Wheatsville Co-op Austin, TX

[Dan Gillotte <gm AT wheatsville.com>]

Hi friends.

Lots to report on this week:

Project news!

Wheatsville wins stuff!

Maybe Wheatsville can win other stuff?

Live Lightly Tour this THURSDAY!

Environmental FIlm Series, Kilowatt ours!

Earth Day!

New Products and Specials!

Board meeting date change

Expansion-asana

We are about to embark on our big and long awaited expansion project! Woo hoo! We're going to be taking a yogi-like approach to the expansion, remembering to breathe, staying flexible, etc. Details of how this will affect you are still being worked out, but in the earliest stages beginning next week , you may notice less parking along the fence. If you can't find spots, you should be able to find some in the back. Staff are going to be parking elsewhere, to help free up as many spots as we can for you. The main store won't be affected for a while, as we work on the retaining wall and the new office space in the former InStep building. You can stay apprised of changes affecting the store through these e-mails, on our web-site http://wheatsville.coop/expansion.html  and through in store signage.

Wheatsville Wins!

most of you already know the great reasons for shopping at Wheatsville, but there are a surprising number of folks who don't. That's why it's really gratifying to be placing so well in the new Statesman/ Austin 360 A-list poll project. We have won 2 polls over the past couple of months including 

Favorite Neighborhood Grocery

http://tinyurl.com/6o3dyh

Best Low-fat/ health-conscious option

http://tinyurl.com/6p6sla

Check out the write-ups to learn more and you may want to vote in some of the weekly polls yourself!

The Austin Chronicle Annual Restaurant Poll is happening NOW! Please consider helping Wheatsville bring home the gold on a category or two over there.

We would most especially love to win the Best Grocery Store category and we wouldn't mind snagging any of the following: Best Takeout, Best vegetarian, Best patio, or maybe Popcorn Tofu for Best Vegetarian Dish? You can vote here" http://tinyurl.com/3rjdhh Thanks for the assist!

Live Lightly Tour coming our way THURSDAY!!!

The Live Lightly Tour Arrives in Austin, TX
Matt, Sara, and their 4-year old, Bella are traveling around the U.S. educating others about living simply/sustainably, eating raw foods, and using veggie oil as fuel. Come check out their  "green RV" which features bamboo flooring, low-VOC paint, sunflower seed counter tops, solar power & more!  They pull a veggie oil powered VW Passat behind them as well!

Visit www.livelightlytour.com for more information.

Environmental Film Series sponsored (in part) by Wheatsville!

The Citizens League For Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) & Texas Clean Water Action presents a film screening of 

Kilowatt Ours

Thursday , April 17th, 6-8 pm at Ruta Maya Coffee House, 3601 S. Congress.

Kilowatt Ours reveals the consequences of our coal powered economy.The film opens with Vice President Dick Cheney's energy policy speech in which Cheney makes the claim that America needs nearly 1900 new power plants in the next 20 years to meet projected electricity demands. From here, filmmaker Jeff Barrie takes viewers on a journey from the coal mines of West Virginia to the solar panel fields of Florida, as he discovers solutions to America's energy related problems.

Following the film, a panel of special guests with answer questions from the audience related to the film. For more information about the film visit http://www.kilowattours.org/ Donations will be accepted at the door

Austin's EarthDay event is April 19th!

Wheatsville is a major sponsor of Austin Green Art's Earth Day event in Republic Square Park.

Austin Green Art, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to raising awareness of sustainability issues through art, announces its 3rd annual eARTh Day event. AGA will produce this free, community-wide event and the Austin Farmer’s Market will host it.  This all-day event includes the Earth Day Expo, local vendors will sell green products and educate people about environmental efforts; Green Art, outdoor exhibits of conscious art installations; Green Art Kids, all-day entertainment and activities throughout the day to engage children of all ages; Green Scene Scavenger Hunt and the Solar Jam, a solar-powered musical event. The talented musical line-up includes Belaharr, Djembabes, SaxManRand, and Big Chief Kevin & the Flaming Mardi Gras Indians.

WHEN:  Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.  For more information, go to www.austingreenart.org.

WHERE:  Republic Square Park (Fourth and Guadalupe Street)

New in Grocery!

Due to high demand, we would like to announce the availability of the world's first and only certified organic, 100% raw Cacao Butter (also known as Raw Cocoa Butter).

What is Raw Cacao Butter? (taken from www.rawfood.com)
From the cacao farms, to the packaging facility, to the workers and to you, we have done everything possible to ensure that super-high quality and integrity comes through in our finished food products. All sales of Sunfood Nutrition™ cacao products support indigenous farmers in Ecuador. To supply our quality, raw, unfermented, organic cacao and products made from this cacao, we pay each farmer 25% more than the price for regular, organic cacao in Ecuador. We have also been helping to fund the growth of infrastructure and irrigation on each farm to ensure quality cacao to our customers and to allow each farm to increase production (and therefore increase income). Also, at the processing location, where cacao butter is pressed and cacao powder is separated (amongst other things), we help provide education (regular courses on health, sanitation, etc.) and higher than standard salaries to all the workers. Your support of our cacao products has already inspired the recent planting of 100,000 cacao trees in Ecuador.

 

Fresh in the deli!

Springtime has brought cold soups back to the Wheatsville Deli - gazpacho is on the menu once more! Plus, our delectably peachy Sweet Serrano Salsa continues to deliver its pleasantly addictive spicy-sweet bite all month long - try it on your favorite taco! And don't forget to come in and sample our Co-op Share Fresh in the Deli recipes from our friends at Davis Co-op in Davis, CA, Asian Cabbage Crunch and Lentil Medley, in stock through the 15th.

Here's the latest news from the Mike Crissey in the Perishables Department:

 

FRESH NEW FLAVOR

 

Just in time for this month's sale on Cascade Fresh (65 cents, reg. 89 cents), I've decided to bring in a new flavor -- Green Apple Pie. The new flavor will replace Apricot Mango, which seemed to be the least popular flavor. Remember, not only is Cascade Fresh our least expensive yogurt, but it is cultured in each cup, has no preservatives, no artifical hormones, flavors or additives.

 

PAPER NOT PLASTIC

 

I recieved a question from an owner wondering what exactly the paperboard containers that are used for soymilk and cow's milk. Horizon Organics, Silk (White Wave) and Organic Valley have thin coatings of low-density polyethylene (also known as LDPE) on the inside and outside of the paperboard. LDPE has no known health hazards, according to the National Geographic Society’s Green Guide. The containers can also be recycled through a process known as hydrapulping, which separates the polyethylene from the paper and rinses the paper fiber to be made into products such as paper towel and tissue.

 

Next Board Meeting 

Tuesday April 29th 6:00pm-9:00pm

Location to be announced (Check the website for agenda and location)

I hope that you all have a great week!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy!