a community-owned market
Yes, we sell more than food! But also yes, food makes a great holiday gift! Gifting from the Co-op might require going outside of your comfort zone (and your regular grocery list), so we put together some easily giftable ideas that are bound to fit someone on your list. The best part may be that they’re all available at the Littleton Co-op 🎄 One stop local shop!
Did you know the world’s most influential organic apple orchard is right here in the North Country? Lost Nation Orchard is about 25 miles north of the Co-op in the Lost Nation section of the town of Northumberland, NH. Home to Nancy, Gracie, and the late Michael Phillips, this small, local, family run holistic orchard produces the most delicious apples you will ever taste. To quote Dave Chapman, co-director of the Real Organic Project, and founder of the Vermont Organic Farmers organization, “Michael Phillips was the patron saint of organic orcharding.” Michael started Lost Nation Orchard almost 40 years ago at a time when everyone said it was impossible to grow apples organically. In fact, many people still say it is impossible to grow organic apples if you’re in New England. Michael has clearly proven all the naysayers wrong. Over the decades he became the most influential organic apple grower in the world. He grew over 120 different varieties of apples, both ancient heirlooms, and brand new experimental varieties. He wrote three seminal books on organic apple growing, which are widely considered to be classics, and a must read for any organic orchardist. He traveled far and wide lecturing, consulting, and giving workshops on how to grow organic apples. Also, Michael was the founder of the Holistic Orchard Network which has over 2,500 members from at least 7 countries. Countless prospective and experienced apple growers made the pilgrimage to his orchard to attend his workshops and learn from the master. Just bite into one of his apples, and experience an intense wave of complex, juicy flavors, which will radically alter your perception of what an apple can be.
Michael was also a wonderful human being. He was larger than life, and yet kind and gentle, with a down to earth, easy going personality, which made you feel right at home. Despite almost always being the most knowledgeable person in the room Michael was the best listener I’ve ever met. He would sit quietly listening, observing, and learning from those who had come to learn from him. An inquisitive mind of the highest order. I was blessed to know Michael for a dozen years or so, and have incredibly fond memories of visiting the orchard as many times as I could during apple season. For a food lover like myself there was nothing better than spending time with Michael in his apple barn as he excitedly danced about endless baskets filled with a kaleidoscopic variety of apples saying, “You absolutely must try this one, it’s an experimental variety developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1990’s , it has explosive flavors of citrus and PINEAPPLE. Yes, Pineapple!! And then there is this one here, and oh don’t miss out on this one, and make sure you try this old timey New England variety that has notes of bourbon, vanilla, and burnt sugar.” And on, and on it would go. What a blessing it was experiencing a true master of his craft spreading the joy created by the fruits of his labor.
And Michael was a family man. He met the love of his life, Nancy, when they both worked for a group foster home for abused and neglected children. The goal of the program was to offer the children natural foods, lots of time in nature, and a stable environment. They walked through this green world together for 37 remarkable years. Their daughter Gracie was the apple of his eye, and whenever he mentioned her, which was often, a visible twinkle could be seen radiating from his eyes. Like so many immensely talented people it seemed The Creator had important work for Michael in the Great Mystery that lies ahead of us all. He was called to that work in late February of 2022. Luckily for all of us, Gracie has decided to move back home and take over management of the orchard, thus continuing her father’s immensely important legacy. Gracie and Nancy are working extremely hard to continue this truly unique North Country family farm, and for the first time ever, Lost Nation Apples are available at the Littleton Food Co-op during apple season!!
And a word about spots. You’ll notice some spots on these apples, which is totally normal as all apples grown organically in New England, or any other temperate climate, will have spots. Most organic apples you see are grown in the dry, continental climate of eastern Washington state where it almost never rains. These spots have no flavor and do not affect the quality of the fruit at all. The only way to eliminate them in New England is to use chemical sprays. As Joni Mitchell famously sang, “Hey farmer farmer, Put away that DDT now, Give me spots on my apples, But leave me the birds and the bees, Please!”
We only become wise when we recognize that we need to emulate nature in our agricultural systems and in how we care for this planet.” – Michael Phillips
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the view of Littleton Food Co-op.
To celebrate Eat Local Month in August 2025, we dismantled the idea that eating local is “too difficult” or “outside the normal way” by putting together suggested everyday occasions over 20 local items. We hope one of these gives you a starting point to try eating local all year long, or serves as inspiration to create your own everyday occasion to support local growers and producers.
Listen: We know you’re going to pick up a sweet treat from the Co-op anyways. Why not make it a LOCAL sweet treat? We have plenty of locally produced options to fill that sweet tooth fix throughout the store. Whether you’re looking for a perfectly creamy ice cream for after dinner, a lil’ chocolate to sneak between meetings, or the socially acceptable may to drink maple syrup in public (hint: it’s maple candy!), we have a local option. And remember, this is just a sneak peak into some of the local sweet treats we have! There’s plenty more waiting for you in store.
Whether it’s a night in with friends or a special romantic evening at home, everything can be improved with a charcuterie board made with local ingredients. We just got restocked with Roberta’s Crooked Mile goat cheese, so make sure a sweet or savory pick of her selection is included! If you want a decadent dinner, consider a delightful dairy-free option from Shire’s Naturals (NH’s first plant-based cheese company) or a spiced up entree with the help of Wozz! Kitchen Creations. And forget ending the night with chocolate! Local food lovers know that organic strawberries are the way to anyone’s heart. Hermit Woods wine will wash it all down. Of course, these are only some of the great local date night options we have at the Littleton Co-op.
Local breakfast in bed: the dream! You can certainly take any of these local ingredients to a normal, everyday breakfast routine, but since we’re dreaming here, we’re going all out and living in lavish local luxury — without even leaving the bed. That means fluffy pancakes from Polly’s Pancake Parlor mix smothered in Mount Cabot Maple single-source Grade A syrup. Mount Cabot Maple cream (aka maple GOLD) if it’s an extra special occasion. Don’t worry, we’re not going to get sick on sweets; it’s all going to be balanced out with a couple of crispy, thick-cut strips of North Country Smokehouse bacon. Drooling yet? And of course, it’s all getting washed down with locally-roasted coffee. This morning, we’re reaching for Jenna’s Promise Roasting Co.’s Local Blend. And now you’ve just eaten breakfast and given back at the same time! Proceeds from this VT coffee company go directly to supporting the work of Jenna’s Promise, which focuses on building healthy and safe communities by reducing the burden of substance use disorder in the region. Not to mention it’s a great cup of ‘joe Not a coffee fan? Pour yourself a tall glass of Hatchland Farm milk and support one of the few remaining independent dairy farms in the area. And you know it’s good, because the Hatch family lives by the motto: “If we wouldn’t eat it ourselves, we won’t sell it to you.”
Since we make such a big deal out of celebrating locally produced food, you might think it’s for special occasions only. This guide especially is meant to demonstrate how you can incorporate local food into your everyday routines — like for lunchtime! A lunchbox packed with Vermont Smoke & Cure meat sticks, Port City Pretzels, Cabot Creamery cracker cuts, and a hearty sandwich on Klinger’s sourdough is definitely better than cafeteria food and your soggy leftovers in the office fridge (no shade). And we love having a local company like Bee’s Wrap focused on sustainable plastic-free packaging to perfectly compliment any local goodie.
BBQs are a common weekend celebration, and we suggest firing up some Robie Farm local beef burgers and serving with a side of grilled veggies, like peppers and eggplant from 4 Corners Farm. If family and friends can’t make it for a gathering, at least take a moment to do a cheers to a great summer — a can of Wildbloom and new Woodstock lemonade for the non-drinkers would be our suggestions. If all else fails, chillin’ on the couch with some Wrap City chips (2 bags per person should be enough?) is a completely valid option. What’s everyone’s summer weekend plans shaping up to be? Consider closing out the week with one of these great local products!
We know first hand the power of good, nutritious food to transform lives. But, we also know that many folks in our local communities struggle to put food on the table. Local food pantries and food access organizations work tirelessly to fill the gap left by food insecurity, and we are honored to have worked with the following organizations in the past. This list is not maintained or updated to reflect spur of the moment changes — please reach out to individual organizations for up to date hours and locations.
The capability of food access organizations has increased dramatically over the years! Many of the organizations below offer fresh produce, refrigerated and frozen items, and personal care products. Organizations also have varying participant requirements (ex: federal program qualifications, residency, etc) — but some have none at all! Please contact organizations directly to find out more about offerings and requirements.
We know that a great match up is what makes a great game, so we asked our beer expert Kevin to match classic football snacks with their best accompanying local brew. And to be sporty, we’re calling them MVPs: Most Valuable Pairings. While it’s not as elegant as pairing wine and cheese, these still let your favorite beers and game snacks shine. All of these great local options (and much more!) are here at the Littleton Co-op. We also have all the domestic and international classics, and N/A options, too! Check out Kevin’s recommendations below. But whatever brews you choose, make sure you have enough to last the whole game!
We were fortunate enough to host Grace Phillips of Heartsong Farm Wellness Center at the Littleton Co-op in January 2024 to lead a class on fire cider. Participants learned about typical fire cider ingredients and the benefits of this beloved tonic. While herbalist Rosemary Gladstar has the best known recipe for fire cider, it has truly evolved to be more of a concept than an exact recipe after years of adaptation in the herbalism and wellness communities. That being said, you can truly make this your own, so don’t fret about exact measurements or the need to substitute or omit an ingredient. After all, you’re the one who is going to be consuming it, so make it to your enjoyment.
Whatever ingredients you want to include in your fire cider, make sure to grab them here at the Littleton Co-op! We have the North Country’s best selection of local organic produce (often on sale!) to make your fire cider shine. Below is the recipe Grace shared during the Co-op’s fire cider making class:
½ gallon raw apple cider vinegar
2 Onions (yellow preferred), chopped
1 Lemon, zested and juiced
2-3 Cayenne Peppers, chopped
1 Fresh Ginger Root, grated
1 Fresh Horseradish Root, grated
2 bulbs Garlic, crushed or chopped
Small jar of raw Honey
½ gallon glass mason jar
1 correct size lid (ideally the plastic ‘no spill’, but regular metal lid is fine)
Cheese grater
Paring Knife
2 Cutting Boards
4 small bowls
Small and large spoons
Parchment or wax paper
Cheesecloth or strainer
Paring Knife
2 Cutting Boards
4 small bowls
Small and large spoons
Place your desired amounts (or all of each) of the onion, lemon zest, lemon juice, cayenne peppers, ginger, and horseradish into the canning jar. Cover with apple cider vinegar by two to four inches. If using a metal canning jar lid, place a piece of parchment or wax paper under the lid to prevent the vinegar from touching the metal. Shake well. Store in a dark, cool place for one month and shake daily during that time.
After one month, use a cheesecloth or strainer to separate the solid ingredients and any pulp from the liquid, pouring the vinegar liquid into a clean jar. Add honey to taste and balance out the fiery ingredients. 1/4 cup honey is a good place to start. Stir honey into vinegar until incorporated. Taste and continue adding honey until reaching desired sweetness level. The mixture should taste spicy, hot, and sweet (if desired).
Fire cider can keep for several months unrefrigerated and in a cool pantry, but it is best kept in the fridge. Use as a daily wellness tonic, or as a sauce for salads, vegetables, and grains. And if you don’t want to discard your strained out ingredients, check out this waste-reducing recipe for Fire Cider Chutney from our friends at Shelburne Farms. Enjoy!
Depending on your point of view on visitors, you might be lucky and get to score a few extra days on either side of the holidays before or after the “main event”; whether that be your Christmas dinner, gift exchange, candle lighting ceremony, etc. Even a couple of extra hours can be precious time to spend with friends and family from far away. So you have the time…what do you do with your guests now? Show them what the awesome North Country has to offer! Down below we’ve compiled a list of classic northern NH locations perfect for first-time visitors and those willing to potentially deal with crowds and wait times, as well as some great spots even locals might not realize are great destinations to bring guests. Make sure to check online or cont
Littleton Food Co-opMake sure you bring all of your visitors to the Littleton Food Co-op! The Co-op is *the* place to find quality local and organic foods, mementos from a variety of local producers, and more. We might be biased, but a locally-owned grocery store is the best way to see what’s important to a community all at once. Find out what life is truly like for those in the North Country through our food and drink. Moreso, stop and relax in the Co-op Cafe for a cup of coffee and a look at our community art gallery. And if you’re too busy exploring to cook, we have hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner prepped daily for your convenience. No membership is required to shop, everyone is welcome at the Co-op!
Super Secret Ice CreamBeloved by locals and national admirers alike, Super Secret Ice Cream quickly catapulted from relative anonymity (hence the “Secret”) to full-blown phenomenon in the past couple of years. Just 10 minutes up the road from the Littleton Co-op, 2024 James Beard Award Nominated chef Kristina Zontini and her team handmake ice cream chock full of local ingredients and “no weird stuff.” Their products represent artisanal ice cream at its finest; you can stick with classic Vanilla Bean and Milky Chocolate, or be daring and get a scoop of Coquito or Cherry Pistachio & Mascarpone. Gluten free and vegan options available. Don’t forget the house-made waffle cone! Your guests will be left begging to take some home with them — that’s what Super Secret’s pint koozies are for. More Info.
Schilling Beer CompanyHistorians familiar with the Littleton area may recognize this brewery from its original purpose — a mill! Littleton’s iconic riverfront red mill is now the centerpiece to Schilling Beer’s three building campus. Founded in 2013, Schilling was one of the breweries leading the North Country beer-renaissance. They specialize in brewing modern European-inspired beers from their custom-built 20-barrel brewhouse. While they do not offer brewery tours at this time, you can get a great view of the process from their Store and Tasting Room. But Schilling isn’t just for beer enthusiasts – their woodfired pizzas, poutine, and pub pretzels will not leave those refraining from drinking with a less-than experience. Cozy up in the main building by the pizza oven, or check out one of their heated outdoor warming booths. More Info.
ChuttersKids and adults alike will enjoy a trip to the world’s longest candy counter, humbly situated on Littleton’s Main Street. Chutters is 112 feet of candy from yesteryear, today, and tomorrow all bustled into a lively, fun-filled atmosphere. They also have a delectable array of fudge and specialty chocolates. All candy is picked yourself and priced by the pound, so even the pickiest of eaters will rest easy knowing they can get *exactly* 12 gummy bears and 4 licorice ropes. More Info.
Meadowstone FarmOur friends at Meadowstone Farm do more than just wholesale their great products to the Littleton Co-op. Meadowstone is a cornerstone of the local food landscape, producing food with integrity — grown with a passion. They have a year-round farm stand open 8-5:30 daily and offer self-guided tours around the property. This is a great opportunity to learn about beyond organic growing, animal care, and our local landscape. And you just might walk away with a gift to take home or even a last-minute supper ingredient. More Info.
Wildbloom BeerA relative newcomer to the North Country beer scene, what Wildbloom Beer may lack in seniority they sure make up for in heart and passion. Conveniently located on Littleton’s historic Main Street, Wildbloom’s serene taproom is the perfect antidote to a hectic and chilly day outside. Co-owners Devin and Beth have made it clear that introverts are welcome to lounge in one of their cozy windowed corners, but they’re also more than ready and willing to strike up a conversation with you, beer-centric or otherwise. Unlike many breweries of today, there’s no gimmicks or unnecessary frills here — the focus is on their (amazing) beer. It’s bring your own food, but they often announce local food pop-ups on their Instagram page. More Info.
Local Trail NetworksWait, a set of FREE well-maintained trails that won’t be overcrowded with tourists? Yes, it exists! We are so fortunate to have access to the PRKR Mountain Trails in Littleton and Bethlehem Trails Association right over in Bethlehem. These trail networks are both 100% volunteer-maintained and community-funded. Consider taking your visiting outdoor enthusiasts for a quick jaunt or multiple hour trek across our beautiful natural landscape. And if anyone forgot any gear, the Bethlehem Trails Association has a “gear library” that operates very similarly to a little free library! Even if you want to stay around town, local organization Bike the North Country has set up a number of bike repair stations and bike racks in downtown areas for your use. BTA More Info. PRKR More Info.
Many folks have been asking this winter: “Where’s all the Robie Farm milk?” “Why do you not have any Huckins Farm products on the shelves?” Although we’re tempted to stockpile all that local dairy goodness for ourselves, that’s not what’s happening here. We wanted to set the record straight about local dairy this winter.
Simply put, cows do not produce as much milk in the winter. Unlike childhood storybooks have led us to believe, cows are not constant suppliers of milk that are ready with a fresh squeeze whenever we feel. Many factors affect milk production, and a huge one is weather. When temperatures drop for our infamous New England winters, it changes the life of a cow completely. First, their feed changes. Gone are the rolling acres of fresh green pasture; farmers become more reliant on hay and alternative feeds. Did you know that cows can drink an average of 3 to 5 gallons of water a minute? Cows are pretty fussy about their water temperature. Water that’s too cold or even frozen is not going to fly. No hydration or nutrition = no milk. In addition, cows have to send their bodily energy away from making milk for the winter. It goes either to maintaining their internal body temperature or producing new life to continue the milking cycle.
It’s not uncommon to hear a dairy farm being referred to as a seventh, eighth, twelfth generation or beyond operated farm. This means the farm is run by a family, like many of our local farms are. Staffing a dairy farm is a hard task year round, but especially difficult in the winter. Children that would be helping around the farm return back to school, work slows enough to not justify part-time farmhands, and conditions can become brutal for even the most experienced farmers. Suffice to say, if there even is milk to prepare, there might not be enough people around to do it.
Short answer is we don’t know, but we’re working hard to make sure it’s as soon as possible. A high priority of ours is cultivating meaningful relationships with our local dairy farmers, and we know they will prioritize getting milk back on our shelves as soon as possible. However, we can’t sell you milk when there is none coming from the farm. The dairy farmers cannot predict what factors will impact milk production in the coming weeks, so, unfortunately, they can’t tell our Dairy Department when they will deliver. We also don’t want to name a random date only to get your hopes up and generate disappointment when unforeseen circumstances kick in.
The best recommendation we have is to call the store to inquire about a product you are interested in. We cannot call customers when a product comes in or set aside product; we see hundreds of customers everyday and our staff are too busy to carry out special requests like these. This is also a great opportunity to try something new! We have thousands of products in store and new items added weekly. Who knows, you might just discover a new favorite.
The New Hampshire state legislature will soon be deciding on HB1678-FN, also known as the Local Food for Local Schools Reimbursement Pilot Program or the Farm to School Bill. The goal of this program is to connect more NH school cafeterias with fresh, locally produced foods to serve their populations. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: there are innumerable benefits to eating local, including fresher food, lower carbon emissions, and a strong economy. That is why the Littleton Food Co-op is a proud supporter of the Farm to School Bill. As we know, a thriving democracy only thrives when its members are active participants. Here’s what you can do to help support the passage of this bill:
NOFA-NH (Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH) has put together a great resource guide about how this program will work, why it is important to NH, and who will benefit from it. Click here to read more from NOFA-NH.
To Whom It May Concern,
Food Coops across the country have a long history of supporting local agriculture
and healthy eating. I’m writing this letter in support of a Farm to School Bill that is
currently before the New Hampshire House (HB 1678-FN). The goal of the bill is to
increase the availability of local fruits and vegetables in our school systems
statewide. Similar Bills have failed to pass recently in New Hampshire, leaving a
significant amount of Federal matching funding on the table. Speaking on behalf of
the Littleton Food Coop’s 9 Board Members and over 9,000 Members we feel that it
is imperative that HB 1678-FN passes in Fiscal Year 2024.
We’re not sure why this initiative hasn’t passed before this year? This program has
a modest cost of $241,000 for the state and accesses significant federal matching
funds that have already been approved. Do our representatives have something
against NH Farmers? Or perhaps they’re not interested in better nutrition for our
school children? I doubt that is the case. Maybe I am missing something here? What
we don’t want is the errors of the past to doom a positive path forward. Therefore the
Littleton Food Coop and its Members urge our legislatures to pass HB 1678-FN
during this session.
Cooperatively,
Ed King, General Manager LFC
NOFA-NH is doing the ground work of centralizing communities across NH into one strong letter of support. Click here to add your name to the letter and an optional short what local food means to you.
If this is a cause you’re really passionate about and you have a few extra minutes, use them to contact your state representative directly. Click here to find out who your representative is. If this seems to overwhelming, have no fear! There are plenty of resources and templates online designed to help folks contact their representatives. Many of them allow you to just plug in your name and information, and a sentence or two about the bill you’re writing about.
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!
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 in**@***********op.org or talk to one of the friendly folks at the Service Desk for more information.
