Bulk sections, where customers bring their own containers, can cut substantial plastic waste from the shopping experience. Yet concerns over coronavirus transmission have led some co-ops to change how they offer bulk products or even stop them altogether.
While many local residents laud efforts to ensure safety for shoppers and employees at retail stores that remain open — among them grocers, drug stores and hardware retailers — others criticize certain stores and fellow shoppers for failing to wear masks or be mindful of social distancing requirements.
“Wouldn’t you be thrilled if the French Broad Food Co-op moved into Westgate plaza to occupy the former Earth Fare space?”
Now in its 27th year, the Organic Growers School Spring Conference welcomes growers and sustainability-minded folks of all types for a weekend of region-specific educational offerings, a trade show, seed exchange, guest speakers and opportunities for socializing and networking. This year’s conference takes place Friday-Sunday, March 6-8, at Mars Hill University.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, French Broad Food Co-op is hosting its latest workshop focused on aphrodisiacs. Also: Asheville Mardi Gras celebrates its latest Cajun Cookoff; Green Opportunities announces latest classes; and plenty more in this week’s Small bites.
After five years, Gan Shan Station owner Patrick O’Cain has decided to close the Charlotte Street restaurant. Come spring, Jettie Rae’s Oyster House will replace the Asian-themed eatery. Also: Onesie Bar Crawl returns, Chow Chow hires an executive director and local food venues prepare for Super Bowl LIV.
From reusing glass jars, to bulk shopping to bringing your own container for restaurant takeout and leftovers, locals are finding strategies for cutting down on food packaging.
Superfoods are nutrient dense, rich with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and polyphenols. Some superfoods are found in Western North Carolina, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes and wild nettles.
Metro Wines teams up with Rezaz and local cookbook authors for a vegan-based wine pairing dinner. Also, Living Web Farms and the French Broad Food Co-op host Fermentation Show and Tell, the Hop Ice Cream Café joins the Thomas Wolfe Memorial to celebrate Wolfe’s 117th birthday and White Duck Taco announces Sunday brunch and plans for a new space in the River Arts District.
“There are exciting things happening at our community-owned store. Visions are becoming realities, and the co-op is about to embark on a major effort that will allow it to continue to serve the community, but in even better and more creative ways.”
“I joined the co-op because I wanted to support an alternative to the corporate economy. … I would like for it to be a model of democratic governance, of community, and to fulfill its mission statement ‘to be a transformative force in our community and in our world.’ At this point, is there any way to do this?”
The long-awaited Asheville Tool Library will hold its grand opening Saturday, April 9. The collaborative effort has been several years and a couple of false starts in the making, beginning with a crowdfunding campaign and a series of community meetings in the spring of 2013. “We couldn’t be more pleased to have finally found a […]
Oskar Blues’ CAN’d Aid Foundation is seeking competitive talents for its chili cook-off in Brevard. Meanwhile, FEAST and Asheville Middle School team up for a pie fundraiser; MetroWines’ Anita Riley invites two women behind Hi-Wire Brewing’s branding to the shop; Smiling Hara Tempeh’s Hempeh makes its way to grocery shelves; and Lex 18 hosts an Appalachian-themed evening.
The iconic community-owned food market and grocer has announced initial plans to expand its current space on the 60-100 block of Biltmore Avenue and is reaching out to community organizations and the city of Asheville to begin discussions on the possibility of a massive multiuse facility.
From paleo to vegan to good ol’ Southern comfort food, Asheville’s colorful and diverse salad of food philosophies helps shape our city’s identity.
Bee City USA will host its third annual Pollinator Celebration, a week of pollinator-centric events — held from Thursday, June 11, until Sunday, June 21 — designed to invite the public into the world of pollinators. The Asheville celebration aligns with National Pollinator Week sponsored by the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign.
Barbecue is in the spotlight at Tryon’s Blue Ridge BBQ and Music Festival, Happy Jack’s moves beyond breakfast, Postre Caramels launches in Asheville, Addison Farms Vineyard hosts a wine dinner under the stars and Living Web Farms offers a plant-based summer cooking workshop.
“The impression given is that we member-owners of the co-op only called our meeting after learning of Katuah’s planned closing, like we were ‘jumping’ on an opportunity to take advantage of someone else’s misfortune. “
Local bartenders to square off during Bar Wars AVL, French Broad Food Co-op seeks community input on expansion plans, the Mills River Farmers Market lines up new vendors and the Barefoot Wine founders to offer business advice at UNC Asheville workshops.
On Saturday, March 21, Asheville’s only community-owned, nonprofit grocery store will host a facilitated discussion to solicit input and ideas from residents on proposed expansion plans that could affect the south end of downtown.
The Are We Eating Fishy Food? Tour parked its caravan of five “GMO art cars” outside the French Broad Food Co-op this afternoon in order to raise awareness about GMO labeling. The vehicles are fitted with 300-pound, roof-mounted sculptures of “fishy”-looking produce. Asheville is the second-to-last stop on the activists’ 6,083-mile journey from Seattle to New York City.
