On this episode of the Co-op Scoop we talk to Nicole Klimek and Heather Lazickas from Seven Roots, a worker-owned agency that is dedicated to providing support to Co-ops, Natural Food Stores and independent grocers across the country. They specialize in everything from operational and organizational support to store planning and design. Nicole once served on our Board of Directors and Seven Roots helped us open the current store!

On this episode of the Co-op Scoop we talk to Sadie Scheffer, founder of Bread SRSLY Gluten-Free Sourdough, about why she was inspired to start baking gluten-free bread, the early days of gluten-free sourdough experiments in her home kitchen and how the company grew from local bike delivery in the Bay Area to shipping bread across the country.

On this episode of the Co-op Scoop we talk to Wynn Austin of Wynn's Kitchen, a San Diego mom and indomitable spirit, driven to create a healthier option for Asian food lovers. In 2016, Wynn embarked on a healing health journey and cut food with damaging ingredients out of her diet. Unfortunately, this included most of the Asian dishes she loved dearly. Her condition improved dramatically, but she desperately missed the Asian flavors she’d left behind.

This drove Wynn to scour the nutrition panels of Asian food, discovering that the Asian condiments and sauces she used contained tons of sugar, salt, gluten, and preservatives. She was amazed by the huge void in the marketplace for the flavor-rich Asian condiments she grew up with, without all the harmful stuff. And she knew she couldn’t be the only one. So in her home kitchen, she conjured up the very first batch of her Saté Sauce, made with all-natural ingredients, and most importantly, no MSG, and no added sugar. She took a leap of faith and her business was born.

On this episode of the Co-op Scoop we talk to Billal of Bolani Flatbreads and learn more about what inspired his mother to start making bolanis, how the traditional Afghani flatbread is made, the difficulties of being an entrepreneur in a food-based business and how the family business has evolved over the years.

Billal is the son of the founder of Bolani, Nazie, who started making Bolanis in America for her friends. Nazie finally had an opportunity to teach her new culture what true Afghani food was like and started selling them at the local farmers market. It was an immediate success.

Capay Mills a place-based flour mill serving farmers, bakers and chefs in Northern California and beyond. They transform sustainably grown local heirloom grains into uniquely flavorful, fresh, & nutritious flours, rich in character and history. By creating local alternatives to commodity grain, Capay Mills celebrates sustainably grown heritage grains adapted to unique climates and soils. They celebrate flavor, nutrition and education to build transparent, reciprocal connections from farm to loaf.

Canna Joint Relief began its life over 9 years ago in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California where founder and formulator Julie Dennis Fox, lived and started experimenting with cannabis-infused formulations. The Co-op is now selling Canna Joint Relief in our Wellness Department.

Blake and Stephanie Alexandre started dairying in 1988 in Southern California where Stephanie grew up, but Blake knew he wanted to get back to his beloved pastures in Northern California. When the opportunity arose in 1992 to buy an existing operation in Del Norte County, just two hours north of the original Alexandre home farm in Ferndale, they seized it. Blake and Stephanie Alexander farm with their family in Crescent City, California.

Latasha Bisbane & Lisa Elwell, founders of Sinner's Seamoss share why they are passionate about this superfood, their inspiring story of personal experience of healing with it and their commitment to providing an exceptional product for our community.