THE INSIDER

JUNE 2014ISSUE 012

CREATED BY THE SWARTHMORE FOOD COOPERATIVE

take me! I’m FREE!

What’s Inside

featuresfollow us@swacoop

designed by HILLARY WICKLINE

published & printed bySWARTHMORE FOOD COOPERATIVE

photography byANDY SHELTER(cover, pages 1, 4, 6, 12, 13, 16, & 19) 2

looking to advertise?contact HILLARY WICKLINE for a rate schedule marketing@swarthmore.coop

you said itpage 3

upcoming eventspage 4

gm cornerpage 17

june specialspage 18

water water everywherepage 5

renewable electricity & youpage 8

beauty is more than skin deeppage 9

summer is herepage 10

field of dreamspage 11

diy mayopage 14

I have been seeing Co-op Certified labels on meat and seafood. What exactly is Co-op Certifed and where can I find information?

Thank you for your question! Co-op Certified is a vetting process we introduced in the fall of 2012. We currently have Co-op Certified meats, seafood, deli items, and prepared foods, each with a specific vetting process and standards. To find more information on specifics, visit our website at www.swarthmore.coop

Sincerely, Swarthmore Co-op

Would it be possible to carry Vesper Brothers Pasta? It is my family’s favorite!- Claire

Thanks for the suggestion, Claire! We currently carry Severino Pasta, which is another quality, local pasta we think you would love. Remember, if we don’t carry a product you would like to purchase, you can purchase that product with our grocery team. Members will receive 20% off and non-members 15% off. Feel free to contact John, our grocery manager, at grocery@swarthmore.coop with any questions.

Sincerely,Swarthmore Co-op

3

you said itDo you have a question, comment, or concern? Talk to us!Email Marc BrownGold, generalmanager@swarthmore.coop, or fill out a comment card in store

DO YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE INSIDER?

we welcome outside content, including photography, editorials, essays, etc.

contact HILLARY WICKLINE for more details marketing@swarthmore.coop

I would really appreciate a gluten free bread option at the deli. All of your sandwiches and paninis look amazing but I avoid gluten for health reasons.

Thanks for the suggestion! We have carried a number of gluten free breads in the past but felt they weren’t the best fit for our store, members, and customers due to price. However, we are currently working on this issue and are trying to find the best option.

Sincerely,Swarthmore Co-op

I think Swarthmore themed post cards and envelopes would sell well in the Co-op. I suggest talking to Andy Shelter, a local photographer. - Alex

Thanks for the suggestion! We work with Andy on a consistent basis - in fact, he has provided many of the photographs seen in this magazine! You can find his Swarthmore themed calendars and post cards in store around the winter holiday season.

Sincerely,Swarthmore Co-op

UPCOMING EVENTS

FIRST FRIDAY quizzojune 6th, 8 pm

WORLD GRILL: RUBS & MARINADES june 11th, 7 pm*swarthmore presbyterian church*

supper clubjune 20th, 5:30 pm*scott arboretum - meet at the Co-op*

LUNCHTIME GRILLEVERY SATURDAY, 11 AM - 2 PM

WATER WATEREVERYWHEREwritten by MARIA CONTINOWhile celebrating my high school graduation last year, I received a lot of typical graduation gifts but one stood out from the rest. Along with some cute drawings from the kids who picked it out, I was given a red water bottle. Honestly, I was perplexed and thought it was a strange graduation gift.

I filled it with water and used it the next day. And the next. And the next. Even now, a year later, I’m rarely found without my red water bottle. Since last year, I’ve filled it countless times, saving hundreds of plastic water bottles in the process. Though I rarely drink bottled water, many people do. Let’s take a look at the varieties of water available, and consider what might be the most responsible and healthy way to approach our drinking water.

Tap water is provided by your municipality and is used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Tap water is treated at water purification plants.

Distilled water is water that has essentially been stripped of all its naturel minerals. This is great for small appliances that use water because there is minimal mineral build-up. Though not harmful for drinking, it is not necessarily the best, because it lacks the beneficial minerals found in other water.

Purified water is exactly what the name implies, water that has been purified to remove chemicals or contaminants.

Like the name implies, spring water comes from springs, or at least it should. A lot of bottled spring water comes from municipal sources and has been found to have various contaminants. Bottled water companies frequently claim their water is far safer than tap water. While these claims are up for serious debate, the success of the bottled water industry shows that their marketing has paid off. Some tap water may vary in taste, but most tap water in the US is safe to drink. Check out epa.gov for information about your local water and consider the possibility of using a water filter in your home.

An important consideration when drinking bottled water is the environmental impact. Most plastic water bottles end up in landfills. In fact, there is such an excess that tons of plastic bottle waste is being shipped overseas. Even recycling water bottles requires a lot of

... continued on page 15

8

or a lot of people, being a responsible electricity consumer involves paying bills and not having every light on in the house. For those more environmentally conscious, it also includes buying renewable electricity. While people know buying renewable electricity is the right thing to do for the environment, many are unfamiliar with how they are actually using renewable electricity. A

basic understanding of how the electricity grid works will make you a savvier and more environmentally responsible consumer.

Unfortunately, The Energy Co-op can’t beam electrons from a wind farm directly to your home so instead we use renewable energy certificates (RECs). Figure A illustrates how RECs work within our current grid system. Renewable energy sources (wind and solar) and nonrenewable energy sources (nuclear, coal, natural gas, etc.) transfer power to the grid. When a renewable energy source adds power to the grid, a REC is created for every megawatt hour of power generated. This REC represents the environmental value produced by renewable power. Electricity suppliers then purchase RECs from renewable energy sources to offset their customers’ grid consumption.

Now let’s see what this means for the end user. Whenever you use electricity, you receive whatever mix of power is in the grid. If your neighbor uses PECO for their electricity supply and you are an Energy Co-op member, both of you are receiving the same electricity. However, when you buy renewable energy from The Co-op we not only pay for the power you used from the grid, but we also apply our purchased RECs to your usage.

written by CLAY BEDWELL ELECTRICITY PROGRAM DIRECTOR, THE ENERGY CO-OP

RENEWABLE ELECTRICTY YOU

REC

$

$REC

Figure A

... continued on page 15

9

hen we think about keeping our bodies healthy, we often think about what we put in our bodies. But ACURE Organics proves that what we put on our bodies is just as important. Jon and Kristy Guerra founded ACURE as a way to provide a healthier personal care resource

free from toxic exposure in honor of her grandmother’s decade-long struggle with cancer. Unlike many conventional health and beauty products, ACURE is free of common toxins, including parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, harmful preservatives, and artificial colors.

B E A U T Y IS MORE THAN

SKIN DEEPwritten by HILLARY WICKLINE

SPONSORED BY ACURE ORGANICS

SEE ACURE’S

MONTHLY

SPECIALON PAGE 18!

Because our bodies are unable to metabolize these chemicals, the toxins are often stored in fatty tissue and inevitably contribute to systemic toxicity over time. “The kicker is that they have no real benefit to the skin or hair. They are simply an inexpensive means to achieve a specific effect, i.e. synthetic preservation, foaming lather, silky coating on the skin, slip, certain aromatic effect or color, etc.,” says Amy Halman, President+Formulator. Not only are these ingredients toxic to human health, but they pollute the environment, directly affecting our drinking water and soil. ACURE is sustainable to the core and operates

SUMMER IS HERE!written by MEGAN LIEBERMAN

t’s time to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful weather.

While we all love the extra warm sunshine the summer bring us, Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is on the rise. In fact, the rate has tripled in the past thirty-five years despite many campaigns for sun safety. The FDA has responded by revising regulations on sunscreen labeling and usage but some information is still lacking. Here’s what you need to know before you venture into the sun this summer.

Don’t be deceived by high Sun Protection Factors, or SPF. SPF is measured by its ability to filter UVB rays, but doesn’t reflect UVA screening. High SPFs can mislead consumers into thinking that reapplying is unnecessary, however, sunscreens with SPFs higher than fifty tested only marginally better than those with SPFs lower than fifty. It’s important to choose a sunscreen with enough protection, but keep in mind, the higher the SPF, the potential for chemical exposure increases.

The active ingredients in sunscreen come in two forms, mineral or chemical, each using a different mechanism but both increasing exposure to chemicals. Chemical sunscreens usually contain a combo of two out of six ingredients – oxybenzone, avobenzone, octisalate, octocreylene, homosalate, and octinoxate – and mineral sunscreens contain either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. The listed ingredients can cause allergies, skin irritation, skin penetration,

and endocrine disruption, but zinc oxide is the most recommended as it has the lowest rate of interference and it blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Avobenzone is also considered a safe sunscreen ingredient as it blocks 3% of UVA rays. Oxybenzone, on the other hand, should be avoided due to the frequent occurrence of skin irritation and hormone disruption.

Two other ingredients to be aware of are fragrance and retinyl palmitate, also known as retinol, vitamin A. Fragrance can be any number of ingredients when listed on a label, but it’s usually a skin irritant or toxin. When applied in sunlight, vitamin A has been known to speed the development of skin tumors and lesions. Avoid sunscreen sprays and loose powder with added sunscreen as neither can be applied in an even coat and the zinc and titanium nanoparticles should not be inhaled.

Keep these four simple tips in mind before you head out into the sun. First, reapply sunscreen and often. An SPF range between 15 and 50 is good. Second, avoid toxic ingredients such as oxybenzone and sunscreens with vitamin A. Third, creams are recommended over powders and sprays. Finally, limit sun exposure when outside during peak hours. Use light layers and sunglasses for protection too.

--Sources:www.ewg.org

as a triple bottom line business. “The beauty industry is completely unregulated so, in our opinion, it becomes crucial that we be as responsible as possible in manufacturing and commit to full disclosure on our ingredient labels,” says Halman. She continues, “[ACURE] works very hard to educate the consumer to make smarter, healthier choices so that they know they don’t have to sacrifice their health for the sake of beauty.” --ACURE is a full line of body care and skin care products made from all-natural, fair trade, and organic ingredients.

To learn more visit www.acureorganics.com

ast week, Kristina, one of the Co-op’s produce associates, approached me about helping her with a community garden. Kristina lives in West Philly and was given a large plot at a community garden, three doors down from where she lives. The garden consists of two plots – one is for Kristina and the other belongs to an older man, who grows and sells a variety of produce.

Growing up my mother and father always had a garden or plot at a community garden where they could grow their own food. I remember they would return after a long, early morning, carrying baskets full of vegetables and herbs that they had just harvested. The smell of fresh dill, cherry tomatoes, and Thai basil would fill the kitchen and I knew lunch was going to be delicious.

Because of my parents’ influence, I have an insatiable urge to be outside planting something, however, after moving to into a third floor apartment in the city, my hopes of having an outdoor garden slowly diminished. After learning about the long waiting lists for local garden plots around my neighborhood, I reluctantly gave up all my desires. But, the urge of the early morning sun kissing my skin as I sweat to death while digging a hole for strawberries still beckoned me as I walked past local gardens.

FIELD OF

DREAMSwritten by KIRA MONTAGNO

11

12

When Kristina took me to her garden, we quickly realized this was not going to be easy feat as we laid eyes on the 14 x 25 ft. plot with no access to running water. But, nevertheless, we both remained excited to start this new adventure.

Currently, our biggest problem is watering our garden with fresh water. With no hose in sight, I asked Kristina how we are going to water the plants. She pointed to three large barrels of dirty, mosquito-ridden water – not our idea of fresh water. Kristina and I are looking into getting fresh water delivered every other week, but we have not made a commitment yet. Instead, we’ve opted to lug around 5-gallon pickle buckets full water until we find a better system.

My first day gardening in the hot sun was back breaking, but it was worth it. Community residents and passerbyers praised us for putting the plot to good use. In the past week, Kristina and I have already planted squash, strawberries, peppers, kohlrabi, tomatoes, kale, spinach, sage, and dill. We are excited about growing our own vegetables not only for ourselves, but for our friends and local community.

As the summer goes on, I will be updating our progress on our garden. Hopefully this season brings great produce, sun kissed skin, and fulfilled dreams.

Kira and Kristina (above) are currently growing spinach, squash, kholrabi, kale, & herbs in their shared community garden (right).

DO IT YOURSELF

ayo is a versatile condiment that can add a lot of flavor to a simple dish. As a person who eats a lot of vegetables, I mix mayo with herbs and spices to spruce up

an otherwise boring plate of vegetables. But, it’s no secret that mayo is highly caloric and often affiliated with fattening foods and bad diet.

In the United States, mayo, originating from Western Europe, was first commercially produced in Philadelphia in the early 1900’s. Mrs. Schlorer’s and Hellman’s quickly dominated the market.

In an effort to reduce my added sugar and preservative intake, I’ve given up on commercial brands, such as Hellman’s and Miracle Whip. Instead, I make my own, allowing myself to make mayo in small batches using the freshest ingredients.

Making mayo is super easy and it’s made out of staple household ingredients. The ingredients found in mayo vary slightly by region, but it generally consists of eggs, oil, lemon juice or vinegar, and salt.

The recipe provided makes ¾ cups of mayo but can easily be doubled, tripled, etc. if needed.

written by HILLARY WICKLINEINGREDIENTS:•1 fresh egg yolk from a pastured hen – save the egg whites to make meringues and cakes or freeze them in an ice tray for later use•Pinch of kosher salt•3/4 cup olive oil (separated) •3 tsp lemon juice •1/4 tsp Dijon mustard•Fresh herbs, chopped garlic to taste (optional)

DIRECTIONS:When making your own mayo, it’s important to whisk the ingredients little by little in order to emulsify the mixture. Start by whisking the egg yolk and 1 tbsp of olive oil.

When the mixture begins to stiffen, add the lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and any additional herbs, garlic, etc.

Begin to add the rest of the olive oil to the mixture, little by little (we’re talking teaspoons here), constantly whisking the mixture.

When mayo is of a creamy consistency, it is ready to be used or served.

Mayo can be stored in a glass jar or plastic ware in the refrigerator up to 5 days. If the mayo begins to separate in the refrigerator, don’t panic – that’s natural. Simply whisk the ingredients with a few drops of water until the mixture turns back to its creamy consistency.

*Recipe provided by Mother Earth News* 14

Not only does this model allow the end user to say they use renewable energy, but it also provides a financial incentive for the development of new wind and solar generation in Pennsylvania. Renewables currently make up a slim 2.9% of Pennsylvania’s total electricity generation . The more we can encourage new installations of clean energy, the higher percentage of renewables we can put in our grid and our homes.

(mostly unnecessary) energy and the plastic is often downcycled into lower quality plastic that eventually ends up in landfills. A look at the waste hierarchy shows that drinking tap water is far preferable from an environmental perspective because it falls under ‘prevention.’ Though it is a matter of personal choice,

drinking from a reusable water bottle can lower your carbon footprint and save you the money you would have spent on bottled water. I encourage you to evaluate your water drinking habits and consider making the switch from bottled water to reusable water bottles.

--Sources: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/questions/whats-the-difference-between-distilled-water-spring-water-and-purifiedhttp://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/https://andrewtmarlow.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/waste-hierarchy.jpg

continued from page 8...

continued from page 5 ...

15

This would be relatively straight forward if all RECs were created equally, but they’re not; they can differ in source and location. In Pennsylvania for example, burning waste coal is a qualified source of RECs, even though it typically has a greater environmental impact than standard coal generation. Consumers can also buy RECs generated in other electricity grids. The Midwest has an ever-growing list of wind farms and this high supply has become the standard industry source for inexpensive wind RECs.

The good thing about cheap RECs is that they allow for the inexpensive retail renewable electricity. The bad thing is that cheap RECs are poor financial incentives for the development of new generation. Other than making people feel all warm and fuzzy about keeping their air conditioner at 64 degrees all summer, they don’t serve much of a purpose.

The Co-op’s desire to buy productive RECs has long been the guiding principle for our procurement practices and it is the central theme to our newest product. The Co-op has partnered with local solar installer Solar States to create Solar Leader, a 5% solar REC (SREC) offset product. Solar Leader is designed to make the installation of local solar possible by procuring SRECs from dedicated projects at fixed rates and term lengths. By simplifying project financing and mitigating SREC market risk, The Co-op and Solar States will be able to put projects in the ground that otherwise would not be possible.

So next time you’re offered a suspiciously inexpensive renewable energy product, just remember that the old adage holds true for electricity as well: you get what you pay for.

--Clay is the Electricity Program Director for The Energy Co-op. He can be reached at Clay@TheEnergy.Coop or 215.413.2122 x14.

Sources:http://www.eia.gov/renewable/state/Pennsylvania/

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!SUNDAY SUPPERS NEEDS YOUR HELP!

Sunday Suppers meets once a month to cook for home bound seniors in the community. If you are interested in cooking or delivering please contact sundaysuppers@swarthmore.coop

Can’t volunteer? Sunday Suppers gladly accepts all donations of any size. For more information, visit www.swarthmore.coop

Why did we stop supplying plastic bags?We happened to catch a few of our associates using them as space helmets and could no longer afford the fines from OSHA.

Why did we stop carrying Lehigh Valley milk?One of the cows called Anthony in January and demanded a large ransom from him, or else it refused to release the drug manufacture that was keeping them high from a persistent cocktail of RGBH.

Why do we constantly move things around the store?To keep Google Supermarket on their toes!

Why buy bulk?Where else can you take a little, spill a little, take a little spill a little?

Why are the meats at the Co-op more expensive than a regular market?Lance has some secret information on me, and that’s expensive!!

GM CORNERwritten by MARC BROWNGOLD

THE ANSWERS TO LIFE’S PERSISTENT QUESTIONS: SIMPLE VERSION

FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...

FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...

Monthly Specials

DeliThe NEW Co-op Certified Ham

Reg. $12.99 lb, sale $10.99 lb

Members $2.00 off per lb

Prepared Foods

SUMMER STYLEChicken Parmesan

reg. for $11.99 lb, sale $9.99 lb,

Members $2.00 off per lbMeat

Leidy’s Pork Tenderloinsreg price $7.99 lb, sale $5.99 lb

Members $2.00 off per lb

Prepared FoodsCo-op Certified Salsa

Reg. $7.99 lb, , sale $5.95 lb$2.00 off per lb

Featured PaniniKing’s Landing

Co-op Certified Applewood Smoked Ham and Brie with a Dried Cherry,

Honey, and Clove Compote Reg. $7.95 ea, sale $5.95 ea

$2.00 off

GroceryQue Pasa Chips

Reg. $5.99 ea, sale $4.49 ea

Members 25% off

Acure HBA ProductsReg. Prices Vary , sale on entire line

Members 10% off

Julie’s Organic Frozen TreatsReg. Prices Vary, sale on entire line

Members 15% off

ProduceOrganic Loose Spring Mix

Reg. $10.99 lb, sale $8.99 lb

Members $2.00 off per lb

Back to BasicsBACK TO BASICS

Kind BarMadagascar Vanilla Almond

Originally $2.19 ea

New Price $1.69 ea

Specials valid june 1-30, 2014

except Back to Basics (B2B prices are part of a permanent program).

FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...

Deli Aged Provolone

Reg. $9.99 lb, sale $7.99 lb

$2.00 off 1 lb or morePrepared Foods

Co-op Certified GuacamoleReg. $9.99 lb, sale $8.59 lb

Save $1.40 lb

Member’s 10 for 30Seafood

Shelled Shrimp (16-20)reg price $19.99 lb, sale $17.99 lb

Members $2.00 off per lb

SpecialtyCabot

Private Stock CheeseReg.$9.99 lb sale $7.49 lb

Members $2.00 off

Bakery - Cookies by DianeChocolate Chip Cookies

Reg. $2.50 ea, sale $2.00 ea

Members save 50¢

BakeryPhilly Bread

Reg. $3.99 ea, sale $2.99 ea

$1.00 off

GroceryWoodstock BBQ ProductsENTIRE LINE, INCLUDING CHARCOAL

25% off

DairyCool Beans HummusReg. $4.99 ea, sale $4.49 ea

50¢ offFrozen

Zsa’s Ice Cream PintsReg. $7.49 ea, sale $5.99 ea

$1.50 off

Deli Co-op Ceritfied Smoked Turkey

Reg. $10.99 lb, sale $8.99 lb

$2.00 off 1 lb or more

SeafoodShell On Shrimp (21-25)

Reg. $`18.99 lb, sale $17.99 lb

$1.00 off per lb

Meat - Countrytime PorkAll Pork Hot Dogs

Reg. $7.99 per pkg, sale $6.99 per pkg

$1.00 off per package

SpecialtySt. Angel Cheese

Reg. $17.99 lb, sale $14.99 lb

$3.00 off per pound