Littleton Food Co-op

a community-owned market

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: Port City Pretzels

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Producer: Port City Pretzels

Location: Whitefield, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Hard pretzel snack bags

Website: portcitypretzels.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.

Meet the people behind “The People’s Pretzel,” aka Port City Pretzels! Suzanne Foley founded Port City Pretzels out of Portsmouth, NH in 2015; but, the pretzels themselves go back much further. The Port City Pretzels you buy today at the Littleton Co-op are adaptations of Suzanne’s family’s recipes from over 30 years ago. Her mother-in-law, Eileen Foley, is actually the longest serving mayor in Portsmouth’s history, and the inspiration behind the recipe and business. She started her business to bring the feelings and taste of joy from her family’s recipes to the people. Today, that joy extends far beyond the product: the company is 100% woman-owned; they proudly represent the LGBTQ+ community; the majority of their employees are disabled (74% as of May 2025); and they consider themselves “radically inclusive.” While keeping the resilient spirit of NH within all of their work, Port City Pretzels are sold nationwide, and they were even named the Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year in 2020 by the Small Business Administration.

When you take a bite of Port City Pretzels, you can tell that Suzanne cares about her people *and* her product. We appreciate the hard work of her and her employees, and are so glad to have Port City Pretzels representing a woman-owned NH business at the Littleton Food Co-op.  

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: Alaffia

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Producer: Alaffia

Founders: Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde

Location: Olympia, WA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Hair and body care products

Website: alaffia.com

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

You know the story: boy meets girl; boy and girl feel called to do right by the world; boy and girl establish social enterprise cooperative. Okay, maybe that’s not *the* story, but it is the story of Alaffia. Co-founder Olowo-n’djo Tchala witnessed first hand unfair labor and profit distribution as a child watching his mother recieve mere pennies from harvesting valuable nuts from shea trees in Tongo, West Africa. Much later, he collided with Prairie Rose Hyde — then a Peace Corps volunteer, later his wife. Together, they formed a cooperative for West African women, similar to Tchala’s mother, to empower themselves, preserve Indigenous culture, and produce high quality skin and hair care products for people around the world. Alaffia is also a certified Fair Trade business.Today, Alaffia works with partner organization to contribute to maternal care, school construction, reforestation, and potable water projects in West Africa.

A purchase of Alaffia products benefit not only your body and/or hair, but also contributes to a more just world economic system. Send this to whoever dares to tell you next “it’s just a lotion, what’s the big deal?”

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: Mina

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Producer: Mina

Owner: Fouad Kallamni

Location:

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Heat and eat soup and stews

Website: mina.co

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Mina Kallamni grew up in Casablanca, Morocco, where she first tasted, and then created her own, harissa. After a lifetime of loving food, her son Fouad Kallamni found it only right to name their new line of Moroccan food products after his mother. Today, Mina is the celebration of Moroccan heritage and family recipes in the form of a line of Moroccan pantry staples like shakshuka and preserved lemons. And while introducing heritage staples to a wider audience is naturally what comes from creating a brand as accessible as Mina, it’s not the ultimate goal to make something that pleases everyone. “We’re a family business, so everything we do is a direct reflection of our family’s culture, traditions and style. Of course we pay attention to the marketplace and what consumers are interested in. But ultimately, our decisions about what to make, and how the brand shows up in the market, come down to what feels most authentic to our family,” says Fouad. To that end, Fouad and mother Mina still test all new product developments before they reach mass production. All their products are made in Morocco and many ingredients are sourced from local family farms.

Mina continues to balance recipe innovation with staying true to their roots. Consider expanding your palate with new-to-you cuisine flavors by picking up an authentically-Moroccan Mina product today!

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: ECOS

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Producer: ECOS

CEO: Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks

Location: Cypress, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Laundry detergent, cleaning products, soap, and ice melt

Website: Ecos.com

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

ECOS, a premier creator of plant-based cleaning products and the #1 selling green laundry detergent in the U.S., was founded by Van Vlahakis, a Greek immigrant who recognized the negative health effects of harsh chemical ingredients in cleaning products during his career as a chemist. When Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks took over as President and CEO of ECOS, she wanted to increase the depth and breadth of how the company cares about the health and wellness of people and planet. Kelly is of Greek and African American descent, and has prioritized increased access to opportunities for under-represented identities within ECOS. ECOS is currently made up of 64% of employees identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and an Executive Team that is 40% BIPOC and 60% female. She also prioritizes environmental health; under her leadership, ECOS became a Climate Positivity company — the world’s first to have carbon neutral, water neutral, and TRUE Platinum Zero Waste facilities. Furthermore, ECOS has one of the highest minimum wages in the industry at $17/hour.

ECOS continues to be a company that not only makes great products, but takes great care of people and the planet, under Vlahakis-Hanks’ leadership. She is also making strides so ECOS’s vision and values are passed along to future generations, establishing the Vlahakis Organic Chemistry Lab at Roosevelt University in Chicago (her father’s alma mater) for students to research chemistry based on renewable resources.

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: Genuine Jamaican

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Producer: Genuine Jamaican

Owner/Founder: Derrick Samuels

Location: Barnet, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: BBQ sauces and marinade

Website: Facebook Page

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Ask around to the folks in Northern Vermont and New Hampshire and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who’s seen Derrick Samuels of Genuine Jamaican without a smile on his face. A genuine smile. Derrick is proud to provide authentic Jamaican food and flavor to our corner of the globe; he has been a Barnet, VT resident with his wife Shellie for 35 years. Seasonally, you’ll find him serving up full prepared meals at the Caledonia Farmers Market (St. J, VT), but his rubs and marinades are available at the Littleton Co-op year round. He credits his late mother and grandmother with both his cooking skills and optimism. But for Samuels it’s not optimism as most people see it – a season of life or fleeting feeling; it’s simply a way of life. His motto: “If you can take care of things, take care of it.” 

Genuine Jamaican and Derrick certainly take care of their customers, offering high quality versatile rubs, marinades, and sauces at a great value. Come get a hit of a Jamaican summer in the midst of winter here at the Co-op! 

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: Strafford Organic Creamery

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Producer: Strafford Organic Creamery

Founder/Owner: Earl Ransom and Amy Huyffer

Location: Strafford, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Ice cream, milk, eggnog (seasonal)

Website: Facebook Page

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

Strafford Organic Creamery– steered by Earl Ransom, Amy Huyffer, and family– at Rockbottom Farm, is a living legacy in Vermont. As the one remaining dairy farm left in Strafford, VT, down from over two dozen in the town’s previous life, there’s a lot of pressure on them. Add the fact that Earl is one of three Black dairy farmers in Vermont*, and the spotlight shines brighter. But in Earl’s experience, “Being Black in Vermont has always been interesting, because it’s existing in a place people don’t expect you to be, no matter your profession.”

No matter the pressures that may or may not be on them, Strafford Organic Creamery is not one to succumb to doing anything any way other than what’s best for their Guernsey cows, their land, or their planet. They’ve been bottling their milk in glass since 2001 and haven’t looked back. Yes, plastic would be cheaper, and doesn’t require constant bottle return solicitations, but it’s nowhere near as sustainable. This goes hand in hand with their decision to remain a standalone farm, which means they do their own bottling on site. This means the Ransom family are the ones directly overseeing the process and setting their own standards. Their cows –with names like Pomegranate, Naan, and Larkspur– roam on organic, diversified pasture for 22 hours a day. Amy sums it up best: “I’ve thought about quitting every day, but I’ve never thought about compromising our values.”

Learn more about Strafford Organic Creamery on That’s Rad Episode 45: Strafford Organic Creamery where Amy Huyffer talks with the Co-op about life on the farm, Vermont’s dwindling dairy industry, and their mouth-watering ice cream. 

 

*according to 2017 US Department of Agriculture census data 

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: Global Village Foods

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Producer: Global Village Foods

Founder/Owner: Damaris and Mel Hall

Location: Quechee, VT

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Samosas

Website: globalvillagefoods.com

Our modern day food systems were built on the backs of People of Color (POC), particularly the Black community, without making room to acknowledge their important contributions. During the month of February, celebrated as Black History Month, we take intentional moments to celebrate Black entrepreneurs, inventors, and businesses that have shaped the way we eat, drink, and live. Supporting a vibrant and diverse producer network is a yearlong goal of the Littleton Co-op, and we are proud to highlight BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices. Read more about Littleton Co-op’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) work here.

The story of Global Village Foods is a story of the blending of two separate cultures through two people who express love through food. One half of the team, Damaris, hails from Kenya, where “farm fresh food was a way of life.” America’s growing trend of “eating with the seasons” was the idea that punctuated her childhood, with fresh ingredients and aromatic spices filling the air for family gatherings and communal celebrations. Her other half is Mel, was born and raised in Memphis, TN, in a culture filled with bold, soulful Southern fare. Together, their journey brought them to Vermont – a breeding ground for the “slow food movement.” 

The recipes of Global Village Foods are not just perfect for folks looking for authentic African cuisine, but also for those with food allergies. When Mel and Damaris had a child with severe food allergies, they worked hard to adapt their time-and-true recipes to be allergy-friendly, vegan, and gluten free. Their goal is to make sure everyone can experience flavorful, nutritious, traditional African cuisine.

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.

July is Disability Pride Month

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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.









Upcoming Events

 

Senior Member Discount Day

Senior Member Discount Day

Senior Member Discount Day is on the 5th!
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 …

View more events here!

 

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