Candidates should offer flexible hours, have strong customer service experience and a long-term interest in sustainable food and food systems. Business or cooperative experience preferred. Ownership opportunities available.
Please submit a resume AND cover letter (including availability) by August 1st, 2011.
Direct materials to: drew@justlocalfood.com or visit us at:
Just Local Food Cooperative
1117 South Farwell
Eau Claire, WI 54701
715.552.3366
www.justlocalfood.com
In an effort to connect our suppliers to our customers, five people from Just Local Food recently made a trip down to Viroqua, WI to visit Kickapoo Coffee. We were all beyond-impressed at what we learned, experienced, and tasted...The Kickapoo Roastery is stationed in Viroqua's original 1880s era railroad depot. The seven-person staff uses a combination of antique machinery, modern technology, and human subjectivity when roasting and tasting their coffee. These folks really know their stuff!
Beginning with a laser spectrometer, the coffee is examined to determine its optimal range for roasting. Next it goes to their 1930s German-made Probat roaster (aka, the "Wunderfrau") using radiant, convective, and drum-powered heat. Details from every roast are then entered into a computer and archived for further comparison and review. The final stage is a “cupping” where the beans are personally evaluated and tasted by the Kickapoo staff. They use a series of 100-point scales to measure the characteristics of depth, body, acidity, sweetness, cleanness, aroma, and after-taste. This process happens every week!
The green beans themselves come from some of the most well-known coffee-growing regions in the world. Purchased through a roasting cooperative, distribution costs and profits are shared more equitably. Their first stop is a warehouse in New Jersey upon which each roaster’s bean shipments are sent out accordingly. Storage at Kickapoo is maximized in a temperature and humidity controlled environment, providing an extended shelf-life.
Kickapoo tries to strike a balance between farmer relationships and quality coffee. One goal behind this dual mission concept is to allow the natural flavors and characteristics of the coffee to come through on their own, instead of trying to “enhance” them in any way. 
Another goal is to connect the consumer with the people responsible for growing and handling the beans, assuring that they’re being paid a fair price for their product. They even try to visit each coffee-growing region at least once a year to meet face-to-face with the growers.
Stop by Just Local Food to check out our latest offerings of Kickapoo coffees,
as well as the featured “always-on-sale” bulk variety (changes every month!).
If you think you know coffee, wait till you try what’s coming from Kickapoo…
Roasting Raw Sunflower Seeds
Roasting seeds and nuts does make them less nutritious,
BUT we love them so.
We carry raw unsalted sunflower seeds for those with salt restrictions.
Pre-roasted and salted seeds and nuts can sometimes be TOO salty, or not have the flavor that you want. Here is an easy way to roast
sunflower seeds that takes a little advance planning but will better suit your tastes. You can adjust the salt, add your own spices and adjust roasting times to please your palette.Basic instructions:
Raw-in-shell sunflower seeds
WaterSort, remove ones with holes.
Combine 1 qt. water and ¼ salt, mix until dissolved. Use more or less as desired; you will need more for more than one pound of seeds. Soak overnight at room temp or for 8 hrs. Drain the seeds in a colander or strainer and pat with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Spread seeds in single layer on baking pan/sheet. Roast in preheated oven 300 degrees for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shells are lightly browned and fragrant. You can roast them darker if you prefer, but do not burn. (thanks to eHow for much of this information)
-Grass-fed Highland Beef Hot Dogs and mouth-watering Pork Tenderloin and Baby Back Ribs from Beaver Creek Ranch (Burnett County)
-Pasture-raised steak and short ribs from Little Spring Valley (Eleva), Werlein Farms (Mondovi), and Wheatfield Hill Organics (Durand)
-Bone-in pork chops from Deutsch Family Farm (Osseo)
-Whole, cut-up, and wingless CHICKEN from Coon Creek Family Farm (Mondovi) and Beaver Creek Ranch
-And brats: Elk, Pork, Turkey, Lamb, and Buffalo bratwurst from a variety of local suppliers!
Any special requests, ask for Nik. Otherwise, fire-up your cookers and get ready for JULY 4th!
This summer, Just Local Food is partnering with the WISPIRG Energy Service Corps ‘Power to the People’ campaignto increase energy efficiency in Wisconsin by working with homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient.WISPIRG's Energy Service Corps is a joint project of the WISPIRG Foundation and AmeriCorps. Specifically,AmeriCorps members with WISPIRG Energy Service Corps will provide FREE home energy assessments and upgrades.During an energy upgrade, trained Energy Service Corps members will visit your home, apartment, or business tohelp you identify the places where you’re using more energy than you need to. You’ll learn about the simple stepsyou can take to use less energy and receive information about local, state, and federal energy incentives andassistance programs.
I hope you’ll join us in our effort to change Wisconsin’s energy future. For more information, or to sign upfor your FREE energy efficiency upgrade, visit www.energyservicecorps.org/schedule.On Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/ESCEauClaireThanks for your consideration. We hope you’ll join the movement foran energy efficient Wisconsin.
In ENERGY SAVING Solidarity,
Just Local Food
Canaan is a member of the Palestine Fair Trade Association, a group of over 1700 small farmers joined in fair trade collectives and cooperatives. Farmers are paid a living wage. Purchasing their products helps Palestinian families survive and maintain their connection to their land and their ancient olive trees.
