Expanded Hours, More Choices, Continued Focus on Safety
The Co-op expanded in-store hours at the beginning of August to 9AM to 9PM and has also been increasing the number of items for sale, highlighted by the return of many locally produced and prepared offerings. As a reminder, the store safety protocols remain in place. Please continue to follow the one-way flow in the bulk section, and if there is another shopper in the aisle try to complete other shopping first before getting your bulk items. Thank you all for continuing to do your part!
The Co-op also continues to offer two contactless options for shopping through online ordering and the Co-op To Go-op curbside shopping.
Local, Seasonal Diet Strengthens Regional Food Economy, the Planet & Your Health!
Keep your oven off and your home cool with the refreshing taste of late summer in this Watermelon Gazpacho recipe. Local farmers are harvesting these ingredients now. Buying locally and seasonally helps build our regional food security, keep our carbon footprint smaller, and lets us reap healthy benefits in the quality and freshness of the foods we consume.
Consumer concern about a fragile food supply chain and securing sources for fresh produce during the pandemic quadrupled demand for CSA shares and led to long lines at farmers markets. Many Americans considered, for the first time, the importance of direct relationships with local farmers. TPSS Co-op continues to pursue and strengthen those relationships. Among our direct local farm suppliers are Franklin Sustainable Farms, Summer Creek Farm and Licking Creek Bend Farm. We are proud to connect you with local farmers seven days a week.
The Unique Role of Food Co-ops in a ‘Post-Covid’ World
The TPSS Food Co-op made national news in the grocery business when it shut its doors to in-store shoppers in March and transitioned for several weeks to an on-line only grocery store.
Our turn to e-commerce was one of the many changes that food cooperatives across the country made this year. Coping with the pandemic was the theme of a national conference of food cooperatives that TPSS Board members participated in this June. Read here for insights into the effect of the pandemic on the cooperative grocery business, and how co-ops, through their mission and service-oriented business structure, provide unique value to their communities.
Co-op Election Season is Starting!
The Co-op board is looking for talented and dedicated new members. This year four seats will be contested and the deadline to sign up for running in the election is October 15. All members of the Co-op are eligible to run and candidates nominate themselves in accordance with the procedures outlined here. The election will run through November 10. Member-owners elected to the Board will serve a three-year term starting December 1.
We prioritize making real the concept of diversity, inclusion and equity, so that our vision and decisions reflect what is best, not only for the Co-op, but for all its stakeholders.
Here’s more information about running for the Board. We encourage you to consider running for a seat on the Board.
Until next time,
TPSS Co-op Board of Representatives