Your co-op, September 2010

This article was originally published in September 2010

Fall member meeting

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Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care
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Darryl Miller, Vice President of Fidalgo Bay Coffee

Wednesday, October 27, 5:30 p.m.
St. Demetrios Hall
2100 Boyer Ave. E., Seattle

  • Directions available by calling 206-547-1222 or online
  • Free parking
  • Accessible by Metro Bus: metro.kingcounty.gov
  • Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m.
  • RSVP by October 19.

October is Fair Trade™ month and at PCC we’ll be celebrating in several ways. Our member meeting will feature a discussion of the Fair Trade Certified label and the general principles of fair labor.

We’re very excited about our lineup of speakers for the fall meeting. Nathan Palmer-Royston, head of product development at Theo Chocolate, Darryl Miller, Vice President of Fidalgo Bay Coffee, and Olowo-n’djo Tchala, founder of Alaffia Sustainable Skin Care, will talk to us about why fair trade matters.

Many members have asked to learn more about fair trade. This meeting will answer many questions.

Upcoming Talk to the Board opportunities

Board members look forward to meeting you during regular visits to our stores. Look for us next at:

Board report

Stephan Tan

Stephan Tan
Julianne Lamsek

Julianne Lamsek
Maggie Lucas

Maggie Lucas
Carol Binder

Carol Binder

The board met on July 27. It approved the chairs and rosters for this year’s committees. Stephen Tan will chair the Board Development Committee; Julianne Lamsek will chair the CEO Evaluation Committee; Carol Binder will chair the Finance Committee; and Maggie Lucas will chair the Member Relations Committee.

The board also discussed ongoing plans for this fall’s member meeting and had a strategic, financial education session.

Next board meeting

Tuesday, September 28 at 5 p.m. at the co-op office, with member comment period at 7 p.m.

Board retreat

On Saturday, August 7, the board met in retreat as part of its ongoing long-term study of two topics: re-regionalization of the local food system and childhood nutrition.

It heard from two local experts on the topics. Mary Embleton, executive director of Cascade Harvest Coalition (CHC), talked about the organization’s many programs and projects. CHC is dedicated to re-localizing the food system in Washington by connecting consumers more directly with producers. Victor Colman is staff lead for the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition. The coalition of 40 organizations is working to reduce childhood obesity in Washington state.

The board plans to share with the membership what it’s learning over this multi-year process through the Sound Consumer, website articles, and presentations at member meetings.

Also in this issue

Organic can feed the world

You probably buy organic food because you believe it’s better for your health and the environment but you also may have heard criticism that “organic cannot feed the world.” Biotech and chemical companies have spent billions of dollars trying to make us think that synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are necessary to feed a growing population.

Local chefs for local farms

Calling all foodies! On Sunday, September 26, PCC Farmland Trust will hold its third “Local Chefs for Local Farms” event at Café Juanita in Kirkland. In a separate event, tour Orting Valley Farms at Pierce County HarvestFest.

Are biofuels fueling hunger?

Once touted as a panacea for America’s energy ills, biofuels now are charged with jacking up food prices, felling rainforests, boosting greenhouse gases, culling biodiversity, and deepening hunger in food-insecure nations.