Littleton Food Co-op

a community-owned market

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.

Producer Spotlight: Auspicious Brew

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Producer: Auspicious Brew

Location: Dover, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Hard kombucha

Website: auspiciousbrew.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.

When Helen Leavitt wanted to open NH’s first brewery for kombucha, there was no shortage of odds against her. Not only was she faced with the people who didn’t even know what her product was, and the people who *did* know what kombucha was and were vehement opposers, she was diving headfirst into the male-dominated fermentation industry. Even though kombucha – a fermented tea with a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) – has been enjoyed around the world for centuries, the idea of dedicating an entire space to its creation and enjoyment was still a disruption. But, for Helen, it was simply a continuation of her background in tending medicinal plants and mixology, and an opportunity to “[commune] with nature to create a living beverage.” Furthermore, Auspicious Brew has created a vibrant community space “where inclusivity is our driving force.” They even include visitors in the brewing process at their Dover, NH brewery, keeping the entire process out in the open (except when it needs a climate-controlled environment). 

The work of Helen and Auspicious Brew demonstrate that your beverage choice can deliver benefits beyond gut health – it can support small business owners, strengthen local economies, and uplift communities. Not to mention taste fabulous! 

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: Honey, bee pollen, beeswax cleaning products, and other bee by-products

Website: whitemountainapiary.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.

“To bee or not to bee?” That was (sort of) the question lamenting Janice Mercieri and her husband Joe for years before they officially opened White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm in 2011 in Whitefield, NH. The duo quickly got to work and immersed themselves in bees and education; Janice even received a Master Beekeeping Certificate from Cornell University. Fast forward to today and Janice is perhaps the North Country of NH’s most called upon apiary expert. Janice and White Mountain Apiary wholesale bee products, retail bee equipment, grow queens and colonies for other NH and VT beekeepers, and offer classes and lectures on beekeeping, bee preservation, and more across the region. She acts as President of the North Country Beekeepers Association and sits on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association. She was awarded New Hampshire Beekeeper of the Year in 2021 and Coos County Business Leader of the Year in 2023 in recognition of her contributions to both communities.

The story of White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm is one that demonstrates the opportunities that can come from taking a risk and pursuing a dream. The Co-op is proud to support Janice and White Mountain Apiary’s pursuit by offering a retail outlet for their locally-made honey and other bee products.

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: White Mountain Apiary

By

Producer: White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm

Location: Whitefield, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Honey, bee pollen, beeswax cleaning products, and other bee by-products

Website: whitemountainapiary.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.

“To bee or not to bee?” That was (sort of) the question lamenting Janice Mercieri and her husband Joe for years before they officially opened White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm in 2011 in Whitefield, NH. The duo quickly got to work and immersed themselves in bees and education; Janice even received a Master Beekeeping Certificate from Cornell University. Fast forward to today and Janice is perhaps the North Country of NH’s most called upon apiary expert. Janice and White Mountain Apiary wholesale bee products, retail bee equipment, grow queens and colonies for other NH and VT beekeepers, and offer classes and lectures on beekeeping, bee preservation, and more across the region. She acts as President of the North Country Beekeepers Association and sits on the Executive Board of the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association. She was awarded New Hampshire Beekeeper of the Year in 2021 and Coos County Business Leader of the Year in 2023 in recognition of her contributions to both communities.

The story of White Mountain Apiary & Bee Farm is one that demonstrates the opportunities that can come from taking a risk and pursuing a dream. The Co-op is proud to support Janice and White Mountain Apiary’s pursuit by offering a retail outlet for their locally-made honey and other bee products.

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: Slopeside Farm

By

Producer: Slopeside Farm

Location: Lancaster, NH

Found at the Littleton Co-op: Tulip bouquets

Website: slopesidefarmnh.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.

It’s pretty standard for all farmers to be outdoor enthusiasts; obviously, not all outdoor enthusiasts become farmers, though. But Sue Greene of Slopeside Farm in Lancaster, NH did! With a quick stop as a homesteader in between, Sue took her appreciation of New Hampshire’s beautiful landscapes and turned it into a career supporting those same landscapes by cultivating healthy soil and growing organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Slopeside Farm cares for each part of the growth lifecycle, from using compost and cover crops to add life to soil, to hosting honey bees and native pollinators in their biodiverse ecosystem, all the way through partnering with the North Country Gleaners to distribute unsold perishable goods. Sue is joined in her holistic stewardship by her partner Mike, cat Mel, and dog Cinder – the official farm greeter. 

Sue and the Slopeside Farm team brighten our lives every week with deliveries of freshly-cut tulips during the winter and spring. She grows tulips in a number of colors and combinations you may have previously thought possible in your candy-colored dreams. Everyone deserves flowers; come grab some for yourself at the Co-op 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.









Upcoming Events

 

Free Sampling with Perlage Winery

Free Sampling with Perlage Winery

Perlage Winery will be at the Co-op with Pearl Lake Distributors for a sampling on Friday, March 13th from 4-6PM. …
Littleton Food Co-op Board Meeting

Littleton Food Co-op Board Meeting

Join us each month for our upcoming board meetings on Zoom or in person.
Member Appreciation Day

Member Appreciation Day

Shop and save! Littleton Co-op member-owners save 10% all day on all eligible purchases. Not a member? Sign up today …

View more events here!

 

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