Field Day Products

Field Day: Great Choices, Great Prices

Since the introduction of our Co+op Basics program, you may have noticed that many of these more affordable choices are from the Field Day brand. We selected these products as part of our commitment to expanding our product selection so that everyone can find affordable items that meet their individual needs while complying with our co-op’s purchasing guidelines.

Field Day offers everyday low prices on many popular grocery and household items, from cooking oils to dry goods. We chose Field Day because most of their food products are certified organic and made in the USA (some items may have imported ingredients). To be certified organic, a product can’t contain GMOs, but for those products that are not certified organic, Field Day has made a commitment to non-GMO sourcing, as well. 

At the Co-op, we have strong relationships with many of the popular national brands you know and love and we will always prioritize and seek out products made by our favorite local, small and fair trade producers. Including Field Day items on our shelves is just another way we are working to increase access to healthy, delicious food and make the Co-op an option for more people in the community so they can participate in a local, shopper-owned business!

Don’t forget to take advantage of the many great ways to save when shopping the co-op:

· Co+op Basics – get dozens of your most essential grocery items at our everyday low prices;

· Co+op Deals – our biweekly flyer focused on packaged grocery;

· Fresh Deals – our biweekly flyer focused on fresh produce, meat/seafood and deli;

· 20 for 20% – ownership has its perks; look for items marked 20% off for owners;

· Bulk – save when buying just what you need; buy a pinch or a pound

· 10% Transaction Discount—don’t forget that owners get 10% off two entire transactions of their choice through the year.

National Co-op Grocers' Climate Collaborative

Iowa City, IA – At the first-ever Climate Day event held at the Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim, California, on March 8, National Co+op Grocers (NCG) joined with the newly formed Climate Collaborative to announce a cutting-edge awards program for natural products companies that are demonstrating exemplary leadership on climate change.

“As environmentalist Paul Hawken told us during Climate Day, the data shows that food production and agriculture are major sources of climate-warming greenhouse gases,” said Nancy Hirshberg of the Climate Collaborative. “This means that our community of thoughtful, engaged leaders is especially well positioned to work together to be a powerful force in reversing climate change; just as we have worked together on so many other issues important to consumers and our world.”

The National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative Awards will be presented for the first time in 2018 to companies that commit to at least three of the nine Climate Collaborative areas of climate action and that expand the boundaries of current industry practices by taking innovative and meaningful action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in at least one commitment area.

The awards selection committee will consider manufacturers, distributors, brokers, suppliers and/or service providers in three categories: emerging (under $10M in revenue), mid-sized ($10M-$100M) and large (over $100M) companies. Climate Collaborative will support all companies that make commitments by providing resources, peer networking and opportunities to report on progress. In addition to choosing winners in these categories, the Climate Collaborative selection committee will also recognize outstanding climate action among retailers.

“The National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative Awards will shine the spotlight on companies that are leading the way on best practices to help reverse climate change,” continued Hirshberg. “Importantly, these awards provide a platform to share successful innovations, inspiring hope and continued action within our industry and beyond.”

NCG contributed $100,000 in 2016 to help launch Climate Collaborative and is an underwriter of the awards program. Officially launched with Climate Day at Expo West, Climate Collaborative is a new initiative within the natural foods industry bringing concerned companies together to take bold, meaningful action to reverse climate change.

“Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the business community,” said Robynn Shrader, NCG’s chief executive officer. “We know that businesses, including NCG, can and must do more. The Climate Collaborative is the unifying force that will engage and inspire the natural products industry to lead the way on behalf of consumers. We invite and encourage others to join us in this effort.”

NCG has made Climate Collaborative commitments in the areas of policy, agriculture and food waste. Additionally, since 2012 NCG has been offsetting a portion of its own greenhouse gases by funding and growing a Co+op Forest in the Peruvian Amazon.

A Message from the Vice President

The new Board has been seated, officers elected and we’re ready to get down to business.The officers for this year are: President- Laurie Niles, V.P.-Phil Weintraub, Secretary- Seana Watkins and Treasurer-Scott Richman.

 One of our top goals for this year is to find the new location for the store. This has proved to be a bit more difficult than I originally thought as there haven’t been many locations that fit our needs. They say good things come to those that wait, so I have confidence that an ideal location is going to come available.

Another important goal is to have a contested election again this fall. Last year we had six candidates run for three Board positions. I only hope it was a sign of things to come. This year there will be three seats up for election once again. If you have any interest, please come to a Board meeting and see how the Board works and what is involved. We have a committee that will be working year round on the election and soliciting candidates. Our goal is to have the ballot set much earlier this year to give the candidates an opportunity to speak to the membership. 

Members of the Board will be in the store during all of the Co-op's quarterly Eat Local months. Please don’t hesitate to ask us questions. We look forward to any opportunity to hear your concerns.

-Phil Weintraub, Vice President

Round Up

Round Up and the Bag Tokens

The Co-op made a big change to our donation program in February. We retired our Bag Token program and introduced a brand new Round Up at the Register process. Our shoppers now had a chance to round their purchases up to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to a local charity—in February it was the Torres Community Shelter. Despite being a well-established program in other cooperatives around the country, we weren’t sure how Round Up would go over here in Chico. Our staff guessed that the monthly donations would range anywhere from $400 - $800.

Our shoppers donated more than $4,400 in one month!

We are floored. We knew that Co-op shoppers were a generous bunch, but this is fantastic.  Round Up is just one more example of how the collective actions of dedicated, ambitious individuals can add up to make a significant impact. We can’t wait to see what happens in March, when our partner organization is Growing Healthy Children.  

Staff Picks: Sara Jean

SaraJean Weller is the Co-op's new Deli Manager. In her time at the Co-op she has shared her extensive kitchen experience, an abounding passion for fresh, natural foods, and a deep appreciation for the Cooperative principles of fairness, democracy, and transparency with staff, owners, and customers. SaraJean kindly took some time out from planning and preparing the foods that nourish Chico to tell us a bit about her favorite things to get at the Co-op.

Pacific Culture Spicy Carrots

They elevate everything. They are a great addition to any snack. I wrap them in prosciutto. Just talking about them makes me want to eat them.

Ciao Bella Key Lime Ice Cream Sandwiches

My friend’s mom lives in Florida and makes the absolute best Key Lime pie on the planet. These things are the closest thing I’ve had to a true Key Lime pie I’ve had in California.

Orland Farmstead Frommage Blanc

This is one my favorite cheeses. It is super versatile. Smooth tangy finish. I love to cover it with raspberry jam and eat it on top of vanilla wafers. Amazing.