Your co-op community, October 2016

This article was originally published in October 2016

Food bank packaging parties

Help package bulk foods into family-sized portions. Join us:

Monday, October 10, 7 p.m., West Seattle Food Bank

Wednesday, October 12, 6:30 p.m., Maltby Food Bank

Wednesday, October 19, 7 p.m., North Greenwood Food Bank

Thursday, October 20, 7 p.m., Chicken Soup Brigade Food Bank

Monday, October 24, 6:30 p.m., Redmond Hopelink Food Bank

Preregistration not required. Due to space restraints, groups larger than five people should contact the food banks directly to set up group volunteering activities.

To learn more visit pccmarkets.com/foodbank.


Futurewise’s Feast with Friends

Tuesday, October 4, 6 p.m.

Feast with Friends is Futurwise’s signature benefit celebrating Washington’s rich agricultural bounty. Top Northwest chefs and restaurants partner with local farms and food artisans to create delectable tastings from fresh, seasonal ingredients paired with Washington wines. PCC will be there delivering an amazing meal. To learn more about Futurewise and reserve your seat for the dinner, visit futurewise.org/feastwithfriends.


Voracious Tasting

Thursday, October 6
Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center

Indulge in an evening of unlimited bites from Seattle’s premiere restaurants, food trucks, specialty food artisans and mixologists. PCC sponsors this event benefitting the Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance. We’ll be there sampling some of PCC’s best. Come give the Color Wheel a whirl to win a fun prize. For tickets and more information visit seattleweekly.com.


Meadowbrook Harvest

Friday, October 7, 5 to 7 p.m.
Meadowbrook Community Center
10517 35th Ave. NE, Seattle

Welcome the new season with cider pressing, pony rides and more. PCC will be there with our Color Wheel, quizzing folks on food trivia for a chance to win a prize!


Buy bagged apples, support kids

Now beginning our fourth year with this program, PCC has again partnered with Washington organic apple growers and Organically Grown Company (the Northwest’s largest organic produce distributor) to fund farm-to-school education in our region.

Proceeds from bagged organic Fuji apples in specially marked Farm to School bags will support children’s programs focused on food and nutrition throughout the greater Seattle area. To date, more than $150,000 has been donated — and the 2015 harvest season was the most successful yet, with a contribution of $62,000 to Seattle Tilth.

These fresh apples are in PCC’s produce departments this fall, timed with the harvest.


Tilth Gala

Saturday, October 8
Historic Hangar 30 at Magnuson Park
7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle

Silent Auction, drinks and appetizers begin at 5 p.m. Live auction and dinner begin at 7 p.m.

Enjoy a meal with local, organic ingredients, including vegetables grown at Seattle Tilth’s educational farms. You’ll have the opportunity to choose from a selection of auction items, including restaurant tours, interesting classes, spa experiences, outdoor adventures, weekend getaways, gardening opportunities and more. Also enjoy a silent auction, wine grab and dessert dash.

To purchase tickets online, please visit: https://foodlust.auctionreg.org/registration.


Pumpkin decorating party

Saturday, October 29

  • 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Bothell, Columbia City, Edmonds, Greenlake Village, Issaquah, Redmond and West Seattle PCCs
  • 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Greenlake Aurora PCC

No tricks here, just treats. Kids 12 and younger: decorate your very own pumpkin to take home. We’ll provide the pumpkins, craft materials and a healthy snack to get the creative juices flowing.


PCC Cooks

When the weather starts to get cooler and the days darker, it’s time to fall back in love with the warmth and comfort of your kitchen. PCC Cooks invites you to join us this October for inspiring global menus, holiday prep technique workshops and creative classes for kids from two to teens. Autumn-ready topics abound, from hearty Greek Country Cooking to seasonally superb Autumn Soups and Salads and cheer-inducing Good Mood Food.

Get set for the holidays with All About Pie — let us get you on the road to successful holiday pie-making with two delightful flavor combinations: Apple Cranberry Pie with Ginger Pecan Streusel and Pear Fig Pie. Plus, Infusing Flavors will inspire creativity as you delve into the wonderful world of infusions with oils, vinegars, broth and even ice cream! Visit PccCooks.com to view the full class schedule.

Also in this issue

Good gut advice: eat more fiber

Eating fiber can provide nutrition for our microbiome, which is key in regulating our overall health. Legumes, pulses, whole grains, bulbs (such as onions, garlic, fennel, sunchokes and leeks), fruit, nuts, seeds and dark chocolate are especially good sources of fiber for a healthy gut.

More good news about coffee

Coffee once was thought to cause harm, but more than a decade of studies have poured in reporting health benefits of the bitter brew, indicating it helps fight cardiovascular disease to depression. Here's a look at some recent findings.

Can oyster farms make Puget Sound a little more wild?

Agricultural pollution is one of the most significant challenges facing Puget Sound today. Could oyster farming be a force for advancing environmental protection of local waters?