Please Welcome Corey Pagán-Banks to the RPFC Board!

Corey, Owner #115, has been appointed to the Board of the Rogers Park Food Co-op.

Corey, who is a fixture of the Rogers Park community, also works with A Just Harvest and coaches youth football.

Thank you for becoming an Owner of our very own Rogers Park Food Co-op. As an Owner who joined prior to October 15, 2016, you are eligible to run for the Board. Now is the time to consider how you might like to contribute to the development of our co-op? With a New Year upon us, it is a great opportunity to engage with something new. Be part of creating something wonderful here in Rogers Park. We have made tremendous strides in moving the co-op forward in 2016 and are entering an exciting stage where we will be making many important decisions like site selection, product guidelines and sourcing!

The Co-op has a total of 9 Board positions. Roux Nolan, Adam Schwartz, Mary Meyer and Linda Prucher were elected to the Board in 2016, Hank Rouse and Corey Pagán-Banks were voted in to fill vacancies and will be running in the upcoming elections, that leaves 3 positions open. We invite you to attend a Board meeting to learn more about our work. Board Meetings are held on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the the month, Dec, 1st and 15 and January 5th and 19th at Unity in Chicago, 1925 W. Thome from 7 - 8:30 pm.  RSVP Here:

We will be holding 2 candidate information sessions early next year on Saturday, Jan. 7th and Tuesday, Jan. 10th. All interested candidates are required to attend an information session prior to submitting an application for the Board.

We will be sending out more information in early January, in the meantime please give consideration to running for a Board position, You may review our by-laws on at our website, www.rogersparkfoodcoop.com/bylaws

All of us working on the co-op are very happy that we have something positive to work on that will make a difference in the life of our community, our shoppers and our farmers.If you would like to have a conversation about the work of the Board I will be happy to meet with you, [email protected]

Thank you again for your ongoing support, Together, we can make our co-op a reality.

After our highly successful September Ownership Campaign the RPFC is entering a new and exciting phase in our development. During the second week of December, The Board of Directors will spend three consecutive days setting the priorities and charting the next phase for 2017. The retreat will center around 4 major themes:

1. Launching the Market Feasibility Study
2. Initiating the Business Plan
3. Prioritization and Reorganization of the Co-op
4. Diversity Training and Outreach.

Stay-tuned for new announcements and initiatives and get involved where you can, this is going to get exciting!

The Rogers Park Food Co-op would like to wish all of our community a happy holiday season! Whichever holiday you celebrate, we hope it is full of joy and love.

So that we may take some time to relax and celebrate with our friends and family, the Rogers Park Food Co-op has no events planned for the month of December. Please continue to check our Facebook Page for the most up-to date information regarding upcoming events and activities.

The Board of the Rogers Park Food Co-op would like to thank all of our supporters and Owners for the tremendous success we've had in 2016, and we look forward to continued progress in 2017.

Happy Holidays!

By Hank Rouse, Owner #71

11-4-2016: I awoke early and boarded a red line car filled with Cubs fans headed down to the parade. In a moment, I honestly thought “It’s Friday, I should go back to bed.” So happy that I stayed on course, and proceeded to the Broadway Amory Park 2nd floor kitchen, home of the PGP Community Cooking School

Peterson Garden Projects “Fresh Fridays – Brain Food” was a fun and rewarding experience. We had an informal talk with Syeda Farid, Registered Dietitian at Swedish Covenant Hospital and Galter Life Center, learning about foods to maintain a healthy brain. She gave us specific examples of how to incorporate portions in moderation, rather than going overboard as most Americans do. We even learned how to make homemade cheese. Who Knew, I will certainly have to YouTube that! All the while Chef Fresh, Peterson Garden Project’s Resident Chef, and others readied the kitchen. Not only did we get to watch Chef Fresh, we learned some techniques like how to juice a lime with a spoon, or how to use the skin from the avocado to take the pit off your knife. Or how to ALWAYS add Black Pepper to any dish with turmeric as the black pepper with enhance the bioavailability 7 to 8 fold.

We tasted two different types of dark chocolate, and made: Guacamole with Toasted Pepitas, Golden Paste (sorta like a puree of turmeric and ginger) which we then turned into Golden Milk; not even close to a homemade almond or cashew milk, and something you would not pour over your cereal either. Then we finished it with a Blueberry Walnut Salad. Who knew candied almonds were so simple to make. This budding cook learned LOTS, and is excited for his next class!

If you are ever looking for something to do, I'd check out PGP.
(Also Hank has a coupon code for some of their classes.  Just msg him.)

The Rogers Park Business Alliance is happy to announce that our rebate program is expanding this year to include ALL independently-owned businesses in Rogers Park!

Yes, it's that very special time of year!
Shop local in Rogers Park and get $50 back!

Starting November 25th through December 31, 2016.

Collect $100 or more in receipts from at least 3 different independently-owned businesses in Rogers Park and receive a $25 rebate.

Collect $150 or more and receive a $50 rebate.

That’s a good deal for the people on your gift list, for Rogers Park and for you.

For more information, rules & boundaries, visit www.rpba.org/live-love-shop.

Please Welcome Hank Rouse to the RPFC Board!

Hank Rouse, Owner #71, has been appointed to the Board of the Rogers Park Food Co-op.

Hank became an Owner in October of 2015 at our first Harvest Dinner and Barn Dance.  Hank began his work as a RPFC volunteer after our Annual Owners Meeting in March of 2016, when he saw a "Clear Pathway to Volunteering".  Ever since, he has worked tirelessly to ensure others are provided clear pathways as well.  First on the Communications Committee, later the IT Team, and now Hank is our IT Manager.  Read his board application here:

Permanent Meeting Space

All Board and Committee meeting will be taking place at Unity in Chicago, 1925 W Thome Ave, Chicago, IL 60660.

Board Meetings are held on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays of the month, 7 - 8:30 pm.

Committee Meetings are held on the 2^nd and 4^th Thursday of the month, 7 - 8:30 pm.

A big thank you goes to Unity in Chicago for providing us with a suitable space for our meetings. 

When: Friday, November 11th
7pm - 9pm
Where: Loyola University, Centennial Forum, Rambler Room
1125 W Loyola Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
Google map and directions

Who are your neighbors?  What are their customs?  What do they eat?  How does their culture promote healthy eating and lifestyle?  What can I learn from their traditions?  For a typical neighborhood throughout the world these questions may be simple, but not so for Rogers Park.  In a Community that speaks 81 languages and is 35% foreign born, our neighbors, loved ones, and friends have vast cultural knowledge to share.

Join Rogers Park Food Co-op for a free chef demonstration, tasting and discussion with a focus on global cuisine and the diverse food landscape of our neighborhood. Food and Wine Magazine, 2016 Best New Chef Iliana Regan will discuss sustainable cuisine. Dietetic Interns from the Loyola University School of Nursing Community Nursing Center will facilitate a conversation about mindful eating and tasting our food.

Photo credit: Food and Wine

Reserve your FREE ticket HERE.

The Events Committee of the Co-op is always busy planning and executing fun and exciting activities for the Rogers Park community. We have held events such as a wine tasting and a film screening in the past, and we are the ones who bring to life the Co-op's Annual Meeting each year. The big plan for the coming year is to organize a series of chef demonstration and tasting events based around some of the many cuisines found in our neighborhood. We plan to bring you entertaining, interactive, and flavorful evenings to learn about a new cuisine or to celebrate your own.

Events always require many Volunteers, from the people who brainstorm ideas through, the planners who execute those ideas, to the people who show up early to set up for an event and stay late to put everything away. If helping to plan and execute Events is something you enjoy, consider joining the Events Committee!

Need more information, checkout the Event Coordinator Position here

Taste Food and Wine

Taste Food and Wine, 1506 W. Jarvis, gets stellar reviews from wine enthusiasts. In addition to wine, they stock beer, cider, and a nice selection of imported cheeses, meats, and other deli items. They also have a Wine of the Month Club and twice weekly free wine tastings. All this is in their modest store on Jarvis. Taste is also a good neighbor and made a very generous donation of wine for the drawing at the RPFC Annual Meeting last year. Be sure to thank them for their support of the Co-op when you stop in for a bottle of wine.

Rogers Pork

For the second year in a row, the Rogers Park Food Co-op participated in the Rogers Pork festival in Jarvis Square. This year's festival was the largest one yet, with over 40 artists and vendors and two stages of live music.

The Rogers Park Food Co-op collected two backpacks full of school supplies to donate to Gale Academy and Kilmer Elementary schools. We also filmed our first live video broadcast on Facebook (check it out here)!. We will be broadcasting more live videos very soon, so be sure to follow us on Facebook to catch the videos live!

Cocktails and Conversation about the Co-op!

By Shelby Hatch, Owner# 34

On Sunday, August 8, inspired by my attendance at the "Illinois Food Co-op Startup Day", Ann-Louise Haak and I hosted an event on our porch to discuss ideas about how to reach a broader cross-section of the Rogers Park and surrounding neighborhoods. There were twelve of us in attendance, including RPFC Board President Roux Nolan, other board members, volunteers, and not-yet members, including one who showed up with his dog as he was walking by and saw our yard sign advertising the event!

The major momentum generated centered around broadening our base by going to events hosted by other groups; e.g., becoming a co-sponsor of a cultural event or presenting at a coffee hour after a religious service. Let me know if you're a member of an organization that might be interested in such a partnership with RPFC. We also discussed holding "pop-up" markets in various places in Rogers Park and/or West Ridge to increase our visibility. Do you know of a venue that might be appropriate? Please contact me at [email protected] to help put these ideas into action!

When: Saturday, September 10th 1pm - 10 pm
Where: 1815 W Farwell

Shelby Hatch, owner #34, visited the Co-op at an event 18 months ago, and signed up on the spot. Since then her passion for the Co-op has grown, and now she and her partner Ann-Louise are intimately involved in shaping the Co-op’s internal dynamics and group cohesion. It started with her reluctantly taking a three-hour road trip with Hank Rouse (owner #71) -whom she barely knew at the time- to the Illinois Food Co-op Start-Up Day during a sunny Saturday in July. That’s where her spark was ignited. She was stirred by the fact that some co-ops have more members than ours, even though we’ve been at this longer.

Then, she hosted a Cocktails and Conversation brainstorming session at her East Rogers Park Victorian. Attendees, sipped a fantastic gin punch on the wrap-around porch. (We promise it didn’t impact the quality of our ideas.) It was another beautiful, sunny day. Are you sensing a theme here? Now, Shelby and Ann-Louise will be hosting a Yard Sign Painting Party & Potluck on September 10th using repurposed political yard placards. Shelby and Ann-Louise are so creative and fired up, and we are glad to have them as co-owners. Visit the Facebook page to sign up for the event.

For more information, please visit our Facebook event page or email [email protected]

We made it through summer vacation, and children are going back to school. In the midst of your running around, there is one more assignment for you to add on to all of the others. Make a Splash, Join the 30 Owner Dash!

It’s time for us to reach our 200 owners goal. Let’s not forget, that is when we will be able to do the Market and Feasibility Study. From that, we will learn about the potential size of the store, area demographics, the optimal location for a store, and where there is the greatest need.

Facebook will be home-base for the 30 Owner Dash. Visit us at facebook.com/RogersParkFood to track the daily progress of our campaign.

In case you are wondering why we’re calling the campaign "Join the 30 Owner Dash!", it is because for 30 days every New Owner that signs up will be entered into a drawing to win a two-pound delivery of sustainably caught fish from Hooked on Fish. Not only that, but because we appreciate the 162 owners we currently have, you will also be entered into the drawing for each new owner that YOU REFER!

Owner #124, Karen Wollins, has so generously donated fish deliveries from her company Hooked on Fish. This is an amazing opportunity to really experience fresh fish, as Karen says, "from the boat to your table". Thank you, Karen!

Household ownership is a one time payment of $250 or installment payments of $50 per month for 5 months or $25 per month for 10 months.

Joining the co-op is easy at www.rpfc.coop

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Outdoor Farmers Market Season!

Look for the Rogers Park Food Co-op outside of the Glenwood Sunday Market, or at a tent in the Loyola Monday Farmers Market,.  Volunteers will be there to talk shop about the Co-op, answer questions, receive feedback about your wants and needs and what we will provide to the community at large.

For updated information about when the Co-op will be attending the farmers markets, please visit our Facebook Page.

Want to help the Co-op while spending time outside?
Sign up to Volunteer at the Farmers Markets!

The Rogers Park Food Co-op needs the help of all of our supporters to reach our goals. Hosting a meeting in your home is a great way to generate interest in the co-op vision!

Your event doesn't even need to include coffee! You could host a wine and cheese tasting, or a pot-luck

The Rogers Park Food Co-op will provide you with informational materials, as well as coffee from Equal Exchange. A member of the Co-op Board will assist as a presenter as well.

Are you looking for a great way to support the Rogers Park Food Co-op? We need your help!

The success of Rogers Park Food Co-op depends on generous Volunteers to move the Co-op forward.  Are you a designer?  Great at data-entry?  Love talking to people?  We need your skills!

Build your resume by contributing your talents and skills and developing some new ones. Become part of the developing community of people who are building the co-op.

Meet and engage with your neighbors to create an amazing food co-operative in our community. Learn about food, the food system and the local food system we are creating by partnering with our local farmers. Have fun while doing all of this amazing work.

Want to help? Visit http://volunteer-rogersparkfoodcoop.nationbuilder.com/become_a_volunteer.

The Social Media Team, part of the Communications Team, uses social media to inspire both the Rogers Park and national communities to join the fresh food conversation. The team educates our audience on fresh food, sustainability, and healthy eating. They also spotlight our local Rogers Park farmers and food artisans who are devoted to sustainability and a local food chain.

We have a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Nextdoor, and YouTube. As a Social Media Guru, you will work as a Team or take charge of one of these platforms. You would also work with a team leader who will keep you updated on the Co-op’s plans and strategy to ensure that social media messaging is appropriately syndicated. If you are a Social Media Guru and like the idea of working in the background supporting others, giving future visitors a favorable impression of the Co-op, and even influencing others’ decisions, then join the Social Media Team.

Join a Committee here: http://volunteer-rogersparkfoodcoop.nationbuilder.com/join_a_committee

Luzzat

While a lot of people go to West Rogers Park for Indian food, you can also get it in East Roger Park at Luzzat, 1505 W. Jarvis, right next to the Jarvis "El". Reviews use descriptions like “humble,” “unfussy,” and “simple” to describe the ambience and décor, but they say things like “excellent,” “flavorful,” and “authentic” to describe the food. It's the classic hole-in-the-wall restaurant with outstanding food. They also Donated a lot of their terrific food to the Co-op's 2016 Annual Meeting in March. We are still very grateful!

Growling Rabbit

Growling Rabbit, currently at 6981 N. Sheridan Rd, moving soon to 5838-40 N. Broadway, is a great restaurant partner for a food co-op. They are committed to using local and seasonal ingredients on their menu, just as the co-op will stock local and seasonal ingredients. They are committed to their community, as evidenced by their Donation of a giant sheet cake to the Co-op's Annual Meeting and hosted the Sitka Salmon Cooking Demonstration in February. While they will be moving to Edgewater later this year, they will always be a part of the Rogers Park community.