Ever wonder what a bottle of wine from our wine isle tastes like? Worried about picking one out you don’t like? If you said yes (or if you just LOVE wine and cheese), join us for our May Wine and Cheese Tasting on Saturday, May 26th from 11am to 2pm. Sample a variety of wines and other delicious items found in our store. The tasting is held at the VFC and is free and open to those 21 years and older. 

This year, Habitat for Humanity – La Crosse is teaming up with area women to build a home for Bryan and Angela Mathison and their two daughters on Willow Street in Viroqua. Viroqua Food Co-op is joining in on this great community project by assembling a team of 10 women staff members to help fundraise and on the build site. The team includes: Laura Burnham, Sally Colacino, Jenny Hammje, Kaitlyn Karasek, Carrie Kniedler, Jan Rasikas, Jackie Rebman, Shelly Timmons, Arwyn Wildingway and Carol Willis.

Currently, the team is hard at work raising $1000 and getting ready for their June 2nd volunteer day at the Mathison’s home on Willow Street. If you would like to donate to the team, look for the VFC Habitat for Humanity Women’s build donation box located at the entrance of the Co-op next time you’re in the store. Every little bit you give helps make decent and affordable housing available to all in our community.

To learn more about the Viroqua Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build project, visit: http://www.habitatlacrosse.org/buildingprojects/womenbuild.shtml

You may have seen this large “mythbusters” sign in the front of the store. It reads, “Myth #1 - It’s too expensive to shop at Viroqua Food Co-op.”

VFC Owner, Bob Hill

As most people who frequent the Viroqua Food Co-op, I engage in conversation with staff on a multitude of subjects. On one of these occasions I learned that when purchasing a cup of coffee with a credit or debit card, nearly all of the margin is taken to pay the fee associated with the privilege of using a card. As most people would, I wondered what could be done to avoid the fee or lessen the impact. I could carry cash, write a check, or be subject to a minimum purchase amount for using a card.

Recently, the VFC teamed up with the McIntosh Memorial Library’s Adult Programming Committee to put on educational events about food and sustainable agriculture. During the month of May, we have two events planned:

by Bjorn Bergman, 

Promotions and Educational Coordinator

On Monday, April 2nd 2012, USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and a number of individuals from USDA Rural Development and the Wisconsin Farm Services Agency visited Viroqua to learn about the developing local food economy in our region.

Mary Kehoe,


Herbs & Spices Buyer

Some of the worst culprits contributing to environmental pollution are found right under our noses. Petroleum-based household cleaners can contribute to air and water pollution during manufacturing and disposal as well as in our homes. Consumers are sometimes concerned about potential environmental and health problems stemming from their use. There are alternatives to petroleum-based cleaners that are safer, cheaper and just as effective.

by Linda Gallardo, Produce Manager

Recently, every time I step out behind my house and look into the stream, I see a blanket of green gold (Watercress) carpeting the crisp clear spring-fed water. It heartily grows there throughout the year, only dying back for a short time during the high heat of the summer and bouncing back with full vigor again in the late summer/fall.

Arwyn Wildingway, 

Assistant Produce Manager

Spring circles around again, and as we have for thousands of years, we plant seeds of hope for our future. The seed is the beginning of the cycle and also the end. These days, as we vote with our dollars, we can choose to continue supporting the return to a clean planet by buying seed that was grown organically.