coffee mugs please

We need your mugs! (Please don't send us the photo shoot from your visit to the local police). Any used mugs that you may want to donate, or the mugs that you have borrowed and accumulated in a box waiting by your door to be returned to our store, would be appreciated. We are low and trying to maintain calm among frenzied coffee drinkers everywhere. Thank you.

Farm Visit: Beaver Creek Ranch

A few weeks ago, Nik the meat manager scheduled a visit with Doug Anderson at Beaver Creek Ranch up near Grantsburg. Like most farmers we meet, Doug took the invitation to heart and welcomed us with a giant arrow sign. (A test of Doug's attention to detail, you'll notice the sign leaves the "s" off the end of the co-op name AND spells Nik's name right. That's why we're smiling so big.)

Beaver Creek Ranch is a 185 acre certified or

ganic (OCIA) farm. They grow a wide variety of crops on the land including plenty of hay/forage for their Scottish Highland cattle. Other crops of note include buckwheat (what Doug calls "the magic fruit"), squash and different varieties of corn. The only animals we were able to observe on the farm during our winter visit were the highland cattle used in BCR beef products such as the jerky and hot dogs that we sell.

These cattle are amazing creatures. Thick coats of fur and huge horns that grow anew annually set the breed apart from others. Even with the sharp horns, it was safe to mingle with the herd which included a large bull on the loose. The animals are fed almost exclusively on fresh and stored organic forage grown on the farm. Doug sprinkled a little grain on the snow to attract the herd for our inspection and photos here.

Doug uses a variety of butchers for meat processing, choosing each one for their particular specialty products - Lindstrom for the kill floor & ground, Cannon Falls for Hot Dogs, Rochester for snack sticks, etc.

And this attention to processing detail is what defines Beaver Creek Ranch products. As one of the top five direct market farmers in Wisconsin, the Anderson's aren't just farmers, they are distributors too. Doug traverses the region in search of other quality farmers to fill in the gaps for their own production shortfalls, and inspects the farms personally before putting his farm name on a product. Turkeys from Central Minnesota, Chickens from Iowa - sometimes he has to travel a bit to find what his customers want, but the trip is worth it. Our customers know that when they buy Beaver Creek Ranch, they are buying quality.

It's not just crops and animals Doug and Kathy are concerned about, either. A good section of their land is a protected swamp, providing acres of wetlands for migrating birds. They have bat boxes for insect control and power their tractors with biodiesel blends. These are all things they do to make the planet a better place for everyone and everything.

I've included a few more of my notes below. Doug and Kathy welcome visitors to their farm, and Nik and Aaron would be happy to share more of what we know, too.

• they raise pigs seasonally, typically a yorkshire and hampshire cross, free ranging and supplemented with corn and oats
• nutraceuticals from a nearby oilseed processor are used with the animals, things like blackberry seed meal
• the land is fed with all sorts of stuff to grow better crops: Mississippi River fish meal, North Florida kelp
• chickens are cornish cross, usually Amish grown
• their farm cats are spoiled with their own house (old chicken coop) and heat lamps
• spinach cured bacon is made in Hayward using Doug's own recipe
• they have several great barns including one made using timbers from the swamp, and store lots of hay - good green leafy hay!
• rodent control is handled with perches scattered among the fields for hawks, eagles and owls
• it's sometimes hard to get Doug to stop talking, the man is a walking encyclopedia and adventure/crime novel (Doug worked at a famous prison out west before retiring to become a hard working farmer!)
• all products are USDA inspected and vacuum sealed, no MSG, no chemicals
• the Anderson's make a good chili, Doug served it with bread sauteed in garlic oil

A big hearty thanks to the Anderson's for their hospitality and continued hard work creating healthy food for us all!

Belated Mini January Brew News

We've been busy bringing in lots of new products and bringing back some old favorites. Here is a smattering of them. Just click on the beer below for a description.

Capital Dark 6pk
Capital Square Eisphyre 4pk
Central Waters Brewhouse Coffee Stout 4pk
Central Waters Satin Solstice Imperial Stout 6pk
Furthermore Makeweight 6pk (in stock 1/29)
Hinterland Maple Bock 4pk (in stock 1/21)
Leinenkugel's 1888 Bock 6pk (in stock 1/21)
Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout 4pk (in stock 1/21)
New Glarus Cabin Fever Honey Bock 6pk
New Glarus Snowshoe Red Ale 6pk
Potosi Fiddler Oatmeal Stout 6pk
Rush River Nevermore Chocolate Oatmeal Stout 6pk
Rush River Winter Warmer Winter Ale 6pk (JLF Exclusive in Eau Claire)
Sand Creek Groovy Brew 6pk
Sand Creek Frank's Wild Rye'd Imperial IPA 4pk
South Shore Rhodes Scholar Stout 6pk (in stock 1/21)
Tyranena Sheep Shagger Scotch Ale 6pk

As always,
Cheers,
Jordan (for the Beer Dudes)

Just Local Food NOW HIRING!!

Please submit updated resume, cover letter and availability by January 20th, 2011. You must be 18 years of age or older. We look forward to hearing from you!

Haas Brothers

We have been carrying this great line of products from Chippewa Valley brothers, Eric & Aaron Haas for a couple of months now. After a successful Downtown Eau Claire Farmers Market run, they decided to try retailing in a few select local establishments. Lucky for you and me both, we were selected as one of the few retailers to sell these superb salsas, hummus, and tortilla chips.

We currently stock...
Roasted Tomato and Chipotle Salsa - Mild
Roasted Tomato and Habanero Salsa - Hot
Roasted Red Pepper and Garlic Hummus
Thai Chili Pepper and Garlic Hummus - Spicy
Corn Tortilla Chips

Check these products out soon. You'll be glad you did.

BULK UP! All Bulk on SALE 15% OFF!!

Stock your pantry well for the winter! Just Local Food's bulk department is wishing you a big fat new year with a 15% sale on all bulk December 26th through December 31st. All discounts marked down at the register. Stop in now and take advantage of this big sale!

DUCK, DUCK, GOOSE... and HAM and TURKEY!

Meat-lovers rejoice!

Just Local Food now carries a wide array of savory and succulent beasts for your holiday dining pleasure.

We have:

• Ducks and geese from Spitzer Farm in St. Charles, MN ($4.79/lb and $5.99/lb, respectively)
• Smoked ducks from Crescent Meats in Cadott ($3.99/lb)
• Smoked quarter hams from Gingerbread Jersey in Augusta and Deutsch Family Farm in Osseo ($4.99/lb and $5.99/lb, respectively)
• Uncured bone-in half hams and smoked quarter hams from Beeler's Farm in Madison County, IA ($4.99/lb and $6.59/lb, respectively)
• And TWO (2) turkeys from Coon Creek Family Farm in Mondovi ($4.99/lb)

Here's a few ideas to get you started...
The Best Way to Roast a Duck (Hello, Crispy Skin!)
Roast Goose with Caramelized Apples

Živeli (Serbian for "to your health").
Nik

Brew News - December 2010

All Beer, All the Time!
BREW NEWS!

1.) New/Seasonal Beers
2.) Wisconsin Hops Resurgence
3.) BrewFarm Glass Giveaway
4.) What We're Drinking

1.) New/Seasonal Beers
click beers below for a brewery description
Lift Bridge Chestnut Hill 6pk
Tyranena Down & Dirty Stout 6pk
Summit Winter Ale 6pk
Capital Winter Skal 6pk
Point 'Whole Hog Series' Six-Hop IPA 4pk
New Glarus Coffee Stout 6pk
New Glarus 'Unplugged Series' Apple Ale 4pk
Bell's Christmas Ale 6pk
Hinterland Luna Coffee Stout 4pk
Hinterland Winterland 4pk
Goose Island Christmas Ale 22oz
Goose Island Matilda 22oz

2.) Wisconsin Hops Resurgence
Wisconsin used to be hop heaven as far as annual production goes, back in the 1800s and early 1900s. How could we not be with the plethora of breweries operating in the state at that time? Unfortunately greener pastures were found on the west coast and other regions of the world where higher production yields were able to be met, and there went the entire hop growing industry. Luckily for us, hops farms in Wisconsin are coming back with a vengeance. Thanks to efforts from the Wisconsin Hops & Barley Cooperative, Gorst Valley Hops, Wisconsin Brewers Guild, all of the local craft breweries, and everyone else encouraging local food (beverage) systems. Hops are back baby!

Check out these links for more info on the WI hop movement:
A nice article from Beer Advocate.
Wisconsin Brewers Guild
Gorst Valley Hops


3.) BrewFarm Glass Giveaway
You may or may not have known that we did a giveaway in November for 2 Dave's BrewFarm 20oz glasses. Well, we did. The Beer Dudes would like to congratulate William for being the lucky recipient. We plan on doing free giveaways whenever we can, so stay posted for future opportunities.

4.) What We're Drinking
Boy is it hard work trying all of the beers that we sell down at JLF. Since Drew and I are encouraged to do so...we only thought it wise to share what is currently in our own fridge.

Drew's recommendation: Capital Winter Skal
Jordan's recommendation: BrewFarm Matacabras

As always...CHEERS!
Jordan (on behalf of the Beer Dudes)

GO NUTS!

Are you a nut nut? This holiday season will be your time to go nuts! Whether you bring them for your host or hostess, or eat them all yourself, we have an incredible variety of these yummies!
Look for recently added COCOA DUSTED ALMONDS, or CHOCOLATE COVERED CURRY CASHEWS (both certified organic). We also carry a variety of Barsy's Almonds, handcrafted in Minneapolis. Try out the Smokies, Hotties, Sweeties and soon to arrive, Naughties (just in time for Christmas ;). From Tierra Farm, we have CURRY CASHEWS, CAJUN CASHEWS, THAI SPICED CASHEWS and MAPLE GLAZED ALMONDS, all certified organic. Don't forget about Just Cashews famed FAIRLY TRADED CASHEWS in roasted/salted, roasted/no-salt and raw. And for you raw nuts, look for our top selling RAW BIODYNAMIC ALMONDS, raw walnuts and pecans. Salted pistachios, salted peanuts, brazil nuts and mixed bridge nuts also. Imagine what a nice arrangement you can make with all of these varieties of nuts for your next gathering (and we're not talking about your family).

Chocolate Covered Goji Berries

Per YOUR request, our customer, we have chocolate covered GOJI berries. If you don't know anything about these super packed goodies, listen up.

Goji berries are believed to be a rich source of vitamins and nutrients with each goji berry purported to contain 18 different amino acids and vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E. It is believed that goji berries contain more beta carotene than is found in carrots of equal size. The goji berry is one of the richest sources of vitamin C in the world. Goji berries are also believed to contain zinc, iron, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and germanium in varying quantities. As a rich source of many of the vitamins and minerals essential to nutrition, goji berries are filled with antioxidants.

Tibet and Mongolia hold a two-week annual festival in honor of the goji berry. Many of them have nicknamed the goji berry “happy berry” because in common folklore “to eat goji in the morning will lead to smiles all day”.

Accessed on 12-2-10 http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/goji_berries.

Whole Grain Milling Popcorn is Back!!!

We have super news!! Whole Grain Milling was able to produce popping corn for all of us popcorn lovers this year. We know it was sadly missed last year and we are real excited to feature the certified organic white and yellow popcorn again this year. Ringing in at $1.79 a pound, most will agree that you can't beat the price for the quality and flavor of this regional product.

NEW: Local Sunflower Oil

New to our shelves this week is a locally produced sunflower oil!

Our local and organic sunflower oil has a rich and nutty flavor that tastes fantastic in salads. Also, it works great for low-temperature cooking and light stir frying. Josh (the farmer) loves to use it in baking as it imparts that wonderful nuttiness into breads and muffins.

They harvest the sunflowers in mid-October, clean the seed and then send it off to be cold expeller-pressed and bottled. The pressing is a low-heat process that results in a more full flavored and nutrient dense oil.

Closed Thanksgiving Day

Hello everyone. We're open on Wednesday our regular hours, 8am to 9pm. Thanksgiving Day we'll be closed to spend time with our families. We reopen at 8am on Black Friday.

NO MORE TURKEYS!

Sorry, folks. The turkey sign-up is over and done with. I have ordered a couple emergency birds; these will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Otherwise, all turkeys will be delivered tomorrow (Friday). Please stop by and claim your feast.

TURKEY CALLS BEGIN TODAY

Attention all responsible meat-eaters:

Today is the final day to sign-up for a turkey!

Coon Creek Farm and Beaver Creek Ranch are offering savory alternatives for those of you not interested in industrially-constructed Thanksgiving birds. (Please see the post below for details, stop in, or call the store: 715.552.3366.)

For those of you who have ordered already, I will be contacting you today or tomorrow, to let you know that your turkey will be here by Friday afternoon.

Thank you.

The long wait is over!


Our favorite dried pineapple and dried mango slices are back in bulk.
Sweet chewy unsweetened and unsulphured pineapple and unsweetened and unsulphured mango just in time to balance out the seasonal cookies and holiday treats.

CACAO NIBS!

New Product CACAO NIBS!

Fair Trade Certified and Organic Certified

Warning: Contains anandamide, the bliss chemical.

May cause total and wreck less euphoria (naturally occurring).

Eat raw or bake in your favorite holiday goods.

$14.99/pound