Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Happy Summer Solstice!

 

 

Wheatsville Logo

Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!

Today, June 20th, is the solstice and the official start of summer! While some parts of the country are still waiting on their first tomatoes of the season we've been enjoying some of the best nectarines, peaches, melons, tomatoes, basil and cherries we've seen in a long time!  People are loading up on fresh food and cold drinks, spending more time lazing in the shade, and hanging out with friends by the BBQ. If you're in the neighborhood, come by this afternoon as we Sip into Summer. Sample some of our frostiest cooooold drink picks and grab a piece of shade under our awning.

Our next Owner Appreciation Days are coming up soon! Mark your calendars for July 7th-15th when Owners will receive 10% OFF ONE ENTIRE SHOPPING TRIP. Yep, no matter how big your basket is or how many sales you scoop up, we'll give you 10% off the whole kit n' kaboodle. Owners wishing to place pre-orders to be picked up during Owner Appreciation Days should order by Sunday, June 24th.

And remember If you love Wheatsville, consider running for a seat on our Board of Directors.The next Orientation for Prospective Candidates will take place TONIGHT, Wednesday, June 20, from 6-7pm. More information and Candidate Application Packet can be found on our website! Please direct questions and RSVP to nominations@wheatsville.coop.The next Orientation will be on July 11th, 6-7pm.

Scroll on down for:

This week's One Big Thing

·         Sweet Summer

·         Sip into Summer

·         Grill it up!

·         Beat the Heat

·         Smellin' Good

·         Co+op Deals

·         Owner Deals

·         New at Wheatsville

·         OutYouth

WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THING

Every week, Wheatsville staff picks the product we're most excited about right now!

This week we are loving our local, organic Melons from Buena Tierra Farms in Fredonia, TX!

  • Most melons are loaded with B vitamins, Potassium and water - great energy boosters on a hot summer day.
  • Low in calories, high in fiber - a great fruit if you're watching your waistline.
  • Buying from a local farm means they can ripen & sweeten longer on the vine!

Sweet Summer

Shoppers walking through our produce aisles this week were greeted with a new sensation: the sweet aroma of perfectly-ripened, organically grown melons from Buena Tierra Farms.  We've got four varieties of melons from Buena Tierra this season: the green-fleshed and sugary sweet Galia, the pale yellow, mellow Crenshaw, the classically sculpted Tuscan Cantaloupe, and a new favorite: Sarah's Choice Cantaloupe.  Definitely not the looker of the bunch, Sarah's Choice will surprise you with its sweet, complex flavor.  We wait for melons from Buena Tierra all year long and now's your time to grab some!  Melons picked ripe are so much more indescribably flavorful than the ones picked early and shipped from California or Mexico.

We love the organic tomatoes that Johnson's Backyard Garden has been bringing us this year.  Following the success of their winter wholesale business, JBG planted hundreds more tomato plants this year and there are lots of great varieties to try.  We've got Yellow Taxi, Mixed Heirlooms, Round Reds, and a nice mix of cherry tomatoes.  If you're like me and you tend to shy away from tomatoes in the off-season, rejoice!  An in-season, organically grown tomato picked at the peak of ripeness and flavor just can't be beat!

Sip into Summer

Wow, it's hot out there! So come on in, cool off, and sip into summer with an iced Deli drink!
Our Grab'n'Go Icebox in front of the Deli Counter is filled with our best-selling cold beverages for you to grab-n-gulp with no wait! You will likely find our infamously eye-opening, 24-hour cold-brewed Iced Coffee Toddy, our sweet and fruity Gingerade, our simply sweetened Agave Lemonade and our delightfully pink and refreshing Hibiscus Mint Iced Tea!

Also making its seasonal return is our lean, green Cucumber Agua Fresca. The Cuke Fresca is deceptively simple – cucumber, water, fresh lime juice and organic raw agave syrup are blended together into a chilled masterpiece of thirst-quenching bliss, so c'mon in and try this delicious and good-for-you drink, on sale now for owners just 99¢!

New delicious, seasonal drinks are here as well! Looking for a caffeinated pick-me-up? Sidle up to our organic, fair-trade espresso bar for an Iced Raspberry Mocha, flavored with  shots of organic chocolate and raspberry syrup and blended to perfection with your choice of milk – cow, soy, rice, coconut or almond! Or maybe you'd prefer our Iced Caramel Macchiato! This sweet treat blends our espresso with caramel and vanilla syrups, and your choice of milk to make one fantastic cuppa Joe!

Our Iced Raspberry Mate adds a touch of fruity sweetness to our Yerba Mate, adding a touch of raspberry syrup to this popular coffee alternative! Or, try a cup of our classic Arnold Palmer, a refreshing split of our Organic Black Zhi Tea and our Agave Lemonade! Bottoms up!

On the cold drink tip, our all-fruit, no-filler featured smoothie is the tangy Orange Dream, a Creamsicle-like concoction of orange juice and vanilla, blended with frozen bananas and soy milk! This thick and creamy dream of a smoothie will satisfy your sweet tooth as well as soothe your sweaty self! Custom smoothies, of course, are also available – we'll make your drink any way you like it!

Click here to read about all of our Deli's new items, deals & specials!

Grill it up!

As we push further into to summer and the temperature climbs, grilling becomes a great alternative to the stove. There are plenty of delicious meats and vegetables that can be grilled. Wheatsville offers Humanely Raised and Sustainable choices from Niman Ranch and local sources like Windy Hills Farm, Bastrop Cattle Company, Richardson's Farm and one of our newest additions Bonner Farm.

One easy way to enjoy the grill is Kabobs. Marinated skewered meats are a global tradition on the streets, in the home and in all kinds of restaurants. There are plenty of marinades online to choose from. One of my favorites is simply sesame oil, Chinese Five Spice Powder and your favorite vinegar. Curries would also be a great marinade as well. If you are looking at local goat, beef or lamb meats in the freezer, Stew Meat is pretty much interchangeable with Kabob cuts (traditionally a Kabob cut is just a little bigger). Marinating at room temperature for about 3 hours is all you really need to pack that meat with as much flavor as you can. You should always bring meat to room temperature before cooking. One last thing, grill your veggies on separate skewers since they all have different cook times.

Wheatsville is proud to offer a new local Lamb from Valley Spring, Texas. It is American Grassfed Association certified heritage lamb. The Black Headed Dorper is a stout breed that fares well in our Texas climate. This small farm is owned and operated by Katherine Bonner. The love and care she puts into raising these animals is easy to see when you meet her. Raising these amazing animals is only one aspect the many facets of her busy life, and we look forward to being able to work with her more as Wheatsville moves forward to a second store and on. We currently offer Ground Lamb and Lamb Stew Meat in the Freezer. Give it a try. You will be supporting a hard working woman who is dedicated, on so many levels, to her farm, the animals she raises and to the people she is trying to feed.

It looks as though the Copper River has closed its fishing doors for the year. But, don't worry, places like Resurrection Bay and other rivers in Alaska are now open for fishing. This means the same species of great tasting, never been frozen Sockeye Salmon,is in season from the clean waters of Alaska.

Beat the Heat

Featured Item in House Wares:  Popsicle Makers!
Summer is in full swing and nothing beats a refreshing frozen treat to cool you down.  We have two nifty styles of popsicle makers to choose from:  a traditional set with wooden sticks for $15.99 and a silicone push-pop style for $9.99.  Fill with your favorite juice, fresh fruit or herbs, yogurt, iced tea or coffee - or invent your own mix for a custom creation.  The options are as limitless as your imagination!  Check out these fun and easy recipes from Eating Well Magazine, each just 100 calories or less per serving! 

H2O On the Go!
Did you know that the average adult should consume about 2 liters of water each day?  That's half a gallon!  We now offer 2.2 liter BPA-free reusable resin water bottles from New Wave Enviro for just $5.49 each.  Staying hydrated is easy when you fill one of these handy and portable bottles every morning.  You'll find them next to our bulk water machine, which offers a convenient ½ gallon fill option.

Smellin' Good

We have several awesome new items in Bodycare this week.  EO has come out with value-sized lotions and soaps and we've got 'em! 

EO Lotions come in 3 scents:  coconut-lemon, lavender-aloe, and citrus-mint.  Ultra moisturizing with pure essential oils and herbal extracts to keep skin soft and smooth this lotion can be used on face, hands, and body and at only $9.99 for 32oz. a great bargain! 

EO Soaps are all natural, plant-based, and made with pure essential oils. This 3 in 1 soap can be used as a shampoo, body wash, and bubble bath!  Also available in coconut-lemon, lavender-aloe, and citrus-mint and $9.99 for 32 oz. a real money saver for you and your family!  In addition, they are cruelty-free, paraben-free, sls-free and gluten-free! Wow!

The folks at Seventh Generation have come out with a brand new baby lineFree from synthetic fragrances, phthalates, and parabens they are also biodegradable, gluten and tear-free.  We are currently carrying the bubble bath, shampoo/body wash, lotion, and diaper cream. All retail for around 9 bucks, an affordable safe option for you and your baby!   Next time you're in pick one up to try and let us know what you think!

Co+op Deals

Summertime is officially here so to help you stay hydrated while never compromising on taste, we've lowered the price of Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade. This delicious summertime favorite is on sale now for 2 for $3 reg. $2.99 each. You can drink it the old fashioned way, make ice cubes with it or make homemade popsicles. Come in and stock up now!

Click here for more Co+op Deals valid Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 – Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

Owner Deals

With the weather getting warmer in Austin, nothing quite satisfies like a nice cone of coconut ice cream. Our Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss is on sale now for $4.99 reg. $5.99.

Click here for more Owner Deals valid Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 – Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

New at Wheatsville

We've got more new beverages to keep you cool and slake that thirst!
Click here to see what's new at Wheatsville this week.

OutYouth

We set a new Community Action record last week!  With your help, we collected $1,250 for Out Youth. This included last Wednesday's 1% of sales in addition to the bag credits and cash donated by shoppers at the cash register. That brings us to a cumulative donation of $2,350 for the month!

There is still time to support this wonderful organization, too. Shop on Community Action Wednesdays in June or donate at the cash register any day of the week. If you donate $1 or more, you'll receive a beaded bracelet – hand-made by Wheatsville Staff Members.Get one now while supplies last. In addition, our deli is still baking up our buttery, hand-decorated, Rainbow Sugar Cookies to help raise awareness for Out Youth

If you are interested in volunteering for Out Youth, visit their website to find out more about their next Volunteer Information Session.  It will be on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at their Drop-in Center at 2:30PM.  Although most volunteers usually want to staff the Drop-In Center and interact with the youth, they also need people who are American Sign Language and Spanish-to-English interpreters and translators.  If you have any questions about volunteering at Out Youth, please contact their office at (512) 419-1233 or volunteer@outyouth.org.

I hope you have a most excellent week!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy

No comments:

Post a Comment