August 2022 Newsletter

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The Mushroom Messenger

KCG Monthly Newsletter: July 2022

Bringing you the latest news on the KCG Food Co-op. We cover monthly news related to local food, community, and culture.

 
Hello to our Member-Owners and Friends! Read the news of our growing KCG Co-op!
WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO
On June 13, our Kennett Community Grocer Board held their monthly meeting. These meetings are open to the public and occur by Zoom every second Monday of the month from 7 to 8 PM except in July and December. We took off for the month of July and will meet again on August 8, 2022, at 7PM. As always, you are welcome to come to our Zoom Board Meeting via this link: https://cciu.zoom.us/j/9924934850

We welcome and encourage more Member-Owner participation in the planning and governing of the Co-op. This is your Cooperative and we hope you will become more involved. For new and seasoned Member-Owners alike, there is excitement around receiving fresh food through the KCG Co-op food boxes! See below to order for August and keep reading for this month’s feature on Flying Plow Farm.

As we begin the process of envisioning our future store, we are traveling to existing, successful Food Co-ops, touring the stores and meeting with the General Managers. This month, members of our Business Advisory Committee made a trip to the Weavers Way Co-op Mt. Airy on Carpenters Lane in Philadelphia where we met with their Manager, Jon Roesser, our mentor and friend. Weavers Way has been in existence for over 50 years, has approximately 11,000 Member-Owners, and adds more every month. They have 3 stores and are opening a 4th this year. Jon is an invaluable resource and has been so kind and generous, devoting time to Zoom meetings, sharing his expertise with us in the store, taking us to the Weavers Way Farm, and encouraging us every step of the way. 

We hope all our Member-Owners know we are quite serious about the business of opening the KCG store. In July, we circulated a survey to find out what YOU are looking forward to having in the store. We thank those of you who have responded already. Your responses will be used as we take the next steps forward. If you have yet to respond or have friends or family in the community who would like to add their voices to the conversation, the survey is open to all community members through the end of August. We are always happy to hear your comments and suggestions as we continue to learn and implement the steps needed to realize opening those doors. 

 
TAKE OUR MARKET SURVEY
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO AUGUST

On July 30th, we distributed 39 pre-ordered KCG Co-op boxes of produce at the Kennett Friends Meeting House, 125 W, Sickle Street, Kennett Square. We are now taking pre-orders for August! The next distribution will be August 27th with preorders taken up until noon on August 21. Our KCG Co-op Boxes are prepared by our farm partner, Flying Plow Farm from Rising Sun, Maryland. (See feature below!)
PRE-ORDER KCG CO-OP BOX
 
MEMBERSHIP EVER GROWING
Since our last newsletter, we have added 7 new Member-Owners! We are now 253 Member-Owners strong. Our 2022 Growth Plan to reach 300 will be on target with your help. Please reach out to neighbors and friends if you are a Member-Owner. If not, please email us and let us know why you are hesitating so we can help answer any questions. Check us out at www.kennettcommunitygrocer.coop, and contact us with your questions which we will be delighted to answer. E-mail us at [email protected] or come to talk to us at one of our events. 

Already know you want to join? Click the button below to sign up!
 
BECOME A MEMBER-OWNER TODAY
 
OUR SPECIAL FEATURE: FLYING PLOW FARM

Each month we highlight local businesses aligned with our mission to promote locally produced foods and crafts. This month we feature our wonderful KCG Co-op Box partner, Flying Plow Farm. We became friends with the people who represent this farm at the Kennett Farmers Market when we began KCG Tables there. When our great volunteers Tracy Bhalla and Philippe Mazur first imagined selling Co-op Boxes, we knew Flying Plow Farm would be a terrific source of produce.

We are overjoyed with their generosity and cooperation in realizing the KCG Produce Box. We are delighted with the products that come from this Organic Certified Farm in Rising Sun, Maryland. Tom Paduano and Sarah Rider have owned the 55-acre farm for over 10 years and have approximately 14 acres devoted to veggie production. They raise organic meat and eggs as well. They are amazing stewards of nutrient-rich soil, planting cover crops in winter and incorporating grazing livestock as part of their crop rotation. Fortunately for us, they have 4 tunnels devoted to growing produce during the winter, and their seeds are nourished in a seedling greenhouse.

KCG boxes are organized and filled by Rebecca Northrop, Flying Plow’s Harvest and Sales Director. Rebecca has made this project work for us, and we look forward to working with her in the future on sales of Flying Plow produce, meat, and eggs in our store.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/8: Public Board Meeting (7pm-8pm)
We meet as a Board on the second Monday evening of the month by Zoom at 7PM, every month except July and December.  These meetings are open to the general public and we welcome you to attend our meetings and find out what we are doing to move the co-op forward. Here is the Zoom link to join: https://cciu.zoom.us/j/9924934850

8/21: Communications Committee Meeting (7pm-8pm)
This is our monthly meeting to discuss upcoming communications strategies and projects. If you’re interested in volunteering your time and/or expertise, we would love for you to join via Zoom.

8/26: Tabling at the Kennett Square Farmers Market (3pm-6pm)
Come chat with us at the Kennett Square Farmers Market at the Creamery (401 Birch St., Kennett Square, PA). This is the perfect opportunity to chat with a Board Member about joining and have all questions answered while picking up some local produce from our great KSQ vendors.

8/27: KCG Co-op Box Pick-up Event (10am-12pm)
Come pick-up your pre-ordered KCG Co-op Box between 10AM and 12PM at Kennett Friends Meeting House (125 W. Sickle St., Kennett Square, PA). Even if you didn’t order a box, we’d love to see you! Click here to pre-order your Co-op Box.

 
 
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