Your Local Maple Syrup Headquarters

We're thrilled to be selling gallons and gallons and GALLONS of pure, local, Grade A and Grade B Maple Syrup! Our thrifty customers will tell you that you can save money by buying maple syrup in larger containers. If you don't use your syrup quickly, though, you might find some harmless mold developing in the container over time. This will look like a grey film only on the surface. As mentioned, this mold is harmless, but none of us wants to pour that on our flapjacks! First off, to prevent or prolong the emergence of this mold, you can refrigerate, or preferably, freeze the maple syrup. This retards the formation of mold. I have a 1/2 pint squeeze bottle we leave out for regular use and refill with maple syrup stored in the back of our refrigerator.

If you do find mold, don't fret. Simply scoop out the scum with a spoon. If you aren't comfortable with just that, you can go an extra step and reboil the syrup in a pan on your stove. Just bring it to a boil for a minute, then cool and repack into a jar. Make sure you clean your jar thoroughly if you are reusing it so you aren't giving the mold a jump start again!

For great maple flavor in a different form, give maple sugar a try. We're working with the Woods family near Spring Valley to bring you this simple, delicious local, whole food sugar. It can be used as a 100% replacement for refined white sugar in all of your recipes. The chocolate chip cookies I made with it last week were divine - instead of 1/2 brown sugar and 1/2 white sugar, I used all MAPLE sugar. Use locally milled flour (sorghum flour for gluten free), local butter, fair trade vanilla and chopped up organic fair trade dark (or orange, or mint, or...) chocolate for a truly local spin on the standard cookie!

Pictured: Four generations of the Wood's tapping a tree. (Could there be a better last name for a family in the maple business!?!)

Hospitatalito Invitation VIA Farmer To Farmer Coffee!

Farmer to Farmer Coffee fans will be happy to celebrate one of the projects supported by Guatemalan coffee sales!

Keep supporting local efforts towards FAIR TRADE and the amazing projects that can be nourished by this premium for small communities throughout the world (even locally!)

http://www.hospitalitoatitlan.org/

The Life & Rebirth of Hospitalito Atitlán from dinoKitten on Vimeo.

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

Local Meat Sale

Starting Saturday Sept 4 and for the entire month of September Just Local Food is reducing your meat grocery cost by 10%.
Check out your favorite supplier or try a new one.

Beaver Creek Ranch - uncured bacon, chicken breasts and thighs, ground chicken and turkey, pork and turkey apple brats, italian sausage and chorizo, pork chops and tenderloins, beef hot dogs, and a new item Keta salmon - line caught in the upper Copper river in Alaska.
Beeler's - uncured bacon and wieners.
Coon Creek Family Farm - whole or cutup chicken, wings and legs..
Crescent Meats - bacon, ham, pork roasts, bologna, elk and pork bratwursts, elk and beef summer sausages, elk and beef jerky.
Deutsch Family Farm - bacon, ground italian and pork sausages, breakfast links, pork chops and ribs.
Gingerbread Jersey - bacon, ground pork sausage, bratwursts, deli ham.
Golden Hill Buffalo - ground and patties.
Lamb A Lot - lamb brats, ground lamb, kabobs, gyro, french rack, chops.
Little Spring Valley - beef steaks, roasts, burger, and patties.
Werlein Family Farm - beef steaks, roasts, and burgers.. (ask about the Bundle)
Wheatfield Hill Organics- beef steaks, roasts, and burger.


the construction is just about over, so stop on down and save 10%..

JLF Closing at 6PM on Labor Day's Eve & Opening at Noon on Labor Day

To enable us to do floor maintenance, Just Local Food will close early on Sunday, September 5th at 6:00 PM. We will re-open on Monday, at 12 Noon to meet all of your Labor Day picnicking needs!

new fair trade organic chocolates

I'm pretty excited about this. Our friends at Equal Exchange, a fellow worker owned cooperative, have launched two new chocolate bars that I'm sure you or someone you know will soon fall in love with.

The first combines three amazing concepts: organic fair trade

chocolate, caramel and sea salt. The crunchiness of the caramel and salt give the bar body, while the creamy chocolate forms a pool of love in your mouth. Seriously. LOVE. Even the salt comes from a cool salt marsh producers co-op in France!

The second new bar embodies the mission of Just Local Food fairly well. Of course not everything we eat is LOCAL. It could be, but it isn't. We do, however, crave the knowledge and wisdom of where our food comes from - that's the heart. And your heart will love this single origin 65% chocolate that comes from farmer cooperatives in Ecuador. Fair trade to your soul.

Sand Creek Sampling Friday!

Sand Creek Brewing Co Sampling

Friday August 27th

4PM-6PM

Drop in and try some of Wisconsin's

best craft beer. Nikki will be pouring

Wild Ride IPA, Hard Lemonade, &

One Planet Ale.

from sandcreekbrewing.com...

Wild Ride India Pale Ale

This classic India Pale Ale is wonderfully

hopped for a strong start, a smooth finish,

and a fine amber color.

Sand Creek Hard Lemonade

Our summer classic! We make our Sand

Creek Hard Lemonade with real fruit juices

and cane sugar to create a sweet, delicious

concoction that we like to think is better

than the rest. Ask your local retail outlet to

order some today!

from ratebeer.com...

One Planet Ale

This is a hearty natural multi-grain ale with

a touch of Wisconsin Honey added for flavor.

Smooth, satisfying, lightly hopped.

Horny Goat Beer Sampling!

Stop down to Just Local Food this weekend for a sample (or two, or three) of the tasty brews from Horny Goat Brewing Co.

The folks from Horny Goat will be pouring samples from 3PM-6PM on Saturday, August 21st.

We currently carry 3 brews from the Horny Goat line-up: Red Vixen Vienna-style Lager, Honey Blonde Lager, & Exposed Belgian-style Saison.

Support craft Brewed beer from Wisconsin!

Harvest the flavors of your own backyard!

 

The Harvest is here! Come in to enjoy extraordinary local produce from our own neighbors!

Melon Mania is here!!! ONLY $.89/# GET YOURS TODAY!

We have 7 varieties of super sweet organic melons from Mahlon Shetler a Certified Grower and Amish Farmer from Taylor, Wisconsin.

Melons include:

Honey Rock-

Super sweet, flavorful salmon colored flesh

Sun Jewel-

Lemon yellow oblong shape, white, crisp when ripe, and wonderfully sweet.

Butterscotch-

Rich and sweet butterscotch-like flavor

Orange Watermelon-

Firm, crisp, sweet, and orange

Crenshaw-

Dense, tender, aromatic salmon-orange flesh is incredibly sweet

Athena-

The sweetest of all cantaloupe-type melon

Canary-

Bright orange flesh which is exceptionally crispy and juicy.

2010 Coffee Crops are HERE!!!

Coffee Lovers!

Have you enjoyed the year's new coffee arrival from our two great suppliers? Farmer to Farmer and Just Coffee are buzzing with excitement as various new crops have arrived to Wisconsin bringing that extra GUSTO to your morning, afternoon (or evening?) routine!

New From Just Coffee are The AIPEP light roast from Pumiri, Bolivia and another great light roast from the Oromia Grower Co-Op in Ethiopia's Yirgacheffe Region. 


Each Bag of Farmer to Farmer Guatemalan and Honduran Coffees are now coming from the amazing farmers we were able to visit this past January. All our Guatemalan Coffee is now coming from Huehuetenango's women's Co-Op! Also, all Honduran coffee is coming from small villages in La Montaña de Comayagua where producers continue to develop a web of eco-tourism and sustainable development. 


www.justcoffee.coop
www.farmertofarmer.org

New Video from our visit to the coffee cooperative and farm in Guatemala click here to watch the video of our trip visiting the coffee cooperative and farmers.
To watch a great video about where our Guatemalan coffee is coming from. The Huehuetenango coffee farmers and their cooperative.
Check out an Eau Claire Leader Telegram article on Farmer to Farmer.
Also Dunn County News article about Farmer to Farmer..

Change in Detour to Just Local Food parking lot

As road construction on the intersection of Farwell and Washington nears completion, the street entrances to Just Local Food have changed.

The Washington Street entrance is now closed and the Farwell entrance is now open.

The Public Works Department has cleared a path from customers approaching from Harding Avenue or Dewey Street can still enter the store by driving to the intersection, making a right onto Farwell Street, and then make a right into the cooperative's parking lot.

Please note that with the exception of the entrance to the Just Local Food parking lot, Farwell Street is closed.

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.

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!