Author Archive

Spreading the word, AGM and volunteering at the Co-op

Barbara | February 18, 2010 3:00 pm

Yesterday was ANU O-week Market Day. Thank you to the volunteers who helped me run The Co-op stall, tell students about The Co-op and sign up new members.

And check out this a gorgeous new sign made by an Zsuzsi, our enthusiastic and talented illustrator volunteer. Thank you! She is also creating a new poster for us. Very exciting!

Next week is Sustainability Day at ANU, volunteers are welcome and it’s a lot of fun too.

Now for the Important Bits – AGM on March 13

I want to remind all members that our AGM is coming up on Saturday, March 13 at 4pm. To encourage the quorum of 20 members to pass agenda items there will be free nibbles & drinks.

Every attending member gets 2 stamps on their card – that’s four months of shopping at a 20% discount on ordinary prices.

Please put this date in your diary and join us.

Volunteer and Co-ordinators – opportunities to help and to comment

We are in desperate need of volunteers and co-ordinators and running this co-op is dependent on your generosity. Since we resumed 6 day a week trading, it has been a very time consuming process trying to fill the shifts and the few people who have been available to co-ordinate have had to double or triple up just to cover the shifts we are open.

Obviously co-ordinators are critical to the opening and operation of the Co-op and we are struggling to find enough volunteers. I would really appreciate any members taking the time to train as a co-ordinator and if you don’t have time for this then I would appreciate any suggestions of changes we could/should be making to alleviate this situation.

Recipe: Semi-Dried Tomatoes

Barbara | February 9, 2010 12:51 pm

Our special of the week is $1.75/ kg tomatoes. Last weekend I used these tomatoes to make semi-dried tomatoes. They were absolutely delicious and I would recommend anyone to have a go while tomatoes are this cheap. Instructions are from the ABC, process photos by Babs:

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Roma tomatoes are the best variety, but any ripe tomatoes will do. Cut them in half lengthways and remove the seeds.

Place them on a baking tray skin down and season with salt, a little sugar and olive oil to taste. Sprinkle with your favourite sturdy herbs, eg oregano, thyme, marjoram. (Basil is best added at the end.)

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Place them in the oven at 150 degrees C until fully roasted; check after about 40 minutes or so, but it may take much longer.

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Cool them before storing in jars with olive oil to cover (and some basil and garlic if you like).

Upcoming AGM and new volunteering opportunities improving shop presentation

Barbara | February 2, 2010 12:43 pm

March 13 is our AGM. Please put this in your diaries and attend if possible. I will publish an agenda after our next meeting which is scheduled for February 11 at 6pm.

As anyone who has shopped here recently will have noticed, we are working to improve our presentation with new signs both outside and in. Currently there is volunteer work on the inside signs for people wanting to do their hours.

Regarding volunteer hours, it would be very helpful for both co-ordinators and myself if people wanting to do their hour/s would inform us in advance of when they would like to work so we can spread out the volunteers over a period of time. I have been considering creating a Google Doc Calendar for people to sign up on line in addition to writing on the roster here in the shop or telephoning in. If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let us know.

Fresh in today! Co-op’s open for 2010 trading

Barbara | January 12, 2010 2:09 pm

Greetings Shoppers,

Good morning and Happy New Year! I hope you like the heat because there’s not much we can do about it just now. Well actually, one thing you could do is come to the Co-op to shop in air conditioned comfort and pick up some delectable fresh fruit. Chilled, cut watermelon is selling at $2.40 a kilo.

Also don’t forget, for the month of January, our opening hours are:

Tuesday 10 – 7
Thursday 10 – 7
Saturday 10 – 4

Beautiful produce available today.

VEGETABLES:

Avocado Hass
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage Savoy
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Celery
Corn Sweet
Cucumber Lebanese
Ginger
Herb Basil
Herb Coriander
Kale
Lettuce, Cos and Butter
Mushrooms Cups
Onions Brown
Onions Red Spanish
Potato Pontiac
Pumpkin Japanese
Pumpkin Butternut
Tomato Round
Tomato Grape
Zucchini

FRUIT:

Apricots
Bananas
Grapefruit
Kiwifruit
Lemons
Mango
Melon Rock
Oranges Juicing
Oranges Valencia Net
Passionfruit
Paw Paw Yellow
Peaches Yellow
Pineapple
Watermelon

Fresh in today – last day of trading is this Saturday

Barbara | December 15, 2009 11:52 am

Greetings Shoppers,

I hope you are well. I’m sure everyone is busy as the end of the year approaches. As I mentioned previously, the final day of trading for the Co-op will be Saturday, 19-12. Sunday, 20-12 will bee cleaning and packing up before the 3 week break until we re-open. It would be very helpful if any members who are available could come to help with this process. We will start at 10am and continue until finished. Since this is my first pack-up, I am unsure how long this will take but many hands make light
work so please come along. Any help will be rewarded with ‘butterflies’ and snacks.

Also, since we are closing soon, all Mountain bread has been reduced to $3.00 before your member discounts. They have plenty of shelf life and freeze well so please take advantage of this discount.

Finally anyone who has placed a bulk order please check to see if it has arrived and come in to pick it up before we close for Christmas.

All the best for a happy, healthy and safe Holiday Season.

Warm regards,
Barbara

Fresh in today

VEGETABLES:

Avocado Hass
Beans Round
Beetroot
Cabbage Green
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Cucumber Lebanese
Garlic Italian Purple
Ginger
Herbs Various
Kumera Gold
Kumera Purple
Lettuce, Cos
Mushrooms Cups
Onions Brown
Onions Red Spanish
Potato Desiree
Potato Nicola
Potato Sebago
Pumpkin Japanese
Tomato Roma
Tomato Cherry Punnet
Zucchini

FRUIT:

Apple Gala
Cherries
Kiwifruit
Mango
Melon Honeydew
Melon Rock
Oranges Valencia Net
Passionfruit
Pawpaw
Watermelon

Fresh in today Thursday 26 November

Barbara | November 26, 2009 8:49 pm

Sorry for late post, we’ve had a few hiccoughs here at the Co-op today but it’s ok now.

I wanted to call your attention to the arrival of watermelon, honeydew melon, mango and strawberries. I feel a fruit salad coming on …

Beautiful produce available today.

VEGETABLES:

Asparagus Bunches
Avocado Hass – Bulk
Avocado Sharwill
Beans Round
Beetroot
Cabbage Green
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Corn Sweet
Cucumber Lebanese
Garlic Italian Purple
Ginger
Herb Basil
Herb Coriander
Kumera Gold
Kumera Purple
Mushrooms Cups
Onions Brown
Onions Red Spanish
Potato Desiree
Potato Nicola
Potato Sebago
Pumpkin Japanese
Spinach English Prepack
Tomato Vine Ripened
Tomato Cherry Punnet
Zucchini

FRUIT:

Apple Pink Lady
Bananas
Grape Fruit
Kiwifruit
Lemons
Mango – R2E2
Melon Honeydew
Oranges Juicing
Oranges Valencia Net
Oranges Valencia
Passionfruit
Paw Paw Red
Pineapple
Strawberries
Watermelon

Fresh in Thursday 19 November

Barbara | November 19, 2009 3:13 pm

Greetings Shoppers,

I’m writing this at about 10am and although today’s forecast is for 37, it is still possible to pretend that it won’t get there. As you know, the Thursday delivery arrives in the afternoon and unfortunately the time is rather unpredictable. Generally speaking, if you want today’s produce, it should be on the shelves by 4 to 4.30. Sometimes it’s earlier and sometimes (infrequently) later but we do our best to get it out to you as quickly as possible.

Quite a few people have been asking about bulk avocados, smoothie bananas and cheaper garlic. 20kg of bulk avocado arrive today, smoothie bananas are currently unavailable and garlic is coming down in price, significantly cheaper that the very early crops. You will also be happy to know that beans have come down and are affordable this week.

Just to let you know, the Paris Creek Camembert has been so popular that I’ve ordered their Brie to see if it is equally good. I’m looking forward to making a baked brie for a party. Please see attached recipe. And finally, fresh Swiss Quark will be arriving today as well.

Now for today’s tasty treats:

VEGETABLES:

Avocado Hass
Avocado Sharwill
Beans Round
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage Green
Cabbage Red
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Celery Bunch
Corn Sweet
Cucumber Green
Garlic Italian Purple
Ginger
Herb Basil
Herb Coriander
Herb Dill
Herb Parsley Flat
Herb Parsley Curly
Kumera Gold
Kumera Purple
Lettuce Baby Cos
Lettuce Butter
Mesculin Mix
Mushrooms Swiss Brown
Onions Brown
Onions Red Spanish – first of the season
Peas Sugar Snap
Potato Desiree
Potato Nicola
Potato Sebago
Pumpkin Japanese
Pumpkin Sweet Grey
Rocket Pre-pak
Spinach English
Sweet potato
Tomato Vine Ripened
Tomato Cherry Punnet
Zucchini

FRUIT:

Bananas
Pink Lady Apples
Grape Fruit
Kiwifruit
Lemons
Mango – R2E2 – plenty
Oranges Valencia Net
Oranges Valencia
Passionfruit
Pineapple

I look forward to seeing you at our Co-op,
Barbara

fresh food

Barbara | October 26, 2009 10:11 am

Dear members,

This week we have a huge amount of fresh produce on offer:

FRUIT
Fuji, Granny, gala and Juicing apples as well as a variety in small bags
lady finger, smoothie (only 90c kg!) and cavendish bananas
pears, kiwifruit, papaya, avocados, and rockmelon
naval orange nets and valencias

VEGETABLES
Beetroot, parsnips and turnips
green capsicum, zucchini and beans
cauliflower,broccoli, asparagus and onions
desiree, dutch cream, nicola and sebago potatoes
cherry and vine-ripened tomatoes
cucumber, schallots and some celery
cabbage, carrots, jap, blue and butternut pumpkin
gold and purple sweet potato
parsley, basil, coriander and rocket
ginger and a variety of sprouts

Unfortunately no garlic or leeks this week
Silverbeet and lettuce should arrive tommorrow from local grower Geoff Foster

Hope to see you at our co-op
Vanessa

Fresh in Thursday, October 1

Barbara | 10:09 am

Greetings Shoppers,

Plenty of choice in the vegetable and fruit selection today.

VEGETABLES:

Asparagus Bunches
Avocado Hass
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage Green
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber Lebanese – First of the season!
Garlic Italian Purple – new season
Garlic Russian – Huge!
Ginger
Kumera Purple
Leeks
Lettuce Baby Cos
Lettuce Mignonette
Lettuce Oak Leaf
Onions Brown
Parsley Flat bunch
Parsley Curly bunch
Peas Snow
Potato Nicola
Potato Sebago
Pumpkin Butternut, Sweet Grey and Japanese
Sprouts Mung Bean
Tomato Gourmet 1st grade
Sweet Potato
Tomato Grape Punnet
Zucchini

FRUIT:

Apple Granny
Apple Fuji
Apple Juicing
Banana
Grape Fruit Ruby
Kiwifruit
Lemon
Oranges Navel Net
Pear Packham

I look forward to seeing you at our Co-op,
Mimosa

Fresh in Tuesday, September 29

Barbara | 10:07 am

Greetings Shoppers,

Plenty of choice in the vegetable and fruit selection today.

VEGETABLES:

Alfalfa Sprouts
Asparagus Bunches
Avocado Hass
Beans Flat
Beetroot
Broccoli
Cabbage Green
Cabbage Red
Capsicum Green
Carrots Juicing
Carrots Medium
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber Lebanese – First of the season!
Garlic Italian Purple – new season
Garlic Russian – Huge!
Ginger
Kumera Purple
Leeks
Lettuce Baby Cos
Onions Brown
Coriander
Parsley Flat bunch
Parsley Curly bunch
Peas Snow
Potato Nicola
Potato Sebago
Pumpkin Butternut, Sweet Grey and Japanese
Salad Sprouts
Sprouts Mung Bean
Sprouts Salad
Tomato Gourmet 2nds perfect for cooking
Tomato Gourmet 1st grade
Sweet Potato
Tomato Cherry Punnet
Tomato Grape Punnet
Zuccini

FRUIT:

Apple Granny
Apple Fuji
Apple Juicing
Banana
Grape Fruit Ruby
Kiwifruit
Lemon
Oranges Navel Net
Oranges Juicing
Papaya Red
Passion Fruit
Pear Packham

I look forward to seeing you at our Co-op,
Barbara