A Thank You From Community Kitchen

Dear Bloomingfoods,

Thank you so much for supporting Community Kitchen with a gift of $7611.36, made on 4/3/2024 through the Positive Change program. We could not do what we do without the generous community support that you and so many others provide.

One program that benefits from your generosity is our Backpack Buddies program. During the school year, Community Kitchen works with school social workers to identify children and their families experiencing food insecurity, delivering a bag of food items to help children and their families with their food needs over the weekend. For the 2023-24 school year, our Backpack Buddies program is now serving over 500 children and families, the highest number of participants in the program’s history. That means that Community Kitchen is using more than 2 tons of food for this program alone, each week! Financial support like yours, along with food donations, truly make this program possible. Thank you!

Currently, across all programs, the Kitchen is providing an average of over 1,039 meals and snacks per day so ongoing community support is vital; please consider becoming a regular monthly donor through our ACH program. We are enclosing a form that you can use to sign up. Know that when you sign up, you help to ensure that we have what we need to provide nutritious food to our neighbors in need.

When you donate to Community Kitchen, you make our community stronger by contributing to the development of young minds and bodies, by making sure seniors are cared for in their own homes, by helping hard-working people make ends meet and by providing the nutrition necessary to help folks manage their health. Thank you for your kind and loyal support of Community Kitchen. Consider becoming a regular monthly donor through our ACH program. We are enclosing a form that you can use to sign up.

Because of your generosity we are able to meet the needs of our community, working together to feed those who need a little extra help! In 2023, we served a record 325,446 meals and snacks to our community’s most vulnerable. Your support makes it possible for them to have dignified access to nutrition on a regular basis. YOU really do make a difference! Thank you!

Sincerely,

Vicki Pierce

Executive Director

Community Kitchen of Monroe County

Proud to Support Local, Women-Owned Businesses

Bloomingfoods is a proud supporter of many local and women-owned businesses. We are pleased to stock a wide range of products at our stores!

Know them & support them:

Aahaa Chai – Loose teas, chai concentrates, & ready-to-drink vegan chai lattes

Apricot Sun – Mediterranean seasonings (Zaatar seasonings & spreads, Sumac, & My Baba’s Pepper)

Bivi’s Tamales & Salsa – Tamales & salsas

Bloomington Bagel Co. – Bagels

Bread & Roses Gardens & Blossom & The Bee Tea Co. – Herbal tea line, mushroom tinctures, & hot sauces

Celtic Glen Heritage Livestock – Meats

Drift – Cleaning products (The Multitasker, The Grimebusta, Sparkle Sparkle dish powder, & rearview mirror essential oil car diffusers)

Fauna LLC – Daily restorative cream

Fischer Farms Natural Foods – Meats

Frangipani Body Products – Face cleansers, face serums, face moisturizers, & body oils

Limberlost Skincare – Renewal cream

Linnea’s Greenhouse – Wheatgrass

Mayasari Effendi – Tempeh and dried black beans & barley

Morning Meditation – Loose leaf teas

Needmore Coffee Roasters – Fair & Direct Trade & organic coffee

Piccoli Dolci – Cookies & pastries

Popkorn Kernels with a Twist – Popcorn

Spice Kick – Seasonings (chili, tikka masala, ramen, & tuna salad)

Sushi King – Sushi

Happy Women’s History Month!!

New Local Vendor Alert!

Crossroads Kombucha is an artisanal fermented tea-based drink, hand-crafted in Franklin, Indiana made with only 100% real ingredients. Crossroads Kombucha is owned and operated by the Bolin family, long-time residents of Johnson County in Indiana. Samuel and Barry Bolin personally brew every ounce of the Crossroads Kombucha they sell! Learn more at crossroadskombucha.com.

Nativo Cafe is a US/Mexican company based in Bloomington, IN and Tlaxcala, MX. Nativo Café sources the highest quality, small batch coffee in the world through direct farm partnerships - finding expert coffee producers who grow, process, and pack their own coffee with mastery, and deliver it right to you. This also means you’re enjoying a specific strain of coffee, instead of a combination of beans from the same (or even different) regions. Check them out at nativocafe.com.

Irascoffeecards is designed and illustrated by Bloomingfoods West staff member Ira Drummy. Ira says “My rural upbringing can be seen in a lot of my artwork. In many others, such as the snowmen cards, it is more difficult to notice. A lot of thought, time and passion go into each card I create. When I create a card, I’m thinking about what the customer would feel or what kind of things are important to them. Do the same seasonal things that appeal to me appeal to them? Do the same color combinations, or lack thereof, appeal to them as me?” Stop by and see Ira’s cards at Bloomingfoods Near West or check out his Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/IrasCoffeeCards!

New Local Vendor Alert!

We have a new local milk on the shelves! Twin Springs Creamery is a local dairy collective right here in Bloomington. Consisting of four family farms, Twin Springs practices regenerative farming techniques, with intentional rotation of pastures as they seek to build soil carbon, fertility, and health through grazing practices. Care for the animals is critical to their health and the healthfulness of the milk they give. Twin Springs provide quality forage, water, and non-gmo supplements, along with clean living conditions and plenty of space. The cows are grass fed and the breeds they have chosen are based upon the specific qualities they bring to the glass, like high butterfat and protein, A2 beta casein, and a great taste.

We also have a new local mead! Located not far from here in Gosport, Lost in the Woods Winery & Meadery has been making honey wine (mead) for decades, and have decided to bring it to the public. Along with wine making they also enjoy a wide range of projects including raising honey bees, goats, ducks, and chickens, and cultivating gardens, fruit trees, and mushrooms. But their focus is on mead, and we are very happy to offer several varieties.

So treat yourself and continue to support your community with Twin Springs Creamery milk and Lost in the Woods mead!

Bloomingfoods is a New Member of the City of Bloomington Chamber of Commerce!

We are very excited to become a Member of the Chamber of Commerce for the first time and are looking forward to the new opportunities for collaboration with other local businesses that are working to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community!

If you are a local business and would like to work more closely with us, please contact us at info@bloomingfoods.coop.

Bloomingfoods East

Bloomingfoods Near West

✨Happy Holidays from all of us at Bloomingfoods!

Dear Owner-Members & Bloomingfoods Community,

As this year comes to a close, I’d like to take a moment to express the Board’s gratitude for another great year of Bloomingfoods. We want to give a special shout out to our staff, members, shoppers, vendors and our community partners. Plus, a warm welcome to the more than 300 new owner-members who joined us in 2023!

We on the Bloomingfoods Board feel strongly about the important role that this co-op plays in supporting the community, not only by providing local and healthful foods, but also serving as a place for learning and connection — while doing so democratically! So thank you for supporting our work. 

It’s been a year of growth and persistence through some not-so-insignificant challenges, and the Board had a great time sharing these highlights over pasta and music at our October Annual Meeting. If you weren’t able to make it, be sure to read all about Bloomingfoods’ work in the 2023 Annual Report! 

We’re also grateful that our efforts to strengthen our local food system were recognized by Bloom Magazine, who recently awarded Bloomingfoods a 2023 Community Award for Support of Local Vendors. This award truly does belong to every founder, staff member, owner-member, shopper, local farmer, local business owner, and community partner. Because of your support over the past year, we paid $1,510,000 to local farmers, vendors, and producers! 

Thank you again for your continued love and support of local vendors here at Bloomingfoods, this year and each year since 1976. We look forward to more cooperation and good food in 2024!

Best wishes,
Isabelle Daellenbach, Board President, on behalf of the Bloomingfoods Board of Directors

Bloom Magazine Honors Bloomingfoods with a 2023 Community Award!

East Staff with Bloom Award

Near West Staff with Bloom Award

Thank you Bloom Magazine for honoring us with a 2023 Community Award for Support of Local Businesses! This award belongs to every founder, staff member, owner-member, shopper, local farm, local business, and community partner!!!

Thanks to your support over the past year, we paid $1,510,000 to local farmers, vendors and producers! Thank you again for your continued love and support of local vendors here at Bfoods since 1976! 💙

A MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Bloomingfoods Owner-Members & Shoppers,

My name is Isabelle Daellenbach, the current president of the Bloomingfoods Board of Directors. As you all may know, a lot of construction activity continues behind the East side location.  I’m reaching out to explain the changes and share the board’s thoughts about it.

First, I want to say thank you all for your patience throughout the great deal of construction! Our wonderful marketing team has been creatively working to keep you all informed as entrances open and close. We this page on our website, East Store Updates, dedicated to these updates. Although these conditions are not ideal, we appreciate you all continuing to show up and support the coop.

So, what is the construction next door and when will it be done? Current at Latimer Square is a housing development due to open in the Fall of 2023. The complex is expected to house 900 beds in 340 units, comprised of student-geared apartments and multi-family residences. Unlike previously thought, Bloomingfoods will remain where it is and has secured a new long-term lease. The developers will alter, but not shrink, our parking lot and will increase greenspace.  

Currently, the Board and the GMs are working to better understand who our new neighbors will be, as a large student population will change the demographics of our East store customer base. The Board and the Owner Member Connection Committee plans to work with a Kelley Fellow who will help us research this question. We look forward to connecting our new neighbors with our democratic cooperative model and our quality, local, and healthful products.

On the horizon, five or so years from now, we are thinking about an expansion of the East store. This is important because our current building needs significant upgrades for internal efficiency and to keep up with all the growth of the East side. An expansion also provides an opportunity to consider how Bloomingfoods can best serve the community.  

What is Bloomingfoods doing now to prepare for this expansion? 

• First, our General Managers (GMs) are working hard to build staff readiness, ensuring we have strong leadership to guide staff through these big changes.

• Second, GMs are making gradual improvements to the East store’s infrastructure that will last through the renovations.  Some vital repairs and upgrades include improving the roof and entrances and adding new portable deli equipment.

• The Board is discussing financing and has begun talking with banks to educate ourselves about healthy financial readiness. The Board has also made progress addressing our current member loans.

As we move into the next phases of the expansion project, we look forward to connecting with you, the owner-members, about our community’s visions for the East store. If you are an Owner-Member and would like to join us, all of our monthly board meetings are open to you! You can also find meeting information, agenda, and minutes on our website at www.bloomingfoods.coop/board.
 
If you have any questions or thoughts, please reach out! You can contact any board member, or email me at isabelle.d@bloomingfoods.coop.

Thank you all for your continued support of the Co-op! 

Sincerely,
Isabelle

A Letter from Sycamore Land Trust

What an honor to be chosen as a Positive Change recipient by our Bloomingfoods community! Thank you for this generous gift to help Sycamore Land Trust protect the 10,484 acres in our care and restore more habitat to preserve biodiversity. Your support will help us continue to connect thousands of people to nature each year through our free environmental education programs and over 30 miles of public hiking trails. Together, we are preserving southern Indiana's beautiful natural heritage for generations to come. Thank you!

Sycamore is a membership-based conservation organization. Funds raised will support ongoing work to preserve and restore over 10,000 acres of land on 121 properties in southern Indiana, maintain over 30 miles of hiking trails on 13 public nature preserves and connect people to nature through free environmental educational programs.

To learn more about Sycamore Land Trust, visit www.sycamorelandtrust.org.

Buying in Bulk

How to Buy in Bulk

1. Take your reusable container to a cashier and have them give you the tare weight of the container. Use a permanent marker or masking tape to write it on the container.

2. Fill your containers with the bulk goods you want and write the PLU# for that product on your container.

3. Take your containers with the rest of your groceries to the checkout and the cashier will take care of the rest!

Nancy Flynn-Hert, Bloomingfoods East Store Manager, has more to share about buying in bulk:

“The bulk section has always been my favorite part of shopping at Bloomingfoods. Years ago when Bloomingfoods first began I loved to go to the little store in the ally off of Kirkwood and browse through all of the options that the bulk section provided. Sometimes I would shop with a list but most of the time I would just browse the shelves for the less familiar.

I would go to the library to search for recipes that were very different than the foods I grew up eating. Of course, this was in the late 70’s and early 80’s, pre-internet and before any other grocery store in Bloomington carried the things that were available at Bloomingfoods. This was a time of learning for me; new recipes, new ingredients. I’m sure a great many of our members and customers can also remember this time period.

Buying in bulk is a great option for everyone. It is both a time saver and a money saver. It fits any lifestyle. Do you like to keep a stock of staples on hand so they are always available or do you prefer to only buy what you need for a certain dish you are making today? You can buy as much or as little as needed. If you have a large family or you don’t make a lot of trips to the Co-op you may choose to stock up on the staples. Fill your cabinets with all of the ingredients you use on a regular basis. Maybe you don’t cook often because of a hectic schedule or perhaps you are like me and you went from cooking for a family of 7 (including 5 boys) to only 2. That certainly changes your buying habits! Then you can simply come in and grab a cup of this or a teaspoon of that and you’re set.

I have a wonderful Rustic Italian Bread that I make often, it calls for a combination of up to 12 mixed grains and seeds and I like to use them all. Since I make it often I buy large quantities and mix it ahead and store it in the freezer, however, if you are trying it for the first time you would only want to buy enough for one batch. You wouldn’t be out all of the money it would take to buy prepackaged items and you would not need to store the leftover quantities.

Herbs and Spices are another great use of the bulk section. Buy the things you use in larger quantities and let Bloomingfoods maintain the rest.

All of us, including myself, have had jars of spices we use only once or twice and take up valuable space in the cabinet. I learned a long time ago that other than once a year I don’t need pumpkin pie spice in my pantry. The bulk section allows you to be creative, you can create a rub for barbeque or your own spice blend for stews and soups. You could make a special tea blend or test homemade herbal remedies.

I make my own Elderberry Syrup to ward off colds and the flu during the winter months and a tea to relieve congestion for those in my family who didn’t take the syrup. I get all of the ingredients for both from the bulk section.

Another wonderful aspect of bulk buying is taking advantage of the ability to reduce prepackaged products and plastic waste in your home. Think reuse. Any container that you have may be something that you could repurpose into a bulk container. Can you wash the container? Then you can reuse it for bulk.

Oil and vinegar bottles, jam and jelly jars, spice jars, coffee containers, canisters, cloth bags, canning jars the list goes on and on. Have you ever (and we all have) gotten to the store and realized you need something from the bulk section but forgot your container? We also carry a large number of canning jars that we sell at cost to purchase if needed.

Is there something that you use in very large quantities? If so, ask our staff about placing a special order. We will place the order, give you a call when it arrives and you can pick it up at your convenience.”

In addition to all of the foods and spices mentioned above, we also have local and fair trade coffee in bulk.

And don’t forget that we also carry local, all-natural, and fair trade soaps and cleaners in bulk!

If you want to buy only the amount you want and save money…BUY BULK!