OCTOBER 2009:
A Sampler of recent suggestions of general interest ... and our answers:

Do you deliver? I can’t always get here, but I need to eat.

Yes, you do need to eat. We don’t have a delivery system in JP, but in Cambridge we work with Metroped to provide deliveries by bicycle from Harvest to you. They also deliver CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares, so next year you can get a CSA share even if you can’t make it to Harvest at the drop-off time.

Some months there are 5 kinds of cereal or granola on sale for under $3 per pound, other months NADA. Why not have one granola/cereal for less than $3 every month?

Good suggestion. I will pass that along to our buying reps. Our monthly CAP (Co-op Advantage Program) sales are set by our buying representatives at the National Co-op Grocers Assn.
Working with over 300 other food co-ops around the country, we get deeper discounts – and a nicer sales flier – than we used to get negotiating on our own, and at a savings to us. This is just one way we work together with co-ops to serve all co-op members and customers better.

I see so many balsamic vinegars on the shelf. What is Balsamic Vinegar, and how do I use it?

Modena and Reggio Italy are known for their balsamic vinegars. The word balsamic means “health giving”.
True balsamic is actually not a wine vinegar at all, but is instead made of must (the freshly pressed grape juice).
Balsamic vinegar gets better and thicker with aging. The vinegar is aged for years in barrels made from a variety of different woods, such as oak, cherry, chestnut, juniper, cherry, ash and mulberry, effectively adding the flavor of each to the delicate taste of the vinegar. Its flavor is both intense yet delicate and is balanced with both sweet and sour notes.
It goes well with meats and poultry in a marinade or sauce and with salads.
Aged balsamic is slightly more intense and sweeter and pairs well with strawberries. Just wash the strawberries, and marinate in balsamic vinegar for 15 minutes.

I wish you could have Harvest water. Dasani sucks.

And Dasani is owned by Coca-Cola – and Aquafina is owned by Pepsi. Both companies trying to develop new products due to the downturn in the soft drink market.
Our private label water company sold out to Poland Springs. We were looking for another source, but more people are using their own bottles and tap water (which is where Dasani comes from – the tap).
We have a new bottled water that is local (from the Berkshires) called Native Water in an “earth friendly” biodegradable and compostable bottle. Also, look for steel bottles for sale soon with the Harvest logo – tres chic!

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