A Message from the Manager
Thanks to everyone that came out to our 10 year anniversary party at Oz farm on Sunday, May 19th! Sometimes it’s hard to believe that we’ve been serving our beloved community for over a decade. While each year seems to bring a new set of challenges we always make it through thanks to the incredible support of our members and our community.
We’re always striving to find new ways to serve the needs of the community. Recently we received several requests for pizza so we’ve been working hard to make that happen. This past weekend was our first test run. We made whole pizzas sold by-the-slice, as well as mini gluten-free polenta pizzas!
Make sure to stop in, say hi, and see what we've been up to! Along with our new prepared food developments, we're also bringing in the latest hot new products. There's always something new to check out!
Natalie Cortese
General Manager
Co-op Principle #4: Autonomy & Independence
The fourth cooperative principle establishes the independence of the organization controlled by members. The first three principles ensure we have voluntary membership, democratic control, and economic participation by members. This autonomous and independence principle ensures that any decisions and agreements are controlled by members and benefit the co-op. Examples include raising funds from development loans, securing contracts with vendors and suppliers, and participating in local associations like the Point Arena Merchants Association. Our co-op remains independent. Our board considers ways to help the organization. Our members oversee and vote for directors on the board. From our founding ten years ago, Arena Market and Cafe has charted a course to serve our members, now numbering over 700 people. These cooperative principles guide how we do that.
Cheers
RIck, Treasurer
Coastal Organics Cooperative, Inc.
dba Arena Market and Cafe
Supplier Spotlight May Correction: We’re pleased to correct information we published in our May Supplier Spotlight on Little Green Bean. In fact, freshly brewed espresso and beans in bulk are available at other local businesses in our area in addition to the co-op.
Supplier Spotlight: Navarro Vineyards
By Dan Wormhoudt
Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn came to the Anderson Valley from the Bay Area in the early 1970s with dreams of getting back to the land, planting gewürztraminer grapes, and making wine. They and their children, Sarah and Aaron, have been doing just that at Navarro Vineyards ever since. And not only gewürztraminer but pinot noir, chardonnay, riesling, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and sauvignon blanc, to name a few varieties. They also make non-alcoholic grape juices, originally as an answer for lactose intolerance in their infant children. Many of their wines are made from Navarro’s own grapes, and some use grapes from other growers in the Anderson Valley and the Russian River Valley with whom Navarro has longstanding relationships.
Navarro’s grapes are sustainably farmed. Sheep, assisted by ducks and geese, control weeds and help to control pests; no synthetic pesticides or insecticides are used. Sulfur dioxide is used sparingly, about half as much as is generally added, depending on the wine. Vineyard employees are full-time and receive benefits, a rarity in the wine-making business. Navarro sells over 80% of its wines directly to consumers, limiting distribution and marketing costs and passing the savings along to those consumers.
The most expensive Navarro wines, such as the Deep End Pinot Noir, compete successfully in the high-end market. Navarro also excels in the mid-range, and a red wine that for many wine-drinkers epitomizes the winery’s virtues is its Navarrouge. A good buy at under $20 at the co-op, Navarrouge is a blend of grapes that differs from vintage to vintage but is characteristically full-bodied with gentle tannins and forward fruit flavors. The current vintage, 2016, is typical in that the base wine is zinfandel (41%) but the blend also includes pinot noir (15%), which contributes cherry and berry flavors, cabernet sauvignon (10%), syrah (8%), and four other varietals.
Arena Market is pleased to carry Navarro wines, and we are currently stocking Navarrouge, the 2016 Zinfandel, and the 2015 Méthode à l’Ancienne Pinot Noir.
Note: Sarah Cahn Bennett is now the co-owner and manager of Pennyroyal Farm in Boonville, which makes its own fine pinot noirs and sauvignon blancs as well as award-winning goat and sheep cheeses. Pennyroyal Farm will be the subject of a future Supplier Spotlight.
New Products
Blue Moose of Boulder Hummus, 8 oz. $4.95
Beanfields Salt & Vinegar Chips, 1.5 oz $1.29
GT's Pink Lady Basil Kombucha, 8 oz. $1.99
Bare Apple Cinnamon Chips, 3 oz. $6.49
Sale Items
Miyoko's Cultured Cashew Cream Cheese ~ 8 oz. $5.69 (.70 off)
Amy's refried beans with green chile ~ 15.4 oz. $3.49 (.80 off)
Kashi Berry Bites ~ 5.6 oz $4.49 ($2.00 off)
Yves Deli Ham Slices ~ 5 oz. $2.89 (.70 off)
