Littleton Food Co-op

a community-owned market

Producer Spotlight: Huckins Farm

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Producer: Huckins Farm

Location: North Hampton, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: raw milk and yogurt

Website: huckinsfarm.org

Dairy production has a long and significant history in the United States, which we celebrate in June with National Dairy Month. The recognition, dating back to 1937, was originally called National Milk Month, and was started to promote milk during a national surplus. Before modern refrigeration, milk was not popular with consumers in the warm summer months, but farm milk production continued. Today, we move beyond milk to honor the contributions of dairy and the hardworking people who stand behind it. Not only does milk and dairy offer nutritional value to a daily diet, supporting local dairy means supporting local family farms persevering in an especially difficult and volatile industry. At the Littleton Food Co-op, we are honored to support local and regional dairy producers, and are excited to share a glimpse at some of their stories in June and beyond.

The story of Huckins Farm in New Hampton, NH goes back over 200 years ago, but the farm and micro-dairy we know it as today started to take shape in 1906 when it was purchased by the Huckins family. It continues to be family-owned, with Matty Huckins at the helm. She arrived on the farm with her late husband in 1988, with no knowledge or experience but a love for animals. Together, their mission is to provide wholesome, nutritious products for you and your loved ones while promoting education through workshops and classes as we work together to cultivate a more healthy, sustainable, and loving world. The farm specializes in raw, meaning unpasteurized, milk and raw milk products, firmly believing in the power of the probiotics and enzymes lost from pasteurization. Their 16 Guernsey cows, each with their own documented name and personality, go through pasture-based rotational grazing (except in the winter) and the care of a nutritionist. Approximately 128 acres of Huckins’ farmland is permanently protected from development through the local Lakes Region Conservation Trust. 

While holding strong through support from family and friends, Matty was still looking for a family successor in 2022. Her Lakes Region neighborhood has withstood the fall of local, family-owned dairies – unlike many New Hampshire areas – so she is hoping that she will be able to eventually pass the baton.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Nuts for Cheese

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Producer: Nuts for Cheese

Location: London, Ontario, Canada

Found at the Littleton Co-op: plant-based cheeses and spreads

Website: nutsforcheese.com

Pride Month is an annual month-long celebration to recognize and uplift the cultural contributions made by those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other marginalized gender and sexual identities (LGBTQ+). Pride is celebrated in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a 1969 anit-LGBTQ police raid of a New York bar recognized as a major turning point in the fight for gay rights. The phrase “gay pride” is said to come from activist Craig Schoonmaker, saying “I authored the word ‘pride’ for gay pride … [my] first thought was ‘Gay Power.’ I didn’t like that, so proposed gay pride. There’s very little chance for people in the world to have power. People did not have power then; even now, we only have some. But anyone can have pride in themselves, and that would make them happier as people, and produce the movement likely to produce change.” As a community-owned co-op championing an ethos of “Everyone Welcome,” the Littleton Food Co-op supports our local LGBTQ+ populations and is happy to recognize relevant producers from our store during Pride Month. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Margaret Coons grew up as a vegetarian, but veganism came shortly after. But she found that vegan options were scarcely available, so she took matters into her own hands, crafting foods to meet her own needs. She became a certified vegan chef at a restaurant in Ontario, Canada, her home country, where she was able to devote time to developing recipes and refining products. Customers immediately gravitated to her creations and wanted more, so she eventually moved to a separate farmer’s market stand, and then an independent facility; Nuts for Cheese was born. Unlike other plant-based cheeses that start with potato starch or oils, Margaret has, and always will, make sure Nuts for Cheese is nut-based first. In addition to having to fight to not cut corners and keep the integrity of her products, Margaret also found she faced barriers being a queer-owned business. But, she found that, through community, she could connect and work with inclusive and supportive suppliers and funders. 

Nuts for Cheese was the first Canadian artisan vegan cheese producer to launch in  the US. However, within all of the company’s growth, Margaret says . I always make time for good meals with my friends and family, because it’s crucial to keep balance between working hard and making time for myself.” 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Mount Cabot Maple

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Producer: Mount Cabot Maple

Location: Lancaster, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: maple syrup, maple sugar

Website: mountcabotmaple.com

Pride Month is an annual month-long celebration to recognize and uplift the cultural contributions made by those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other marginalized gender and sexual identities (LGBTQ+). Pride is celebrated in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a 1969 anit-LGBTQ police raid of a New York bar recognized as a major turning point in the fight for gay rights. The phrase “gay pride” is said to come from activist Craig Schoonmaker, saying “I authored the word ‘pride’ for gay pride … [my] first thought was ‘Gay Power.’ I didn’t like that, so proposed gay pride. There’s very little chance for people in the world to have power. People did not have power then; even now, we only have some. But anyone can have pride in themselves, and that would make them happier as people, and produce the movement likely to produce change.” As a community-owned co-op championing an ethos of “Everyone Welcome,” the Littleton Food Co-op supports our local LGBTQ+ populations and is happy to recognize relevant producers from our store during Pride Month. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Morgan Hill’s life thus far is a full circle, beginning and currently standing on Mount Cabot in Lancaster, NH. As the owner of Mount Cabot Maple, which sits upon its namesake, they have returned to the land once owned by their grandparents. Now, instead of simply observing, Morgan has owned Mount Cabot Maple since 2020 and ushered it into an era beyond just sugarmaking to include a diversified farm, agritourism, and event venue. What started as an apprenticeship under the previous owner turned into the discovery of a passion with many intricate pieces to manage, including production, sales, maintenance, employee well-being, and more. Their staff is predominantly female, with Morgan saying to the Union Leader  “It’s a different internal culture. We make decisions as a team, and it just feels healthier to me. We’re more consensus-focused.” That said, they added, “That doesn’t make everything easy, and it’s still challenging to work with people.”

While Mount Cabot Maple’s syrup is single origin, Morgan is determined to make landstewardship, connections to nature, and joyful experiences open to all identities in the North Country and beyond. Their maple product has been recognized and celebrated up and down the East Coast, and the success story of their queer-owned and women-owned is not far behind.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Gimme Seaweed

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Producer: Gimme Seaweed

Location: San Rafael, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: dried seaweed snacks

Website: gimmeseaweed.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

You might read the brand name Gimme Seaweed and hear the sounds of children reaching for the crispy snack packets in the Littleton Co-op’s aisles saying “gimme, gimme!” However, founder Annie Chun’s USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified seaweed products play on the Korean word for seaweed, “gim.” She grew up in central Seoul, Korea, where food from the sea was more common than food from the land. A household staple was seaweed that her mother would dry and roast in her house. She knew that seaweed was not only delicious, but also packed with vitamins and fiber, and deserved to have a larger place in the American diet. After selling her first company (you may recognize her “Annie Chun’s” noodle kits) she took on the challenge of introducing seaweed to the US market with husband Steve Broad. Furthermore, she wanted to take it out of grocery stores’ ethnic food aisles. Today, she continues to adapt her childhood snack for new generations across the country to enjoy a crispy and healthy snack. 

Organic seaweed growth naturally has benefits to oceanic habitats by reducing water acidification and habitat creation for various species, but Annie Chun has now taken ocean protection to a further level. Through Gimme Seaweed’s partnership with rePurpose, every purchase of Gimme helps fight plastic pollution, brings ethical waste management to underserved areas, and economically empowers waste workers.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Pop & Bottle

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Producer: Pop & Bottle

Location: San Francisco, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: canned lattes

Website: popandbottle.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

When Pop & Bottle CEO and co-founder Jash Mehta moved from London to San Francisco, she hardly expected to be joined across the pond by her best friend and eventual co-founder Blair Hardy less than a year later. The duo quickly immersed themselves in the world of farm-to-table meals, backyard agriculture, and clean eating. The one “compromise” to their healthy eating, plant-based lifestyle was their daily coffee ritual. So they decided to venture into making a ready-to-drink latte with clean and plant-based ingredients. Jash had grown up watching her mom be an entrepreneur and business owner. But in the Pop & Bottle creation, Jash and Blair wanted to make sure their product encompassed the entire coffee experience. To them, drinking a daily latte was more than just consuming a beverage; it was conversation, community, and a chance to reach out to other women. As CEO, Jash continues to pour integrity into Pop & Bottle products to make sure they’re all good enough for her, her customers, and her community. 

For other founders, Jash says “Be prepared to drink a lot of caffeine! Other than that, the most important thing is an unwavering belief in yourself.” Hopefully founders and consumers alike will consider turning to Pop & Bottle to fuel their explorations into business and beyond. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: wildwonder

By

Producer: wildwonder

Location: San Francisco, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: probiotic beverages

Website: drinkwildwonder.com

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated worldwide to bring awareness to and honor the cross-sector contributions made by people of such cultural background. And that includes impacts in our food system! While foodies of all backgrounds collectively contribute to what we eat, how we eat, and how we produce food, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have faced widespread systemic barriers and erasure from history, making AANHPI an important time to acknowledge and celebrate those contributions and the people behind them. Furthermore, we celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month in May specifically to commemorate both the anniversary of the first arrival of a Japanese immigrant on American soil, and the completion of the Trans-Continental Railroad, whose Western-half was primarily completed by Chinese laborers. While the contribution of Asian Americans to such events was not recognized until much later, both demonstrate the obstacles, and perseverance, that deem AANHPI Heritage Month worthy of annual recognition. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Wildwonder founder Rosa Li grew up with gut health on her mind – she just didn’t realize it at the time. All she knew during childhood in China was that her grandmother’s wild herb and botanical tonics soothed her stomach and lifted her spirits. The idea of “food as medicine” was always around, but it didn’t spark a business plan until many years later. In adulthood, Rosa became burnt out from a career in finance, and decided the first step to a revitalized life was a revitalized gut. She describes herself as a “foodie,” and says she has always shopped at farmers’ markets, feeling inspired by the especially bright and vibrant fruit found in California while she attended Stanford’s business school. She wanted to bring a product to market to honor her grandmother’s cultural health tonics, and saw fresh fruity flavors as a vehicle to make the beverages more palatable in the States – not to mention adding a new dimension of flavor. But the path to wildwonder wasn’t easy, and sales don’t always mean complete success. In Li’s words: “Female founders, minority founders, and solo founders just don’t get as much money. Being all three, I kind of get the short end of the stick. I also don’t come from the beverage industry, which historically has seen a lack of diversity. So, we’ve had to learn ways in which to be very strategic and very resourceful.” 

Rosa continues to use her own story to remind founders that success is not a straight line going upwards. Furthermore, she supports those in the path behind her, donating 5% of profits from wildwonder to organizations focusing on empowering women and marginalized communities. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: YAYA Organics

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Producer: YAYA Organics

Location: Hopkinton, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Sun and bug repellent for all ages

Website: yayaorganics.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

A new business doesn’t have to start out solving the world’s problems; sometimes the best place to start is focusing on the problems in your own backyard. In 2014, mother-daughter duo Alex and Rebecca were fed up with all the ticks in the backyard of their New Hampshire home. And the problem wasn’t going away – only getting worse each year. When they didn’t see any repellents on the market they felt comfortable using with their families, they decided to make their own. Right in their own backyard they researched and tested plant-based oils and other ingredients. Once they unlocked the potential of this type of people, pet, and environmentally-safe formulation, the business expanded; they brought on another partner, Valeria, and moved into mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and baby-safe formulas. Now, they are a 100% women-owned company that supports outdoor exploration in backyards across the country and beyond.

YAYA Organics stands by the idea that life outside is better, and what started as a simple observation turned into a national health solution that helps everyone live outside safely. Alex, Rebecca, and Valeria are proud to all be mothers that can now protect families beyond their own through their product lines. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Jaju Pierogi

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Producer: Jaju Pierogi

Location: Boston, MA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Frozen pierogi

Website: jajupierogi.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Jaju Pierogi is the brainchild of sisters Vanessa and Casey White, but is the culmination of the mix of food and family history stewarded by their Jaju (dziadziu, or grandfather in Polish). Their Jaju operated a Polish deli in Western Massachusetts that they were in and out of throughout child. Strong cultural roots and tradition also meant that pierogi was a well-revered (and well-stocked) food at home. Growing up and moving away from family meant straining their tether to high-quality pierogi and experiencing the yearning that ultimately inspired the creation of their business in honor of Jaju. When they took their original pierogi to their first farmers’ market, they sold out within an hour. Today, Jaju Pierogi is sold across the country in co-ops and national chains alike. The sisters even made an appearance on Shark Tank in 2025. Even as the business grows, Casey and Vanessa continue to make a commitment to cultivating positive community though hard work and enthusiasm – aka “the Jaju way.” 

In addition to their delicious pierogi, Casey and Vanessa are known for infusing Jaju Pierogi with humor and spirit, whether that’s by making social media memes, wearing a literal pierogi costume, or supporting a local Polish American Women’s scholarship. Vanessa even appeared on the Littleton Co-op podcast, That’s Rad, back in 2024!

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Bee’s Wrap

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Producer: Bee’s Wrap

Location: Middlebury, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Reusable food storage

Website: beeswrap.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Sarah Kaeck might be one of the only people who gets inspired by food leftovers. In 2011, she founded Bee’s Wrap out of her New Haven, VT kitchen after feeling disillusioned by available food packaging options. She felt called to reduce plastic use for food and protect the environment from her family’s time outdoors in the Vermont wilderness and her passion for baking. She was introduced to beeswax; a renewable, fully biodegradable material with its own natural antibacterial properties. Now, Bee’s Wrap products are made by infusing organic cotton with beeswax, tree resin, and jojoba oil to turn it into a pliable, food safe material. Sarah also cares about her workplace environment and is determined to make Bee’s Wrap a place that is collaborative, engaged, and supportive of its workers. She is acutely aware of challenges in the workplace that overwhelmingly affect women, and implements policies, like flexible work hours and family-friendly benefits, to support a gender-balanced workforce.   

Bee’s Wrap is sold across the world, and has had a number of positive endorsements from press outlets and loyal customers alike. While the company was sold to a private investor in 2021, it continues to be run by Kaeck out of Vermont and continues to offer good care for good food.

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.

Producer Spotlight: Back Roads Granola

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Producer: Back Roads Granola

Location: Brattleboro, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Bulk granola

Website: backroadsgranola.com

“From the first settlers who came to our shores, from the first American Indian families who befriended them, men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” (President Jimmy Carter’s message designating March 2-8, 1980 as National Women’s History Week; a celebration that was soon expanded to National Women’s History Month). We’re taking the month of March to highlight and celebrate just some of the great women who have made an impact on our modern-day food system. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Back Roads Granola started with an idea…that barely had anything to do with granola. Virginia and Peter Vogel opened a bed & breakfast in Vermont (down a “back road”), and then decided that their breakfast needed some homemade granola. Once guests had a taste of their creations, they let the Vogels know they had to sell their granola so more people could experience what was then a back road secret. Back Roads Granola became a dedicated kitchen space producing 1,000 lbs of granola a week within the first year. As the business expanded, they brought on more family members and employees until they reached 100% women ownership in 2024 from a transfer to daughters Coral and Liv. Based in Brattleboro, VT, they distribute crunchy granola made from ethically sourced ingredients, made by a close knit family team, made to be Organic, non-GMO, Glyphosate free. 

We’re glad that this yummy granola made it beyond Vermont’s back roads; the drive to get Back Roads Granola in the Littleton Co-op Bulk Department is far less treacherous! The Back Roads Granola story also exemplifies the changing landscape for women business owners who have the opportunity to grow and expand their family business and second-generation owners. 

Status of product availability at the Littleton Co-op, and labeling of producers (such as local, Black-Owned Business, NH-made, etc) and product status or ingredients (gluten-free, vegan, etc) is based on available information at time of publication. The food world is an ever-changing landscape and information presented here may not reflect the most up-to-date information available.









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Member Appreciation Day

Member Appreciation Day

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Grow Pizza Herbs: A Discussion on Basil & Oregano w/ Littleton Garden Club

Grow Pizza Herbs: A Discussion on Basil & Oregano w/ Littleton Garden Club

Join the Littleton Garden Club in learning what it takes to grow all the vegetables and herbs needed to make …
Littleton Food Co-op Board Meeting

Littleton Food Co-op Board Meeting

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