Produce | Deli | Health & Wellness | Wine & Cheese | Meat, Poultry & Seafood | Grocery | Staff Favorite Snack | Fair Trade
Produce
Spring Produce Highlights
“Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.”
~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke
Beautiful, lush, vibrant Spring produce is here and more is on its way from local farms.
Try all of spring’s edible gifts and remember to buy local and organic at the Co-op.
Asparagus – Perhaps the most anticipated crop of the spring, asparagus is quite a delicacy. Try it roasted or grilled with a little olive oil and salt, or look for more recipes in the spring Reporter. Asparagus contains vitamins A, B complex, C and E as well as potassium and zinc.
Lettuces – We have a variety of lettuces that can be simply dressed on their own or used as a base for a great salad. Make leafy red lettuce wraps on a hot spring day – fill them with shrimp or tofu, sprouts, grated carrots, daikon and fresh mint for a cool treat. Often chided for being “mostly water,” lettuce is actually one of the most healing foods for that very reason!
Green Garlic – The young, tender garlic stem before it forms its more familiar paper-covered cloves. Green garlic is much milder than mature garlic cloves, so it can be used with abandon without a sharp bite. It lends a more delicate flavoring to spring soups, and it is fabulous scrambled with asparagus and eggs.
Snap Peas – Also known as sugar snaps, these are nature’s candy. The pod as well as the pea can be eaten – but snap off an end and remove the string that runs along each side. They are delicious raw, lightly steamed or stir-fried. Combine them with roasted beets for a doubly sweet treat.
English Peas – These peas are for shelling and are best when eaten very fresh. As soon as they are picked, their sugar starts to turn to starch. Green peas are high in vitamins A and B complex and are a good source of calcium and potassium.
Strawberries – What could be better than a fresh, juicy strawberry? Excellent to eat raw, in smoothies, in ice cream, baked in pies, even drizzled with a little aged balsamic vinegar for something different. Strawberries are a skin-cleansing food, beneficial for cardiac health and a good source of the anti-cancer compound ellagic acid. More chemical pesticides are used on conventional strawberries than almost any other food crop, so it’s very important to buy organic strawberries.
New Potatoes – These are freshly harvested potatoes whose skins have not yet set. New potatoes have a high moisture and sugar content, so they cook quickly and have a delicately sweet flavor. Look for them in a variety of shapes and colors – they are all excellent fuel foods with most of their nutrients concentrated in and around the skin, so don’t peel them. Steaming them best retains their nutritional benefits.
Carrots – Americans did not embrace the carrot until after World War I, but now it is one of our most cherished vegetables – and we throw them in everything from appetizers to desserts. Many of the nutrients are in or just under the peel, so give them a good scrub to remove dirt, but avoid peeling them. Carrots and their juice are great detoxifiers – alkalinizing, cleansing, nourishing and stimulating to almost every system in the body.
Fennel – The bulb, stalk and leaves are all edible, and the licorice flavor will mellow when cooked. Thinly slice the bulb, caramelize with butter and serve with pasta and some Parmesan cheese. Small bulbs can be sliced into long strips and served with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sea salt for a cooling appetizer. Fennel is beneficial for stomach and intestinal health, and it contains natural plant estrogens that are useful in treating menopause.
Radishes – Look for radishes in a variety of colors and sizes – the smaller ones are generally milder, and the multi-colored “Easter egg” variety are especially festive on a spring salad or crudité platter. Remove the radish greens before storing; greens add a peppery flavor to soups or salads. Radishes are antibacterial and help clear up sinus congestion and soothe sore throats.
Artichokes – An edible variety of thistle in the sunflower family, artichokes are easier to cook than they seem to be. The simplest way to prepare them is by boiling them upside down in a steamer – they are done when a fork can easily poke into the base. Remove the hearts and leaves and dip them in melted butter for a sublime treat. Artichokes aid digestion by promoting healthy bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Cherries – Cherry trees have been cultivated and cherished for over 2000 years, and anyone who has ever eaten a perfectly ripened cherry can understand why. That burst of juice from a firm plump cherry is one of spring’s great gifts, and since cherries are naturally detoxifying, they are perfect for spring cleansing. Be sure to choose organic ones, because, like strawberries, conventionally grown cherries contain some of the most toxic chemical residues.
Source: Whole Foods Companion by Dianne Onstad
Deli
Enjoy a delicious buffet at our deli featuring seasonal, organic produce and internationally inspired hot entrees and side dishes. Each day of the week features a different ethnic cuisine from around the globe.
To take a look at this season's menu, see the Sacramento store page.
Health & Wellness
Welcome to spring!
We are coming out of winter and bursting forth into the warm sunshine. Spring is a time of new beginnings, celebrating birth, mothers, and Mother Earth. Here are a few excellent products good for you, mom and the earth.
Dr. Bronner’s
Lavender Coconut Lotion
This hand and body lotion is USDA Certified Organic! Quench your skin and soften up for spring with this silky, rich and luxurious lotion composed of pure, organic moisturizing oils of jojoba, coconut, hemp and avocado. Delicious!
California Baby
Calming Shampoo & Body Wash
For babies, kids and sensitive adults alike, this soothing blend was formulated and developed by a mother who wanted to avoid using conventional products filled with toxins on her baby’s skin, which can absorb up to 60% of what is applied to it. All California Baby products are free of phthalates,
common allergens, sulfates and dyes.
Desert Essence Organics
Shampoos and Conditioners
Available in juicy fruit flavors like Green Apple & Ginger for
thickening and volume enhancement and Red Raspberry for shine, this line will gently cleanse and nourish your hair without parabens, phthalates, artificial colors or petroleum-based ingredients. Wheat- and gluten-free, biodegradable and 100% vegan.
New Chapter
Organics
Whole Food Probiotic Nutrients
New Chapter offers a full line of Whole Food Vitamin Complexes that deliver essential nutrients in their most active forms. Feel the difference for yourself!
Amazing Grass
GREENSuperFood
This excellent, complete raw food formula features alkalizing and detoxifying greens, immune-boosting antioxidants, and fiber and enzymes for digestive support.
Contains 70% CCOF Certified Organic ingredients.
—Kristin Vollbrecht
SNFC Wellness Merchandiser
Choose Phthalate Free Baby Products for Your Family
To keep children’s skin healthy while avoiding exposure to harmful phthalates, The Co-op’s Wellness Department offers phthalate free products from these companies:
California Baby
Earth Mama Angel Baby
MyChelle
Wine & Cheese
Going loco over “locavore…”
The Oxford American Dictionary’s Word of the Year for 2007 is “locavore,” which is defined as a person who eats locally grown or raised food. As Editor Ben Zimmer explained,
“It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.” Eating locally is beneficial for both the consumer and the environment, as it reduces the amount of
energy expended to package and transport food to distant markets, while at the same time providing the consumer the benefits of fresher, more nutritious, and better-tasting food. In addition it helps the local economy by supporting local growers. Here at the
Co-op we have always been proponents of this doctrine, long before there was a name for it. Local is what we do best.
In our Wine, Beer and Cheese Departments we also try to bring in the best of our local products. In this region alone we are within a 100-mile radius of many wonderful wine appellations including Napa, Sonoma, Lodi, the Sierra Foothills, Capay Valley, and Clarksburg and the Delta. Wine lovers have long embraced the philosophy of “terroir,” or the “taste of the soil.” Pinot Noir grown in the Carneros region of California has a different flavor profile than Pinot grown in the Burgundy region of France or Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Local does make a difference. Equally, in cheese production where the sheep, goats and cows graze has a big impact on flavor. What follows are a few of my local favorites. Besides having great products it’s also great to actually meet the people behind the products–the growers, winemakers and dairymen and women. We should all lift a glass to our local growers!
—Julie Edelstein, Wine, Beer and Cheese Manager
Wines for Locavores
2006 Sierra Vista Sierra Foothills
Fumé Blanc
Sierra Vista Winery was started in 1972 in the Placerville region and named for its spectacular views of the Sierra Foothills. An eco-friendly winery, they practice sustainable agriculture and have converted their winery to solar power. This award winning Fume Blanc (another name for Sauvignon Blanc) is crisp and bright with aromas of fresh melon and grapefruit. The wine was cold-fermented in stainless steel and saw no oak in order to retain its fresh fruity zestiness. Bright flavors of lemongrass, citrus, and melon are balanced by crisp acidity. Try it with our Willey Farms baby artichokes with Organic Valley sweet cream butter, or our delicious wild large shrimp.
2006 Peltier Station Lodi
Petite Sirah
The Schatz Family has been growing grapes in the Lodi area since the 1950s and has long been known as one of the premier grape growers in the region. They began their winery operation in 2002 and named the winery after the train track
located near their winery on Peltier Road. In the early part of the century packing sheds used to ship Lodi grapes to winemakers all across the country from this location. This Lodi Petite Sirah packs a punch of concentrated ripe berry fruit with a little caramel, pepper and earth in the finish. Enjoy with our Organic Prairie center loin-cut pork chops in a Bariani
California balsamic vinegar reduction sauce.
2006 Sobon Vineyards Amador County
Old Vines Zinfandel
The Sobon Estate Winery was founded in 1989 by Shirley and Leon Sobon as their 30th anniversary present to each other. Previously the two had founded the Shenandoah Vineyard Winery in Amador County’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Both Sobon and Shenandoah Vineyards have grown certified organic grapes since 1989. This site for their Sobon Winery was chosen for its historical significance (it was formerly the D’Agostini Winery), and also because of its old vine Zinfandel vineyards. This 2006 Zin won a double gold at the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine
Competition. This wine shows ripe juicy cherry fruit with hints of eucalyptus and earthiness. Enjoy with our handmade Diestel turkey,
spinach, feta and pine nut sausages.
Cheeses for Locavores
Central Coast Creamery Cheeses:
This brand of cheese from Modesto is new to our
store and is a fine example of quality California artisan cheese. The three types we carry (Harmony, Ewe-nique and Pacific Breeze, described below) are all made from interesting combinations of cow, goat and sheep milk. They are all made in small batches, mostly by hand. The creamery uses only milk from local animals not treated with hormones, and vegetable enzymes. All their cheeses have been aged a minimum of 120 days to bring out greater flavor complexity and a longer finish.
Harmony—A blend of goat and cows’ milk. A combination of gouda and cheddar manufacturing processes gives this cheese a mild, buttery, slightly sweet flavor with a smooth, creamy texture.
Ewe-nique—Made from sheep and cows’ milk and inspired by the Basque tradition of cheesemaking. This cheese has a smooth texture with a subtle sweetness and a mild earthy undertone.
Pacific Breeze—A blended goat and cows’ milk cheese processed in the traditional techniques used to produce exceptional alpine cheese. Pacific Breeze has an open texture and a complex, slightly nutty flavor.
North Valley Farms Chevre
One of our favorite handcrafted cheeses. Mark and Deneane Ashcraft are multi-generational California dairyists who produce fine handmade cheeses made in small batches to order. Their goats are raised on their own pastures which have been fertilizer—and herbicide-free for over a decade. The milk they make their cheese from is free of hormones and antibiotics. This fresh North Valley chevre has clean, mild flavors with a dense creamy texture. It’s available in plain, chive, dill and thyme. Serve on a fresh toasted Bella Bru bagel for a real treat.
Meat, Poultry & Seafood
Whenever possible SNFC will sell meat that is raised on local family farms.
Meat products will be sold only when they meet or exceed the USDA Organic standards for feed and processing. These products must also meet the standards for humane treatment of animals as they are developed by the Animal Welfare Institute and the Humane Society of the United States in conjunction with USDA Organic.
Poultry and poultry products must be either cage free or free-range, as well as hormone and antibiotic-free. We will seek USDA Organic poultry and poultry products and make them available whenever possible.
Any processed products containing meat must be USDA Organic to be sold in the store. This would apply to product such as soup, frozen entrees, or other prepared product.
Sustainable Seafood at the Co-op
Respecting the natural environment and acting accordingly, the Co-op sells only sustainably-harvested seafood. Eating seafood can be a healthy choice for your diet, but have you ever questioned if it is healthy for the environment? Whenever you buy fish at the Co-op, you can trust that it has been harvested in a way that protects oceans, rivers, and fish populations.
At the Sacramento Co-op we recognize that worldwide fisheries are being depleted rapidly and some forms of aquaculture can be damaging to the surrounding environment. Our customers are aware of this problem and are looking to make more educated choices when purchasing seafood. By working closely with FishWise and strictly implementing the FishWise labeling program we hope not only to supply more sustainable options for our community, but also to provide current information on our seafood to help you feel confident about your decisions. Color-coded labels (green=sustainable, yellow=some concerns, red=unsustainable) at our seafood counters alert our customers about the level of sustainability of each of the seafood products that we carry. Labeling is determined after taking into account: the biology of the seafood species, the bycatch (the amount of unintentionally captured species), habitat destruction due to fishing practices, and pollution into the surrounding environment. To learn more about sustainable seafood please visit www.fishwise.org.
By being careful to purchase only sustainably harvested fish, we are upholding the Co-op's value of "respecting the natural environment and acting accordingly." We are also supporting fisheries whose practices respect the environment and we are providing educational information to consumers.
Another issue to consider when purchasing seafood is the level of contaminants found in certain types of seafood. Mercury contamination of seafood is a persistent human health concern; in fact, the Food and Drug Administration warns pregnant women, children and women who might become pregnant to avoid the consumption of swordfish, shark, tilefish and king mackerel because of their high methyl-mercury content. This issue is not addressed on the Seafood Watch recommendations card. However, groups like the Sea Turtle Restoration Project can provide information to help guide you in making healthy seafood choices. Visit www.gotmercury.org to learn more about the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and to use their Mercury Calculator.
Sustainable Seafood Links
Natural & Organic Meat & Poultry Links
By Michael Copley, SNFC Merchandising manage
Grocery
Wheat-Free and Delicious
Don’t let a wheat or gluten allergy get you down. The Co-op offers a great selection of wheat-free and gluten-free products for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These are some of our customers’ favorites:
Mary’s Gone
Crackers
Original Flavor
These organic crispy crackers have a rich, satisfying flavor. They’re awesome with hard and soft cheeses or nut butters.
Erewhon Brown Rice
Cereal with Berries
100% whole grain and organic brown rice–this cereal is yummy! It’s low in sugar and has real blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Kids will love it!
Pamela’s Shortbread
Pecan Chocolate Chunk
The whole line of Pamela’s cookies are delicious, but these are especially so! Made with 70% organic ingredients, these cookies are a sweet indulgence.
Ancient Harvest
Quinoa Pasta Shells
This supergrain pasta is low in sodium and cholesterol-free. You’ll like it so much you’ll never go back to plain noodles again!
French Meadows
European Style Flaxseed Rye Bread
It’s thin, whole-grain and chewy and toasts really crisp, almost like a cracker. 100% organic and yeast-free. Absolutely delicious toasted or used for grilled sandwiches.
—By Kelly Bootes
SNFC Grocery Merchandiser
Staff Favorite Snack!
For a quick meal, hot or cold, try Shirataki tofu noodles with:
Green onions, snap peas, sesame oil (dash), tamari and top off with black sesame seeds.
For more ideas go to Hungry-girl.com
- Ann McCullough, Grocery Clerk
Fair Trade
Buy Fair Trade Everyday
You’ll find these fairly traded products at the Co-op:
- Coffee Beans
- Teas
- Chocolate
- Nuts
- Dried Fruits
- Sweeteners
- Grains
- Body Care
- World of Good Artisan Crafts
- SNFC Tote Bags
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