Miami River Foods Newsletter - April 4, 2010 - Bloomingfoods field trip and the next local foods box
Newsletters are for sharing - please forward to your friends and neighbors!
Beta Test 2.2 opens next week!
Bloomingfoods Field Trip - April 17th
Local food
Mark your calendar
Happy Spring, Miami River Foods! Laura here, reporting back after a wonderful trip to Rwanda. Organic, local foods abound in the equatorial sun - avocados on every corner - so I was thrilled when Ohio sunshine, seedlings, and a growing group of local foodies welcomed me home.
We're 380 strong this week, with lots of opportunities for you to help us take the next steps towards organizing a cooperative grocery!
Beta Test 2.2 opens April 7th - 11th
We welcomed 10 new families to the Beta Test Club for BT 2.1, and their feedback has already helped shape new and improved offerings for the next box. Thank you to all our Beta Testers for your perspective, feedback, and investment in our local farms!
Beta Test 2.2 will feature local & organic staples in addition to special seasonal items like organic heirloom tomato seedlings. Click here to learn more about Sandy Mitchell's tomato seedlings.
Ordering for Beta Test 2.2 will be open from Wednesday, April 7th through Sunday, April 11th. To learn more, please check out the Beta Box page and the FAQ page on our website, and email info@miamiriverfoods.org to sign up!
Bloomingfoods Field Trip April 17th
On Saturday, April 17th, join us on a field trip to one of the region's most successful co-ops! We'll check out 3 local Bloomingfoods locations, share lunch at the co-op deli, meet store employees, and see firsthand how a cooperative grocery is different from a typical grocery store.
Bloomingfoods Field Trip
Saturday, April 17th - all day
Group caravan to Bloomington, IN (map)
We first met Bloomingfoods Market & Deli when they hosted a "How to Start a Food Co-op" Conference in February. We were impressed by the impact they've had on the community and local economy. We also made friends like General Manager George Huntington, who offered to show us the ropes of running a successful community-owned grocery store.
If you join us on April 17th, you'll notice ...
LOCAL FOOD
GROW-ing a community garden
A group of green-thumbed locals welcome you to join them in creating a community garden in Troy!
GROW stands for Green Realized in Our World - "GROW a garden, GROW a family, GROW a community." It's a new group emerging in partnership with the Miami River Foods Project and Partners in Hope. This season, GROW will establish 3 community garden demonstration plots in collaboration with Overfield Early Childhood Program, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Troy Church of the Nazarene.
Would you like to get involved? Please email Laura@miamiriverfoods.org for more info.
Vote for the best steak in Dayton
Even Laura's grandparents agree that the Tin Roof is "the best burger I've ever tasted." This locavore restaurant on the river features natural beef produced by resident chef Craig Hughes. 85% of everything served there is produced within 100 miles of Troy.
The Tin Roof is in the running for the best steak in town. Click here to place your vote on ActiveDayton.com by April 5th! And if you haven't gone out for delicious, local beef yet, check out the Tin Roof website.
Milk tasting with Women's Leadership Connection
We were honored to be invited to share the vision of the Miami River Foods Project with the Women's Leadership Connection on Thursday. WLC is organized through the Troy Chamber of Commerce. They were a wonderful group who not only participated in a conversation about local economic development - but also a milk tasting! Read all about it on our blog.
Are you a gluten-free family?
Several folks have asked about gluten-free options in the local foods box program. We're putting together a gluten-free research team to help research and recommend gluten-free options to be made available starting with Beta Box 2.3. Would you like to help? Please email laura@miamiriverfoods.org to get involved.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
April 7th - 11th - Beta Test 2.2 Orders Open
Email info@miamiriverfoods.org to join the beta test!
Saturday, April 17th - Bloomingfoods Field Trip
Saturday, April 24th - Brukner Run Wild 5K Earth Day Celebration
The Miami River Foods Project will contribute a gift bag of local foods to celebrate Earth Day with Brukner Nature Center! See Brukner's website for details.
Saturday, May 22nd - WACO Local Music & Food Festival
Please join WACO and Miami River Foods in celebrating the start of summer with local bands and fresh organic foods!
Thanks again for supporting local foods in our community!
- Laura and Jake, on behalf of the whole team
Miami River Foods Project