Cold, warm, or mulled.  By the glass or right out of the jug.   These are the ways I delight in the flavor of Wilson Banner Ranch’s Apple Cider.  For the nearly six years that I’ve lived on the Palouse, I’ve celebrated fall with their tasty beverage.  It’s now a Johna tradition.  On a cool, crisp afternoon I interviewed Keri Wilson, who oversees sales, marketing, and educational events for the farm and is also the daughter of the farm’s owners, Joe and Annetta Wilson, at their farm west of Clarkston. 

Rebecca Patano

I want to share a personal, yet obvious secret.  I find interviewing local businesses deeply inspiring and fulfilling.  Each interaction causes my appreciation for producers to grow and grow and grow!  During my interview with Rebecca Patano from DOMA Coffee Roasting Company, I felt particularly “pumped.” Was it the caffeine from drinking iced coffee, or was it the DOMA story?  Perhaps both!
 
DOMA’s presence in the Co-op began in 2006.  Currently, 10 different coffees--espresso, single origin, decaf, and blends--are available.  Each coffee is named for family members, friends and animals of Rebecca and her husband, Terry Patano, owners of DOMA. While in the Co-op’s Bulk Foods Department pondering which coffee to select, I encourage you to admire the metal work of the display, which Rebecca fabricated.  Yes, that is correct; in addition to being a coffee connoisseur she’s also a trained welder.

Rene Lentz is a bearded and weathered German who has devoted his life to introducing heirloom grains to the American consumer. When he first came into the Co-op to deliver a 50-pound bag of emmer farro, I immediately decided to mine his brain for information. He has made three deliveries to the Co-op since then, and each time he has been gracious enough to let me interview him. His knowledge and his passion for relaying that knowledge fascinate me. I am grateful to him for adding to my education and development about the grains I buy for the Co-op.

Artisan bakers and top chefs seek out farro for flavor, knowing that their customers get a fuller spectrum of nutrition than they would from wheat. And farro is a food with a story like no other, spanning over a million years.

Summer! My childhood memories of the sunny, hot months are entwined with water and barbequing. Playing in the backyard in the sprinkler and watching my mom grill barbeque chicken was delightful. This summer will have its own set of joys; pool time at the Aquatics Center and barbeque with Ranch Hand! For the last year and a half, the Co-op has sold Jamie Callison’s, owner of Ranch Hand, products. You can find his varieties of barbeque sauces (Original and Zesty) and seasonings (Everything, Espresso, Sweet Chilly, and BBQ) in Grocery and near the Meat Department.