On the lower shelves of the Co-op's refrigerator section, somewhere between the butter and the yogurt, a quiet revolution is taking place. The neatly stacked egg cartons are pretty understated—most have been reused, the original brands inked out with Sharpie pen and replaced with return address labels. But make no mistake, a set of shelves like these is one of our best ways to ensure food safety.

Editor’s note: For more on eggs, watch the "Scrambled Eggs "video below.

Link to the Cornucopia Institute Organic Egg Scorecard

Black Salt Caramel, Cherry Rooibos, Exploding Coconuts and Nutcracker are a few of the exciting new flavors set to premier at the Co-op this autumn. Since the weather is cooling off, shipments of our special chocolates are set to arrive. For our bacon lovers, this means the return of the Vosges chocolate bacon bars. As the Co-op heads into November, we will begin to stock delicious holiday flavors from Theo Chocolate of Seattle, Chocolove and Divine Chocolate.

Which of the following has played a part in the history of Nancy’s Springfield Creamery?

a. The Grateful Dead
b. Huey Lewis
c. The author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
d. Gyuto monks
e. All of the above

Stay tuned for the correct answer . .  .

Date syrup? I had never heard of such a thing! What a wonderful surprise though! A Moscow “local” has been supplying us with this delicious nectar for a little under a year. This treat comes from the date palm tree and is the ideal substitute to processed sugar in baking and cooking recipes. Great topping for things that call for honey or syrup. Date syrup also has a very high mineral content – especially potassium, magnesium and iron.
This sweetener is organic, kosher, vegan, gluten free and dairy free. Some examples of uses include: top of waffles/pancakes, substitute for sugar and syrup in baking and cooking, in oatmeal/cereal, on ice cream and in smoothies. My personal favorite is drizzled on goat cheese with crisp bread.

My co-workers sometimes tease me as we’re stacking the cases of products that arrive on freight days. Surrounding us are towers of yogurt, frozen fruit and veggies and … bread. Yes, bread. Our Co-op bakery makes amazing loaves to satisfy the cravings of whole-wheat addicts like me. But what about those who can’t digest the gluten in wheat (and rye and barley and oats)? That’s where my bread tower comes in.