Viroqua Food Co-op Blog

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.

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.

February 23rd - 25th, 2012

Save the date!

The Food and Farm Initiative of the Valley Stewardship Network in partnership with the Viroqua Food Co-op will show the film “Food Fight” on Saturday February 18th from 3-5PM. Organic popcorn with delicious toppings and old fashioned organic candy will be available along with refreshments.

Nestled in the pristine valleys between the Sea of Cortez and the rugged mountains of the Baja Peninsula, over 400 farming families of the Del Cabo Cooperative nurture their crops to bring you excellent organic produce.

Do you believe in supporting local growers, in livable neighborhoods, in strong schools, in supporting other co-ops or in programs that make this community an even better place to live? Viroqua Food Co-op and its partners, the People’s Food Co-op and the Bluff Country Co-op, administer the Coulee Region Cooperative Community Fund Grant. This grant fund was established in 2003 by the People’s Food Co-op with a mission to provide supplemental or project-specific funding to local non-profit organizations which have missions consistent with the goals of our co-ops. It is a wonderful way of applying Co-op Principle 6 “Cooperation among cooperatives” and Co-op principle 7, “Concern for Community,” making our communities healthier, stronger and more sustainable.

At VFC we’ve always given you an option to take your receipt; we think wasting paper is a sin! Lately, you may have noticed that our cashiers are giving you a receipt every time you shop. Let me explain our thoughts behind this change.

Do you think genetically engineered foods should be labeled? A February 2011 MSNBC poll showed that 96.2% of 45,410 respondents think so. Yet, foods with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients are not labeled. Consumers who wish to eat or avoid GE (also known as GMO, short for Genetically Modified Organism) foods do not have the information needed to make informed choices about their food. The Right2Know March aims to change that.

In a country that labels everything from cosmetics to cleaning agents, it’s surprising that there are no laws in the U.S. requiring labeling of genetically engineered foods. Yet 93% of Americans believe GE Foods should be labeled.
 
We don’t think that’s right.
 
Many other countries including Japan, Australia, the European Union and even China require labeling of genetically engineered foods.
 
Tell The FDA You have a right to know what’s in your food.
 
Genetically Engineered (GE) foods, also referred to as genetically modified, or GMOs, are according to biotech company Monsanto, “Plants or animals that have had their genetic makeup altered to exhibit traits that are not naturally theirs,” or could occur naturally.
 
We’ve joined an effort with hundreds of organizations representing millions of Americans called the “Just Label It: We Have A Right To Know” campaign. It supports a petition to the FDA that calls for products that use ingredients produced with genetic engineering to disclose this information on the label.
 
If you agree that you have a right to know if the food you are eating has been genetically engineered, send a message to the FDA. Let’s make sure the FDA hears loud and clear that Americans want GE Foods labeled.
 
It is your right to know about your food.

October 9-16 No Impact Week for Viroqua and La Crosse Communities UW La Crosse, Viterbo University, WTC, and Coulee Partners for Sustainability have kindly invited the Viroqua Community to join them in the first No Impact Week for Southwestern Wisconsin!