It’s the season of gratitude and reflection on the year that has passed, and there is so much to be thankful for as a Co-op owner. 

2019 started off with the news that over $13,000 in emergency donations had been raised from Co-op owners and shoppers for support and relief efforts after Paradise, CA was leveled by a wildfire. This outpouring of our support was critical in the months after the fire, after the news trucks had left and the work of rebuilding began. I know how grateful we all are for the much calmer smoke season that our region experienced this summer. 

That gratitude carried through summer and into fall at the Co-op’s First Friday parties. I enjoyed seeing many of you shoppers, neighbors, and friends - and in October, it was a pleasure to  serve many of you our fantastic house-made bratwurst and butternut lasagna. Both owners and employees agreed that it was fun to let loose, eat, and even dance! What other grocery stores throw parties where you just get to hang out with friends? 

Part of the Co-op’s mission is to “promote awareness about food” which includes how it’s grown, where it’s grown, and who grows it. With so many local farms on the shelves of the Co-op, the annual Farm Tour continues to be the perfect way to connect our owners with  our food producers. This year’s Farm Tour had 30 farms welcoming visitors, and around 1,500 guests joined tours and enjoyed farm-raised goods. Next year, tour planners are hoping to add more farms, more time to visit, carpooling options, and a big party to wrap it all up.

Thank you so much for continuing to support healthy local food, a strong re-investment in non-profit projects in the valley, and for being part of this powerful, loving community. I’m grateful to serve you, and I’m looking forward to even more of everything that made 2019 a great year for the Ashland Food Co-op and our community.