Littleton Food Co-op

a community-owned market

Producer Spotlight: Hatchland Farm

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Producer: Hatchland Farm

Location: North Haverhill, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: milk and cream

Website: facebook.com/hatchlandfarm

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.

Some entrepreneurs have an internal battle on whether or not they should start their business before they dive in; for Howard Hatch, it required going through an actual war. Howard went to the Thompson School of Agriculture at the University of New Hampshire and worked on other NH farms as a herdsman. The Vietnam War draft changed everything. After serving in Vietnam in the 70th Combat Engineer Unit he knew he could no longer be someone else’s herdsman; he longed to work for himself on his own farm. He bought property in North Haverhill, NH in 1971, and by 1999 he was purchasing an additional property to expand operations. Not only did direct customers love Hatchland Farm’s milk, so did other companies; to this day, the milk from North Haverhill is sold under the Hatchland brand and under private labels for distributors in the northeast. The farm is home to over 600 cows, mainly Holsteins.

Perhaps most gratifying for the original Hatch patriarch: Hatchland Farm has remained a family owned and operated business. Howard Hatch now co-owns the farm with his wife and two adult children. Daughter Kristen has also spoken of getting her daughter, Emily, involved in the business to continue the local dairy legacy.

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

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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: Archer Jerky

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Producer: Archer Jerky

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Dried meat jerky

Website: archerjerky.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.

In many ways, the story and success of Archer Jerky is a full-circle moment. Founder Eugene Kang began working at his family’s convenience stores, not knowing decades later he would find his own product on such shelves. Working in his family’s stores allowed him to learn business and to see how products on the shelves, including jerky, evolved over time. He also saw the impact of his heritage on his family’s trajectory, telling Good Morning America “I grew up in a Korean immigrant household, with my grandfather coming to the country on less than $20. He started in the convenience store business because it was the business where you didn’t need to speak much English.” But it wasn’t until a trip to the Grand Canyon with his aunt Susan Kang that Eugene knew jerky was his path forward. After tasting Celestino Mirarchi’s roadside “life-changing” jerky, Eugene and Susan purchased Celestino’s business with the hopes to get the delicious jerky to people nationwide. When they partnered with Huy Fong Sriracha on Archer’s sriracha flavored jerky, customers started to take notice of Archer’s combination of bold flavors and real ingredients. 

Years later, it’s that same commitment to flavor and quality that catapulted Archer Jerky to stores nationwide that keeps customers reaching for their protein-packed snacks – even when prepping for road trips similar to the one that launched everything for Eugene Kang.

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.

Exclusive Coffee: Only Available to Co-op Shoppers! From Equal Exchange

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The Littleton Food Co-op has partnered with Equal Exchange, a fair trade coffee (and more!) company, to sell the special coffee Organic BioRevolution that’s only sold in food co-ops. What’s so special about it? 

1) its “beautiful co-op supply chain” 

2) the extra impact oomph; 50 cents for every pound purchased funds innovative environmental resilience projects

Cooperative Power

Co-ops are powerful organizational structures. By nature, co-ops form when people get together to meet a need they share that’s not being met. Members define the need and organize their own solutions, often using a combination of their own skills, labor, time, and capital. In the case of Organic BioRevolution, the supply chain from farm to shopping basket is completely cooperative. Small-scale farmers collectively work together as a co-op to cultivate and process coffee to export. Equal Exchange—a worker cooperative—sources, imports, and roasts the coffee. Trading as one co-op to another, Equal Exchange threads values into business, creating atypical terms that favor small farmers instead of marginalizing them. They pay a higher price to farmers to support organic cultivation, quality premiums, and added social premiums that benefit the farmer co-op and the surrounding community, with projects typically chosen by the farmer members.

As the middle co-op in this supply chain, Equal Exchange in turn sells roasted, organic coffee to our food co-op, working to build relationships with our store and community, just as they do with the farmer co-ops. Our trade relationship with them underscores personal connections, transparency, information-sharing, and a commitment to taking actions that build an alternative, better food system. 

Through these relationships and products, our supply chain is a beautiful and uncommon one, which is co-op to co-op to co-op. It’s a connection that is not just a simple straight line, but more like a network, with Equal Exchange connecting us not just to one farmer co-op but rather with dozens of farmer co-ops. Because each of those co-ops is owned by dozens or hundreds of individual members, our store’s membership is connected to hundreds of farmer co-op members. 

But there’s more! Because Organic BioRevolution is a coffee that is only sold to food co-ops in the US, this connection extends to dozens of food co-ops in various states and communities in the US, and by extension, on to their hundreds or thousands of members and shoppers.

A seemingly simple bag of coffee in truth connects thousands of cooperative members and allies. A purchase of this product could be considered both a spiritual vote for a cooperative movement and also a concrete economic action, directing dollars in support of the organizations who are committed to living out the cooperative ideals in practice.

Environmental Innovation

The coffee farmer co-ops in this supply chain *also* buck conventional norms in terms of farming ethos. In sharp contrast to conventional farming, with a typically extractive mentality, Equal Exchange’s farmer co-op partners are committed to organic, restorative practices. These farmers reject chemical inputs and instead work with natural resources to preserve ecosystems, enhance productivity and quality, and build healthy, resilient farms. There’s a real energy and creativity that permeates this work, of regular problem-solving and invention.

In 4 decades of partnership with small-scale farmers, Equal Exchange saw the increasing need to support farmers in addressing environmental challenges. Climate change has hoisted upon producers the need to adapt almost constantly. Organic BioRevolution is responding to that need in a unique way. For every pound of Organic BioRevolution coffee sold, Equal Exchange contributes 50 cents to a fund dedicated to environmental innovation projects led by farmer co-ops. Because of the support of co-op shoppers in the US, this fund has channeled over $100,000 to support coffee farmers, specifically in their innovative efforts at environmental resilience. 

In line with the fundamental cooperative spirit of members identifying needs and solving problems themselves, these BioRevolution funds have fueled farmer-led exchanges, bringing farmers across borders together to share ideas, best practices, and inspiration. One influential project includes building living fertilizers. Instead of using a fertilizer that is simply a final end nutrient that a soil needs, these “biofertilizers” are alive, thoughtfully constructed from collecting “good” bacteria and fungi from nearby forests, to reseed farm soils with local compatible inputs. These living fertilizers increase coffee plant productivity and quality, and can strengthen the plant’s immune system to better ward off disease and pests. 

One of the newer ideas that farmers are experimenting with using the BioRevolution funds for is beekeeping. Farmers are incorporating a native stingless bee, the Melipona, into their organic farming strategies. The results are positively compounding: the populations of this native species are rebounding; their natural activities increase the pollination and therefore productivity of the coffee plants; their impact, of course, extends beyond just coffee: these pollinators help all manner of plants and crops thrive, which helps both the humans and the other fauna in these communities. The Meliponas also create a super high-quality honey, which farmers can use in their own traditional medicine practices as well as sell locally, adding an additional income stream. The farmers’ commitment to organic practices, in turn, is a meaningful benefit to these bee populations. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides are a threat to bees and other pollinators; sustainable, organic, innovative farming models allow for a more reciprocal relationship with pollinators (as well as so many other species!). Plant productivity and pollinator populations are not pitted against each other, but rather can benefit each other.

For more information on living soil, coffee, and beekeeping, and impact stories in the farmers’ own words, visit this Organic BioRevolution webpage. Purchase Organic BioRevolution to fuel the co-op to co-op to co-op connection, and to keep the impact and innovation flowing.

Images courtesy of Equal Exchange

Naturally Dyed Eggs

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Egg dyeing is a fun way to celebrate this time of year—and it’s a tradition that goes way back—as much as 5,000 years when Persians celebrated springtime with eggs colored with plant-based dyes. Plant dyes can be just as useful today and they’re plentiful; in fact you very well might have dye-worthy ingredients in your kitchen already. Here are some great plant-based dyes, made from fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers.

Naturally_Dyed_Eggs_HandoutDownload

March is NH Maple Month

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While we love NH and New England’s luscious maple syrup year round at the Littleton Food Co-op, March is celebrated statewide as NH Maple Month. So, we take this as an opportunity to dive a bit deeper into everyone’s favorite pancake topping.

Why is NH Maple Month in March?

While us as people might not relish the fluctuating day-to-night temperatures this time of brings to NH, it’s the ideal circumstances for maple syrup production. In order for sap, a golden liquid that is used to create maple syrup, to flow from sugar maple trees, the days need to be warm and the nights need to be cool. These ideal sugaring conditions last around six weeks, but climate change has affected the timeframe and conditions needed for successfully sugaring.

What is NH Maple Month?

To celebrate the important contributions maple syrup and its stewards have on the regional economy, agriculture, and history, NH Maple Month is a time of local and statewide celebrations around the golden liquid. The New Hampshire Maple Producers Association has united maple producers across the state to “celebrate the craft of turning sap into something extraordinary” since 1943. They also have a member directory of maple sugar producers across NH who offer programming during March and during Maple Weekend, including The Rocks right down the road from the Co-op in Bethlehem.

What maple products can I find at the Littleton Food Co-op?

While our product line-up is always changing, we always love to support our local maple producers! We often have:

  • Grade A maple syrup (sizes from 3.4 fl oz – 64 fl oz)
  • Maple candies
  • Maple sugar
  • Maple spread
  • Maple-flavored beers
  • Maple popcorn
Mount Cabot Maple. Lancaster, NH
Ben's Sugar Shack. Temple, NH
Fuller's Sugar House. Lancaster, NH.
NH Made Maple Syrup. New Hampshire.
McClure's of New England. Littleton, NH.
Tucker Mountain Maple, Newbury, VT

Check out NH Maple Month Recipes

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.

Impress Your Guests with Four of the Coolest Spots Around

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We love when family and visitors come to the North Country of New Hampshire! Sometimes, our area gets a bad rap when folks assume our distance from major metropolitan areas means there’s nothing to do. Not only is there plenty to do in the Littleton area, there are certified (by us) cool things to do. These are hidden gems that will help show your visitors the vibrancy that lays in our small town. These are great stops if you want to impress any tween/teen/young adults, but all can be family-friendly. And hey — what’s cooler than a grocery store owned by thousands of community members? Make sure to stop by the Littleton Co-op before you go exploring for some adventure fuel and some well wishes.

Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga is a unique retailer in downtown Littleton that’s perfect for those with eclectic style. They are officially dedicated to “the woods and the weird,” but everyone can appreciate their artfully designed store and POV in capturing the North Country’s beauty. Full of things you won’t find anywhere else!

Super Secret Ice Cream

Ice cream so nice it’s worth mentioning twice! While this booming Bethlehem shop also graces our “Cultural Classics” list, Super Secret Ice Cream also makes this list for it’s superior dessert quality and fun interior space. Owner Kristina Zontini is a twice James Beard Award nominee who’s dedicated to hand-packed ice cream with local ingredients and “no weird stuff.” The shop also provides a great place to recoup after the holidays in a warm, comforting environment decorate with bold colors and any ice cream-related decor you could imagine.

Little City Thrift Store

The holiday season is not typically the time of year we have extra cash to throw around on new clothes and wares. Lucky for Littleton, tucked behind classic Main Street is Little City Thrift Store. Don’t let the small square footage fool you; this shop is chock full of treasures and fun finds. It’s a great place to pop by for a minute or dedicate a couple of hours to for the thrill of the hunt.

The Loading Dock

The name doesn’t lie: this non-profit performing arts venue tucked behind Littleton’s Main Street is a converted loading dock. Except now, instead of receiving goods, visitors to the Loading Dock get to experience up-and-coming talent from near and far in an intimate yet professional venue. Tickets are always reasonably priced and guarantee a great night out.









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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