We’re kicking off the Eat Local America Challenge with some heat and spice this year! You’re invited to enter Linden Hills Co-op’s first-ever La Vida Local Salsa Contest, to be held at the August 21 Linden Hills Live festival.

From August 15 through September 15, eleven Twin Cities food co-ops, including Linden Hills Co-op, are challenging our shoppers and members to eat local during peak harvest season.

What does that mean? There are two easy ways to take the pledge: either commit to making five meals a week (including breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner) from locally-grown, locally-produced ingredients; or for an entire month, choose 80% or more of your food from the rich variety of local and seasonal sources.

Linden Hills Co-op is a proud member of the Local Fair Trade Network, the sponsors of this great September event at one of our favorite farms.

Welcome to Linden Hills Natural Home—we offer organic, recycled-recylable, natural, local and Fair Trade goods for your environmentally-friendly home. If you’d like a quick tour take a look at this video showcase. If you are unable to visit us in Minneapolis and see something on our website that you just can’t find anywhere else, feel free to give us a call during business hours to see if we can ship or mail to your location. Our phone number is 612-279-2479. We’re open seven days a week from 9 until 7.

We’re very happy to bring you another wonderful LOCAL product: Whole Grain Milling Company has several fabulous pancake, baking, and cereal mixes we’re now offering in the grocery aisle. Made in Welcome, Minnesota by Lin and Doug Hilgendorf.

The August-September issue’s focus is on local foods: where to find them, how to fix them, why we love them.

Contents:

• Member services manager Jeanne Lakso’s Fair Trade expedition to Peru
• Allie Mentzer’s suggestions for celebrating a truly Local Independence Day
• changes to the co-op’s senior discount policy, which went into effect July 1, 2008
• nominating a “Green Patch” group
• Miss Larousse’s suggestions for summertime salads
• June-July specials and events

Download a PDF copy.

Locavores rejoice! Thanks to the Forti family of Hibbing, MN, you can add authentic Italian cuisine to your list of local favorites. The Forti family’s Sunrise Deli makes three kinds of fresh frozen ravioli—all with flavorful fillings surrounded by tender pasta. Try Provolone & Mozzarella with Porcini Mushrooms, Butternut Squash with Nutmeg, Cinnamon & Sage, or Three Cheese with Provolone, Muenster & Pecorino Romano.

Meet the Fortis at the co-op on Saturday, September 6 between 10 am and noon.

Charlie’s Soap – Cleans everything from false teeth to diesel engines. Charlie’s Soap is a concentrated, natural, hard working soap. It is safe to use in ANY washing machine or for hand washing. Charlie’s naturally softens and removes residues other soaps can leave behind. It can be used to clean cloth diapers, the dog and just about anything else you have in mind. And a little goes a long way so it is economically friendly too!

Happy Heinys Pocket Diapers – Happy Heinys are sewn by moms in the USA and feature no leg casings for better fit, comfort and containment! The pocket opening allows mom or dad to decide how much or how little protection is needed for baby.

Snappi Fastener – This pinless, easy to use fastener offers a practical and reliable way to fasten a diaper.

Green Sprouts Teether Rattle – Green Sprouts’ biodegradable, eco-friendly teether is made from cornstarch resin and is PVC and BPA free!