Category: Co-op News
Food Rescue: Cutting Food Waste & Giving Back
Grocery stores like Lakewinds, along with other food-related businesses such as restaurants and farms, generate food waste. There’s no way to avoid it completely, but we can take steps to minimize waste and redirect safe, edible food to those who need it. One way the co-op aims to reduce food waste is through food rescue … Continued
The Good You Help Grow
Cooperatives like Lakewinds are owned collectively by the communities we serve. Lakewinds shoppers and staff can choose to buy stock in the company, and by doing so help cement the co-op’s place in the community for years to come. From humble beginnings in 1975, Lakewinds’ community of owners has grown to more than 22,000. When … Continued
Dale Woodbeck’s Legacy at Lakewinds
Dale Woodbeck is retiring from the co-op after 12 years as Lakewind’s general manager. Here’s his final letter to owners, which also appears in the summer issue of ReFresh, along with reflections from those he’s worked with. Join us as we celebrate Dale’s legacy at Lakewinds! Appreciations for Dale “Dale is going to be so … Continued
Dale Woodbeck Retiring, New GM Announced
After Dale Woodbeck announced his upcoming retirement, the Lakewinds board of directors has hired a new general manager — but a familiar face in the organization. Greg Dick, Lakewinds operations manager, will be taking over leadership of the co-op when Dale retires in early June. Greg has been with Lakewinds since 2008 and the operations … Continued
Lakewinds & Neighborhood Forest: A Partnership for the Planet
Giving back to the community isn’t just an important part of Lakewinds’ mission, it’s something you support every time you shop at the co-op. Throughout the year, our co-op makes sponsorship-level monetary donations to local nonprofits whose work relates to sustainability and equity in the food system, education about nutrition, or the environment. One such … Continued
Lakewinds Shoppers Give Back: Small Donations, Big Change
“Would you like to round up today?” You’ve probably heard it when shopping at the co-op, but what effect do your donations of a few cents at a time really have? The truth is those small repeated acts of generosity have added up to more good than you may realize. Over the years, our Community … Continued
More Than Ever, Where Our Food Comes From Matters
When the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force last summer, it created unexpected challenges across the economy, but especially for local food growers and makers. They faced reduced markets as a result of restaurants, schools, corporate campuses, and other buyers being closed. That’s why Lakewinds joined other food-minded organizations and created “Local Food is Essential,” … Continued
Sowing a Sustainable Future
A Check-in with the 2020 Lakewinds Organic Field Fund Recipients The Lakewinds Organic Field Fund (LOFF) is our co-op’s grant program designed to help local sustainable and organic farmers achieve their on-farm goals – with over $500,000 awarded since 2011. In 2020 alone, Lakewinds provided more than $109,000 in LOFF grants to 15 … Continued
Kernza: A Perennial Revolution
Kernza® perennial grain is an environmentally friendly, soil-enriching, carbon-capturing perennial wheatgrass with the potential to change agriculture. Farmers growing Kernza are excited about how growing this grain instead of traditional annual wheat can change their land and business for the better. Luke Peterson of A-Frame Farm is a veteran grower who is already seeing changes … Continued