Our co-op community, November 2017

This article was originally published in November 2017

2018 Chinook Book sale

November 15 – January 1

Celebrate local businesses with Chinook Book! We will offer the books and cards for $5 off the retail price during the holidays. Save hundreds of dollars with coupons, including two redeemable at PCC stores. PCC will donate proceeds from the sale of books and the mobile app to PCC Farmland Trust. See Chinookbook.com for more information.

Terry DeBlasio nominated Inspiring Retail Woman of the Year

PCC’s Terry DeBlasio was nominated as a finalist for the Natural Foods Merchandiser’s Inspiring Retail Woman of the Year award at the Natural Products Expo East this past September. DeBlasio is the driving force behind PCC’s Health and Body Care department and was nominated because of her exceptional work for strong industry standards, her passionate advocacy for ingredient safety, and mentoring small businesses. She’s a leader with deep knowledge of her industry and has helped form a team with credibility and integrity. “My passion and advocacy for my department and my people has made our small team a mighty one,” says DeBlasio. Congratulations, Terry!

Our co-op community

PCC is community owned, so we partner with many local community organizations to support their important work in the community. If you would like us to support your work in the community, our team would love to hear from you! Reach out to us here.

Oxbow Farm family dinner

This fall, PCC sponsored the Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center Family Farm Dinner Oxbow’s mission is to inspire people to eat healthy, sustainably-grown food, and to steward our natural resources for future generations.

The dinner took place at Oxbow’s beautiful 30-acre certified organic farm in the Snoqualmie River Valley. The farm supplies produce to local stores (including PCC), restaurants, food banks, schools and consumers directly through a Community Supported Agriculture program. Its native plant nursery houses more than 120 ecologically significant species, an important resource for habitat restoration projects and research on the 200 acres of conserved forest and wetlands. Oxbow also was among the first farms in the region to be certified Salmon Safe.

Oxbow’s environmental education programs connect children with nature through agriculture. Knowledgeable staff work with schools to teach kids about food, nature and farming.

PCC’s Redmond store staff were on site to help kids learn how to make their own salad dressing. Brenna Davis, PCC’s VP of Social and Environmental Responsibility spoke about the importance of supporting Oxbow and organic farming, especially with the growing threat of climate change.

To learn more about Oxbow and all that it grows and does, visit oxbow.org/get-involved/.

PCC Community Grant winner

PCC’s summer quarter Community Grant recipient is Camp Fire Central Puget Sound! The $2,000 grant will fund a garden plot in the Colman Park P-Patch. Seattle P-Patches use organic growing methods.

Many growers contribute a portion of their harvest to local food banks. For Camp Fire, their garden plot is just beginning to take shape, and will support an environmental education program, teaching kids about food production. They will use the grant to purchase tools and supplies to get the garden growing.

To learn more about Camp Fire Central Puget Sound, visit campfireseattle.org/. To learn more about PCC Community Grants program, visit here.

PCC Cooks

November is the month for gathering around the table with new and old friends. It’s a time to celebrate with favorite dishes and show off with new sumptuous spreads, too.

We’re here to bring you all the options in a spirit of gratitude. Come join the fellowship for revamped classics with It’s All About the Sides, or experience new comfort foods with Fall Soups and Salads. We even have surprisingly healthy plan-ahead ideas in Fermented and Cultured Holiday Flavors.

Whether you are looking for new ideas for fancy feasts, like a Northwest Harvest Feast or an Elegant Italian Dinner, or hoping to find ways to cut corners, like time-saving Sheet Pan Suppers, we’ve got something to bring to the table! Come get acquainted with PccCooks.com to learn more.

November customer service star

Jayla Fisher, Courtesy Clerk at Columbia City – She brightens the day for everyone around her!

Also in this issue

The fight for animal welfare

While vegetarians and omnivores gather around holiday tables this month, one thing we all seem to agree on is the need for strong animal welfare standards.

Nutritionists' picks

Winter Squash: This seasonal produce comes in a variety of colors and shapes and all offer fiber and beta-carotene. They are delicious as a component of roasted root vegetables.

News bites, November 2017

The co-owner of a Massachusetts bakery says he'll comply with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) order to remove "love" from the list of ingredients in its granola but disagrees and doesn't really understand why he has to.