Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Mother's Day

Hi folks!

This week, we'll talk about:

Our expansion project!
Mother's Day!
Local produce and Mushroom mania!
News from the Herb department!

We've had a pretty exciting week at Wheatsville! We had a nice groundbreaking ceremony last week and were on tv! 
Board at the ground breaking:

We also had demolition work on one of our external storage buildings!
Red Door

They have also started work on the former InStep building, our new offices and meeting room space.

Next week will be more of the same. You can stay up to date on our project via these weekly e-mails or on the web-site at http://wheatsville.coop/expansion.html

Thank you for your patience so far during the project. I'd like to remind you that you will find it easier to park early in the morning before 11am and after 8pm. We have more parking available behind the store after 5pm during the week and all day on the weekends. One other piece of advice, take the FIRST parking spot that you encounter when pulling into the parking lot. Don't drive around to see if there is a better one. I often see people pass up a spot or two immediately upon entering the lot and then not finding a spot on the other side. If you walk, ride your bike or bus, you should have easy sailing still!

We love our Mothers

My mom is in town this week, so we are celebrating on Sunday with a picnic at Mayfield Park. We're going to pick up sandwiches and beverages to go from Wheatsville and head on over to that delightful park. You can do the same. (But you don't have to go to Mayfield Park, especially if you're afraid of peacocks for some reason... You can just choose your favorite park.) 

Making Mom breakfast in bed can be pretty nice, even if it's just Nature's Path Toaster Pastries or Lifestream Waffles with Organic Maple Syrup. (Little kids can even handle making these!)

Mother's Day will be celebrated in the Deli this weekend with strawberry shortcake, fresh greens and lovely beet salads. Florentine meatballs, barbecued chicken and grilled ahi tuna are back in the deli case as well. 

Wheat-free Wednesdays are still going strong in our bakery with a delicious assortment of baked goods – including our newest addition, delectable Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookies – come on in mid-week and try one! 

Don't forget to ask for a sample of our exceptional Fresh in the Deli special recipes from the Community Co-op for May, packed with tangy Greek flavors!

 


Semi-Pedantic Produce Prose from our new produce manager, Johnny Livesay.
 
Wheatsville 's Produces Department Local Produce Selection
 
We're currently carrying a bountiful selection of local organic and conventional produce.
From the kind folk of Buena Tierra Farms of Fredonia, Texas we are presently offering organic loose beets, bunches of basil, yellow squash, and beautiful napa cabbage. We have gorgeous organic loose turnips from Morrison Organic Farms based out of Cleburne, Texas. Reliable Brand organic tomatoes from Cedar Park are looking great and are ready for slicing. The Rio Star organic grapefruit from South Texas are huge, sweet and delicious. We also are carrying some beautiful hydroponically grown Bibb lettuce from Amador Farms from down the road in Dripping Springs. This has been a customer favorite for the past few months around here. The kids from the Eastside continue to deliver amazing looking, and tasting, pesticide-free collard greens through the Urban Roots program. Check them out on the web: http://www.youthlaunch.org/programs/seeds.php
 
Organic Mushrooms are in!
 
We have expanded our fresh organic mushroom selection this week. We currently are offering seven varieties of organic mushrooms! Look for packs of Portabella Caps, Baby Bellas, Maitake (hen of the woods), White Beech, Brown Beech, and King Trumpet mushrooms. All of these varieties are great for sautéing. We also have bulk organic Shitakes, which are great for stir-frys.
 
It's Asparagus season and I have a short video on Youtibe demonstrating how to prep your asparagus for maximum tenderness. (It is shot kind of poorly, but is still informative. (Or so I have heard...)
Herb department news from Health Team Clerk and Herb tender, Miranda!

Greetings from aisle 5!  I've added some exciting new items to our selection of bulk teas, herbs and spices.  


We now have Organic Ground Chipotle, regularly $26.49/Lb, on sale for the month of May at $22.49/Lb.  


I'm excited to bring in the Organic Chinese Five Spice Blend so many of y'all have requested.  This is a blend of organic cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and white pepper; perfect for stir-fry.  Regular price is $14.99/LB, on sale for the month of May at $12.99/LB.  


I am also pleased to announce the return of our Organic Detox Tea from Starwest.  We were unable to get this blend of organic burdock, dandelion root, peppermint, red clover, licorice, yellowdock and ginger for a while, but it's back now at $14.99/LB.  


Due to an ordering snafu I have some Conventional Nettles on my hands, and that means a great deal for you!  Get 'em while you can, $9.49/LB til they're gone.

The item I'm most stoked about?  Chia seeds!!  We've been carrying them for a while, but I recently moved these to a large jar on the bulk herbs counter to accommodate demand.  Growing sales have also allowed us to lower the price to $15.39/LB, $13.00/LB for special orders of one pound or more.


Have a great week!

Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy (And Youtube videographer)