FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bittersweet September is here! This time of year I usually find myself both mourning the end of summer spontaneity and nonstop adventure, while also enjoying slowing down to appreciate the cooler nights and a bit more routine. The DNF Co-op Staff & Board has had a summer full of activity, including starting our Double Up Food Bucks program, outreach at the Farmer’s Markets, and launching our Stock the Root Cellar campaign. On top of all that, we’ve been searching the country far and wide for DNF Co-op’s next General Manager and we are so excited to announce the hiring of Joe Zwiebach!

Welcome our New General Manager

We are thrilled to welcome Joe to the Co-op and gain from his decades of experience with Co-ops. He comes to us from New Mexico where he managed the Silver City Food Co-op for six years. Joe spent much of the 80s working for Gentle Strength Cooperative in Tempe, AZ, as well as almost a decade at REI, the nation’s largest consumer co-op.

One of the many reasons we’re so excited to have Joe is because of his through-the-roof enthusiasm for Co-ops. In an increasingly competitive market with many options for shopping, it’s important to remember why we’re all part of this community. I invite you to take a moment to reflect this month on what shopping at DNF means to you. When we asked Joe this question, he said, "There are many food store choices in the world today but I remain dedicated to Co-ops. Imagine a store that actually cares about all of us because, actually, Co-ops ARE us. All of us together enable an entity that promotes health in not only what we eat but also a healthy, enabling workplace and a healthy commitment to our community. I have always put my dollars to causes that I believe in rather than corporate and other businesses that pursue money at the expense of people. In today's world, that is even more important than it ever was." Joe has started working and will overlap with our Interim General Manager, Lucinda, for two weeks. Please help us welcome Joe to our wonderful community!

Stocking the Root Cellar Update

Durango Natural Foods Co-op has been working hard to raise funds for our ‘root cellar,’ a savings account for capital expenses such as replacing old equipment and keeping our building safe. These funds are truly critical for sustainable financial health. Our goal was to raise $100,000 by September 1, and hundreds of Member-Owners have made full equity investments and/or generous donations large and small, totaling a respectable $67,000. The board will continue to explore additional revenue sources to meet our goal.

Farewell, Lucinda!

Our incredible Interim General Manager Lucinda will be finishing up her six-month term at DNF this month. We are so grateful to her for swooping in to Durango from California and hitting the ground running. We have seen countless invaluable changes and improvements during her time here. Lucinda’s leadership and expertise has put DNF in an excellent place to succeed and we will be forever thankful.

Our next meeting is September 25, 5 -7 pm, at Turtle Lake Refuge (due to a scheduling conflict we won’t be at the library this month). We’d love to have you!

Thanks so much for being part of this community. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the store.

Co-operatively yours,

Elise Boyson

Board of Directors

A REMINDER: Durango Natural Foods Co-op will be closing early on Sunday, Sept 8 at 4:00 PM for our Staff 'End of Summer BBQ'.

DNF CO-OP IN THE COMMUNITY

Round Up at the Register for COOKING MATTERS during September
Cooking Matters is helping end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices. Their programs teach parents and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals. Through Cooking Matters programming, participants learn to shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices, and cook delicious, affordable meals.

For more information about their local programs and what you can do to help, visit Cooking Matters or contact Brigid Hunt at bhunt@strength.org.

FRESH FROM THE DELI

The DNF Co-op deli just got even better. We have added eco-friendly packaging, new menu items and the Smoothie Loyalty Card. Our new smoothie menu is out and it is fabulous! Try a Tropical Turmeric or Matcha Berry and start a smoothie loyalty card that will earn you a free smoothie after your tenth purchase.

Juices are now available in our new grab-and-go cooler across from the deli counter. Additionally, juices are sold in reusable glass jars to help reduce plastic use and there is no wait time for your fresh juice!

We have new green salads in the grab-and-go case. Served up in new eco-friendly wheat fiber bowls, they are another way the DNF Co-op commits to reduce its plastic use. And at $6.99 each, the salads are also a lower price.

STORE REPORT FROM THE INTERIM GM
What's been happening this summer at DNF Co-op? Lots! 

 Some of our storewide improvements include:

~ new products (including high grade CBD products) have been arriving weekly

~ lower prices are being implemented weekly
~ stunning locally grown produce is at its peak and strongly represented in our cases

~ 'ready to go' fresh made juices in the deli, and new grab and go menu items

~ rearranging areas of the store and products, to make shopping more sensible

~ lessening single use plastics in the deli, produce and bulk

~ the Co-op Basics Program, offering quality and organic grocery basics in all departments at low     prices, which are hard to beat

~ implementing the Double up Food Bucks program for our SNAP benefit customers

~ starting our exciting Buying Club Program

~ this newsletter, now available in hard copy at the store!

We've also been working on our internal infrastructure from streamlining systems and procedures, maintaining and replacing aging equipment, improving store conditioning to enhancing customer service and improve your shopping experience. The entire team has enthusiastically participated in the changes we've executed and have been very supportive of the changes we've recommended.

Sales are on the rise, our financial situation has improved significantly, and we are on the path of resilience and revival. Our cash on hand has increased, we are able to pay all of our bills through operational income, and we continue to operate under a triple bottom line approach...People, Planet and a little Profit.

We rely on our Member-Owners and customers to support the Co-op by shopping it, so that we can continue to deliver the goods and services that DNF Co-op was founded on 45 years ago. Let us know what would improve your experiences at the Co-op. What can we do better? What would inspire you to shop at the Co-op more? We want to know!

Our staff and Board of Directors are committed and dedicated to the Co-op's success and wellbeing.  We are excited to welcome our next GM, Joe Z, to carry the torch forward!

I would like to thank the Durango community for warmly welcoming me to the Co-op and to beautiful La Plata County. Serving the Co-op these past 6 months has been a very rewarding experience that I will always hold close to my heart. You have a gem of a Co-op, love it and take care of it! We Own It!

In closing, we're going to miss our long time Marketing Coordinator, Kamaljit Punia, who has moved on to new adventures.  We thank her for her years of cooperation and service, her calming presence, her eye for style and design, and her unyielding dedication to DNF during all of the ups and downs.  All the best, Kamaljit

In cooperation,

Lucinda Berdon