The Co-Op Advantage

For more than 30 years, Twin Cities Natural Food Co-ops have been providing local communities with an extensive, ever-growing variety of fresh, local, sustainable, Fair Trade and organic food and products.

Over those three decades, they have built close relationships with local farmers, growers and artisans—providing a level of safety and trust. Nearly 25 percent of their food sales are from products that are locally grown or produced. Why is local so important? The fruits and vegetables sold at co-ops are purchased from local farmers when the food is ripe. The food is transported quickly and carefully to co-op stores for maximum freshness, flavor, and vital nutrients.

When people buy in-season, locally grown and organic foods, they not only receive better tasting food, they also support minimal use of carbon- based fuels and fertilizers, making less of an impact on the environment.

In addition to local and organic foods, co-ops offer a vast assortment of flavorful spices, artisan cheeses, grass-fed meat and dairy products, Fair Trade coffees, teas, and chocolates.

There are more co-ops per capita in Minnesota than anywhere else in the country. There are 11 community-owned Natural Food Co-ops serving the area’s nearly 3 million residents at 14 locations ranging from Cambridge to St. Peter, Chanhassen to Stillwater, and all points in between. While co-ops are member-owned, everyone is encouraged to come in and take advantage of the fresh, flavorful food and friendly service.

For more information, visit www.twincitiesfood.coop

Stop by a local co-op and find out what’s in it for you!

Anoka Lakewinds Natural Foods 1917 2nd Ave. S. Burnsville Valley Natural Foods 13750 County Rd. 11 Cambridge City Center Market 122 N. Buchanan St. Chanhassen Lakewinds Natural Foods 435 Pond Promenade Minneapolis Eastside Food Co-op 2551 Central Ave. N.E.

Minneapolis Linden Hills Co-op 2813 W. 43rd St. Minneapolis Linden Hills Natural Home 2822 W. 43rd St. Minneapolis Seward Co-op Grocery & Deli 2111 E. Franklin Ave. Minneapolis The Wedge Co-op 2105 Lyndale Ave. S. Minnetonka Lakewinds Natural Foods 17501 Minnetonka Blvd.

Northfield Just Food Co-op 516 S. Water St. St. Paul Mississippi Market 1810 Randolph Ave. St. Paul Mississippi Market 622 Selby Ave St. Peter St. Peter Food Co-op 119 W. Broadway Stillwater River Market 221 N. Main St.

Working toward a waste-free tomorrow

Eureka Recycling believes that resources are valuable—like gold—and should be managed wisely. To accomplish this, the community-based organization puts into practice a model of resource management rather than waste management, a model that assumes waste is preventable, not inevitable.

Through careful planning, recycling and composting, events like Fresh Taste Festival are designed to follow this same waste-free concept.

You can make a difference simply by changing the way you look at waste. Individuals, restaurants—even entire cities—are joining a growing movement toward zero-waste by implementing composting programs. Instead of sending food scraps or non-recyclable
paper to landfills or incinerators (both of which contribute to climate change), we can compost food scraps and non-recyclable paper to create the nutrient-rich soil farmers need.

• Right now, you can compost at home with a simple backyard bin or worm-composting bin. Eureka Recycling offers composting workshops to help you get started.
  
• Eureka Recycling works closely with restaurants,
  co-ops and farmers’ markets in Minneapolis to implement composting programs.
  
• Eureka Recycling also assists with dozens of zero-waste events each year, like the Fresh Taste Festival. Call 651-222-7678 if you’d like to plan a
  zero-waste event.

To learn more about composting opportunities, please visit www.eurekarecycling.org.

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