Know Your Farmer

Women’s History Month: Veritable Vegetable

March 22, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

We are celebrating Women’s History Month by calling attention to some of our local vendors that are women owned!

Veritable Vegetable

CEO: Mary Jane Evans

Chief Administrative Officer: Shira Tanner

Director of Purchasing: Bu Nygrens

Director of Sales: Karen Salinger

Meet Veritable Vegetable, a women-owned and led organic produce distribution company based in San Francisco, California. Established in 1974, they source and deliver the freshest and highest quality produce, with unmatched service to our stores several times a week.

Powered by a zero-emission green fleet and driven by purpose, they put their values in action to build a sustainable and equitable food system.

Veritable Vegetable supports organic farmers, increases access to fresh produce, and strengthens diverse communities. Their unique, values-driven business model encourages political change, impacts food policy, and demonstrates a radically different approach to distributing organic produce.

Sustainable and regenerative systems increase energy and resources and are life-affirming. Veritable Vegetable envisions our environment, our economy, and our communities as sustainable systems.

As a women-led business, they take a forward-thinking and innovative approach to solving complex problems. They create a fair and dynamic workplace through cooperative and collaborative leadership. Veritable Vegetable deeply values the people who make up their community of staff, growers, customers, and community partners; collective labor is fundamental to the organic trade.

Leadership by Women

Veritable Vegetable knows raising women up raises all people. As a women-led business, they apply a systems-thinking approach to solving complex problems. Collaboration, cooperation and deep listening are critical. They are committed to sharing their resources and knowledge, creating an inclusive workplace, and modeling effective women’s leadership.

45% of staff are women; Veritable Vegetable offers unlimited opportunities for women
Robust training program & professional development for all staff; promote from within
Long-term reciprocal relationships, in business & beyond
Participatory working groups & task forces to address workplace challenges
Share best practices with national networks

“We strive for excellence in our work, transparency in our relationships, and integrity through our actions.” – Veritable Vegetable
We love what they do!

We’ve put together raffle baskets that feature this great women owned business along with several others. Stop by the Berkeley or El Cerrito Stores to enter.

Thank you Veritable Vegetable!

Thank You Beeler’s Pork!

February 20, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

Beeler’s Pork is a sponsor of our 40th Anniversary and there is a coupon in every raffle tote for some of their Hickory Smoked Uncured Bacon.

For six generations, the Beeler family has been raising the bar for pork production. In 1846, their great-great-grandpa Fred emigrated from Germany and settled in Madison County, Iowa. The work he did set the high standards for years to come.

Today, the Beeler family still owns the original family farm that started it all. They stick to the simple, humane, and natural way of raising pork, just like Grandpa Fred. Because when your goal is to deliver the very best, wholesome pork products to family tables, it’s best to keep the business as a family affair.

Quite possibly the best tasting uncured bacon on the planet! Looking for a bacon that is not only delicious, but is also made from antibiotic free, Non-GMO fed pigs and ingredients? Try Beeler’s Pure Pork Non-GMO Hickory smoked uncured bacon!

No nitrates or nitrites added except for those naturally occurring in sea salt and celery powder
No antibiotics ever
Casein & gluten free
Vegetarian fed
No gestation crates
Non-GMO Project Verified

Ingredients: Pork, water, sea salt, turbinado sugar, celery powder.

Thank You Beeler’s!

Thank You Marin Cheese Company!

February 19, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

Marin Cheese Company is a distributor that brings us specialty cheeses. They are one of our 40th Anniversary sponsors and in every raffle tote there is a coupon for organic Montchevre Goat Cheese redeemable in our stores.

The Montchevre goat cheese they have donated is from Wisconsin. Milk is their primary ingredient and they care deeply about the way it is produced. High quality dairy products begin with high quality milk from healthy and well cared-for animals. Montchevre is committed to supporting initiatives and programs that promote communication, awareness and training opportunities for dairy production welfare issues. They offer organic goat cheese logs in plain and garlic/herb.

Thank You Burroughs Family Farms!

February 17, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

Burroughs Family Farms is one of our 40th Anniversary sponsors. In each raffle tote you will find a bottle of their organic California Olive Oil.

Burroughs Family Farms (BFF) is a family effort of Burroughs siblings working together to offer hand raised and sustainably grown products directly to you. Through a combination of four farms all jointly managed and interconnected, they produce grass-based meats and eggs, organic olive oil, raw organic almonds and gouda style cheese made with organic “Grass to Gold” milk.

The Burroughs Family Farm rests on the rolling hills below the majestic Half Dome of Yosemite National Park. The combination of the moderate Mediterranean climate of California’s San Joaquin Valley with good soils and water, grow some of the world’s finest quality almonds and olives and provides a thriving environment for livestock.

Each of the Burroughs siblings owns and operates a farm that is jointly managed and interconnected with the others, employing organic and sustainable production practices and producing the highest quality foods possible. They each have our own farm vision, business plan, and agricultural specialty, yet they share many resources that benefit each other’s farms.

Thank you for your continuing support!

https://www.burroughsfamilyfarms.com/

Thank You St. John’s Family Farms!

February 12, 2022 by The Natural Grocery Company

St. John’s Family Farms are one of our 40th Anniversary sponsors. In every raffle tote you will find a coupon for a dozen of their eggs, redeemable in our stores.

Their hens are carefree and pasture-raised. They explore, play games of chicken, and never have to cross the road. Best of all, they lay darn delicious eggs.

Small flocks, free to roam, roost, and graze on green pasture
Custom-blended, Non-GMO feed feed all sourced from the USA
Eggs are hand collected, packed, and delivered fresh

Healthy food comes from a healthy environment. This all boils (in St. John’s case steams) down to location, trust, and attitude. Nestled among walnut orchards and open pastureland in Corning California, St. John Family Farms is organically growing and prospering.

They have taken land that was once dry & desolate and farmed it to be lush & green. It’s a perfect home for their Outdoor Hens. As a Non-GMO Project Verified farm, you can trust the transparency and traceability of their food sources. Their healthy farm thrives on human kindness. From the farm’s passionate owners to its dedicated employees and team of livestock guardian dogs, we are committed to keeping our environment safe for all.

Thank You St. John’s Family Farms!

Pachamama Coffee of the Month: Mexico

September 16, 2021 by The Natural Grocery Company

Mexico happens to be Pachamama’s coffee of the month, and since September marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we thought sharing this blog would be helpful, informative, and provide a new perspective about coffee’s wonderful, labor-love journey from seed to cup.

We present Pachamama’s latest Blog, Journey to the Origin. Their Creative Director, Rosa, recounts her discovery of coffee’s incredible journey from seed to cup while visiting one of Pachamama’s owner cooperatives: La Union Regionnal Cooperative, in Veracruz, Mexico.

We hope you find the time to read about her experience. It’s a short read that demonstrates how Pachamama Coffee is one of the most sustainable coffees the Natural Grocery can offer our customers. It is available in our El Cerrito Store.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Burroughs Family Farms

March 7, 2017 by WineAndBeer

Burroughs Family Farms – Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

We recently started selling Burroughs Family Farms organic, non-GMO, cold-pressed extra-virgin organic olive oil [aka EVOO]. This exemplary family-owned farm, situated in the Sierra foothills below Yosemite, is one of our favorite regional producers. We already source quality pastured eggs, organic cheese, and almonds from their property. The Burroughs Family Olive Oil is a blend of Arbeqina, Arbosana and Gretchenina olives (originally from Spain). The oil has a pleasant fruitiness with hints of grassy undertones. It is very versatile and may be used in sauces, salad dressings, as a topping to bread and for low heat cooking.

Here is what Burroughs Family Farms says about their oil:

Our olives are first cold-pressed at temperatures that do not exceed 80 degrees F. This protects the polyphenols, antioxidants, and vitamins that give the oil its nutritional value and its aroma and flavor.

Why extra-virgin olive oil?

EVOO is known to contain stronger concentrations of phytonutrients (especially polyphenols) that have well-known anti-inflammatory properties

EVOO supports blood vessels not only by providing antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene, but also also providing unique molecules like HT that actually work at a genetic level to help the cellular walls of the blood vessels remain strong.

Cholesterol lowering and blood pressure lowering benefits of monounsaturated oil (olive oil contains 75%)

High quality extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of around 405ºF (191ºC), making it ideal for lower temperature cooking such as light sautés and non-cooked uses such as dressing salads and dipping bread. Such uses protect the nutritional value and beneficial qualities of the oil.

Why California Olive Oil?

As with wine, it has taken years for people to discover that some of the world’s finest olive oils are produced in California. Our family owned and operated farms rest on the rolling hills near Yosemite National Park, where the combination of the moderate Mediterranean climate with good soils and water grows some of the world’s finest quality olives.

Buying California olive oils vs. imports supports our farm economy, and California olive oils have a lower carbon-footprint because their shipping distance is much shorter than that of imports.

Conservation on our farms

Ours is not the easiest way to grow olives, but we think it’s best for our land and for our family who lives and works here. From organic production to state-of-the-art irrigation systems, we do whatever we can to protect air, soil, and water from herbicides, pesticides, petrochemical nitrogen fertilizers, and genetically-modified organisms. All that, plus our hedgerows of native plants support the health of native species and bees who have the most important job – the pollination of the olive flowers.

We do it for the future of our farms. For you, it’s deliciousness and more.

Burroughs Family Olive Oil is certified annually by the California Olive Oil Council (COOC). Year after year it’s labeled “extra-virgin” by the council. To get the seal the oil is lab tested and undergoes a critical analysis by an expert panel. The trained sensory panel (think of these people as the sommeliers of olive oil) ensure that the oil is free of defects in flavor or odor. In the U.S., many oils are labeled “extra-virgin” but do not undergo any such testing.

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring…

January 20, 2017 by WineAndBeer

Rain pounded and the wind howled at our house last night. The majority of Northern California experienced similar storms.

Many of our farmers in the Sacramento, Yolo and Solano counties got more than ten inches of rain between New Year’s day and last Friday. That’s more rain than they got the entire winter of 2014-2015.

Just about everything a farmer does is harder during wet, cold winters. Imagine their work for a moment. I certainly don’t choose to garden during a storm. But a farmer has to be outside tending the land despite wild weather. Harvesting vegetables during storms means walking in the slippery mud while being hammered by the elements. And they can’t pick citrus at all when it’s raining: climbing wet ladders with muddy boots is too dangerous.

Big storms and freezing temperatures almost always damage some crops. Each of our farmers does what they can to harvest as much as possible during the dry spells. While they try to maintain quantity, this type of weather has an effect on produce prices. It’s the result of lower yield and lots of product loss for the farmer.

All this writing about the downsides of rain is not intended as a complaint. These are just the realities people growing our food manage daily during the winter.

January is the month we need lots of rain. Generally speaking vegetables don’t thrive the first month of the year. There is not enough sunlight in the short days. So, this is the way mother nature intended. Moisten the ground now to prepare for later.

After last week’s rains, the Drought Monitoring Center declared the “extreme drought” officially over for most of Northern California, including Sacramento, the Bay Area and Yolo and Solano counties where many of our farmers grow their crops. Click here for more information about the current state of the California drought.

Next time you are in shopping for fruit or vegetables, take a minute to think about the weather conditions of the farmer who harvested that kale or saved that orange from a storm.

See you soon!

-Sarah

Farm Discovery Day

October 4, 2016 by WineAndBeer

We had a blast visiting the McClelland’s Dairy Farm this past weekend. At an event sponsored by Organic Valley, they pulled out all the fun farm toys! We got to spend time with calfs, shake and make butter, drive mini tractors, play in corn pits and drink milk (lots of milk!). Check out the pictures for a diary of the day. It’s always wonderful to see where our food comes from. I couldn’t help but pick up a dozen of their eggs before heading back to the city. Their bird’s beaks never get clipped so they roam the fields and eat tons of bugs and grass…all the good flavor making ingredients that lead to yummy eggs.

Don’t worry if you missed the event. McClelland’s eggs and Organic Valley milk and dairy products are available at our stores.