Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Thanks!

 

 

 

Wheatsville Logo

Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!

Thanks for coming in and shopping with us last week during our Owner Appreciation Days! We had a lot of fun and were happy to see so many familiar faces. And to our 43 new owners who joined our co-op last week - WELCOME! We are so happy you chose to join us!

January Notes:

  • You may see some new tags in the store near products made by co-ops. We created these in order to raise awareness for the role co-ops play in our food chain. This is just another small way you can help support a co-op economy.
  • You'll also find a Just Label It! petition at the front of the store on the Hospitality Desk. The petition is asking the FDA to mandate labeling of genetically engineered foods on product packaging.  You can sign at the desk or on-line. The petition has already gotten over 500,000 signatures and is well on the way to meeting the goal of 1 million. Please add your voice and help us get GMO's labeled.
  • We're also very happy to be sponsoring People's Community Clinic through our Community Action Wednesday Program and Children's Book Drive this month. Please donate your gently used English & Spanish children's books in the bins at the front of our store until January 31st. The books will be distributed to children in the clinic's waiting room.

 

Scroll on down for:

This week's One Big Thing

·         Texas Grown

·         Zhi Tea

·         The Big Game

·         Surf & Turf

·         Shine On

·         Texas Sake Company

·         Bulk Buzz

·         New at Wheatsville

·         Co+op Deals

·         Owner Deals

WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THING

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

This week's One Big Thing is... Johnson's Backyard Garden Carrots!

Why do we love them?

1. They're local!

2. They're organic!

3. They're so sweet & tasty!

 

Texas Grown

"Do unto those downstream as you would have those upstream do unto you." – Wendell Berry

We whole-heartedly concur with that statement, which is why we support sustainable, local agriculture.  While it might not be immediately apparent, winter in Texas is a great time to eat local produce!  The weather is mild and rains more abundant.

You won't see any Texas berries or peaches, there are plenty of citrus and cool weather greens to be had.  Our Texas-grown Organic Rio Star Grapefruit is a perfect example.  Grown in Hidalgo County, the heart of Texas citrus country, these big red beauties are a state treasure.

A bit closer to home, Johnson's Backyard Garden is cranking out some incredible beets with greens in red, gold, and Chioggia varieties.  The great thing about buying beets with the greens attached is you can eat the greens, too!  Did you know that chard and beets are very closely related? So close, in fact, that they can cross-pollinate.  I like to combine both beet and greens in a single dish, like this simple recipe I found on Epicurious.  It can be cooked in a single skillet and only takes a half hour!  The recipe can easily be tweaked with different herbs or spices.  Give it a shot.

- Adam, Produce Manager

 

Zhi Tea

Local, Organic Zhi Teas at the Wheatsville Deli!

We are delighted to introduce a wonderful line of local, organic Zhi Teas at the Wheatsville Deli! We are now carrying seven of Zhi's best-selling, most indulgent, aromatic, colorful, fresh and flavorful teas – hand-crafted in small batches and sold in individual, biodegradable (non-GMO) corn silk sachets.

The folks at Zhi use many of the finest organic and fair-trade ingredients in creating their tea blends, like red rooibos, coconut, cacao, anise, stevia leaf, peppermint, vanilla, pineapple, papaya, rose petals, orange peel and lavender.

Choose from Austin Breakfast, Jasmine Green, Restful Blend, Sweet Desert Delight, Tropical Green, Turkish Spice Mint and Custom Earl Grey, and get a steamy cup at the Deli counter for just $1.39! We hope you'll love our local Zhi Teas as much as we do!

Click here to read about all of our Deli deals & specials!

 

The Big Game

Are you starting to plan your Super Bowl Party? Are you looking for great food ideas? Here are some cheesy ideas!

Queso Flameado from the ever-delicious, Homesick Texan

Cheeseburger Ideas from the Cheese & Burger Society

Grilled Cheese Academy has lots of great recipes for almost 30 kinds of cheeses

 

Surf & Turf

Wheatsville now has Maple Leaf Farms White Pekin Ducks. They are antibiotic free and certified humanely raised by their own Trident Stewardship Program. Recipes as well as a good look into their farming practices and beliefs can be found on their website.

Whole ducks, boneless breasts or leg quarters and frames for stock can all be found in our cooler section. Remember, when roasting a duck it needs to be elevated in your pan or pot. Ducks have a lot of fat and it renders while roasting. Save that fat though - it's great for all sorts cooking ideas like frying french fries.

If you were hoping Wheatsville would get some Organic Chicken, then you're in luck. We have Mary's Free Range Chicken. These third party certified humanely treated chickens are great Step 5 Program with Global Animal Partnership.

Freezer Deals:

Natural Sea Fish Sticks...$4.29

Applegate Farms Homestyle Breaded Chicken Tenders... $4.29 (in the freezer across from the Deli's self serve case)

Applegate Farms Great Organic Hot Dog has moved to the freezer for a much better price of $6.99

It is almost Superbowl Sunday. Time to start thinking about those game day snacks. If you're going to have the grill or smoker out, go ahead a get some St. Louis Style Pork Ribs or our Premium Burger Blend - a sure way to impress your guests.

Wings are always a safe bet with football and our rubbed 6 Pepper Wings are a party favorite! If you prefer to construct your own flavor profile just remember a couple of easy steps. Rub your wings, roast for about 15 minutes to dry out the skin. Baste them and cook for 10 minute intervals for about thirty minutes.

 

Shine On

Shiner Wild Hare Pale Ale is here! Shiner Wild Hare is a classic American Pale Ale made with American two-row barley with a blend of Munich and Caramel malts for rich malt flavor and clear amber color. US Golding and Bravo hop varieties are used in the kettle and fermenter for crisp bitterness and assertive fresh hop fruit and floral aroma. More than a pound of hops is used to produce each barrel of Shiner Wild Hare.

 

Texas Sake Company

If you have yet to try the amazing sake from Austin's own Texas Sake Company why not get a bottle now? Austin's new Texas Sake Company makes sake in small batches using traditional methods. They are the first independently-owned sake maker in the USA and the first organic alcohol made in Texas AND they use organic Texas grown rice!

Find Texas Sake Company at farmer's markets around town and here at Wheatsville.

 

Bulk Buzz

Hello again all, this week I have some exciting new products to share with you. Over in the bulk department we are now offering Soy Curls. This delicious meat alternative is made from the whole soy bean, 100% natural, with no additives or preservatives. At only $7.99/lb they are a great way to make amazingly good meat free meals.

And, as the only retailer in Texas, we are proud to present the Pachamama Coffee Co-op brand of coffees to our bulk coffee section. They are a farmer owned co-op organization wholly owned by thousands of family farmers from Peru, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico and Ethiopia with 100% of the profits going to the farmers.  Organic, fair trade and at $13.79 it is a great way to support this wonderful idea.  We arecurrently featuring Peru Medium Roast, the Five Sisters Blend Medium Roast, an Extra Dark Roast and the Breakfast Blend Light Roast.

 

New at Wheatsville

We work hard to seek out exciting new products and flavors we think our members will love - here's what's new at Wheatsville this week.

 

Co+op Deals

As we head into our last full week of our current Co+op Deals, we want to remind you to stock up on your favorites before the sales end!

We're excited to introduce a new "crazy delicious" chip from Food Should Taste Good, Jalapeno Cheddar. This crunchy corn chip is loaded with the rich taste of real white cheddar, plus a spicy kick from jalapenos and crushed red pepper. Gobble these up while our first order lasts! These are on sale now for $1.99 reg. $2.89.

Click here for more Co+op Deals valid Wednesday, January 18th - Tuesday, January 31st, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

 

Owner Deals

This is the last full week of our current Owner Deals so be sure to stock up on all your favorites! We've put many of the items you love on Deal – so many in fact we needed two pages!

Want easy fluffy & light pancakes from locally made Batter Blaster? It's on sale now for $4.29 reg. $4.99. How about a light & flaky biscuit from Alexia? They're now on sale for $3.49 reg. $4.29.

Does the crunchy and perfectly salted goodness of Popcorn Indiana sounds enticing to you? Their amazing Kettlecorn is on Deal now for $3.39 reg. $3.99.

We saved the best for last when we included the velvety richness of Justin's Nut Butters, squeeze packs are now 79¢ reg. 99¢.

Click here for more Owner Deals valid Wednesday, January 18 - Tuesday, January 31st, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

 

I hope you have a most excellent week!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy

 

Co-op Made

"Cooperatives are a reminder to the international community that it is possible to pursue both economic viability and social responsibility."  United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon

In this new year, the International Year of Cooperatives, what can you do to purposefully forward the co-op movement? How can you work towards a society and an economy that resonates with your own personal values? How can you create change?
 
Wheatsville actively promotes and sells a number of products that have been made by co-ops. By using our collective purchasing power we send a message to business big and small that there is room and support for more co-op businesses. 

Consider buying and supporting these cooperative brands: 

 
Organic Prairie Meat  
Alvarado St. Frozen Bread
Organic Valley Dairy, Cheese
Tillamook Creamery Association Cheese
Cabot Creamery Cheese
Eden Foods Grocery
Blue Diamond Dairy, Grocery
Once Again Nut Butter Grocery, Bulk 
Pachamama Coffee Co-op  Bulk Coffee
 Equal Exchange Grocery, Bulk
Just Coffee Grocery
Frontier Grocery, Herbs, Bodycare
Simply Organic Grocery, Herbs, Bodycare
Aura Cacia Grocery, Herbs, Bodycare
Red Rabbit Cooperative Bakery


New at Wheatsville


We work hard to seek out exciting new products and flavors we think our members will love—
here’s what’s new at Wheatsville this week.


Just in time for Valentine's Day! Chocolove’s two newest treats expand on a selection of distinctly flavored chocolate bars made with all-natural ingredients and the classic techniques of Europe's finest chocolatiers. Each bar begins with creamy 33% cocoa Belgian milk chocolate, which is then combined with either dry roasted, salted peanuts or crunchy bits of salty pretzel sticks for a memorable take on two familiar favorites. The package design resembles a love letter sent from a distant land, and inside each wrapper - a classic romantic poem.
Reg. $2.69...3.2oz.



 


Frontera Gourmet Mexican Simmer Sauces Sauces:

In four new simmer sauces award-winning chef Rick Bayless authentically captures some of the most classic flavors of Mexico, drawing inspiration from small city taquerías and neighborhood cafes alike. These full-flavored sauces are made with fresh ingredients and fire-roasted chilés for extraordinary Mexican dishes easy enough for everyday meals. Transform ordinary ground beef, chicken and steak— even seafood— into legendary Latin cuisine.  Reg. $2.39....8 oz.


 

 

San-J Orange Sauce is an exciting new addition to San-J's line of Gluten Free Asian Cooking Sauces. It brings a delectable orange flavor to all of your favorite dishes and strikes a perfect balance when paired with tamari. Always a favorite at Chinese restaurants, you can now make Asian-style Orange Chicken easily at home. It's also a wonderful glaze on chicken, ribs, shrimp or tofu; is perfect as a stir-fry sauce on your favorite meats and vegetables; and great as a dipping sauce on spring rolls and dim sum. San-J Orange Sauce is certified gluten-free. Reg. $3.69....10oz  





All-natural Popchips, maker of the never fried, never baked, uniquely popped chip has a new flavor: Jalapeno. And not just any run-of-the-mill-jalapeno-chip-flavor, we'd dare say this is one of the best we've ever had! A vibrant green piquancy and respectable medium heat level does its chilé namesake justice-- Popchips Jalapeno chips are sure to be a favorite of pepper lovers. With less than half the fat of fried chips, they make a perfect accompaniment to any meal or snack. Gluten-free!
Reg. $2.59...3oz.