Day in the Valley This Saturday!

Saturday, July 24th -Just Local & Jazz88- Day in the Valley! We invite you to join us for a Day in the Valley, a day long tour celebrating four innovative, sustainable and local food/agriculture projects in the beautiful Chippewa Valley of Wisconsin. The tour is Saturday, July 24th and will start at 10:30 a.m. at Piney Hill Farm CSA in Glenwood City and then journey to Dave's Brew Farm in Wilson, Bullfrog Fish Farm in Menomonie and wrap up with Dinner and Jazz at The Creamery Restaurant and Inn in Downsville, WI. There is no cost for the day but attendees will be responsible for their lunch and dinner costs. RSVPs for the tour are requested by e-mailing Zac & Kevin Barnes at zac@justlocalfood.com and KevinB@Jazz88fm.com

for more info on the four stops visit the following link!http://jazz88.mpls.k12.mn.us/restaurantour.html or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eau-Claire-WI/Just-Local-Food/228354881132?ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=135032266529541&ref=mf

   

more farmer direct products

from Deutsch Family Farms we have added ground msg-free Italian sausage and their spare and back ribs.
from Gingerbread Jersey we have added their deli ham slices in both refrigerated and frozen..
checkout your downtown grocery for all your local food requirements.
and thanks for your patience during this construction season.

Gingerbread Jersey pork products

most of you are familiar with Gingerbread Jersey's cheese and jam products, your downtown grocer now has a few of their pork products for your review: smoked bacon (of course), maple flavored (of course) ground pork sausage, and bratwursts (fresh and plain, of course)..
we have a complete list of their pork products that can be ordered for delivery in the store each Friday.
follow the carrot signs..

Foster bread update...

Foster Cheese Haus is concentrating its efforts on a farm to table dining experience and at this time, selling bread is outside of the Cheese Haus is not part of that plan. Please continue to visit the good folks in Foster when looking for an amazing meal! http://www.fostercheesehaus.com/

Sea Vegetables are Here

Just Local Food isn't ONLY local food. We're also interested in farm direct, fair trade, nutrition and taste among other things. These new Sea Vegetable products from Maine meet almost all of our goals, even though they are from the East Coast. Sea Chips, Sesame Bars, Dulse, Kelp flakes and more... Fair Trade & Organic flavors from the sea to our store.

Try a DLT - Dulse (heated in a pan it turns crispy and salty - better than bacon), Lettuce and Tomato on your favorite bread.

Please visit the Maine Coast website and view their video below if you have a moment.

street update july 6

The Washington street access will be closed until about noon, please enter thru the alley. Thanks for your patience.. they should be pouring concrete soon..

Washington Street Entrance Re-opened for July 4th Weekend

Just Local Food's Washington Street entrance has been re-opened for Sunday the 4th of July. We expect it to be briefly closed sometime on Monday and to be re-opened shortly thereafter.

July 4th - We're OPEN until 4:30pm!

Just Local Food will be open July 4th - 8am-4pm!

Thank you for your understanding as we'll be closing early to be with family and friends to celebrate, enjoy good food, etc.

Monday hours will be back to our normal 8am-9pm schedule.

Thank you for submitting your résumé

Thanks to everyone who submitted their résumé for our Front End/Cashier position(s)! We appreciate the strong interest in Just Local Food.

go NATIVE

Tanka Bars

GLUTEN-FREE * NITRATES-FREE * MSG-FREE * HORMONE-FREE

Made from tart-sweet cranberries and prairie-raised buffalo, the Tanka Bar is a delicious real food bar with a smoky, slightly-sweet flavor.

100% Natural and only 70-calories, Tanka Bars are the perfect food for anyone who's on the go -- outdoor enthusiasts, students, busy moms, athletes, and pow-wow dancers. Gluten-free, hormone-free and low-fat, the Tanka Bars are deliciously perfect for every diet lifestyle.

You can keep it Traditional or spice it up with our new Tanka Bar SPICY PEPPER BLEND, featuring an awesome four-pepper blend with just the right kick from habanero, jalapeno, and red and black pepper!

Also in stock: Tanka Bites & Tanka Wild sticks - both in regular and SPICY!

But they aren't local! You're right. They come from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They are made from simple, all natural ingredients and support a lifestyle and landscape we strive for. These are fair trade, direct from the source. We also sell locally raised buffalo, elk and beef jerky processed by Crescent Meats - they have different ingredients and pricing - so you make the choice!

* These products brought to you by customer request. Many requests, in fact. In order to keep prices reasonable and product fresh we want to order cases and cases of product at a time, and regularly. Your requests give us the confidence to invest in new products, share them with the community, and support local and regional farmers. This is what cooperation is all about! Thanks!

Access to Washington Street Entrance re-opened!

This morning work on the intersection temporarily blocked access to Just Local Food's Washington Street Entrance. As of noon this Tuesday, access to Just Local Food's entrance is re-opened.

Directions to Just Local Food During Phase II Construction

Sometime this week, weather permitting, the excellent folks at Public Works Department will be closing down the Farwell & Washington intersection in addition to the work they are already doing to improve Farwell Street. Just Local Food's Washington Street entrance will still be accessible to Jefferson. Just follow the carrot dear customers, and you should find us with ease. Maps are available in store as well.

Deutsch Family Farm pork products now available

The Deutsch Family Farm is located east of Osseo, Wisconsin. Jim and Alison purchased the farm and moved to it in March of 2010. Also along for the journey are their two little kids, Lou and Lily as well as all of their naturally raised hogs. There are 20 sows which have about 250 baby pigs each year. Jim and Alison have been raising hogs outside in deep bedded pens and on pasture since 2006. The farm is 160 acres. About half is certified organic and the other half is in organic transition and will be certified in 2012.

They also raise pasture raised chicken and organic squash. Along with hay, corn and wheat.
======================================================================
customer recommended, farmer direct naturally raised pork products.
now in stock: bone-in pork chops, fresh brats, and bacon, coming soon are seasoned pork sausage and breakfast links.
tell your cashier you saw this ad and save 10%..
thanks for shopping at just local food, your downtown grocery store.

Wisconsin Made Salsas, Dips and Marinades!

A customer stopped in the other day and mentioned she had bought some great mushroom

salsa from a Farmers Market in Chicago. She thought it was from Wisconsin. That was enough to get me going...

Fresh to our packaged grocery shelves are a variety of products from River Valley Kitchens in Southern Wisconsin. Their specialty is growing mushrooms, so we'll first suggest the Garlic Pickled Mushrooms, Portabella Salsa, and Portabella Wasabi Steak Sauce. Also from their kitchen we've got the Key Lime Mango Salsa, Roasted Pineapple Salsa, Olive Bruschetta and a great Artichoke Dip.

We'll never stop scouring the state and region looking for unique, quality affordable products for your pantry!

TROPICAL STORM AGATHA and Farmer to Farmer coffee

Zacarias from Just Local Food was just in Guatemala and Honduras this past January, Farmer to Farmer Continues to create a bond between our communities through media, coffee, textiles y mucho mas.  As I'm sure you've heard Central America has been hit by Agatha and Guatemala had a volcanic eruption and earthquake too. Info about these disasters can be found on the Farmer to Farmer website (www.farmertofarmer.org).  Also, here is a video that Alexander, the peacecorp worker we traveled with to Huehuetenango last January, put up on youtube.

Peace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WacAI0ZmycQ

This video was filmed a day after TROPICAL STORM AGATHA ravaged the SAN MIGUEL ESCOBAR coffee-growing community located on the base of the "VOLCÁN DE AGUA" (Water Volcano) just outside of ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA. Go to: www.ASGREENASITGETS.org to send DONATIONS. This video was produced, edited, and published by ALEXANDER NIXON, a PEACE CORPS volunteer working with the As Green As it Gets coffee cooperative in this affected community.

Green Bakery Delivery Dates Changing next week

Fans of quality gluten free and allergen free breads will be happy to hear that the Green Bakery's business is expanding. However this means that the Green Bakery has had to change their delivery times from Friday mornings to Tuesday mornings (except this next week when, due to Memorial Day, the bread will arrive on Wednesday morning). If this post comes to you late, fear not, for the time being we carry a small backstock of Green Bakery Breads in our frozen section at a discounted price.

CLOSED on Memorial Day

Just Local Food Cooperative
is closed on Monday, May 31st
in honor of Memorial Day.
Thanks for the understanding.
Enjoy the holiday!

Pre-Memorial Day Sampling

It happened! Thanks to all of the vendors for making this event possible and thank you to all of the patrons that made this event great. What an AWESOME food community we have!

Our 1st Annual
Pre-Memorial Day Sampling

Thursday May 27th, 4PM-6PM

Stop by to meet our vendors, taste some great samples, and get inspired for your long weekend celebration. We'll be out in the parking lot and in the store.

Dave's BrewFarm (Wilson, WI) - Matacabras & BrewFarm Select

Angry Minnow Brew Pub (Hayward, WI) - Oaky's Stout, River Pig Pale Ale, Honey Wheat

Maiden Rock Apples (Maiden Rock, WI) - Grandaddy's Apple 2-Pepper Chutney

Gingerbread Jersey (Augusta, WI) - Various Cheeses (Fresh Curds for sure)

Werlein Farm (Mondovi, WI) - Hamburgers

Golden Hills Bison (Osseo, WI) - Bison Burgers

New Open Hours - 8am to 9pm 7 days a week!

We're happy to announce expanded hours!

In order to serve you better during road construction this summer, we are now open from 8am to 9pm each and every day of the week!

We will be closed Monday, May 31st Memorial Day to spend some time with friends and family.

Seedlings are HERE!

Piney Hill Farm of Glenwood City, Wisconsin has delivered heirloom, non GMO seedlings! We have eggplant, 8 varieties of tomatos, herbs, cabbage, brocoli and other brasicas. As always, enjoy cowpot potting soil or cowsmo compost for your gardening needs. Learn more about piney hill at the link below! http://www.pineyhillfarm.blogspot.com/

Go Macro

Go Macro cookies and bars are made in nearby Viola, Wisconsin. We're proud to have them on the shelf, and hope you'll take the opportunity to try them out soon.

At GoMacro our mission has been to manufacture wholesome healthy snacks.... the kind that you could bake yourself at home if you only had the time. We use the best ingredients that we can find, ingredients that contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and omega-3. Without the use of additives or preservatives we make our snacks every week and ship them direct to you....no storage, no inventories. Everything is made to order, all part of a healthy, macrobiotic lifestyle.

Our Ingredients

We pay a premium for quality ingredients and whenever possible we source our ingredients from small growers and producers. Of course, we are not perfect but we continually strive to improve our sources and to make sure that all our ingredients come from growers that abide by fair and safe standards for both workers and the environment. For more information on some of our suppliers check out ethical sourcing.

Whenever possible we use organic ingredients and we try to make food that is healthy and clean; food that will have positive health benefits without damaging our planet. Our products are carefully made by hand, every week in small batches and shipped immediately ensuring that you receive a fresh product.

We strive to use ingredents that are as close to nature as possible. We do not use refined sugars or flours. The bars are sweetened with natural sweeteners, brown rice syrup, maple syrup and agave nectar. These sweeteners take longer to digest, thus avoiding the blood-sugar spikes associated with refined sugars. The fats in GoMacro food are healthy fats derived from nuts and seeds containing omega 3 fatty acids, minerals and vitamins. Carbs are complex carbs from whole grains. These are slow-burning carbs that boost energy levels throughout the day. Protein comes from brown rice protein which provides all the essential amino acids - a great high protein alternative to animal products and soy.

Today many ingredients have to be purchased through distributors and finding the small growers and producers is an ongoing project for us. We work hard to find better sources for all of our ingredients and we welcome all suggestions. We do not use food additives or chemical ingredients.

fair trade SALE

We are proud to sell products from Equal Exchange, they help us keep the JUST in just local food. As in justice, for the farmers and workers that bring us tea & chocolates from around the world. To celebrate this relationship, and highlight our commitment at Just Local Food to global organic and fair trade practices, we're offering their full line of products at 20% off this month. Chocolate bars that were fairly priced at $3.99 are now only $3.19. Stock up and save!

"Fair Trade requires farmers to organize themselves democratically and to promote participation and transparency. At Equal Exchange, we hold ourselves, as U.S. business people, to those same principles." - Lynsey Miller, Worker-owner since 4-7-03

* Please use this sale as an opportunity to try their amazing "pyramid teas" in the square boxes, you won't regret it!

cowsmo compost fans! WE NEED BAGS for more compost at our store! we'd love to offer a $0.50 credit or $1.00 if you buy another bag of compost or potting soil.

Dubbed a hero, Allen looks to take farming to the skies

Benny Sieu

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/92477004.html

Milwaukee urban farmer Will Allen is listed on Time Magazine's annual "Time 100: The World's Most Influential People" list.

By Karen Herzog of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: April 29, 2010 |(30) Comments

This drawing by Kubala Washatko Architects Inc. shows a a five-story farm that Growing Power is considering building at its existing 2-acre property on W. Silver Spring Drive. Led by Will Allen, the nonprofit is close to launching a $7 million to $10 million fund-raising campaign for the project.

Today's TMJ4 Video

JS OnAir: Allen Named Most Influential

Dig In!

A blog for Wisconsinites who value food from close to home

See all blog posts or follow Dig In! on Twitter @DigInMKE

It's hard to imagine a five-story farm in the middle of a city, but if Milwaukee urban farmer Will Allen is behind the idea, anything's possible.
After all, Allen is a world hero, according to an issue of Time magazine that hits newsstands Friday. He's among 100 individuals and small groups picked by Time editors for the annual "Time 100: The World's Most Influential People," which honors ideas, innovations and actions that are "shaping our world."
Allen already has been dubbed a genius by the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation, which awarded him a $500,000 "genius grant" in 2008.
Now all Allen and Growing Power's board of directors must do is find $7 million to $10 million to build the farm that Allen has been envisioning for nearly two decades to take his nonprofit enterprise to the next level.
Backers say the futuristic urban farm designed to intensively produce vegetables and fish could become an icon for Milwaukee, and a model for cities around the world to grow affordable, healthful food close to consumers. It also could create a whole new industry with thousands of jobs for urban farmers and those who design and build city farms around the world, Allen said Thursday.
"It's something a bit counterintuitive with the economy going south, but we've come to the conclusion that Growing Power is going north," Jerry Kaufman, board president for Growing Power and a professor emeritus of urban planning, said Thursday. "There aren't too many Will Allens around, and so far we haven't developed the science to clone him.
"I see the decade of 2010 as potentially explosive for what Will calls, 'The Good Food Revolution.' "
The vertical farm - dramatic in shape and with an expansive, sloped glass front to absorb natural light - would be built at Growing Power's existing 2-acre farm at 5500 W. Silver Spring Drive through local and federal donations and grants. A half-dozen existing greenhouses would be preserved as historic structures.
It would have 23,000 square feet for classrooms, a demonstration kitchen, offices, staff locker room, retail store, food processing, loading dock and freezers. An additional 15,000 square feet of sloped area, facing Silver Spring Drive, would be devoted to growing vegetables and fish. Fish tanks for perch and tilapia would be trenched into the ground. The building would have a rooftop solar panel, would capture rainwater to be recycled for watering plants, and would transfer heat from the building top to a thermal mass underneath to store for future use.

'First of its kind'

The vertical farm is conceptualized in drawings by Kubala Washatko Architects Inc. in Cedarburg, whose designs have included the Urban Ecology Center, the Iron Horse Hotel and the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center near Baraboo - buildings known for their strong connections to neighborhoods and use of natural light and building materials.
"This would be the first of its kind in the world that we know of," said architect Allen Washatko, co-founder of the Cedarburg architectural firm. "This concept is intended for areas where land availability is scarce and where 'going up' to create agricultural space would be in demand."
It's time to stop dreaming and start building, Allen said.
"Somebody's gotta build the first one," he said. "We've taken a leading role in urban agriculture, and we've pioneered a lot of firsts, so why shouldn't we be the ones to do it?"
Allen, 61, for years has been calling attention to the widespread existence of "food deserts" in cities across America, where whole communities lack access to fresh, nutritious, affordable food, and underserved populations have high rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
He keeps a hectic schedule - which will slow down in two weeks when he has knee replacement surgery. He speaks at workshops and universities around the world. Growing Power's board members heartily applaud Allen but privately worry that he will be in even greater demand as he continues to gain a higher international profile.

What's New?

New Products Galore!!!
Stop down and check out what's new!

In the cooler...
Reed's Raspberry Ginger Ale
Unpeeled Spicy Mojito Kombucha (St. Paul, MN)
Unpeeled Ginger Brew Kombucha (St. Paul, MN)
Sweet Leaf Raspberry Iced Tea
Knudsen Tropical Recharge 32oz
Knudsen Mango Fandango Spritzer (New Size)
Knudsen Black Cherry Spritzer (New Size)
Vita Coco Coconut Water (alternated w/Taste Nirvana)
Taste Nirvana Coconut Water (alternated w/Vita Coco)
Organic Valley Probiotic Berry Yogurt (WI, MN product)
Rice Dream Refrigerated Rice Milk 64oz
Angelica's Garden Organic Sauerkraut (Elmwood, WI)
Angelica's Garden Organic Kim Chi (Elmwood, WI)
Salsa Lisa Real Hot Salsa (Minneapolis, MN) (alternated w/other Salsa Lisa varieties)
Salsa Lisa Tomatillo & Green Chile Salsa (Minneapolis, MN) (alternated w/other Salsa Lisa varieties)
RP's Pasta Traditional Egg Rigatoni (Madison, WI)
Holy Land Greek Nan Bread (Minneapolis, MN)
Holy Land Garlicky Pita Bread (Minneapolis, MN)
Tofurky Oven Roasted Deli Slices (alternated w/other Tofurky products)
Westsoy Seitan
Rosewood Soft Tofu (Ann Arbor, MI)
Lisanatti Soy-Sation Cheddar Style
Ma Baensch Marinated Herring in Wine Sauce 24oz (Milwaukee, WI) (New Size Option)

In cheese...
Gingerbread Jersey Shredded Mozzarella (Augusta, WI)
Gingerbread Jersey Shredded Cheddar (Augusta, WI)
Crave Brothers Fresh Mozzarella 16oz (Waterloo, WI) (New Size Option)
Widmer's Cheese Cellars Mild Brick (Theresa, WI)
President Brie Log (Belmont, WI)

In beer...
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 22oz (Chicago, IL)
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat (Chicago, IL)
Furthermore Thermo Refur (Black River Falls, WI) (single bottle only)
Milwaukee Brewing Co. Louie's Demise Immort-Ale (Milwaukee, WI)
Summit Maibock (St. Paul, MN) (seasonal)
Bell's Oberon (Comstock, MI) (seasonal)
Bell's Consecrator Doppelbock (Comstock, MI) (seasonal)
Leinenkugel 1888 Bock (Chippewa Falls, WI) (seasonal)
Sand Creek Hard Lemonade (Black River Falls, WI) (seasonal)
Capital Platinum Blonde Doppelbock (Middleton, WI) (seasonal)
New Glarus Moon Man No Coast Pale Ale (New Glarus, WI) (seasonal)
New Glarus Totally Naked Lager (New Glarus, WI) (seasonal)
New Glarus Road Slush Stout (New Glarus, WI) (seasonal)

Earth Day is Every Day!

earth day is today and everyday! eau claire will also celebrate in a great way this saturday 4-24-10 from 11am-6pm if you can make it! bring a bike, enjoy food and music, meet your neighbors and network with great organizations at this event. http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=42056207129&ref=search&sid=1206312977.1058254408..1&v=info

or 

http://sites.google.com/site/eauclaireearthdaycelebration/Home

soundtrack for the day: http://dukeofstraw.com/coconutandtheduke/nb.mp3

Dried Cranberries

Mmmm, life is sweet!

Cranberries-Urban Best out of Grand Rapids, WI supplies our sweetened dried cranberries. They are working on unsweetened right now. We know for sure that these cranberries come from Wisconsin. At other markets, a bag of Craisins could come from anywhere even though they are one of Wisconsin's biggest harvests.

Cashews

Cashew! What makes ours different??

These cashews are from Just Cashews and are Fair Trade and organic certified. They are not a random food that magically appears on the supermarket shelves. They are very difficult to harvest and intensive labor is involved. Just Cashews is committed to alleviating poverty, malnutrition and exploitation of these hard laborers. One of the growers can now feed his family and send his four children to school in Honduras. These are also the best tasting cashews you will find in the marketplace. We offer raw unsalted, roasted salted, and roasted unsalted.

Getting Fishy!

We are proud to announce two new products to the shelves...

1st in the cooler...
Ma Baensch Marinated Herring in Wine Sauce
This high quality product is coming to us from Milwaukee, WI since 1932.

Here is what they have to say about this product.
-Provides 539 mg of Omega-3 and 66 mg of Omega-6 fatty acids per serving
-Grade A Herring, wild caught in Nova Scotia
-Pure liquid beet sugar, a natural sugar
-Fresh Spanish onions sliced daily for the best flavor and crispness
-Ma Baensch herring is always packed by hand to protect each plump firm piece

www.mabaensch.com for more info

2nd next to the tuna on the dry shelving...
Matiz Gallego Sardines in Olive Oil
This is a product of Spain. Local you ask, listen to this story...

Our Matiz Gallego sardines are harvested off the coast of Galicia, known for its exceptional seafood. Traditional methods are used that respect the biological cycles of the species, as well as avoiding harm to other sea creatures. Lights are used to attract schools of sardines to the surface, where small nets await to bring them aboard the fishing vessel.

Once harvested, the sardines are prepared by hand using old master cannery know-how and then packed with the highest quality ingredients to produce a sardine that is moist, tender, and uncommonly flavorful.

www.matizespana.com for more info

Also don't forget the the other fish we stock.
Bullfrog Fish Farm 4oz Smoked Rainbow Trout, BFF 8oz Smoked Rainbow Trout, BFF 4oz Trout Spread, BFF 8oz Trout Spread, BFF 4oz Smoked Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, BFF 8oz Smoked Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, BFF 8oz Pickled Rainbow Trout, and last, but not least, frozen Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon fillets in the Meat freezer.

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

anyone on facebook:

create a fan badge and send it our way! zac@justlocalfood.com will do... we'll post some of our favorites on this blog and on our facebook page!

Zacarias Barnes is a fan of

Just Local Food

Create your Fan Badge

How to Run the Place Where You Work - Michael Moore's 'Capitalism: A Love Story'

A more in-depth look at worker owned co-ops that includes Michael interviewing Tom Webb, a worker co-op expert from Canada. They talk about how to bring DEMOCRACY to the workplace and to our economy and about the rise of worker-owned co-ops worldwide (1 billion people are members of co-ops and 3 billion have some or most of their needs met by cooperatives). Webb also lays out how capitalism feeds our worst problems including environmental destruction and why cooperatives are better at social and environmental justice.

http://www.michaelmoore.com/books-films/capitalism-love-story/press/dvd-extras#extra-4

It's Spring @ JLF!

Just Local Amig@s,

As you may have felt, smelled, heard or generally sensed, spring has officially sprung! Our nights are just about as long as our days, buds are popping, gardens are being planned and started (indoor seed starts are a great idea around this week or possibly next), bikes are being tuned up, picnics are now possible, spring cleaning of our homes and our general hibernating state is continuously crossing our minds.

Some new ideas that have come to fruition this spring at your neighborhood grocery store...

Dr Bronner's Sal Suds is now in BULK! Bring in your own container or use one of ours to enjoy this versatile cleaner in your home.

Think Easter with Obsession Chocolate, fresh free range eggs (brown or white), freshly cut salad and micro greens, fair trade, organic and kid friendly easter basket fillers, many selections of ham, lamb or grillables for family and friends, cake and brownie mixes... Come on in and look for examples of spring baskets around the store!

Order your Leg of Lamb

You can order a Lambalot Acres leg of lamb, bone-in or butterflied, this week for your Easter or Spring dinner.

Lamb will be delivered to our store, frozen, on April 1, the Thursday before Easter.

Signup deadline is this Friday, March 26.

See the sign-up sheet on the bulk shelf near our meat department.

Here's some ideas for you. I grilled my butterflied lamb last year, with an herb-garlic mixture, and it was amazing.

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb

Leg of Lamb with Garlic and Rosemary

We also have some nice half hams from Beeler, and may have hams available from Crescent Meats. Stop by to check out the details.

POP!corn

Hey! Did you know that popcorn is a great whole grain snack rich in fiber and anti-oxidants??
We recently added a new star to our bulk section-Fireworks Popcorn from Port Washington, WI! We now feature Red River Valley red popcorn boasting a crunchy deep corn flavor, High Mountain Midnight popcorn with it's earthy robust mouthful, Wisconsin White Birch with its light and crispy texture and Baby White Rice as our hull-less small but crispy option. All popcorns are GMO and trans fat free! Mix them together for a popcorn party and add some nutritional yeast for a slightly salty flavor and added nutrients!


http://popcornlovers.com/

Bulk just got a little chunkier

Check out these big chunks o' love.
New in bulk:
dark chocolate covered almonds and yogurt covered almonds.
Both are made with all natural ingredients, no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial colors or flavors, and a whole lot of treat bliss! -Beats going for the cookie jar any day!

local is SWEET!

We're blessed to have a climate in Western Wisconsin that supports the growth of maple trees. These beautiful, productive trees don't grow just anywhere. We have a high concentration of Maple Bushes in our area producing high quality maple syrup. I'm mighty pleased to work with the Watkins/Oberli family up near Barron, the Dahm's near Boyd and the horse-drivin' friends and neighbors of Mahlon Shetler near Taylor - these are the folks that bring us real maple syrup.

As the snow melts and the potholes grow gargantuan, the Maple trees are also growing - as buds start to appear, the new leaves get hungry. Amazing physiological forces take control and pump sap, full of nutrients, from the roots down below up into the branches. When the weather is just right (warm during the day, below freezing at night), you can put a little spigot through the bark and these trees will share some of that nutritious sap. Boil it down and you've got a serious need for pancakes.

Over the next few weeks, our friends will be busy in the sugarbush collecting sap. Then they will carefully and laboriously boil the sap down into sweet, delicious maple syrup. Take a careful look as you wander the countryside and even the city, you'll see the buckets and bags hanging on maple trees, a sure sign of spring and the local harvests to come.

In Stock:
Dahm's Grade A Maple Syrup in quarts, pints and half pints.
Dahm's Handmade Maple Candy
Watkins/Oberli Grade A Maple Syrup in quarts
Shetler Family Maple Syrup in quarts

The Shetler's near Taylor have another sweet use for their maple syrup boiling shack: sorghum. We now carry high quality handmade sweet sorghum molasses in quart jars from the Shetler's. Mahlon brought sorghum seed with him when their family moved here from Ohio. Over the past few years he has experimented with these seeds, growing seasons and soil types to find the best sorghum possible. After extending their growing season by growing seedlings and carefully putting them out in the field by hand, the family cuts the stalks then hooks the horses up to a hundred-year old turnstyle sorghum press to extract the juice. The juice is brought over to the maple shack and boiled down. We had a hard time getting the sorghum from their farm to the store - it's too far by horse. So we've hooked up with one of the Shetler's "English" friends to complete the connection. We only have a few bottles from the first case left, and I anticipate two more cases in the next week or so, assuming they don't get too busy in the sugarbush with this great weather we've been having.

Shetler Sweet Sorghum Molasses: reusable quart jar, only $6.99

St. Patrick’s Day is coming: Corned Beef

Do something different this St. Patrick’s Day: Make your own corned beef from scratch!

It's easier than you think, and absolutely delicious. But you need to get your beef this week, if you want to have it ready for your St. Patty's Day feast.

1. Buy a beef brisket or roast from Just Local Food.
2. Get the recipe at the store.
3. Laura will show you how to do it on Tuesday, 2/23, 6pm at the store, and answer any questions.
4. Start your corned beef by February 28 to have it ready by St. Patrick’s Day (March 17).

We'll have all the other ingredients for a great corned beef dinner (cabbage, potatoes, carrots), rye bread, and beer, of course.

Impress your friends and family, take pride in creating something delicious and different, and know that Julia Child (whose recipe we're using) would never steer you wrong. Cheers!

Check Out This Lineup!

SAMPLINGS GALORE!

Stop in the next few days to try some new products and get the down low on some of your old favorites.

Friday February 19th 3-5PM: Mark from Sand Creek Brewing will be dropping in to sample the Sand Creek gamit. Start on the lighter side, Hard Lemonade, Golden Ale, & Groovy Brew. Then shift over to the stronger side with stalwarts like Wild Ride IPA, Badger Porter, and Oscar's Chocolate Stout. This is surely a sampling that will please anyone's beer drinking preferences. Be prepared for some limited and new releases.

Saturday February 20th 12-3PM: Ken from Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil will be doling out some tasty concoctions made with their certified organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, the only domestically produced one no less. Stop down for a sample of this extremely flavorful oil and learn how to use it to spruce up your next dish!

Phoenix Garden and Just Local Food

Ask us where to find garden applications and a variety of seeds, potting soil, compost and other gardening needs for this spring! get a jump on the season with garlic planting! any other ideas?!

Lissa is Leaving

After countless hours of hard work and dedicated service to the Just Local Food Collective, customers, suppliers and vendors, Lissa Ziehr is moving downtown! Lissa is leaving Just Local Food to take the position of Office Manager for the Eau Claire Children’s Museum. Over the past 6 years she has established an efficient accounting system and worked tirelessly with the other worker/owners to grow the business from milk and eggs to a full scale corner grocery that sells “the best food”.

We will miss her being with us every day but know that she will be putting her many talents to work for the benefit of our community. We are sad to see her leave but wish her the best in her new position.

Quote from Lissa "It was very hard descion to leave and I'll miss you all very much! I will still be a big supporter and very dedicated to Just Local Food, it is such a great place."

Brew News FeBREWary 2010

1. New/Seasonal Beers - feat. Matacabras and Thermo Refur
2. Northwoods/Walter's Sampling Feb. 18th & Sand Creek Sampling Feb. 19th
3. Meet Your Brewer
4. Discount Beers & Pre-mixed IPA 6packs

1. New/Seasonal Beers - feat. Matacabras and Thermo Refur We are starting to hit BOCK and DOPPELBOCK season. Look forward to many great selections slipping into the store through the rest of winter and on into spring. Also there are a few new selections coming out of Dave's BrewFarm and Furthermore that deserve a special nod. a snippet of what is new at JLF (with descriptions from the Brewers' themselves)

New Glarus Cabin Fever Honey Bock

Cool days draw us close to the warmth of home fires. This is the season to sip away the chill and embrace quiet evenings with friends and family. You hold a Wisconsin Style Honey Bock, easy going and more approachable than its traditional dark German cousin. Bock beers have existed in Wisconsin for over 150 years. This pale bock is brewed with an exclusive blend of Wisconsin two row barley that balances seamlessly with our special European hops. Naturally sweet Clover Honey was added in the kettle accenting warm flavor notes on your tongue.

Whether you reminisce the passing summer sun or thrill to squeaky steps through drifting snow one thing is certain about winter in Wisconsin, this too shall pass.

Dave's BrewFarm Matacabras (coming soon)

In Spain, MATACABRAS is “the wind that kills goats.” In Wisconsin, it's the first in a series of wind-themed specialty beers from the BrewFarm.

In our part of the Upper Midwest there’s nothing like a brisk north wind to get your attention. So when we stumbled upon the name of this wicked Spanish breeze, we decided to brew up something that would likewise stop folks in their tracks.

We brew for flavor and for the overall “beer experience,” and our results are often curious and always distinctive. This strange new ale is no exception. Like its name, it is dark, mysterious, and difficult to translate into a familiar category. The deep hue and creamy body might suggest one style, but the floral aroma and Trappist-inspired flavors say another.

It is dark, yet not heavy; complex, yet balanced; strong, yet very smooth ... and unusually satisfying.

Furthermore Thermo Refur (coming soon)

With all its complexities, this ale is at its core a play between two basic characteristics of beer: good and evil. On one side, there are the smart,clean flavors of bright hops (40 IBU's) and stimulating black pepper, and on the other side, there are the dark, dusty flavors of our unique yeast blend. It's like this: We took an elegant, classic wheat yeast from a good neighborhood and sullied it with questionable characters from the other side of the tracks: two brettanomyces yeasts - one known for odd fruity flavors, the other for carrying subtle barnyard notes - and a lactic acid bacteria which produces sour but exciting qualities. We added this dysfunctional family to a heavy grain base (yielding 8.1% ABV), which leans on malted wheat with just enough black malt to give a color backdrop for the late addition of organic red beets. The deep red of the beet pushes the dirty-brown base color toward a funky purple hue, while the simple sugars reinvigorate fermentation.

At its freshest, the influences of the once-wild-but-produced-in-a-lab-to-avoid-a-poaching-fine organisms ride beneath the hops and pepper. As the beer ages, look for the spices to mellow and the bad influence of the microscopic thugs to continue to corrupt the flavor profile.

2. Northwoods/Walter's Sampling Feb. 18th & Sand Creek Sampling Feb. 19th
Patrick from Northwoods will be stopping by Thursday, February 18th from 4-6PM to sample out Walter's and Floppin' Crappie. Please stop on down and sample a bit of Eau Claire history in a can.

Mark from Sand Creek Brewery will be dropping in for a sampling on Friday, February 19th from 3-5PM. Stop on in for a sampling of Oscar's Chocolate Stout, Wild Ride IPA, English-Style Ale, or any of the other numerous beers being crafted at this amazing brewery.

3. Meet Your Brewer
We are starting a new segment in our monthly newsletter called Meet Your Brewer. This section will allow us to interview the folks that bring us that refreshing beverage called beer. We will be chatting with Brewers, Owners, Sales Reps, Distributors, you name it, in order to better connect you the customer to the people that make the product happen. Below is a small piece of a future video post featuring David, owner/brewer/sales rep, of Dave's BrewFarm. Look forward to a full interview in our March edition of Brew News.



4. Discount Beers & Pre-mixed IPA 6packs
Just a reminder to y'all, we have a discounted single beer section in the bottom right-hand corner of the beer case. Here you will find various overstocks, seasonals done and past, and beers that got the ax in favor of something new and fresh. Either way, you, the customer, gets a great price on great beer. Thanks for helping us keep our case as fresh as possible!

Also, we have hand picked some pre-mixed IPA 6packs for your pleasure. These bad boys pack a serious punch of hops. Starting next month we will be featuring bocks and doppelbocks in the pre-mix 6 section.

As always, CHEERS!
Jordan

'Beer. Now there's a temporary solution.' ~Dan Castellaneta