This just in! We have wrapped our annual report for 2008-09. Download a copy here. We will have 50 copies available at our meeting tomorrow, if you want to be sure to get a copy, please print one for yourself.

See you there!
Meeting%20Packet-Final.pdf

Labels: annual meeting, board of directors, co-ops, community, democracy, events, exciting, fun, local food, membership, owners, staff

Stop by tomorrow for our monthly sales event, we have some goodies in store, including...

Sampling new products! We have, for your consideration...

• Cabot Monterey Jack Cheese, 4.99/lb Regional, Cooperatively Produced, and what a bargain!
• Cooperstown Cheese Co. Toma Celena, 16.59/lb Another case of a New York Cheese standing up to Italy's finest. Our current favorite!
• Clawson Dairy's Mature Cheddar with Malt Whisky, 7.59/lb Okay, we know this one is from the other side of the pond, but it's WHISKY IN CHEESE!!! How could we resist?

Of course, we will have free coffee for Cooperative owners, and we will have Board Members in the store to engage with you all.

We should have a lot of fun, can't wait to see you!

Labels: board of directors, events, exciting, excitment at the Co-op, exotic, local food

Hello Cooperators,

Labels: co-ops, community, eat local, farmers, fruit, local food, locavores

Reeve's Farm sweet Corn is in!

The Co-op currently has produce from Six Local Farms!

Also, don't forget to visit us at Loguen Park Farmer's Market, Shanah and Matt will be selling Grindstone Organic produce from two until seven.

Hope to see you!

Labels: eat local, farmers, local food, locavores

The Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers’ Market will celebrate its second season with a Grand Opening on Thursday, June 19, 2008 in Loguen Park (formerly Lexington Park, at the intersection of East Genesee Street and Columbus Avenue). The market will be open from 2:00pm to 7:00pm every Thursday until the last day of the market, currently slated for October 30, 2008. This community-driven market features fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.

We are excited to announce that the Brownson Family Farm and Owen Orchards will return for our second season with their wonderful selection of fresh fruit and vegetables. We are also happy to welcome several new Central New York farmers to the market, including the Albrin Fruit Farm (known for their cherries), and Su Su’s Farm (known for its Vietnamese specialties). Last but not least, the Syracuse Real Food Cooperative will be teaming up with Grindstone Farms and Black Brook Farm to offer a wide variety of organic produce.

All farmers participating in the Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers’ Market will accept WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) coupons as well as food stamp benefits. New for this year, the market will also be able to accept all major CREDIT/ DEBIT cards through its wireless EBT service. We are the only local farmers’ market with this capability.

At the Grand Opening, community agencies and organizations will be present to provide information and giveaways on a variety of health, wellness, and community programs and services. Please come out and enjoy the neighborhood, the park, the new playground set, and welcome our new and returning farmers to an exciting second season!

Background: The Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers’ Market is sponsored and supported by the Community Foundation of Central New York and the Westcott Community Center, and has partnered with the Loguen Park Association, Farmers Market Federation of New York, SUNY ESF Center for Community Design Research, Syracuse Real Foods Cooperative, and Grace Episcopal Church.

The mission of the Syracuse Eastside Neighborhood Farmers’ Market is to host a market that improves neighborhood food security, supports local farmers and businesses, teaches youth entrepreneurship skills, while enriching the cultural heritage and community life of Syracuse’s Eastside neighborhood through educational and cultural programming.

Labels: eat local, events, exciting, farmers, local food, locavores, milestones, news

The Co-op has Strawberries!!!!!

Labels: eat local, farmers, fruit, local food, locavores, Reeves Farm, Wake Robin Farm

Labels: co-ops, eat local, excitment at the Co-op, farmers, local food, locavores, milestones

Local Cheeses are in! One of the things that we sometimes forget is that cheese is a seasonal product. Dairy animals give their nutritious milk all summer long, while grazing on pasture, and cheese makers craft their products to store the nutritious milk all winter long. We're just now getting last year's cheese out of local cheese caves, what a great time to be around Central New York. Shown here is Marty with some Heamour Farm Honey Gouda, and Cheryl with Sprout Creek Farm Barat and Nettle Meadow Kunik. Mmmm, cheese...

Labels: local food

There are always a lot of fun things happening around the Co-op this time of year! Our Plant sale was a lot of fun last weekend, Frosty Morning Farm and Black Brook Farm both sold lots of plants to Co-op members. Here's a picture of Karl Frost setting up for the sale. I'm especially glad that our Co-op has local products coming in like crazy. In just the last week, we have received 32 NEW local products, not including produce! This is really exciting stuff for me, because we carry just about 3,100 items at the Co-op, so, we just got 1% more local. We're headed on a really fun journey, I really feel like local, sustainable, deliciously diverse economies are right around the corner. Stay tuned, as all week we will be highlighting a different local product...

Labels: excitment at the Co-op, farmers, fun, local food, store pics

Just a few quick updates: Peterson Farm (Through Finger Lakes Organic Grower's Co-op) is bringing us some great Asparagus this year, look for it fresh on Wednesdays!

We are proud to carry Rhubarb from Frosty Morning Farms, one of our small-scale family farms. Come on in and plan for Pie!

Grindstone Farm has some really great shallot greens coming in, if you like garlic defanged, these are a fantastic option. Look for Grindstone on Thursdays!

We get a lot of questions this time of year about U-pick Strawberries, we recommend Cobblestone Valley Farm, in Preble. We have their beautiful Turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they have been fantastic business partners with us over the years. Oh, and let's not forget to mention, Cobblestone Valley sell their high-quality Organic Milk to Organic Valley, a farmer-owned, farmer-operated Co-op. When you buy your Organic Valley milk at the Co-op, you are supporting our local farmers! How cool is that?

Labels: co-ops, farmers, local food

WSTM is doing a series on the merits of organic food, and they knew to call us to talk about the the fact that Organic tastes better. We'd like to thank Laura Hand for thinking of us, look for more coverage of your locally grown Co-op to come.

Labels: farmers, local food

This just in!!

Labels: exciting, local food

Hope to see you all Saturday, April 19th at Vinomania! We will be tasting some of the best cheeses we have to offer, as well as surprises! The event is free, as always! See you there...

Labels: events, excitment at the Co-op, local food

Come visit us Saturday at the Thornden Park Ampitheater from 2:00-5:00! Travis will give a short talk on Eating Local, and The Co-op Kids will be presenting on the Environmental Impact of our food choices! Should be a lot of fun!

Labels: environment, local food, news, Syracuse

A very exciting project geared to support American farmers has finally produced fruit! And nuts!! We here at the co-op are very pleased to announce the arrival of the first domestic fair trade products in the marketplace. We are now carrying Organic Tamari Roasted Almonds, Roasted Salted Pecans, and Organic Dried Cranberries from Equal Exchange. EE has long been a trading partner of the SRFC for coffee, tea, and chocolate, as well as an innovator in the field of Fair Trade. The SRFC, EE, and many others in the world of co-ops and sustainable food feel these products are a dramatic first step in bringing economic equity to American farmers. To learn more about domestic fair trade, these products, and the farmers behind them, visit .

Labels: equal exchange, fair trade, farmers, local food, news

Come by the store and see our Local Farmer profiles...











Local photographer (and Co-op member) Sally White is responsible for these wonderful posters. Look for them throughout the Co-op over the next couple of weeks. We truly value the faces behind our food!

Labels: local food, store pics