2014: $2,264,455 2013: $2,023,076 2012: $1,785,286 2011: $1,669,561 2010: $1,442,433
300+ 10,000+
New Pi Soilmates Classes Kids Reached The Co-op offered these classes at no cost to the schools. .
132++
Local Farmers & producers
SCHOOL
Local
COMPOST 24,306 gallons
of food scraps saved from the landfill this past year due to New Pi’s composting efforts.
1,590+
Gluten-Free products (excluding naturally gluten-free foods)
122+
Fair Trade products on our shelves
3,932+ Organic products
compost
FRESH FOOD MARKET
30+ groups
took educational food & nutrition tours at New Pi!
YOU are making waves in the nation. Organic, non-GMO certified, artificial color- & dye-free, Fair Trade products are becoming mainstream. Your food choices truly make a difference. They shape the food available in our country!
50+
New Pi Cook ing Classes
1,000+ atte ndees
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
5
General Manager M at t
H a rt z
What Now for the Co-op? R
and it is their daily efforts that allow us to continue moving forward as a larger organization with more impact in the world.
eflecting on the recently ended fiscal year (FY 2016: July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016), I can say that it was both a dynamic and challenging one for the New Pioneer Food Co-op. The retail market in Johnson County continued to evolve into the most competitive atmosphere we have yet seen, and this is the case nationwide as organic and natural foods have gone mainstream. We have adjusted to this environment, and our new store in Cedar Rapids has helped New Pi offset the impact of this new challenge in Johnson County. After a slow start, the Cedar Rapids store is now exceeding market study expectations, with positive sales growth each month in 2016, and signing up more than 2,000 new owners since opening day.
In December we exercised a purchase option contract on our Coralville facility, so we now own all of our properties. We previously rented this facility but had created a contract to purchase it, which we completed this past year.
We are now beginning the process of evaluating facility upgrades to our Coralville store. We also anticipate making some modest improvements at our Iowa City store. There are currently no plans to relocate our Iowa City store in the near future. I want to express great This was the first full fiscal year of appreciation for departing operations for New Pi’s expanded New Pi Board Member footprint, which includes The Hub Current New Pioneer Co-op stores in (top to bottom): Iowa City, Jen Knights (right). Jen (our central bakery and kitchen in Cedar Rapids, and Coralville. has given her time to the North Liberty) and our store in Cedar Cooperative for nine years, chairing Rapids. These represent significant new investments in our future the member-owner relations committee and serving as Vice – investments that will serve the Cooperative for many years President of our Board this past year, and has been instrumental to come. We have many, many, talented and committed staff, in helping lead us on the path of growth .
Ma
tt H
ar t
z
Matt Hartz New Pi General Manager
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new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
What Makes Your Co-op Different ? We Know Our Meat
We’re Truly Here for the Health & Wellness of Our Community
Our meats are humanely raised and free from antibiotics and added growth hormones. We know the farmers that provide us with local beef, chicken, pork, and lamb. 100% of our seafood is sustainable. This is quality you can believe in. Taste the difference!
We’re not here to make a buck (heck, any bucks we make go into improving your stores and our community – there’s no profiting body here). The Co-op is here because a group of thoughtful people wanted a different kind of grocery store so badly they put their own bodies, sweat, tears, and time into it. If you’re an owner of the Co-op, you’ve decided we’re the kind of business you want in your community, and we couldn’t be more appreciative of your investment. Every time you walk through our doors is a vote for us to be here. We’re here to provide truly better, healthier, more just food for the families in our community, and better jobs for our neighbors, one shopping trip at a time.
Not All Bread is Created Equal Our bread stands alone. Our extremely skilled bakers have been perfecting their art for well over a decade, with clean ingredients you won’t find in any other bread in town. Take New Pi’s Farm Bread made with local organic flour, grown and milled at Early Morning Harvest in Panora, Iowa: we don’t stop at nutritious – it has to be delicious, too.
We Walk the Talk – We Cook with Flavor. Local Flavor. The key to our good food? Good, local ingredients! Yes, those are organic carrots – local from Grinnell Heritage Farm, in season – in our carrot cake! Yes, all the eggs in our quiches, cakes, and salads are cage-free! Yes, all our meats are antibiotic-free! Yes, we
There’s Iowa Hospitality in Every Aisle We have a local focus, and that includes you. We take pride in helping you find what you’re looking for: an old stand-by, a new favorite, a deal. So if you have a question, please ask. We love helping you.
Catering That’s a Cut Above cook with organic tomatoes and local honey! We support our local producers – over 130 of them – year-round, and that means in our kitchens, too.
We’re a Community of LongRange Thinkers To quote a New Pi Cedar Rapids shopper: “I always say I’d rather spend a little extra money now and know exactly what I’m putting into my body than thousands of dollars in doctors’ bills later!”
We Truly Care About Our People Prizing our team’s happiness is actually part of our Mission Statement! " The Cooperative fully recognizes the value and dignity of work and shall place a high priority on the health, welfare, and happiness of all its employees.” #whyinewpi
We do local and organic best! And that applies to all of our house-made prepared foods – you won’t find anywhere else using local and organic in their ready-to-eat goods. Local and organic just tastes better! Whether it’s custom birthday cakes, sandwich platters for your office, or ready-to-eat accommodations for your vegan cousin and wheat free niece, we’ve got you covered.
More Pleasant Shopping Trips with Kiddos in Tow “When I shop at the Co-op, I don’t have to tell my kids ‘no’ to junk food and cartoon-themed who-knows-what peppered throughout regular grocery stores. When my kids ask for a treat at the Co-op, it’s usually something like yogurt, cheese curds, or applesauce – something I’m happy to say yes to.” — Genie Maybanks
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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New Pi Board President J a n e t
A
R a z b a d o u ski
The Why of New Pi What we were really trying to get at – and it’s crucial to our future – is what New Pi offers that makes us different from other, more traditionally corporate businesses that compete with us in the Corridor, and what we can offer that those other big-box stores don’t.
s your Co-op’s Board, we have spent the last year (and then some) focusing on what we do, and what we need to do. After opening our new store in Cedar Rapids and establishing The Hub (the food-production facility that serves all three of our locations) we had to make some adjustments in how we do our work, addressing the organizational changes necessary to accommodate that kind of growth. Now that we’ve accomplished the milestone of growing into a three-store operation, the Board of Directors has been taking time to step back and ask, “Why do we do what we do?”
Do these questions matter to you? If so, we need your input. Our Annual Owner Meeting is 2-4PM on Sunday, Oct. 23, at the Park Lodge at Terry Trueblood Recreation Area (579 McCollister Blvd., Iowa City), and we want you to be part of it. We’ll conduct Co-op Caféstyle conversations with the member-owners who attend, with the aim of hearing their voices in answering these questions about the Co-op’s purpose and future.
In the face of stiff competition on a number of fronts, we’ve been searching our collective soul to articulate what we believe, why it motivates our work, and why it matters to you, our member-owners. Because, truly, you ARE the Co-op.
When we asked ourselves these questions at our retreat, the New Pi Board and management came up with this draft statement of our Co-op’s identity, one which is poised to articulate the principles on which we run our business for the next 5-10 years, and beyond:
Make no mistake, the main reason we are different is that we… are you. The Co-op is made up of thousands of memberowners who have bought a share in this enterprise – OUR Co-op – and we all have a stake in its success. If you’d like a little insight into our inspiration, look online for Simon Sinek's Ted Talk, and you’ll find a thoughtprovoking piece called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” It’s all about pinpointing not what we are doing, or how (or if) we’re doing it differently, but why it matters. Not what we’re selling, but what need it meets that others may not be meeting, why it’s important, and how we can be inspiring.
New Pioneer Co-op is a vibrant and forward-thinking local food marketplace, defined by: Shared economics, community enrichment, and partnerships in the Corridor Widespread and diverse participation Identifying and meeting the needs of owners and future owners
• • •
At our Board retreat in July 2016, we joined key store staffers to focus in on this “Why?” question. We borrowed the format from the World Café – a simple, effective format used worldwide for meaningful, strategic discussion in large groups – and had our own “Co-op Café” conversation. We asked the questions:
What do you think? Do you have amendments to suggest, or questions to ask? I hope you will join us at the Annual Owner Meeting on Oct. 23, where we will also announce election results for the new Board members (flip to p. 15 for your ballot and read about the candidates on p. 17-20). Thank you! u sk
i
az
do
Ja n e
• • •
tR
describe the positive impact and accomplishments produced by the Co-op? What’s the difference the Co-op will make? What are the aspirations we have for the Co-op? What are the outcomes we will achieve?
ba
• When we look ahead 5, 10, or 15 years, how would we
Janet Razbadouski New Pi Board President
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new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
BELOW: Brainstorming our future at the New Pi Board retreat.
Madeleine M. with the goods at New Pi Iowa City. annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
9
Education & Outreach: Scott Koepke
Matt S., left, and Jason P., right, cooking at New Pi’s Hub Kitchen & Bakery. After helping launch New Pi Cedar Rapids and introducing new recipes while leading New Pi’s Hub, Matt is headed on to new adventures at the award-winning Restaurant at the Durham in North Carolina. Jason, who’s been with the Co-op for over 15 years, continues creating excellent food at the Co-op.
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New Pi Board Vice-President J e n
T
K n igh t s
Does It Make a Difference Where I Shop? competitively as we can, often, believe it or not, meeting or beating the prices of those big chains (we run regular price audits to make sure). We’ve introduced a new line of Co-op Basics: hundreds of natural, organic, and non-GMO household staples at affordable prices, available every day for every shopper (more on that on pg. 21). We are truly committed to our community, our local farmers, and the environment – and we show our commitment in more ways than you can count – see pg. 7 for a start.
he short answer is yes. And I’ll tell you why.
We know a lot of you choose not to shop at corporate big-box stores like Wal-Mart, whether because of their labor practices, their trade practices, or the fact that they’ve effectively shut down small, locally-owned businesses (often downtown) in small towns all across America. You recognize that a cooperative business model offers better value to our community, and you’ve literally bought in by buying a member-owner share of New Pioneer Co-op. (Thank you!) We value our employees’ happiness, invest in local farms and businesses, and pump money back into our local economy rather than pulling it out of the community every twenty-four hours. Co-ops offer a way of doing business that is fundamentally different from the profit-driven corporations we must compete against.
Member-owners have owned the Co-op since its founding in 1971, and any profits we make stay right here in our community. When we are profitable, we’re able to lower prices, give raises to employees, invest in growth, issue patronage dividends to our loyal owners, and fund community initiatives like school gardens, food pantries, and education about eating healthy food. We employ over 200 people, and we are committed to giving them the best pay and benefits that we as an organization can afford.
Where you spend your money is incredibly important. Right now, in fact, the financial well being of your Co-op depends on it. As Lucky’s, Natural Grocers, Hy-Vee, Costco, Target, and Wal-Mart crowd into the natural and organic foods market that New Pi built in our community, it matters more than ever.
If you support all of that, and if you want New Pi to continue thriving as we have in the past, I hope you’ll be mindful about where you spend your grocery budget, and consider bringing more of it (or all of it!) back to the Co-op. We will continue to do our best to meet your needs, earn your loyalty, and foster ongoing participation in the Co-op by offering the highest-quality food for your family and striving to give you the best service anywhere. If you see a way we can do better, I hope you’ll let us know. (Please find comment cards near the exit at each of our stores.)
We’re happy to report that our new Cedar Rapids store is doing well, and is helping us weather the pressure of new corporate competition in Iowa City and Coralville. (Thanks, Cedar Rapids member-owners and shoppers!) But our sales figures tell us that a lot of you have started taking your dollars to those competitors, and that action has absolutely made an impact on the financial health of your Co-op.
On behalf of your Co-op’s Board of Directors, we are deeply committed to ensuring that New Pioneer continues to thrive and prosper, to the benefit of our community, for years into the future. As has always been the case, we cannot do it without you. Thank you for being an important part of New Pioneer Co-op !
ht nig
Je n K
New Pi offers only top-quality foods free from artificial ingredients throughout our entire store, not just one section of it. (We don’t allow: artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives; trans fats or high fructose corn syrup; or added growth hormones, antibiotics, nitrates, or chemical additives in poultry, meat, or dairy – and our seafood is 100% sustainable. Phew!) We price these products as
s
We want to ask you to bring those grocery dollars back to New Pi – not only because your Co-op needs you, but because your Co-op is meeting your needs, too.
Jen Knights New Pi Board Vice-President
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
11
New Pi Board Treasurer C a lvi n
N o rris
How is the Co-op Doing? N
ew Pioneer Co-op’s last fiscal year, ending June 30, 2016 (FY 2016), was an important period for our organization. The previous year’s work and the associated logistical challenges from opening both a third retail site and a new food production facility, the Hub, were significant. Our employees did a masterful job tackling this challenge headon, and ensured that these new endeavors got off on the right foot. FY 2016 thus marked an important transition away from launching these projects to one of re-calibrating and fine-tuning operations to function efficiently under our new paradigm. This is always a challenging exercise, and one that invariably takes longer than anyone wants. However, once again, our employees have risen to the occasion. As a result, New Pi’s financial performance was far more stable and sustainable in the latter half of the fiscal year relative to the first half of the fiscal year. For FY 2016, New Pioneer experienced an overall net loss of $722,704. This includes approximately $826,000 of depreciation expense, which is a non-cash charge against income. The net loss for the first six months of the fiscal year was $827,829, versus a positive net income of $105,175 during the last six months of the fiscal year. I am cautiously optimistic that this trend will continue, with New Pioneer finding Fiscal Year 2017 to be more prosperous than FY 2016. New Pi also marked a milestone in October 2015 by completing the purchase of our Coralville store. Previously, New Pioneer had been leasing this space from the property’s original developer. This purchase was largely financed with debt, but resulted in a net reduction in New Pi’s monthly cash obligation (i.e., interest and principal payment) when compared to the previous monthly lease payments.
Fortunately, sales at our Cedar Rapids location continue to improve. Once the Cedar Rapids store moved past the normal challenges experienced by most retail operations during their first year, sales growth there has been robust. The closure of one of New Pi’s competitor’s Cedar Rapids retail operations (The Fresh Market) provided our Cedar Rapids location with an additional tailwind for growth in sales (and a lot of new owners!). This helped offset the decline in revenue from Johnson County, allowing New Pioneer as a whole to eke out a small increase in sales versus last year. Overall, while FY 2016 was certainly not a “great” year from a financial perspective, the latter half of the year provides a sound rationale for optimism. Management and staff have been making great strides in improving New Pi’s operating efficiency, while at the same time successfully adapting to a challenging growth environment. We believe customers that have been checking out our competition are starting to return to New Pi, and we hope this trend will continue as it truly does make a difference. Your purchases at the Co-op not only create employment for our staff and our local producers, but also fund our donations and outreach in the community. None of our work would be possible without your decision to buy groceries at New Pioneer. I have great faith in the ability of our employees and our owners to continue overcoming our current hurdles, and ensure the ongoing success of New Pioneer in the future.
C alvi n
No
r ri s
As of June 30, 2016, New Pioneer’s overall long-term debt stood at $6,848,386, which was a net increase of $3,023,982 over June 30, 2015. Member equity was $7,054,571 with total organizational assets of $15,746,025.
One of the major challenges New Pioneer continues to face is the increasing level of competition within the retail grocery business. This is most evident in Johnson County, which has seen additional competitors enter the market, impairing New Pi’s overall revenue growth. This resulted in sales at New Pioneer’s Iowa City and Coralville stores declining by approximately 13.7% from the previous fiscal year.
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new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
Calvin Norris New Pi Board Teasurer
Nancy S.-A. (shown here at New Pi’s Hub Kitchen & Bakery) and four of her sisters have been perfecting New Pi’s cinnamon rolls since 2006 !
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
13
the ballot You must hold a New Pioneer Food Co-op ownership in your own name to participate in voting. • Only the shareholder (owner) may vote. Spouses and household members without their own shares are not eligible. Check the name on the mailing address of this publication, inquire at a store register, or call Sandy at (319) 248-6404 to determine the name in which the owner share is held. • To vote in the 2016 New Pi Board elections, you must have been an owner as of September 8, 2016. • Read the candidates’ comments ( pages 17-20) and select up to 3. • Mark your selections in the ballot on page 15 with a pen. • Print your name, sign your name, and print your address, phone number, and New
Pioneer owner number below your vote selection. Remember, your owner share must be held in your name, and all fields must be completed, or your ballot will be invalid.
2016 Voting Procedure make your mark on new pi. we’re different because you care.
• The ballot is a self-mailer. No separate envelope is needed.
) and fold on designated lines. Tape at the sides • Cut the ballot as shown ( (very important—DO NOT tape at bottom, the post office needs this free of tape), and mail or drop off at any New Pi store.
m ail promptly • Mailed ballots must arrive at the accountant’s office by October 21, 2016, to be counted.
• You may also drop your completed ballot in a ballot box at any New Pioneer
store until the stores close on October 22, 2016—Iowa City and Coralville close at 10:00PM; Cedar Rapids closes at 9:00PM.
m ak e sur e we c an co unt yo ur ballot ! • All information on your ballot must be accurate. • Be certain to fill out your ballot completely. • Print your name. • Sign your name. • Print address and phone number. • Verify your owner number. • Make your vote selection.
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new pioneer food co-op’s newsletter
Ballots due By mail: Oct. 21, 2016 In store: Oct. 22, 2016
Ballot
N e w
pi o n e e r
Co - o p
2 0 1 6
This election fills three Board seats.
You may vote for up to 3 candidates. Patrick Brickel Caroline Dieterle Jon Fogarty Kelli Kennon-Lane
Complete all fields in this section.
You must hold a New Pioneer owner share in your own name to participate in voting. You must write your correct owner number for the ballot to be valid! Ask any cashier or call Sandy at (319) 248-6404 to learn your number.
owner name (print legibly) signature address
phone #
owner #
Ballot will be opened and viewed by BerganKDV personnel only. Results will be announced at the conclusion of the Annual Owner Meeting to be held on Sun., Oct. 23, 2016, from 2-4pm. Meeting details inside the front cover.
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
15
fold this side in first
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NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES
B U S I N E S S R E P LY M A I L FIRST-CLASS mail PERMIT NO. 1157 CEDAR RAPIDS, IA POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
BERGANKDV P.O. BOX 10200 CEDAR RAPIDS IA 52410-9927
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Patrick Brickel Occupation:
Managing Partner, Open Gates Group / Manager, Kalona Creamery
Education:
College of St. Rose, Albany, NY. Major in Studio Music
Special interests:
Music, photography, roller derby, really good food. And my family is of very special interest to me. :.)
Q: Please summarize the aspects of your work experience you feel would be helpful to the New Pioneer Board and New Pioneer Food Co-op. I have worked in the natural foods industry since 1989, and in that time have had responsibilities ranging from clerking to general management in coops and corporate organizations. I have a comprehensive understanding of how healthy businesses function, including operations, leadership, budgeting, planning, purchasing, member relations, outreach, and much more. Additionally, I served as New Pioneer’s Purchasing Manager for 8 years and am familiar with New Pi’s operations and culture. Q: Have you served on a board of directors before? If so, please describe the organization and your role. I have served locally on the board of directors for Iowa Friends of Old-Time Music (IFOTM), which is a non-profit that promotes great acoustic music in the area. I can’t really compare that board to a co-op board, as IFOTM was much smaller and less formal, and while I was on that board we focused mostly on the details around our annual Fiddler’s Picnic. I have however served as a General Manager and as a member of New Pi’s General Management Team, reporting to co-op boards for over a decade, and therefore have a unique perspective on the dynamics and relationships between co-op management and co-op boards. Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Board of Directors in the operation of New Pioneer Food Co-op? The role of the Board of Directors encompasses long term planning, mission statement fulfillment, advising the ownership and co-op management, asset management, fiscal responsibilities,
ensuring that Co-op management and the Board of Directors have a succession plan in place, and representing the interests of our owners. The Board does not involve itself in the daily operations of the business, but works directly with the General Manager to offer support, to reinforce good management practices, and to evaluate the General Manager’s performance. Q: As a Board member, how would you guide the Co-op in fulfilling the values reflected in its mission statement? (See New Pi’s mission statement inside the front cover.) Our mission touches on food quality, fair pricing, transparent information, social and environmental responsibility, service to owners, and local production of clean foods. Our mission also prioritizes employee respect, welfare, health, fair wages, good working conditions, and opportunity. That covers a lot of ground, and Co-op management and staff already actively work to fulfill all of those values every day. I would guide the Co-op towards these ends by being a thoughtful team member of the New Pi Board, by proactively working with the Board and the General Manager to see that New Pi continues to develop systems to support those values, and by making sure that the General Manager has the tools and resources that he needs to do his job.
Board Can didate Basics program, and as a Board Director I would focus on protecting our cash reserves and engaging in data-driven long term planning. New Pioneer’s mission already sets high standards for employee relations. The General Manager is ultimately responsible for hiring and enforcing all policies relating to employee well-being. I would contribute by being an advocate for employee welfare and providing guidance and resources to our General Manager at the Board level. Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Co-op in the community? I think that every member of New Pi might have a different answer to that question. Some might see New Pi as a grocery store, some might view it as an active form of democracy, some might view it as a second home. My personal opinion probably encompasses all of those… I want access to really good, safe, affordable food, I want to have a say in an organization that feeds my community, I want to see my dollars going directly to local growers, I want to feel at home when I shop, and more. I have pretty high expectations.
Q: What do you feel are New Pioneer’s primary challenges and how could you help meet these challenges? I see New Pi’s two biggest challenges as 1) competition, and 2) finding and keeping good people. Both are universal, ongoing challenges at every co-op across the country. New Pi staff have been working to address competitive pricing with its bounty of sales programs and the Co+op annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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Caroline Dieterle Occupation:
Retired from University of Iowa (Academic Advisor) and The Daily Iowan (Librarian)
Education:
B.A. University of Michigan (Botany); M.A. University of California at Berkeley (Botany)
Special interests:
Organic gardening, natural history, community organizing, reading non-fiction and mystery fiction, crossword puzzles.
ate d i d n a C d r Boa Q: Please summarize the aspects of your work experience you feel would be helpful to the New Pioneer Board and New Pioneer Food Co-op. Critical thinking, problem solving, record keeping, negotiation, and conflict resolution. Q: Have you served on a board of directors before? If so, please describe the organization and your role. I have served on the New Pioneer Board of Directors since 2002; I also serve on the Board of Directors of the Hawkeye Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and have done so for several terms. I am interested in continuing to serve on the New Pioneer Board because of my interest in the production of safe food and in activism in food politics. Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Board of Directors in the operation of New Pioneer Food Co-op? The role of the Board is to represent the Co-op members and staff in the hiring and supervising of the General Manager and planning for the continuing success of the Co-op by anticipating problems and considering solutions, as well as foreseeing and identifying future opportunities that may be utilized to better serve our members. The Board should also be mindful of the working conditions for all of New Pioneer’s staff, on whose day-today labor our success depends.
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Q: As a Board member, how would you guide the Co-op in fulfilling the values reflected in its mission statement? (See New Pi’s mission statement inside the front cover.) The current Board is revising the Co-op Board Policies and will include a new “Ends Policy” defining our reason for existence; the existing mission statement may be modified as part of this change. As this effort proceeds I believe it is important to remember that the most basic value and aim we should have and preserve is to behave like a Co-op: i.e., unlike the corporate model of business, our top goal is to serve our members and provide good working conditions for our staff, not primarily to make money nor to grow for the sake of growth. Our continued existence and prosperity should be proof that our model both works in a capitalist society and benefits our community in more ways than a conventional supermarket can. Q: What do you feel are New Pioneer’s primary challenges and how could you help meet these challenges? There will be an on-going struggle to educate people about the politics and economics of food and food production and the value of organic products and organic agriculture. People need to know why it is worth the money to buy organic and local food rather than consume food containing synthetic chemical pesticides, for example. (e.g., What makes “The Dirty Dozen” fresh produce items “dirty”?) Despite the current conditions of grocery store competition, we must also continue to support our staff at all levels with good working conditions, fair pay, and benefits. My votes on the Board will continue to reflect these goals.
Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Co-op in the community? Besides being a reliable source of safe, clean food, and initiating the trend toward organic food, New Pioneer Co-op has been the local ‘pioneer’ in several efforts working towards sustainability: composting food waste, recyclable food containers, starting and leading the ‘buy local, shop local, and eat local’ initiatives, the promotion of ‘bring your own bag’ and ‘use refillable non-toxic water bottles’ to reduce waste, and the discontinuance of plastic bags, for example. It has been a pioneer in fact as well as name and I will work toward making it continue to be one.
Jon Fogarty Occupation:
I currently work for National Co-op Grocers, a national purchasing and development co-op that works with 150 co-ops across the country. Previously, I worked for a year at CROPP (Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool) Cooperative (Organic Valley) and I worked at New Pi for two stints totaling five years. I also serve on the Johnson County Food Policy Council.
Education:
B.A. in Religious Studies, Certificate of Entrepreneurship, University of Iowa; M.B.A. from Hawaii Pacific University
Special interests:
Certified organic agriculture, pizza on the grill, heirloom veggies. Local control & global responsibility, private gain = private risk, public risk = public reward.
Q: Please summarize the aspects of your work experience you feel would be helpful to the New Pioneer Board and New Pioneer Food Co-op. I got into this business in the mid 1990s when I was part owner of a clothing shop that specialized in hemp and organic cotton clothing. I was motivated to use commerce as a force for positive change in society. My interests turned to food and now, some years later, I’ve spent two years as an apprentice on a local certified organic farm; spent over a decade working for cooperatives; and worked with a variety of NGO’s (Non-Governmental Organizations) around the county advocating for strong organic standards and strong family farms. Q: Have you served on a board of directors before? If so, please describe the organization and your role. I have served on New Pi’s Board for three years, serving as Vice President and Secretary. During graduate school, I served on the board for Kokua Market, a food co-op in Honolulu. For six years at National Co-op Grocers I filled the role of board admin. Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Board of Directors in the operation of New Pioneer Food Co-op? The role of the Board is to supervise, advise, and direct the General Manager on matters of strategy affecting the business. A competent Board does not get involved in operations unless absolutely necessary. The only time the Board should get involved in operations is in the case of potential fiscal or legal jeopardy. In addition, a responsible Board member protects the interests and responds to the needs of the owners.
Q: As a Board member, how would you guide the Co-op in fulfilling the values reflected in its mission statement? (See New Pi’s mission statement inside the front cover.) The demand for organic foods is growing and that’s a great thing for consumers and producers alike. The problem is that others recognize this growing market and are taking it from us. If we are going to fulfill our mission of setting the community standard for employees or foster more domestic producers by growing the market for organic products, we need to be fighting for the lead in the market. If we, as a business and community, sit content with middle of the pack or less, we are going to be subject to the standard instead of setting the standard. Q: What do you feel are New Pioneer’s primary challenges and how could you help meet these challenges? New Pi operates in a competitive environment that really didn’t exist five years ago. The products that we have carried for years, the brands that we have helped build, can now be found in many other retailers in the area. Gone are the good old days when we had big margins and endless profits. When New Pi was the only game in town for organic foods, we didn’t have to earn peoples’ business. We now have to earn every customer’s business by being a better retailer; focusing on customer service, product selection and value; and increasing our work with local/regional producers. Taking the approach that we will just do what we have always done is both easy and destined to fail. As a business, we will need to embrace change and that will be difficult but necessary.
Board Can didate
Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Co-op in the community? The Co-op is many things to many people. Everyone I know from New Pi loves New Pi in their own way. For me, I started shopping there because it was the one place in town that had RBGh-free milk. So I started shopping there for produce and dairy. Over the course of two years, I had begun reading labels, trying new products, and was shopping exclusively at New Pi. My diet today is largely organic, far more healthy, and definitely more thoughtful than it was before I started shopping at New Pi. It was a fundamental and profound change in my early adult years that has shaped me to this day. I want to see that change happen again and again for others. Whatever you love about the Co-op, whatever motivates you to shop there, more New Pi means more of what you love about it for more people. It means more sales for local farmers and ranchers, more jobs in the community, and a greater force for positive change. I see New Pi as the wonderful combination of market forces and better human behavior all wrapped up in a nice, neat bag of groceries.
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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Kelli Kennon-Lane Occupation:
Induction Coach at Grant Wood AEA and owner of TheSustainableCouple.com
Education:
A.A. in Communications/Public Relations at Kirkwood Community College B.A. in Journalism Education from Wartburg College M.A. in Teaching with an emphasis in Language Arts from Coe College
Special interests:
I enjoy working on our urban farm: gardening, beekeeping, tending to the chickens, and creating new additions to the space. I also enjoy dining out with my husband, potlucks with friends, and catching live entertainment in the Corridor area.
e t a d i d n a Board C Q: Please summarize the aspects of your work experience you feel would be helpful to the New Pioneer Board and New Pioneer Food Co-op. Nine years of experience in public education, specifically the ability to moderate crucial conversations and find middle ground that is in the best interests of students, is one of my transferrable skills that will serve the New Pioneer Board - as is using coaching language to guide decision-making. I am a candid communicator and served as a teacher leader in multiple school districts in the area. I look forward to the chance to lead on the New Pioneer Board. As a sustainable living blogger I am very familiar with marketing local food producers, as well as connecting with producers, brands, and businesses that support sustainable living and eco-conscious initiatives. Lastly, I am a confident and comfortable public speaker, especially on topics related to urban agriculture, natural living, and sustainability. It is important for Board members to be visible and approachable, something I would do with pride if elected. Q: Have you served on a board of directors before? If so, please describe the organization and your role. Most recently I served on the Community Policy board for the Blue Zones initiative in the City of Marion. My work focused on supporting the development of an Urban Agriculture ordinance, community gardens, and promoting accessibility of local, healthy produce. After the Urban Agriculture ordinance passed, my husband and I launched an Urban Farming Series at the Marion Public
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Library in the winter of 2016 to provide citizens with free education on all topics related to urban farming. We are eager to teach this series again in the fall thanks to a partnership with the Indian Creek Nature Center. I also supported and coordinated the adoption of the City of Marion’s backyard chicken ordinance about three years ago, collaborating with City Council members and the Planning and Development office. This spring I served on the planning committee for the Indian Creek Nature Center’s “Women in Nature” conference. I believe this variety of experiences will support the New Pioneer Board’s current and future work. Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Board of Directors in the operation of New Pioneer Food Co-op? The role of the Board of Directors is to lead our Co-op in a direction that best serves the members through long term planning and policy development. This leadership is a system with many moving parts, which I see predominately as being: setting a standard for environmental and social responsibility, ensuring execution of the Coop mission statement, hiring and evaluating the General Manager, protecting the fiscal security of the Co-op, and forward-thinking decision-making. The Co-op is already ‘living’ these areas with vitality, not only in each of the stores, but in the surrounding communities. Therefore the Board should not be (and is not) involved in the day-today operation of the stores. The role of the Board is to support and refine this system to best serve the changing dynamics of the community, consumers, and producers. Q: As a Board member, how would you guide the Co-op in fulfilling the values reflected in its mission statement? (See New Pi’s mission statement inside the front cover.)
My skill set would be best used to support the mission statement values of stimulating local agriculture, the production of natural foods, and emphasizing product information and education. These three areas of the mission statement are interdependent, and would further secure the fiscal well-being of our Co-op. My professional and personal experience in these three areas would allow me to be a trustee for a group of untapped consumers; an initiative in which I am very passionate. Q: What do you feel are New Pioneer’s primary challenges and how could you help meet these challenges? If elected as a Board member, a challenge to address would be reaching not just the “natural products consumer” in the Corridor, but also the masses of busy professionals, large families, or food insecure in this area. While teaching the urban farming classes, it was apparent there is a great need and desire for high quality, affordably priced organic foods and goods in the Cedar Rapids area, but information on sourcing said foods and goods is slightly unfamiliar or overwhelming. Who better to address this need than New Pioneer? Q: In your opinion, what is the role of the Co-op in the community? Our Co-op is more than a grocery store; it’s a hub of the community for health and wellness using food as the catalyst. One stroll through any of the three stores and it’s clear this is a business that is focused on the welfare of all employees and the wellness of consumers. This is also evident in the community outreach, classes, and events that are hosted or sponsored by our Co-op. During my experiences as a Co-op Working Member, I was able to see the value that our Co-op provides to members and the community at large from a different perspective. Our Co-op is a place to refuel mind, body, and soul.
New Pi Purchasing Manager L i n da
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F ri t z - M u rphy
Can the Co-op Compete?
hese are interesting times for New Pioneer Food Co-op, as our competitors have more and more to offer. With a larger scale on their side, one wonders, “Can the Co-op compete with chain store pricing?”
We believe we can and we are, due in large part to the introduction of our new Co-op Basics program. We introduced Co-op Basics last November, featuring new products (mainly from the Field Day brand, which continues to expand their product line) that offer all the benefits of organic and clean food at walletfriendly price points. We hope our shoppers are learning to look for the purple Co-op Basics shelf tags to highlight these great bargains that deliver quality, integrity, and value. We have received a lot of positive feedback from our customers, such as these words from shopper Brittany B.: “I am LOVING the Field Day brand at New Pi. My husband and I shop at the Cedar Rapids location every week and I would say their prices (Field Day) are so comparable to Target’s organic brands that I can justify buying a lot more at New Pi.” In partnership with National Cooperative Grocers (NCG, the business service cooperative of food co-ops), hundreds of other co-ops across the country, and, most importantly, shoppers like you, this program has proven to be a huge success! Due to its popularity, NCG has been able to work with our manufacturers and distributors to expand the program offerings. In July we were able to include even more pantry staples like coconut oil, laundry soap, granola bars, sparkling water, family-size maple syrup, and even Organic Valley milk as Co-op Basics. And it doesn’t end here! Plans are in motion to develop even more clean and organic products
under the Field Day brand, including non-dairy beverages, nutritional bars, deodorant, toothpaste, protein powders, refrigerated orange juice, Greek yogurts, frozen entrées, and carbonated soft drinks. We are excited to see what the future holds as this program continues to grow! But our efforts to save you money don't stop with Co-op Basics. Longtime shoppers know that, in addition to shopping the new purple Co-op Basics tags, it pays to shop our orange sales signs. We continue to work with our vendor community to bring our shoppers terrific sales pricing for our twice-monthly sales flyers. We've also added 'Double Ad Wednesdays,' when you can shop the sale prices from both of our monthly flyers on the day the ads change over, and new organic produce sales every week. Need dinner in a hurry on a Tuesday? We have your back with our weekly Tuesday Rotisserie Chicken special of whole cage-free chickens for $7.99 or half chickens for $4.99. Weekend shoppers have taken note of the awesome flash sales we’ve been happy to bring you this past year. (If you don't receive our emails, sign up at www.newpi. coop). And we are diligently working on new ideas to help our customers stock up and save while keeping their money local. Can New Pioneer compete? Ultimately, that is in the hands of our shoppers. But we can and will continue to work hard to provide quality, innovative, healthy, and delicious food at excellent prices to serve both our shoppers and our community. Linda Fritz-Muphy New Pi Purchasing Manager
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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BELOW: Theresa Carbrey, right, and working members offer samples at numerous New Pi community outreach events.
How do we honor the Co-op Principles? 7 Cooperative Principles Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles and values, adopted by the International Cooperative Alliance (a global membership association of co-ops and co-op support organizations) in 1995. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England, in 1844. Principle #1: Voluntary and Open Membership Principle #2: Democratic Member Control Principle #3: Member's Economic Participation Principle #4: Autonomy and Independence Principle #5: Education, Training, and Information Cooperatives provide education and training for members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives. Principle #6: Cooperation Among Cooperatives Principle #7: Concern for Community While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and programs accepted by the members.
ABOVE LEFT: Genie Maybanks works Co-op outreach events and offers store tours to groups of school children, day camps, Boy Scouts, and book clubs. We’ve partnered with area fitness centers and gyms, and health-minded companies who make a tour of the Co-op part of their employee benefit plan. Let Genie show your group around New Pi at no charge! Contact Genie Maybanks: gmaybanks@newpi.coop (319) 248-6408. ABOVE RIGHT: Theresa’s helped coordinate Bike to Work Week and the Co-op to Co-op Bike Ride since the group’s inception over a decade ago.
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New Pi Education & Outreach Th e r e s a
C a rbr e y
How Do We Honor the Co-op Principles of
Education (#5) and Concern for Community (#7)? A
In the spirit of throwing great parties with a social message, New Pioneer hosted the Bike to Work Week Co-op to Co-op Ride in May, and provided music and refreshments for a Solstice Party in June at the new gardens of Grow: Johnson County, a non-profit farm created to provide fresh vegetables for the hungry, giving the public an opportunity to visit this new venture (Note: We hear they welcome volunteers! Info at www.growjohnsoncounty.org).
merry trio of New Pioneer Food Co-op outreach staffers – Scott Koepke, Genie Maybanks, and I – brought new ideas, new menus, and new opportunities to the Co-op community this past year.
Scott Koepke of New Pioneer’s Soilmates organic garden education program enchanted school children and adults alike with the message: “Food eats first!” Scott encouraged composting and let children handle real live worms, teaching that “All food comes from plants; all plants come from soil.” In the last year alone, Scott taught over 300 classes and reached over 10,000 kids through New Pi Soilmates. The Co-op has supported these classes at no cost to the schools. The Co-op has been proud to support Scott’s New Pi Soilmates work. This summer, Scott transitioned to a new position with Grow: Johnson County and running garden education programs at local prisons, and we wish him the greatest success in these endeavors.
It has been 46 years since I helped found New Pioneer. I have worked as Co-op Education and Outreach Coordinator for 29 years. I have served under every general manager we’ve ever had. It has been an amazing privilege to help awaken our community to the impact of diet on health, the environmental impact of food production methods, and how Fair Trade can improve work conditions and community services in the distant lands that grow our coffee, chocolate, and bananas. Membership in the Co-op has always been about good food and social change, almost in the same breath.
New Pi Marketing Coordinator Genie Maybanks hosted store tours for over 30 groups, keeping it lively, and making sure everyone got a chance to explore samples of new foods and learn about what makes our foods different. (Interested in a tour? Info in the photo catpion at left.) Both Genie and I were very active reaching out to the Cedar Rapids community, participating in a number of health fairs, and even giving cooking demonstrations at remote sites. Many Cedar Rapidians learned of the Co-op for the very first time at one of our outreach events, such as the Brucemore Garden and Art Show, the Prairiewoods Center Garden Party, plus numerous health fairs.
The idea of cooperatives as an alternative economic model inspired me back in the ‘70s and I see the longing for responsible business practices in the dreams of every Bernie supporter. The Co-op’s emphasis on supporting local growers came from our owners for all the right reasons and we have embraced the concept for culinary excellence, reduction of fossil fuel use, and improved food security. It has been an honor to work for such a remarkable organization! Our good employee practices have helped me prepare for my retirement, scheduled for January 1, 2017. I plan to continue to cook, garden, enjoy nature, and work for social justice. I look forward to pursuing these familiar favorite activities, and feel vague excitement about following new visions not yet manifest.
sa C Th ere
We saw yet another year of well-attended, sold-out cooking classes. More than 50 classes were offered at our cooking class venue in our Coralville store, with over 1,000 students attending. Multiple sclerosis survivor and medical researcher Dr. Terry Wahls inspired us, French Chef Valérie Martin demonstrated the preparation of a delicious Final Dinner on the Titanic, and Chef Gianluca Baroncini taught us to taste and taste again, always being generous with the olive oil.
ar b
New Pioneer has continued to help our community nonprofits through donations and sponsorships. We made more than 250 donations and sponsorships this past fiscal year (from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016), worth over $40,000 to our community.
re y
Theresa Carbrey New Pi Education & Outreach
annual report 2016 • www.newpi.coop
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A Fond Farewell to Theresa Carbrey J e n if e r
A n g e r e r
New Pi Marketing Manager
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“Whatever else you may have heard about hippies, they were an idealistic bunch. An unpopular war, environmental degradation, and political corruption led large numbers to seek alternatives in every aspect of life. I was in complete agreement with the philosophy of the newly incorporated cooperative. We early Pioneers looked at the food we were eating and how the land was treated and determined that we could do better.” – Theresa Carbrey
ooperation is a way of life for New Pioneer Food Co-op founding member and longtime staffer Theresa Carbrey. She is never content to simply discuss her beliefs; she puts them into action, joining with others to work toward the greater good. Her Co-op story, in brief: In 1970 she joined a group of friends who desired better food for the benefit of their bodies, the environment, and the local community and economy. “We saw how much the land had suffered and how the food was highly processed and preserved,” Theresa recalls. “Palates had been dulled by the excess of meat, sugar, and salt in our diets. We believed, then as now, that the food you eat plays a role in how you look and feel.” They pooled their resources to form a collective committed to bringing healthful, natural foods to our community, with a commitment to environmental stewardship. Theresa notes they felt: “isolated and alienated as a deviant sect because of our pacifist views. We were eco-lovers with a spiritual tint. We were kindred spirits in a hostile world. We longed to be pure and truly healthy by living in harmony with the earth and the environment.” In 1971, they formed the New Pioneer Buying Club (which would soon become New Pioneer Co-op), a business run by its members and housed in a church basement. Theresa and her cohorts regularly made the long trip to the Twin Cities to bring back bulk oats, flour, nuts, beans, peanut butter, honey, granola, and cheese. Back in Iowa City, these goods were divided among the buying club members. As they grew, they moved into their first storefront on Bowery. They had a big, sunny window where they played music and talked. Members brought containers from home to fill from cardboard boxes of bulk products. Backstock was stored in an unheated gravel-floored room. Their cash drawer was a cigar box. From these humble beginnings, the Co-op grew and grew. And Theresa has been there every step of the way. 24
Theresa began as a founding member of New Pioneer. Since then, she has been a tireless worker-owner, including holding a seat on the Board of Directors for three years. She began her present position of Member Services and Outreach Coordinator (among a multitude of other titles and responsibilities, including editor of Catalyst from 1987 to 2003) in 1987. As part of her work at New Pi, and as a dedicated community organizer, Theresa has played a pivotal role in countless major events, including: • Volunteering at the New Pioneer Bowery Street storefront in 1971 • Assisting in New Pi’s move to the Vine Building in 1973 • Founding Blooming Prairie Co-op Warehouse in 1974 • Helping move New Pi to the north portion of 22 S. Van Buren in 1977 • Serving as volunteer Education Coordinator 1978-1986 • Helping navigate New Pi product expansions including the addition of meat, fine cheeses, and wine • Founding Table to Table Food Rescue in 1996 • Founding Field to Family Local Foods festival in 2001 • Founding Earth Source Gardens in 2009 • Helping found the Iowa Pollinators Slow Money Investment Club • And acting as coordinator, founder, and facilitator for community events far too numerous to count and list! From the little buying club in a basement to a thriving threestore operation, New Pioneer has benefitted from the work of our dedicated idealist, Theresa Carbrey. I have had the honor and pleasure of working side by side with Theresa for the past thirteen years. I have personally learned so much from her, as have many others. I’ve caught her passion and – I hope – some of her drive. Theresa is amazingly creative and always has her (continued on next page)
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finger on the pulse of the next trend. She can easily break through the fluff to find the heart of an issue. I admire her so much. She has been an anchor for the Co-op through good times and bad, and now Theresa is hanging up her working hat and heading into her next adventure: retirement.
1987
For so many people, including myself, Theresa has been the face of the Co-op for the past 30 years. I can’t image the Co-op without her. Fortunately for us, even though we may not see Theresa in the office every day, we will continue to participate in an organization that has been indelibly marked by her indefatigable spirit. We will do our best to live up to her proactive, communityimproving, thought-provoking daily philosophy. We ask you to join us in expressing our appreciation for her tireless work and dedication to New Pioneer and its mission. We really and truly would not be where we are today without her contributions.
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Theresa’s retirement!
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New Pioneer Food Co-op Annual Owner’s Meeting
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2-4PM Sunday, Oct. 23 The Park Lodge Terry Trueblood Recreation Area 579 McCollister Blvd., Iowa City
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VOTE! VOTE! BALLOTS DUE OCT. 21 BY MAIL OR OCT. 22 IN STORE.
Prsrt Std U.s. Postage PAID
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New Pioneer Food Co-op Store Support Offices 22 S. Linn St., Unit 2A Iowa City, IA 52240
www.newpi.coop