A Message from the Manager
Happy Spring! We’re really excited for the new season. And what better way to kick off this new season than with our beautiful new outdoor sign! Thanks to artist Erin Kirchner and community member John Luna, who volunteered to hang it, our new co-op sign is finally up and greeting our customers with its warm colors and lovely artistry. Along with our new outdoor sign, we also have new indoor signs! Artist Lena Bullamore volunteered her time and donated materials to make signs for the store's departments. Every section of the market now has a unique hand-painted sign to help us find what we’re looking for. So if you haven’t yet, come check out our fresh new changes! A big thank you to everyone that helped make these improvements happen, from those of you that donated to the sign fund, to our regular shoppers that have kept us going for nearly ten years! Something to celebrate…
Natalie
General Manager
Co-op Principle #2: Democratic Member Control
Continuing to introduce the cooperative principles that guide Arena Market and Cafe operations, the second principle gives our members control over the co-op. Members elect Directors who set policies through their actions on the Board of Directors. Members also patronize the co-op and influence what sells and what we offer to the community. Member focus on organic and local foods has evolved into offering gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan foods.
At the initial meeting of interested people in November 2008, folks in the Point Arena area wanted community control over a natural food grocery store, a desire that arose after the closing of The Record market. They did not want a regular corporation or single proprietor ownership where a small number of people controlled things. Furthermore, they supported the co-op through their initial equity share purchases. Those funds helped improve the building (floors, painting, lights, display cases, refrigeration, etc.) and open the store on May 19, 2009.
Members control co-ops with one vote per member rather than one vote per share. During our early days, we had a few people who invested substantially to get things started. Co-op control limits the influence that those investors have because every member gets the same voting power.
Members who join and pay the initial $50 membership equity payment are members for life and may vote at our annual meetings. Those that continue to pay their equity payments are considered current members and receive member benefits, such as discounts on purchases, steep discounts on propane, and the opportunity to make special orders of volume purchases. We have more than 230 full-share members who have paid the maximum equity of $300.
Co-op members acting together in a democratic manner control the co-op. The Board and GM want to hear from you.
Cheers
Rick Beach, President
Coastal Organics Cooperative, Inc.
dba Arena Market and Cafe
Supplier Spotlight
This month we are beginning a series to spotlight some of the food producers who supply the Co-op.
Straus Family Creamery
by Dan Wormhoudt and Leslie Hoppe
The co-op is proud to carry organic dairy products from the Straus Family Creamery, a family-owned-and-operated organic dairy located in Marshall on the east shore of Tomales Bay. We regularly stock Straus yogurt, cream, and other products — currently, we’re the only local grocery to carry Straus milk.
Straus Family Creamery was the first 100% certified organic creamery in the US and the first certified organic dairy west of the Mississippi River — reflecting the long and deep commitment of its owners to environmentally responsible, sustainable practices.
Bill Straus, a refugee from Nazi Germany, founded the dairy in Marshall in 1941. He
began his dairy with 23 cows, which he named after family and friends, and was, from the start, a leading innovator in terms of environmentally responsible farming and dairy production methods. In 1950, Bill married Ellen Prins, herself a refugee from Nazi Germany, and, like Bill, a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and other environmental causes. Among her many distinctions, Ellen co-founded the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), which to date has acquired development easements covering more than 50,000 acres on 82 ranches, family farms, and dairies.
Bill and Ellen’s son Albert, the current Straus CEO, has continued his parents’ mission of environmental stewardship. Albert introduced no-till planting to reduce both soil erosion and carbon-based fuel use. He developed the use of cow feeds from unusual waste sources, such as rice sake waste from a local distillery and orange peel and pulp from a family-owned orange juice company in San Francisco. The dairy has also developed a naturally composted, manure wastewater pond system that recycles manure as fertilizer for the irrigation of their pastures.
Straus Family Creamery is a great example of the producers your co-op looks for — organic, local/regional, committed to sustainable practices, and supporting rural communities on the coast.
New Products
Pop & Bottle Matcha Green Tea Latte 11 oz. $4.89 ~ Made with almond milk and date sweetened to perfection. Lovely mid-afternoon treat/pick-me-up
Rishi Earl Grey Tea 15 bag $8.49 ~ Black tea infused with essential oil pressed from real bergamot citrus fruits grown in Calabria, Italy. This is the real deal… and a real treat.
Tura Organic Hibiscus Alcoholic Kombucha 6/12 oz. bottle $14.99 ~ Crisp, fruity, probiotic goodness.
Eel River Meyer Lemon hard water. Zero sugar, low carb, gluten-free. 6/12 oz. cans $9.69 ~ Light and refreshing. Sparkling citrus yumminess.
Sale Items
Organic Quinoa White $3.69/LB. Red $3.99/LB.
Kevita Probiotic Drink ~ Selected flavors including Lemon Cayenne, Watermelon Rose & Pomegranate 15.2 OZ. $2.96 ( .73 off )
Soothing Touch Lip Balm ~ Vanilla Rose & Vanilla Chai 7g. $1.95
Napoleon Artichoke Hearts 6.5 OZ. $2.79
