Save on Field Day Items and Support Native Foodways!

Save on Field Day Items and Support Native Foodways!

In recognition that the story of the first Thanksgiving perpetuates an inaccurate and harmful version of history, our co-op is joining food co-ops across the country to make a collective donation to North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NĀTIFS) this November. Food co-ops will donate $0.05 for every Field Day product sold during this promotion (October 30-December 3).

NĀTIFS (pronounced nay-tihfs. Sounds like "Natives") is a nonprofit organization founded by Lakota Chef Sean Sherman (known as the Sioux Chef), dedicated to revitalizing Indigenous food systems and promoting cultural preservation within Native American communities. Through initiatives like the Indigenous Food Lab, NĀTIFS offers training programs, educational workshops, and support for Indigenous entrepreneurs to empower individuals and foster economic development.

By addressing economic disparities, food insecurity, and the loss of Indigenous food knowledge, NĀTIFS aims to restore health, wealth, and cultural identity to Indigenous populations. The organization's commitment to promoting Indigenous foodways education, facilitating food access, and revitalizing ancestral knowledge underscores its mission to create positive social impact and support underserved communities.

To learn more about NĀTIFS, visit natifs.org. If you want to get involved, follow NĀTIFS on social media, sign up for the NĀTIFS newsletter, or make your own donation. You can also lend a hand by sharing their mission and vision on social media with your friends and family.

Taking advantage of low prices on Field Day items not only saves you money, but also supports the vital work that NĀTIFS is undertaking. If you are interested in doing more, consider learning about and supporting the initiatives of Indigenous people in your local community. Start by visiting native-land.ca/ to learn whose ancestral land you live on.

New Fair Trade Products: Minga Imports!

New Fair Trade Products: Minga Imports!

You may have noticed some of the new items from our latest fair trade vendor, Minga Imports.

Their alpaca fur stuffed animals have been a huge hit and are flying off the shelves! Alpacas are an essential part of local economies all over Peru, used both for their sheared wool and as a vital source of sustenance. These alpaca animals come from Cieneguilla, a small rural district nestled in the Andes mountains of Peru.

Minga Imports primarily works with artisans in Ecuador, Peru, and Bangladesh. Rather than working with artisan cooperatives, as many fair trade importers do, Minga Imports focuses on small family businesses and building direct relationships with those families.

Some notable items we carry are the little llama magnets and keychains from Peru, tagua seed keychains from Ecuador, animal play masks (just in time for Halloween) from Bangladesh, sustainably sourced Palo Santo incense sticks from Peru, and of course, those alpaca animals from Peru.

Tagua fun facts: Tagua is a seed from a fruit that grows in various parts of the South American rainforests, including in Ecuador. The fruit is not used for sustenance as it doesn't have much flavor. However, harvesting tagua for its pit-like seeds doesn't harm the rainforest and was part of a flourishing industry that has all but vanished since the invention of plastic in the 1940s. Prior to plastics, it was very common for our clothing to be made with tagua buttons! Commonly known as "vegetable ivory", tagua is an alternative that discourages poaching elephants and rhinos for ivory. Tagua products encourage the growth and maintenance of the Tagua Palm and the protection of the rainforests where they grow. Tagua also provides much-needed jobs for artisans and farmers who work with it. Today, it is used primarily for making jewelry and miniature sculptures. You can expect to see more tagua products in our store in the future.

To learn more about Minga Imports, their work, and artisan groups they partner with, visit:

https://www.mingaimports.com/why-fair-trade/

https://www.mingaimports.com/artisans/

Learn more about other fair trade products we carry!

A Thank You From Mother Hubbard's Cupboard

Thank you so much to the generous Bloomingfoods community for raising over $7,000 in support of increased access to local food for all! We’re so grateful for the support.

💙 Your Friends at the Hub

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard

FairTrade Producer Story

FairTrade Producer Story

By FairTrade America
Producer’s name: Dah Oho
Location: Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
Co-op name: ECAKOG
Commodity: Cocoa

“My name is Dah Oho. I am a farmer at ECAKOG. I am 32 years old. I am married and I have 4 children. Since 2005 I started with cocoa farming. Until 2011 I planted cocoa trees and today I take care of the field. For me, cocoa is very good and is my main source of income. Its cultivation enables me to take care of my children. I can send them to school and they can be treated when they are sick. So cocoa is very important for me and my family.

For me, Fairtrade ensures fair trade in cocoa. This association wants both cocoa producers* and cocoa buyers or processors, but above all owners of the chocolate industry, to be satisfied. The goal is to create a win-win situation for all sides.

Thanks to Fairtrade, we now have our water tower, which is located on the side of the road. We no longer lack clean drinking water. We also receive bonuses. And I now have the possibility to take out a loan from the cooperative if I don't have enough money to register my children at school when I start school.

Before joining the cooperative I had many difficulties. Everything is getting better and better since I joined the cooperative. A lot has changed and I am very happy about it.

Before joining the cooperative I had many financial problems. Today I don't have to manage everything alone, because the cooperative supports me, especially in the care of my cocoa plantation. I also always get my money after the sale. I can then take good care of my children. Today, I am not forced to borrow money from someone else so that my children can go to school.

But the situation has changed with Fairtrade, the cooperative, or with good farming practices and I get much more today. That's why I'm so happy that Fairtrade accompanies and supports us.

I would like my children to go on to school, study, and get jobs. And I personally want to run my own business alongside cocoa farming in order to earn more money. Because I want to have a house built. [Laughter]. Just that! That's the main thing for me and that's what's close to my heart. When I get enough money, I will have a house built. Like I said, I also want to be a businesswoman. And the children should get jobs in the future, so that we all don't suffer, but live a happy life.”

New Local Product - Importin' Joes!

New Local Product - Importin’ Joes Ethiopian Coffee!

Importin’ Joe’s Ethiopian Coffee specializes in the delivery of an impactful, culturally diverse, experiential coffee encounter. Coffee with compassion is our mantra. We aspire to significantly contribute to the overall improvement of any marginalized, disadvantaged or impoverished communities we are directly or indirectly associated with.

Importin’ Joe’s Ethiopian Coffee is a minority black and woman-owned 3rd wave coffee company based in Northern Indiana, founded by co-owners Joseph and Afomia Luten. Whether it be three thousand cups of coffee donated to local area teachers, huge contributions to the eradication of the on-going child homelessness in East Africa, or initiating change in the local socio-economic landscape, Importin’ Joe’s Ethiopian Coffee is up for the cause! To ensure this happens, we at Importin’ Joe’s have committed to allocating 30% of our profits to social change and equity.

You too can become a catalyst for change and a partner against poverty by simply enjoying a hot cup of Ethiopian Joe! Can’t wait to see you soon!

Our Coffee

Importin’ Joe’s sources the highest quality, specialty beans from the indigenous lands of Ethiopia where the Arabica coffee species originated.

High elevations coupled with mineral rich volcanic soil has lended to the prestige and renown associated with our competition grade naturally processed and washed Ethiopian coffee.

Boasting of a rich and robust flavor profile, Ethiopian coffees are historically known for their unique fruity, chocolatey, sweet and juicy notes.

Our offerings include a collection of rotating single origin, directly traded coffee beans from various prominent coffee growing regions located throughout Ethiopia. We also offer a host of beautifully crafted single origin Ethiopian blends!

Source: https://importinjoes.com/pages/about-the-founders

Celebrate Co-op & Fair Trade Month with Us!!!

Celebrate with us all October & enjoy special promotions, local vendor demos, giveaways & events!

Special promotions!
🧡 Get a digital $25 Bloomingfoods gift card when you sign up for a new membership in October!
🧡 Owner-Members who spend $100+ in one transaction throughout October will receive a digital $20 gift card!
🧡 Owner-Members get 15% OFF their purchase every Tuesday in October!

Events!
🧡 Local Vendor Demos will be hosted at our East & Near West stores throughout October!
🧡 Wilderlove Farm Tour for Owner-Members – Saturday, October 12 (National Farmer's Day!), 3-4:30pm! RSVP required.
🧡 Pie Pumpkin Painting Contest for Owner-Members – Sunday, October 13th, noon to 2pm outside our Near West Store!

Giveaways!
🧡 Co-op & Fair Trade Month Giveaway – accepting entries October 1st-31st!
🧡 Name That Produce Game!

To learn more about Co-op & Fair Trade Month promotions, events, & giveaways throughout October, visit www.bloomingfoods.coop/coop-fair-trade-month or click the button below.

A Thank You From Area 10 Agency on Aging

Dear Bloomingfoods Shoppers,

Thank you for supporting our community’s aging population with your recent donation. Your gift of $6,636.80 dated 6/5/2024 will be used in support of our work to improve the quality of life and celebrate the independence, health, and dignity of older adults and people with disabilities in Monroe and Owen counties.

Thanks to your donation, we can provide basic needs such as food, transportation, affordable housing, and supports and services to stay safely at home. We can continue to offer fitness, health and wellness, and arts programs at the Endwright Center; match volunteers with meaningful opportunities throughout the community; provide a friendly visitor for the homebound; and provide resources for family caregivers.

Area 10 Agency on Aging has served our community for more than 30 years, and with a rapidly growing aging population, our services are in more demand than ever. Every year we provide case management to more than 600 clients, deliver 46,000 nutritious meals, answer more than 2,500 calls to the Aging and Disability Resource Center, engage 450 adults through RSVP 55+ Volunteer Program, serve more than 1,800 adults at the Endwright Center, provide 125,000 rides through Rural Transit, and house 100 seniors in three affordable apartment complexes. It is only with generous support like yours that we are able to offer these essential, and often critical, programs and services.

Thank you for partnering with us to empower residents to live longer, stronger lives. Your gift with make a world of difference as it’s used to enhance the lives of older adults and people with disabilities in our community.

Thank you all so much!

Sincerely, 

Chris Myers

Executive Director

Area 10 Agency on Aging

New Fair Trade Products at our East Store - Ten Thousand Villages!

TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES – NEW FAIR TRADE PRODUCT AT OUR EAST STORE!

We are continuing to grow our selection of fair trade products at the East Store, and recently we’ve done that by adding Ten Thousand Villages (TVV) as a new vendor. TTV describes themselves as “a global maker-to-market movement that addresses economic injustice.

Because every handcrafted object has a life of meaning behind it. We’re a way for you to shop with intention for ethically-sourced handcrafted wares - and to share in the joy of empowering makers in ten thousand villages.” As with our other fair trade vendors, they are relieving poverty in under-resourced communities across the global south through fair, sustainable opportunities instead of charity.

Ten Thousand Villages is also the birthplace of the global fair trade movement. In 1946, Edna Ruth Byler bought some embroidered fabrics in Puerto Rico and took them home to sell. What started as one person selling products from the trunk of their car eventually became the oldest and largest fair trade importer in North America. Today, TTV works with small, independent producer groups in over 20 countries and also has their own retail stores across the US and Canada.

In our store you will see kaisa grass baskets from Bangladesh, some which are wrapped with recycled sari fabric. We also have ceramics from Vietnam, the Be Still incense line wooden chopsticks, and the bicycle pizza cutter from India, and soapstone dishes from Kenya. And there’ll be more to come!

To learn more about Ten Thousand Villages, their work, and artisan groups they partner with, visit:

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/pages/history

https://www.tenthousandvillages.com/pages/impact

Learn more about other Fair Trade products we carry!

SNAP Double Dollars Program Update - A Message from the Board of Directors

Dear Bloomingfoods Owner-Members,

I want to report to you about Bloomingfoods' SNAP Double Dollars Program that started in January, allowing the SNAP participants among our shoppers to have a fifty percent discount on food. We are excited and encouraged by the success of the program so far!

You no doubt have seen it in other Bloomingfoods communications, but I want to take this opportunity to clarify how it came about and how it fits into the overall mission of the co-op. Our belief, as written in our Ends, is that we can be “A market for local, fair, and healthful products” that offers “fair prices for producers and all owner-members.” While economic pressures have caused all prices to go up, we make every effort to provide relief to those who are most affected, particularly those eligible for federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.

In the fall of 2022, an ad hoc committee of Bloomingfoods board members led by board president Isabelle Daellenbach with advisor Annie Eakin wrote and submitted a grant to the Indiana Department of Health. As approved, it provides $583,626.00 to allow SNAP shoppers to receive twice as much food in a “Double Dollars Program.” That means a shopper using SNAP can buy $50 worth of Bloomingfoods groceries for $25. Since January of 2024, this program has served 419 individuals for $132,468.17 in total doubling. An added feature is the Nutrition Made Easy with Bloomingfoods series of classes for adults and children led by Anitra Higgins.

We’re thrilled that this program is allowing shoppers to stretch their dollars at Bloomingfoods, as we understand that sustainably-produced, nutrient-dense food can be, by nature, more expensive than conventional alternatives. The positive feedback we’ve gotten from shoppers demonstrates the importance of this program. To continue the SNAP Double Dollars program beyond the initial funding, the board plans to research future grants and a possible donation procedure. If you have any suggestions or connections for sustaining funds, please reach out to the board at isabelle.d@bloomingfoods.coop.

Since 2017 we have had a discount program for owner-members who receive SNAP and/or WIC, called Bloomingfoods For All, which initially offered 10% off all SNAP-eligible items and allows the owner equity payment to be paid in $3.50 increments over 2 years. Bloomingfoods For All was partially funded by the Positive Change Round Up in October of 2021, which was chosen by the Bloomingfoods leadership team, and allowed the discount to be increased to 20% off all SNAP-eligible items. Thank you for rounding up your total at the register for this program! For more information about Bloomingfoods for All, please visit our website at www.bloomingfoods.coop/bloomingfoods-for-all.

We are a local community with Bloomingfoods at its heart. We take care of each other in every way we can and welcome all suggestions and ideas for the future.

Thank you for your participation in this cooperative adventure!

Nancy Mathews
Bloomingfoods Board of Directors

A Thank You From New Hope For Families

Dear Bloomingfoods Shoppers,

On behalf of the families, staff, and board of New Hope for Families, thank you so much for the recent donation of $6,809.75, which we received on 5/6/2024, along with the matching grant of $1,854.35 from an anonymous donor through the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, making a total contribution of $8,664.10 from the April 2024 Positive Change round-up program at Bloomingfoods.

When children and their families experience homelessness in Bloomington, our community can depend on New Hope for Families to keep them safe, to keep them together, and to help them along their path toward a brighter future. We are truly grateful for Bloomingfoods as a partner in this mission.

Since opening our doors in 2011, New Hope has sheltered more than 300 families, and assisted hundreds more with access to quality child care and other essential services. More than 80% of New Hope families move on to stable housing.

Thank you to everyone at Bloomingfoods. With your help, we will continue to spread hope and stability throughout our community.

Sincerely, 

Emily Pike

Executive Director

New Hope For Families