BriarPatch Food Co-op

Here's the scoop...National Ice Cream Day is today!

BriarPatch has all kinds of fabulous frozen treats so you can celebrate in style. Stock up on ice cream made from dairy, coconut, avocado, cashew, oat milk and more. We've got you covered.

What's your favorite flavor? 🍦😋🍨

Today is Nelson Mandela International Day.

Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid activist, statesman and politician who served 27 years in prison before being released in 1990 and going on to serve as the President of South Africa 1994-1999. Today's soundtrack brings us back to the numerous voices around the world that called for his freedom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgcTvoWjZJU

Once in a while a human being comes along who pushes the envelope of what it means to be of service to humankind. Mandela worked ceaselessly for equality and human rights, and today is a time to celebrate his values of justice, human rights and dignity.

"It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it."

July is Disability Pride Month, recognizing the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities.

Did you know the largest minority group in the US is people with disabilities? That's over 25% of all Americans, and it cuts across all races, ages, genders, ethnicities, sexualities and religions.

The disability pride flag represents the complexities of what it means to be disabled. The dark fields represent the mourning for victims of violence and abuse against persons with disabilities, while the diagonal color bands reflect cutting across barriers that separate the disabled from society, at once painful and joyful and a reason to build community. Red - physical disabilities; Gold/Yellow - neurodiversity/cognitive and intellectual disabilities; White - invisible and undiagnosed disabilities; Blue - mental illness; Green - sensory disabilities. All colors were recently revised to be more muted to represent people with epilepsy.

This is a great time to reflect on the folks in your life who may be experiencing disability, and to stand with them as we all seek to tackle ableism when relating to others!

This Plastic Free July - think about the plastic in your life and the alternatives you can use instead.

BYO shopping bags, Mason jars and other non-plastic alternatives for storing food, powdered laundry detergent that comes in cardboard packaging, even dish soap in bar form...the list goes on. It can be fun to flex your creative muscle and find new ways of doing things without using plastic!

See how easy it is to take a break from the ubiquitous plastic bags, food storage, cleaning products and other items you've got around the house.

Congratulations, Chris! ❤

Last month, our General Manager, Chris Maher, won the Consumer Cooperative Management Association’s (CCMA) Cooperative Service Award. This award, often regarded as the “Oscar of the co-op world” goes to someone who has done outstanding and sustained work in consumer cooperatives.

The award ceremony itself included a heartfelt and humorous video montage – including celebrity cameos - created by Chris’ eldest child, Seanan. Chris had no idea he was the award winner until the moment the award was being introduced.

Under Chris' leadership, BriarPatch has grown to two stores and blossomed into the vibrant, bustling community hub we know and love. Thank you for all you do Chris, and congratulations! 🎉👏😊

Today is National Mac and Cheese Day! 🧀

Old cookbooks (14th century) are where you'll find the first recipes for this delightful dish. It was actually Thomas Jefferson who's credited with bringing the dish to the US in the late 1700's. Its popularity spread after he served it at a state dinner.

Mac and Cheese scores VIP status in the Comfort Food Hall of Fame, since it's easy-peasy and oh-so-cheesy. Take it in an infinite number of creative directions based on what you've got floating around in your fridge.

Celebrate by whipping up a batch of our Cheese Drawer Mac and Cheese https://briarpatch.coop/recipe/cheese-drawer-mac-and-cheese/!

Or, "use your noodle" and come up with a fun macaroni-filled project all your own!

"Oh Mom, Do I HAVE TO wear sunscreen?" 🙄

At BriarPatch, you'll find sunscreens in a broad selection of SPF strengths that are easy to put on, smell nice and have other ingredients that help nourish and maintain your skin. And, you don't need a Chemistry degree to figure out what's in 'em!

Most of them are also "Reef Safe," meaning their active ingredients are titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide. And a lot of what we carry has these important ingredients in a form that's not pasty white and gluey. Whew! 😅

You'll also find face-specific products that hydrate and protect, not dry out this sensitive skin. Our Wellness experts are happy to point you towards what works best for you!

Get ready for plastic free demos! ♻

Stop by our Auburn store today, July 11th, or our Grass Valley location on July 19th at 1pm and learn more about the alternatives that are out there to help with your shopping, food storage, cleaning routine and more!

And while you're at it, be sure to bring your stretchable plastic film/wrap in for recycling. The Rotary Clubs of Nevada City and Auburn have been collecting stretchable grocery, bread, ice, produce, cereal, newspaper sleeves, dry cleaning, ziplocks, bubble wrap, pallet wrap, stretch film and more.

If it's clean and dry and stretches when you pull it, it can find a second life as a Trex composite deck! Sorry, no bottles, plastic boxes or crinklable plastic bags are accepted.

What is Apeel? 🤔❓🍎

Some sources say: It's an invisible coating made of purified monoglycerides and diglycerides, edible fatty acids commonly found as natural compounds in the peels, seeds and pulp of fruits, vegetables and other plants...modified from its original state with use of catalyst and neutralizing agents that are left as chemical residuals.

There's a lot of information out there and we honestly don't know what we don't know. With something like this that raises a lot of unanswered questions, Apeel is NOT appealing to BriarPatch. We want to make sure that whatever makes its way onto our shelves is of a certain level of integrity that you can count on.

Says our Grass Valley Produce Manager, David Benson: “To our knowledge, based on consistent communication with our Organic Produce Distributors Earl’s Organics and Veritable Vegetable out of San Francisco as well as NorCal Produce out of West Sacramento, we are not now, nor have we ever carried any produce with the Apeel fruit and vegetable coating applied to it.”

We go out of our way to source quality organic produce and treat it with the most care possible so that it's ready for you to take it home, wash it and eat it knowing that there's the fruit, the whole fruit and nothing but the fruit (and veggies) when you take a bite. ♥🍏

Is it HOT around here or is it JUST ME? 🥵

Heat advisories, Red Flag warnings...whew! Summer is definitely letting us know who the boss is.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay safe and find a place to chill! 🥶

Keep your place as cool as you can when it comes to meal prep. Step away from the stove and break out the blender! Refreshing recipes like Cucumber Gazpacho are quick, easy and delicious. Pair it with something from our Deli "Grab 'N Go" and don't forget to pick up some ice cream while you're at it!

Find the recipe here: https://briarpatch.coop/recipe/cucumber-gazpacho/

Our Auburn store Apples for Gardens recipient this month is Skyridge Elementary School! 🍏🏫

Ten cents from every pound of apples you buy will go towards their Larry Ford Outdoor Classroom and Garden. Imagine the students returning to school at the end of the summer to find a flourishing garden welcoming them back.

Your apple purchases will help this wonderful outdoor space for learning and inspire students to try new fruits and veggies and also garden at home!

Round up at the Register is rockin' and rollin'!

Round up your purchases at our Auburn store this month and you'll be contributing to the American River Conservancy. Your spare change may seem like a "drop in the bucket," but it all adds up, going toward river cleanup, habitat restoration, training volunteers and much more.

Learn more: https://www.arconservancy.org/

Our Grass valley store's Apples for Gardens recipient this month is Seven Hills Middle School!

Their garden has been going since 1985 and they're looking to install electricity in the greenhouse. Buy those apples and help turn the power on! 🍎💡🍏💡

School's out for summer but the garden needs love year-round. 🌿

Calling all BriarPatch Auburn shoppers...

Throughout July, Rock Creek Plaza management has a parking lot maintenance and striping team taking care of repairing and zhuzhing up the parking lot.

There are a few days when you may need to park further away from the store than usual. We'll try to keep you as up to date as possible with any specific details as they come our way.

We apologize for any inconvenience this causes and look forward to its speedy completion as much as you do. Thanks very much for your patience as well as your continued support throughout this process.

Today is the International Day of Cooperatives, a day to celebrate all the reasons that set cooperatives apart from other business ventures! Thank you for supporting BriarPatch and all of the other co-ops out there that you patronize.

The International Cooperative Alliance tells us that cooperatives:
- Are owned, controlled and run by and for their members to realize their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations;
- Bring people together in a democratic and equal way;
- Are driven by values, not just profit;
- Act together to build a better world through cooperation; and
- Put fairness, equality and social justice at the heart of what they do.

Traveling this summer and want to visit as many food co-ops as possible? Download the app from Jon Steinman, food co-op authority and afficionado, and start planning that road trip: https://grocerystory.coop/food-co-op-directory

If you want go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, GO TOGETHER.

There's no place like home! 🏠♥

Our Grass Valley store July Round Up at the Register recipient is Nevada County Habitat for Humanity. They work to provide the basic human right of housing - decent, affordable and available for all - and strengthen our community from the ground up with each new project.

A few cents here and there, each time you shop...and the next thing you know there's a nice donation going to these folks at the end of the month.

Nothing like being able to get great food 🤩AT A DISCOUNT🤩 to take your summer eatin' up a notch, or three or four...

BriarPatch's latest BBQ BOGO (Buy One Get One) sale ends today. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Delicious discounts and deals abound, with all kinds of noshables just WAITING for you to take 'em home.

Aaaaaaaand, TGIF is tomorrow. Get 10% off all regular priced Produce and Meat & Seafood. Nom Nom NOM! 😋

Thank you to everyone who was able to come by our Pride on the Patio event last week! 🌈💛 We're so proud to be a part of such a vibrant, diverse and compassionate community!

And another huge thank you to Nevada County Pride, Bright Futures for Youth, Community Beyond Violence, Nevada County Citizens for Choice , Placer LGBTQ Center and Lavender Library, Archives, and Cultural Exchange (LLACE) for coming by the BriarPatch Patio to table and show support, and to Cloaca for performing!

BriarPatch will have holiday hours this Independence Day, July 4th. 🎆 We're looking forward to seeing you, so be sure to get here before we close!

Store hours: 7am - 9pm, Grass Valley. 7am - 8pm, Auburn.
Deli/Meat Depts.: Grass Valley - close @ 8pm, Auburn - close @ 7pm.

Plastic Free July is here! And today is International Plastic Bag Free Day. Plastic bags were invented in the 1960's, and since then over 100 countries observe this day as a reminder of their pervasiveness and negative environmental impact. Take a moment today, and throughout the month, to learn more about how to de-plasticize your life. Get that BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) habit going.

During the month, we'll have in-store giveaways and demos of different plastic-free alternatives to make your shopping, food storage and cleaning easier. Our wonderful staff have come up with a great list of their faves. Check 'em on on these store maps and find some great non-plastic options for everyday use.

We can do it!!!

TOMORROW, July 3rd is the FINAL session of our month-long series "Eating For Health."

Nutrition Consultant Jacqui Meehan will focus on ALLERGY-FREE EATING, with topics such as common food triggers for allergies and what symptoms might be caused by these allergies. You’ll also come away with options for a hypoallergenic diet.

BriarPatch owners will receive a $5 gift card to use towards a future shopping trip.

And, if you've come to at least two of the past sessions, sign up and attend this one (for a total of three attended) and you'll automatically be entered in a prize giveaway. We've got a spacious and beautiful cooler bag chock full of healthy, free-trade treats...and it may have your name on it!

This event is FREE and OPEN TO ALL, and even if you missed the ones before it, we'd love to see you. Sign up and stop by the BriarPatch Auburn Community Room! https://briarpatch.coop/eating-for-health/

The deals are really starting to heat up! 🔥

July 1st - 4th, enjoy fab discounts and BOGO deals and on all kinds of summer snacks and other goodies to make your barbecues and other summer adventures oh-so-tasty and memorable for all the right reasons.☀🥩🔥

Do you know a non-profit in need of support? 🧡 2025 applications for BriarPatch's Round Up at the Register open TODAY!

We'll designate two recipients for each month - one for each store. Since 2015, BriarPatch shoppers have raised more than $320,000 for qualifying registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations through the program, simply by rounding up their total purchases to the nearest dollar!

Applicants have until Friday, August 30th (@ 4:00pm) to apply.

Access the application on our website: https://briarpatch.coop/register-roundup-2025/

June's Apples for Gardens recipient for our Grass Valley store is Scotten Elementary School! 🍎🏫

Their garden has been growing for about seven years and currently there are about 400 students who are learning from their experiences in all steps of the planting and harvesting processes.

The funds raised from your apple purchases will go towards supplies necessary to keep the garden going such as hand tools for the students, mulch, seeds and plant starts.

That's ten cents per pound of apples sold, every purchase helps! 🍎+🛒=💰

Our Eating for Health series continues with CARBOHYDRATES on Wednesday, June 26th!

Nutrition Consultant Jacqui Meehan will take a deep dive into the topic of macronutrients and explore how carbohydrates are one of the primary fuels for our bodies. Then, we'll enjoy an intentional food pairing illustrating what we've learned.

BriarPatch owners who attend get a $5 gift card, good for carbohydrates or anything else.

FREE and OPEN TO ALL! Come to just one session or come to all of 'em. Located in the BriarPatch Auburn Community Room. And if you sign up and attend at least three sessions you'll automatically be entered in a prize giveaway. We've got a spacious and beautiful cooler bag chock full of healthy, free-trade treats...and it may have your name on it!

Sign up at: https://briarpatch.coop/eating-for-health/