Holiday Gift Guide 2023

December 17, 2023 By Anastasia Maher

Gifts for every budget and every person on your list – all in one convenient place.

By the time you’re reading this, we’re getting into the “last minute shopping season.” Just because you come across a gift closer to the holiday does not mean you have to compromise on quality. We’re all busy people who don’t always have time to take a special Christmas shopping trip. And then there’s the flaky uncle you assumed wasn’t coming to dinner who all of a sudden RSVPs “yes.” The extra child you forgot your sibling has. The dog! Don’t forget a present for the dog!

But wait, you also have to go grocery shopping! Ahhh! Stress!! Why not do two things at once and do your last minute holiday shopping at the Littleton Food Co-op? This year we’ve compiled a list of gifts straight from the Co-op shelves to fit any budget. Whether you’ve got $5 to spend or $50, show your love this holiday season with one of these festive gifts:

Under $5

A quality bar of chocolate: The key to giving a small, single item is to make it unique and of quality. We suggest something from Equal Exchange or Endangered Species. Try going out of the box a little bit, perhaps with the Lemon Ginger or Cinnamon Cayenne & Cherries. This also means you’re giving a new experience, too. An added bonus is that both of these companies use fair trade ingredients, so you can feel good about passing this along.
Locally designed greeting card: Perfect for friends and family far away, a card with a sweet note can be one of the most heartfelt gifts to give and receive. If you want to go a step further, include some mementos like photos from the year, newspaper clippings, copies of ticket stubs, etc. to let your recipient know how your year went.
An aesthetically pleasing jar of popcorn: Utilizing the resources of the Bulk Department is the ideal way to cut costs this holiday season. Simply grab the jar of your choice (or bring one from home) and fill it with either multicolor, yellow, or white kernels. This is the perfect gift for someone who cares about how their kitchen/pantry looks or is constantly on FoodTok. Wrap it up in a nice ribbon or throw a bow on top and you won’t even have to wrap it. Plus, if you throw in the promise of a movie in the future, you’re giving the gift of quality time. Just make sure they’re paying for the movie if you intend to keep it under $5…
Other options: dog treats; a seasoning they use a lot or have never tried before; fancy mustard or other condiment; moisturizing lip balm.

Under $15

Cabot Seriously Sharp Popcorn: Okay, this may sound silly to those who haven’t had this magnificent popcorn snack, but to those who have, you know what’s up. Whoever you give this to is either going to love you for introducing them to their new favorite snack… or hate you for introducing them to their new favorite snack. Throw in their new Sea Salt Caramel Cheddar or Maple Cheddar holiday flavors and it makes a whole popcorn set!
Ursa Major Candle: It’s an undeniable fact that candles are the perfect gift to give, especially in the winter when we could all use a little more coziness. With this 100% beeswax unscented candle you won’t have to worry about your recipient not liking the smell or look. These candles are made by a young local elementary school entrepreneur, so really how can you not buy one??
Fuller’s Pure Maple Dry Sugar: The great thing about this variation of the maple syrup gift is it works for locals and beyond. It’s pretty easy to pass off some local maple products to someone not from the area, but this really shows off the full scope of what maple can do. It’s a little cheaper than syrup, but it’s just as versatile.
Other options: Locally made dressing or marinade; Bulk Dill Cashews, Full Circle Reusable Lunch Set; Co-op reusable bag; local honey.

Under $25

3-pack of Bees Wrap: Reusable and sustainable packaging is becoming a huge trend now, and with that means the options are becoming more and more stylish! The original Bees Wrap products come in individual and multi packs in a variety of designs. You can certainly give a single wrap as a gift, but giving a 3-pack empowers your recipient to integrate it more into their life. No one likes to find out that their gift actually sits unused in a drawer. Pick a pattern they’ll love and you’re almost guaranteed that won’t happen to you!
A local bottle of wine: Our collection of local wines has grown tremendously over the past few years, and now you can satisfy and delight a person of any palette. Rossi Imports supplies us with wines from across the spectrum of light to dark. And the folks at Zorvino have crafted unique flavors like “Chocolate Raspberry” and “Peppermint Mocha” for the more adventurous. We even have Sap House Meadery bottles and cans for someone who’s “over the wine scene.” Sometimes the hardest part of gifting wine is remembering it’s about what they like, not you! But nothing says you can’t get a second bottle for yourself…
Co-op Merch: Who doesn’t love shopping at the Co-op? Let your friends and family bring a piece of the Co-op wherever they go with a Co-op branded t-shirt or hat. It really takes the pressure off remembering to say “I love the Co-op” every five minutes. It’s only a bonus that they’re so stylish.
Other options: Poinsettia or other plant; baking kit with King Arthur Flour, utensils, and fun mix-ins; a set of locally and fairly-sourced bath and beauty products.

Under $50

Liter of Mount Cabot Maple Organic Maple Syrup: We have an incredible array of maple syrup from local producers, but Mount Cabot packaging and design just screams “I am made to be a gift.” When you buy maple syrup from a local producer, you know you are getting a quality product. Mount Cabot specifically is organic, single-source, and woodfired. If you don’t speak maple, that means it’s really, really good: for you, for the environment, and for this women-owned business.
Primal Botanical CBD Rub: This local CBD company out of Vermont has great gift options for the person in your life who deserves a bit of extra pampering. Or honestly, the holidays can be so stressful, this might be one you’re allowed to keep for yourself.
Norpro Compost Keeper: Another great gift for your eco-conscious friend or the one who could use a little encouragement. This could have been seen as a burden, but now that the Co-op has a customer compost bin out front from Meadowstone Farm, composting has never been easier! And as the package itself says, it’s “attractive enough to sit on your kitchen countertop.”
Other options: Every candy option from the Bulk department.

Any budget

A Littleton Food Co-op Gift Card: Stuck on what to get someone? Don’t want to go through the mental energy of deciding what to get someone? A gift card fits everyone, appeals to every taste, and is the easiest thing to wrap — because you don’t have to. Order a gift card online here.

For more gift ideas–from very general to very specific (I mean, we’re talking “gift for your mail carrier who you have an oddly close relationship” specific)– check out our podcast, That’s Rad. Our 2021 Gift Guide has gift suggestions for those absolutely un-giftable people in your life, and our 2022 Sustainable Gift Guide is all about creating unique gifts from our very own Bulk Department. Check them out today, and let us know if you use any of these suggestions.

Whatever gifting direction you choose, all of us at the Littleton Food Co-op wish you a cheerful holiday and a happy New Year ♥

*Price categories reflective of time of writing and cannot be guaranteed.

2023 Thanksgiving Coupon

November 15, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

Happy Thanksgiving! We’re getting close to our favorite food holiday, and fresh, local, and organic turkeys have arrived. There will be plenty to choose from, so come on by and select your bird, then stock up on all the holiday trimmings. Here’s something to help with your holiday planning!

Show this coupon to your cashier at checkout to receive $10 off your purchase of $100 or more. You may show this screen on your mobile device, or download and print this page.

This coupon is valid 11/17 – 11/22/23. Limit 1 coupon per order; standard restrictions apply. See service desk for more information. CASHIER: Customers may present this coupon on their mobile device or as a printed copy. Please recycle any print pages when the transaction is complete. Thanks!

Member Choice Discount Days

October 17, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

YOU Pick the Day to Save! We’re celebrating our Co-op community with a special one-time Member-Choice Discount. From Friday 10/20 ‘til Thursday 10/26/23, Co-op Members save 10%* during ONE shopping trip.

Use your discount on a big grocery run, or save it for a special treat – but remember, you only get to use this on *one* transaction, so make the most of it! If you’re like many of our Members and you shop a lot, you’ll want to be sure to plan ahead. Your cashier will ask during each visit whether you’re ready to use your discount, and you can hold off or apply it right then. It’s totally up to you!

But remember – once the deal is over, it’s over…….. so don’t wait too long and miss out!

*Standard restrictions apply; see service desk for details.

Meet Our New Murals

September 21, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

If you’ve been to the Co-op lately, you might have noticed some fantastic new mini-murals on the posts in our aisles. We had the pleasure of working with the talented VT mural artist Tara Goreau to add some beautiful art to the front of our store, as well as spruce up our interior with some fresh art.

Our idea was to team up with a local school and collaborate on creating five paintings that could be placed on the plain columns in our store aisles. Thankfully, the wonderful students and teachers at The White Mountain School were eager to help us out by crafting a series of charming murals.

The group of students created a series of sketches and designs tying into the central themes of food and farms, working with Tara to plan and complete each painting. Once dried, the paintings were brought to the Co-op to be wrapped around the columns.

Tara worked in collaboration with Christine Reilly, Visual Arts Teacher at The White Mountain School, along with the following Studio Art students: Santiago J., Sam B., Shekebah H., Ava H., Maddie T., Martin A., Margret B., Leah H., Akaylah R., Jack D., and Liam S. They were assisted by Jorge and Jeanne.

We love that these murals not only tell a story about local food and local farms, but also include the creativity of young up and coming artists in our community. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do!

The 2023 Littleton Food Co-op Member Choice Awards

September 5, 2023 By Anastasia Maher

The RESULTS ARE IN! Scroll Below for our inaugural list of Member Choice Winners!

As a co-op, we love local and we love democracy. In honor of Eat Local Month this August, we’re combining these ideas for the Littleton Food Co-op’s first annual Member Choice Awards. Littleton Food Co-op members now have the opportunity this summer to vote for their favorite local products from the Co-op in a variety of categories including: “Best Local Cheese,” “Best Local Craft Beer,” and “Best Savory Snack,” and more!

“But wait,” you say, “It’s not August yet,” Yes, you are correct. We’re rolling these awards out early to get us all hyped about local foods and fun before the month begins so we can take all month to celebrate the winners (and the not-winners.) Voting is open from July 22nd through July 31st, 2023, so don’t think you have to vote on day one. These are tough decisions we’re asking you to make. Some research (aka sampling) might be required…

Per the name, this is a member-only opportunity. A co-op thrives on the participation of member-owners, and we wanted these awards to reflect that. Not a member yet? Stop here first to sign up for membership before voting.

Once you’ve cast your vote, make sure to tune into the August episode of That’s Rad: a podcast presented by the Littleton Food Co-op to find out if your choices are declared winners!

AND THE WINNERS ARE…….

Best Local Produce: Four Corners Farm Strawberries (31.5%)

Best Local Bakery Item: Bonilla Bread Dutch-Oven Cheese and Herb Bread (20%)

Best Local Deli Prepared Food: Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad (46.2%)

Best Local Pantry Staple Award: White Mountain Apiary Organic Raw Honey (39.1%)

Best Local Meat and Seafood Award: Robie Farm Ground Beef (35%)

Best Local Specialty Cheese Award: Jasper Hill Harbison (28.8%)

Best Local Granola Award: Grandy Organics Classic Bulk Granola (24.5%)

Best Local Dairy Item Award: Meadowstone Farm Eggs (47.7%)

Best Local Frozen Item Award: Giffords Vanilla Ice Cream (21.2%)

Best Local Beverage Award: Maine Root Soda Spicy Ginger Brew (28%)

Best Local Savory Snack Award: Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Popcorn (37.4%)

Best Local Sweet Treat Award: Lake Champlain Milk Chocolates (39.8%)

Best Local Alcoholic Beverage Award: Rek-lis Brewing Clouded Judgement NEIPA (22.2%)

Best Local Wellness Product: Elmore Mountain Lavender Goat’s Milk Lotion (39.6%)

Thank you for voting, and congratulations to our winning products! Check back in Summer 2024 for a fresh round of nominations and voting.

Questions? Email info@littletoncoop.org or talk to one of the friendly folks at the Service Desk for more information.

Farm Tour 2023

August 24, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

All aboard the Local Food Bus! On August 16 a group of intrepid and excited cooperators hopped on a bus to take a whirlwind tour of three fabulous farms in New Hampshire’s North Country. August is Eat Local Month, and what better way to celebrate local food than to meet the farmers who grow and produce the food we eat? Plus we got to see some fascinating fungus and say hello to many funny animals. Stops included Mountain View Mushroom Farm in Monroe, NH, Crooked Mile Cheese in Waterford, VT, and Meadowstone Farm in Bethlehem, NH. We had such a great time, and we hope to plan a trip for next year, too!

First Stop: Mountain View Mushroom Farm

Second Stop: Crooked Mile Cheese

Third Stop: Meadowstone Farm

A special thank you to everyone who sent farm photos, including Co-op employees Azaria, Amber, and Bob, along with Board Director Vanessa!

Live a Low-Waste Lifestyle

July 6, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

Let’s have a friendly chat about something important: garbage. Yep, people create quite a lot of it, and sometimes we toss away things that could actually be repurposed or reused. Unfortunately, this kind of consumption isn’t doing any favors for our environment. Trash ends up in landfills, streams, airways, and even the ocean, polluting our planet.

One major culprit in our global waste stream is single-use plastic. Plastic-Free July is an international movement that encourages everyone to be more mindful of the plastics we discard daily. Despite the name, the idea here is not perfection but a concerted effort toward harm reduction. In some cases, we’re stuck with plastic for health and safety reasons, as accommodations due to disability, or because people don’t have equal access, opportunity, or resources to choose more sustainable options. That’s okay. The conversation is ongoing, and we urge everyone to push for better alternatives, educate themselves about how plastics are manufactured and recycled, and urge your community to develop more sustainable policies at the government level.

All of these issues can feel very overwhelming, so let’s start with some simple ways you can participate in a Plastic-Free July when you visit the Co-op:

Bring your own coffee cup

When you bring your own travel mug to the cafe, you can get a price break on coffee refills. We also carry colorful kleen kanteens if you need a new travel mug. And all our coffee and tea is from Equal Exchange, which is a fair trade cooperative!

Carry your silverware

Keep your silverware close at hand by simply wrapping it in a napkin and carrying it with you in your backpack, car, or purse. If you don’t want to misplace your spoons, check out our options from To-Go Ware, including travel kits and bamboo utensils. Easy peasy!

Buy in bulk

Pay a visit to our awesome bulk foods department, where you can choose exactly how much of an item you need. We’ve got handy paper bags, jars, and canisters for your convenience, or better yet, bring your own clean reusable container from home. At the Co-op, it’s a breeze—just weigh and fill!

Bring your reusable water bottle

Stay hydrated and help save the planet by bringing your trusty water bottle. We have a water station as well as sinks in the cafe, and guess what? Refilling your bottle is absolutely free! Hydration for the win!

Bring a bag, grab a box

Say goodbye to those pesky single-use plastic grocery bags – we haven’t had them here for years! Bring your own reusable bags, or if you prefer, feel free to use a recycled box from the Co-op. We also have stylish totes in all kinds of colors and designs. We’ve got options to suit your shopping style!

Skip the produce bags

Let’s skip those little bags for your fruits and veggies. Instead, bring your own cloth produce bags, or pick up a few extra from the co-op. We have tons of styles of small bags and wraps! Or simply let your produce roam free in your shopping cart – your veggies won’t mind!

If you’re curious about different earth-friendly initiatives happening behind the scenes at the Co-op, check out our website’s sustainability page. And don’t forget to learn more about Plastic Free July at plasticfreejuly.org. It’s a great resource to discover alternatives to single-use plastic and build lifelong habits that positively impact both the local and global environment. You can be part of the solution, too!

July is Disability Pride Month

July 5, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

Disability pride is about accepting and honoring each person’s uniqueness and seeing it as a natural and beautiful part of human diversity.

As we move on from Pride Month in June, we remain committed to celebrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion here at the Co-op year-round. But one thing that too few people know is that July is Disability Pride Month. Thirty-three years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This is something that has always been near and dear to my heart. Our Co-op strives to be ADA-compliant in how we do business, and we’re open to any suggestions to improve the experience in our store.

The Co-op currently offers ample and convenient accessible parking in our front and side lots, as well as motorized carts for customer use. We make every effort to keep our aisles uncluttered and easy to navigate. We also have a robust online shopping option with curbside pick-up for our Members, making it simple to order groceries from home. Our store is staffed with friendly employees who are more than willing to help anyone with a disability.

It is our goal here at the Co-op to treat everyone in our diverse community with the dignity and equity that we all deserve. Please feel free to reach out to me directly with questions or concerns. Thank you all for your support of our Co-op’s Mission.

-Ed King, General Manager

Lack of Lobsterpalooza

July 5, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

Where have all the lobsters gone? Well, plenty of them are still chilling in our lobster tank as usual. But if you’re wondering about our famous annual Lobsterpalooza, then we have some news – it’s not happening this year. Sorry! Even though it’s really fun to sling lobsters for a big crowd, we had to make this tough decision for many reasons.

Here’s why:

1) Cost. For the past few years, lobster prices have been extremely unstable. It’s an absolute rollercoaster, and it’s getting harder and harder to predict each year. It takes us a bit of lead time to negotiate in advance and get you the best price, but lately that hasn’t been feasible.

2) Ecology, part one: We’ve had quite a few Members reach out to us with concerns about the plight of endangered right whales becoming ensnared and injured by lobster trap lines. There’s been a lot of media coverage around the issue recently, which has fostered a great deal of concern as well as some debate. Fortunately, many lobstermen are now using safer lines. We’d still like to be mindful of this, and we’re actively monitoring the latest reports and news on whale safety.

3) Ecology, part two: To pull off a successful ‘palooza, we usually hire our wholesaler to fill up a big truck with lobsters and schlep all the way from the seacoast to the mountains… twice. Round trip. In one day. As you can imagine, the carbon footprint on that isn’t so great. #eatlocal

4) Inclusivity: Lots of people love lobster, but we also realize the ‘palooza left many of our vegan, vegetarian, and shellfish-averse friends out in the cold. We’ve since decided to focus our energies on events that lots of different people can enjoy, like our upcoming Summer Brewfest on July 15 and our Local Food Celebration on August 12.

5) Our favorite lobsterman retired. It was extremely helpful having someone who’d cut special deals and make extra trips to expedite lobsters to Littleton, and our awesome prices hinged on that unique little bit of cooperation. Unfortunately, it’s no longer an option. We wish him the best, though!

We’re very sorry if you were looking forward to lining up at the crack of dawn to snag a bag of crustaceans and are now feeling horribly disappointed. Hopefully, you’ll be able to make it to some of our other fun summer events- and of course, we’ll still have live lobsters in the tank in our seafood department!

We Won an Award

June 29, 2023 By Littleton Food Co-op

We’re proud to announce that we recently received the prestigious Cooperative Excellence Award, a national honor issued each year by the Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA).

Our team took a trip to California in June to attend the CCMA conference, and while we were there we accepted the award before an audience full of representatives from food co-ops all over the United States. It was incredibly exciting!

The Cooperative Excellence Award has been given to a food co-op nearly every year since 1993, honoring stores that provide outstanding leadership, strategic vision, organizational strength, excellent service to their members, and new and innovative programs in their communities. We’re deeply honored to join the list of top food co-ops that have received this award.

We also want to emphasize that we couldn’t have done any of this without our incredible staff, our amazing Board of Directors, and of course, our Members and community. You made all of this possible, so thanks! If you’d like to take a peek at our award in person, we’ll have it displayed at the Service Desk for everyone to see.

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