Strawberry Recall

To our valued customers,

The Co-op takes food safety seriously, and the health and well-being of our shoppers is our top priority. As such, we consider it our duty to share with our customers that CNFC may have sold strawberries from a supplier that is currently being investigated in relation to a Hepatitis A outbreak. Here is what we know:

·         There are currently no known cases of Hepatitis A infection connected to the Co-op. However, transparency is important to us, and we want our shoppers to know how seriously we take this.

·         The items in question are 1 lb. packages of organic strawberries, packaged by “Fresh Kampo”, sold from 3/8 – 3/11 and 3/22 – 3/24.

o   In the time period in question, the Co-op sold 32 units of these strawberries.

·         If you have any of these strawberries still in your possession (for example, in your freezer) please throw them away and the Co-op will offer you a full refund.

·         No other strawberries sold by the Co-op have been connected, in any way, to the current Hepatitis A investigation.

·         The current Hepatitis A outbreak thought to be caused by issues at producer level, not with retailer practices.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, [LM1] if you have purchased and consumed the affected strawberries and are not vaccinated against Hepatitis A, you should consult with your primary care physician.

Fresh Kampo is a large organic strawberry seller. Their berries are carried in WinCo, Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Safeway, and many other grocery chains. While we have sold a relatively small amount of their strawberries, that doesn’t make it any less important to us or our customers. We take transparency and food safety very seriously. [LM2] Please know that we do everything in our power to make sure the food we sell is safe, fresh, and delicious.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out the Co-op.

 [LM1]Added a link to the FDA announcement, so folks can go right to the source.

 [LM2]I think you can nix this sentence, or revise. While it’s a small number sold, even 1 is a big deal to the people who bought it/ate it.

Why Join? With Sheila McQuaid

The Co-op is looking for owners to join our Board of Directors! You may be wondering, though, "What is the Board of Directors, and why should I join?" Who better to answer that then someone who has already served on the BOD? Read on to learn more about the experience of Sheila McQuaid.

(And, as always, if you want to apply, visit our website!)

We caught up with former member of the Board of Directors Sheila McQuaid to learn a little bit about her experience serving on the Co-op’s BOD.

Why did you decide to join the BOD?

Sheila: “I’ve been a member of the Co-op for a long time and thought joining the Board would be a way to support the great work the CO-op does for our community. I thought getting experience ona Board would be interesting, and it was!”

What were some of your takeaways from participating in Board work?

Sheila: I learned a lot about the exceptional values of the Co-op and lots more about the National Co-op organization [National Cooperative Grocers, or NCG]. The work is challenging, but the snacks are awesome! I would do it again and highly recommend the experience to other Co-op members who have the time to spare. I miss working with the other Board members, they’re such an inspiring group!

If you want to learn more about joining the Co-op’s Board of Directors, or are ready to run, download an application from our website!

Why Join? with Michael Lee

The Co-op is looking for owners to join our Board of Directors! You may be wondering, though, "What is the Board of Directors, and why should I join?" Who better to answer that then someone who has already served on the BOD? Read on to learn more about the experience of Michael Lee, former Board Treasurer and President.

(And, as always, if you want to apply, visit our website!)

I ran for the CNFC Board of Directors in the 2019 election for two primary reasons. First, I wanted to better connect with our community and more fully understand the Co-op, its vendors and farmers, its place within the community, and our local food systems. I have lived in Chico since 1998 and have been very involved in our local community since moving here. My intent for running for the CNFC Board of Directors was a furthering of that community involvement. 

Second, as I have been a Co-op owner and shopper for many years and fully believe in the Co-op’s vision and place in our community, I wanted to join the leadership to add experience and perspective as well as be a part of and affect the future vision and growth of the Co-op. 

Participating in the CNFC Board of Directors was extremely rewarding. The involvement offered me the opportunity to contribute and positively affect the future of the Co-op through Board-led democratic leadership. The CNFC Board of Directors was a very welcoming environment, with resources available to those seeking to learn and contribute at whatever level they feel comfortable. This lent itself to inclusivity of all Directors, regardless of background or experience. And as a result of this welcoming environment of the CNFC Board of Directors, I had the opportunity to meet and work with a wide variety of wonderful people, all with diverse backgrounds and experience, yet all equally passionate about the Co-op.

Lastly, as my involvement on the CNFC Board of Directors included being a member of the Finance Committee, becoming Treasurer, and eventually becoming President, I would strongly recommend to those considering nomination to, if elected, consider further involvement by way of committee or Officer election. The Co-op’s success hinges on leadership passionate about its vendors, employees, owners, customers, and place within the community. Election to the CNFC Board of Directors is a wonderful way to be a part of that leadership. And further committee or Officer work is an even more effective and rewarding opportunity within that role.

-Michael Lee

Join the Board!

The Co-op Wants Your Leadership!

The Co-op is currently looking for interested owners to run for the Board of Directors. If you’ve been looking for a chance to have a bigger impact on your local food system, this is it!

The Board of Directors is the Democratically Elected Leadership of the Co-op.

Board members oversee the work of the General Manager, attend monthly meetings, and correspond with each other to keep updated on the status of the Co-op and to make long-term plans for the organization. A more full description of Director duties can be found here. Members of the Board of Directors receive a 15% discount on all purchases at the Co-op, excluding alcohol.

The Board Election Takes Place in April.

Applications are due by the end of March, and the election itself takes place in the second half of April.

Only Co-op Owners Can Run for the Board

Candidates must be CNFC member-owners for 6 months prior to the election and be in good standing. 
Board members should be able to make a commitment of 10 hours per month for Board service.

Learn more by contacting the Board: bod@chiconatural.org

Winter Turkeys at the Co-op

The Co-op is pleased to announce that we will have an abundance of Diestel Family Ranch turkeys available for purchase for the holidays. CNFC has partnered with Diestel as our turkey provider for many years because they share our passion for sustainable agriculture and high standards of animal welfare. Learn more about these turkeys below.

We are carrying two varieties of Diestel turkeys currently:

Non-GMO Whole Turkeys: $3.99/lb

Diestel’s classic, delicious, slow-raised turkey, raised on an entirely Non-GMO diet. It’s Non-GMO certified, so you don’t have to worry!

ORGANIC HEIDI’S HENS: $5.89/LB

Treat yourself and your family to a humanely raised, organic turkey this year. The Heidi’s Hens line of turkeys from Diestel is USDA certified organic as well as Non-GMO project verified.  They are the popular Broad Breasted White turkeys, which guarantee ample amounts of white meat.

We are not taking reservations for these turkeys—come on in and get one!

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Roasting intructions from Diestel Family Turkey Ranch: 
http://diestelturkey.com/roasting-instructions/

STAYING STOCKED AT THE CO-OP

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt in many aspects of our lives. One that is particularly challenging for our co-op is the impact on our food supply — demand for many products—combined with disruptions in the production and transportation sectors—is again exceeding supply, reducing our ability to keep our shelves fully stocked to meet the needs of our members and shoppers.

Early in the pandemic, panic buying was the cause of many of the out-of-stock situations that grocers experienced. Although the food industry was able to rebound somewhat, the sustained nature of the pandemic, combined with the slow pace of vaccination globally and the recent surge caused by the Delta variant, have resurfaced the problem. There is a scarcity of many raw materials and labor shortages persist for national manufacturers, distributors and transportation companies alike. Key materials used in food and beverage packaging, especially glass and aluminum, are in short supply.

While the food industry is taking many steps to mitigate the problem, recovery estimates continue to be delayed and out-of-stocks on some products from national suppliers are likely through the end of the year. Fortunately, we are members of NCG, National Cooperative Grocers, a nationwide cooperative made up of grocery co-ops. NCG has been working with our major distributors to make sure we, and other co-ops around the country, are being prioritized.

When an item is out of stock for a week or more:

·         We will replace the out-of-stock item with a similar product;

·         The replacement may be a bit different—in price, style, or flavor;

·         We will monitor the status of the original, out-of-stock item;

·         When supply is restored, we will bring back the original item (unless the new replacement is just too good to part with!)

Our food system is strong, and these challenges will be resolved in time. You can rest assured that everyone here at the Co-op is working hard at keeping our shelves stocked with delicious, healthy food that you will love. Thank you for your support and patronage as we continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic. We’re all in this together!