Posted October 4th, 2011
By Issa, co-Bulk Buyer
We now have a product that has (to my knowledge) never been sold in the history of human kind. OK that’s going a little too far, but it is cool and unique. It’s…drum roll… red & black quinoa. We’ve had black quinoa, and we’ve had red quinoa, but never the two have met. Until now.
It could be in honor of the Catalonia/Spanish civil war, or the colors of your favorite basketball team, or just a new way to eat one of the most nutritious whole foods available in the world. The quinoa seed is high in protein, calcium and iron, and is a relatively good source of vitamin E and several of the B vitamins. It is exceptionally high in a lot of amino acids that are typically low in other grains. The protein in quinoa is considered to be a complete protein due to the presence of all 8 essential amino acids. Some types of wheat come close to matching quinoa’s protein content, but grains such as barley, corn, and rice generally have less than half the protein of quinoa. Quinoa is 12% to 18% protein and four ounces a day, about 1/2-cup, will provide a childs protein needs for one day. The 6-7% fat of Quinoa is relatively high when compared to other grains, but it boasts a low sodium content and also provides valuable starch and fiber. The seeds are gluten-free, which makes this a nutritious and flavorful alternative grain for those with gluten sensitivity. Quinoa would be a worthy addition to anyone’s diet, supplying variety as well as good nutrition. So come in to the Co-op and get in on the red and black quinoa revolution.
Tags: co-op, fair trade, gluten-free, organic, specials, vegan, vegetarian
Posted in Food and Drink, Spotlight
Posted July 26th, 2010
by Jhan Hochman, Working Owner, email hidden; JavaScript is required
Just Coffee Cooperative, out of Madison, Wisconsin, is a worker-owned coffee roaster dedicated to creating and expanding a model of fair trade based on “transparency, equality, and human dignity.” Their formation as a cooperative reflects a commitment to a “non-hierarchical and worker empowered shop. All major decisions are made by true democratic process —there are no bosses . . . .”
Just Coffee works in a total cooperative landscape, partnering with growers’ co-ops to obtain green coffee; with Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund for financing; with Cooperative Coffees, Just Coffee’s importing co-op; and by selling to and bartering with housing co-ops, food co-ops, and other worker co-ops. Being a cooperative itself, Just Coffee cinches the circle on this comprehensive cooperative universe.
Just Coffee also touts itself as a 100% fair trade roaster. Unfortunately, many companies boasting fair trade practices practice few, reaping many unfair market advantages such as getting accounts like universities, churches, and food co-ops which they could not with their “conventional” coffee. A less committed company can also offer fair trade coffee at dirt cheap prices and subsidize the loss by offsetting it with profits made from coffee bought at cheaper prices.
In contrast, Just Coffee’s own fair trade code tries to achieve five comprehensive goals: a better price for growers, pre-financing for growers’ business development, long-term partnerships with growers, commitment to cooperative forms of business, and organic methods.
Organic certification, however, has a political side demanding more scrutiny. Certification normally takes up to three years and is costly for poorer farmers. Growers making the commitment generally do not get any return for their expenses until the end of the third year. Currently the USDA will not allow “Transitional Organic” on labels to let consumers know that they are buying coffee from a farmer attempting to change to organic methods. Contact the USDA National Organic Program and weigh in on the matter.
The last factor in the Just Coffee commitment to grower, land, and customer is transparency. Instead of depending on third party certifiers to tell you what Just Coffee does, they place their contracts and financials on their website for all to see.
At the Alberta Co-op, you can find Just Coffee for $10.99 – $11.99/12 oz. with the Bike Fuel and Revolution Roast being our most popular blends. And as a side note, our bulk buyer, Nick, likes to emphasize that Just Coffee is air roasted (not barrel roasted) allowing more of the beans’ natural flavors to emerge.
Websites of interest:
Just Coffee Collective
Contact the USDA National Organic Program
Tags: coffee, fair trade
Posted in Food and Drink
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