Just Local Food 101

Just Local Food 101

When was the last time you were excited about buying groceries?

You’ll find out all about our products, hear the stories of our farm
partners and suppliers, and get to taste various samples. At the end of
the personalized store tour, you can go on a shopping spree and get a
10% discount. Knowing the stories behind the food helps you understand
why buying just and local food is both important and rewarding.

Fri Sept 17 6:30 - 7:30pm
Tue Sept 21 7 - 8pm
Tue Sept 28 9am - 10am
Tue Oct 5 7pm - 8pm
Wed Oct 13 9am - 10am
Mon Oct 25 7pm - 8pm


from last year, Spectator:
Just local fun
'Just Local Food 101' teaches the benefits of organic and local food

All food has a story behind it. At Just Local Food, anyone can find out
that story.

Tonight starting at 7:30 p.m., Just Local Food, 1117 S. Farwell, will
open its doors to anyone who wants to learn a little more about local
food. Their session is called "Just Local Food 101."

People can come in, take a tour of the store given by a store employee
and browse all product sections. This is all an opportunity to ask any
questions about suppliers, good topics and basic nutrition.

Aaron Ellringer, one of the owners of Just Local Food, said one of the
store's missions is to educate more people about local food and having
the event was very crucial to that.

According to the Just Local Food Web site, its "mission is to provide
delicious food, local products and loving and dedicated service in order
to promote healthy people and a healthy planet."

Ellringer said many people have questions about Just Local Food and this
event is a way to address many of those questions.

"People wonder what is organic? What is available year-round? Is it more
expensive? Does it taste different? We want to address that," he said.

Ellringer has definite experience when it comes to nutrition, he said.

He has worked in and co-managed various grocery stores for more than 10
years, has worked on local farms and has experience dealing with
regional farmers and producers, he said.

Though people might enjoy learning about the food they eat, others might
find that the end of the tour is worth their while.

"You get a virtual tour of our local countryside, learn about some great
local food producers, ask that burning question and take a discounted
shopping spree at the end," Ellringer said.

For those that have never been interested in buying food locally or
organically, Ellringer suggests taking a trip to the Phoenix Park
farmer's market sometime in the summer to experience all the different
kinds of food they have to offer.

Just Local Food offers food from many places in Wisconsin.

Their suppliers include Blackberry Hills Farm, which supplies fresh
fruits and vegetables from Dunn County; Bullfrog Trout Farm, supplying
fish from Menomonie; Gingerbread Jersey Cheese from Augusta; and Sand
Creek Brewing, locally made beers from Black River Falls.

Ellringer said Just Local Food will start holding these types of classes
on a more regular basis so many more people can attend.

They are also expanding the type of classes to include "Produce 101,"
"Local Meat 101" and "Local Beer 101."

For more information on Just Local Food, visit
justlocalfood.blogspot.com

SampleFest August 14

You've already marked your calendars for ChalkFest and SummerFest - just remember to stop by the store on your way to and/or from your downtown destinations!

Just Local Food Cooperative is hosting SampleFest at our downtown grocery store from 10am to 4pm Saturday August 14. This event is organized to encourage more excitement downtown in cooperation with the Downtown Farmers Market, Eau Claire's Summerfest and Volume One Magazine's ChalkFest.

SampleFest is showcasing a variety of farmers and local and regional value added food available seven days a week at Eau Claire's only worker owned and managed grocery store.

The Green Bakery - FOUR New Gluten Free Breads @ JLF!

Friday (April 9th) will see our first delivery! call us to find out when it comes in! 715-552-3366


Chickpea, Sorghum, Millet and Basic Brown!

Posted: Saturday, April 3, 2010 12:00 am | Updated: 11:48 pm, Fri Apr 2, 2010.

By Pamela Powers Menomonie News Bureau |

COLFAX - A new wholesale cooperative bakery is raising the bar to create a tasty, gluten-free bread made using ancient-style grains and legumes.

The Green Bakery, located just off Highway G about two miles south of Wheeler,
will begin selling four types of bread - all of them made without gluten, dairy, soy, eggs or nuts - at Menomonie Market Food Co-op and Just Local Food in Eau Claire starting Friday (April 9th).

http://www.leadertelegram.com/local_news/story/article_99428232-7d95-5e9e-947e-86569323879e.html?mode=story

Artisan Made Graham Crackers for the Holidays!

Peter, Nancy and the rest of the crew at Potter's Crackers in Madison have crafted some great new graham crackers for the holidays!  We are overjoyed to have Pumpkin Graham and Apple Graham Crackers on our shelves for the season next to standbys like Hazelnut Graham crackers.  

All of Potter's crackers are made with local ingredients so be sure get the Apple Graham Crackers while supplies last!    

Fun for Trick-or-Treaters at Just Local

We are overjoyed to be offering fair trade & organic chocolate for our customer's Trick-or-Treating needs this Halloween. These mini chocolate bars are the same size as the mini-chocolate bars children are accustomed to receiving. We are also proud to offer families a novel experience during your Halloween expeditions by giving away "Reverse-Trick-Or-Treating" kits FOR FREE. A pleasant surprise will greet nearly a quarter million people distributing candy at their door, when youth reverse the Halloween tradition to hand adults a sample of vegan-friendly, Fair Trade dark chocolate. Your children can join hundreds of groups of Trick-or-Treaters in North America as they

• END poverty among cocoa farmers,
  
• END forced/abusive child labor in the cocoa industry,
  
• PROMOTE Fair Trade, and
  
• PROTECT the environment

The chocolate comes with a card informing recipients of poverty and child labor problems in the cocoa industry, affecting mainstream candy enjoyed at Halloween and around the year, and how Fair Trade certified chocolate provides a solution.

Parents of last year’s youngest participants raved about how Reverse Trick-or-Treating transformed Halloween into a meaningful event when youthful activists can give back to their neighbors and to cocoa growing communities. To learn more about Reverse-Trick-or Treating click on this site: www.equalexchange.coop/reverse-sign-up/ or this site: www.ReverseTrickOrTreat.org.

Time for practicing gratitude...

Pura Vida Eau Claire!

It's getting to be that season when we're all ready to cook warm, hearty meals with family, friends, neighbors and the greatest recipes filled with the season's abundance in root crops, fall apples, etc.

Fresh for you this week we're highlighting the delightful Fuyu Persimmons (as a salad dressing or simple appetizer for a great meal), five different varieties of local apples (Empire, MacIntosh, Cortland, Honey Gold and organic Connell Red) partnered with local/organic , heirloom tomatoes, delicata, spaghetti and butternut squash, pie pumpkins, mississippi greens and local spring mix, and so much more!


















Also, don't forget to sign up for fresh or frozen turkeys for your Thanksgiving dinners! These certified organic or natural birds are coming from our long time sources Coon Creek Family Farm and Beaver Creek Ranch. Give us a call (715-552-3366) if you'd like to place an order or find our in-store clipboard by visiting us!