Report from the General Manager and Board of Directors
By Emile Amarotico, General Manager and Ed Claassen, Board President
We are excited to announce that in April the Ashland Food Cooperative entered into a contract to purchase a 1.8 acre undeveloped lot at 120 Clear Creek Drive in Ashland. The parcel is located directly behind Ashland Lumber and is about one block as the crow flies (across the railroad tracks), or about a third of a mile via Oak Street from the Store. This purchase is a major step in the Co-op’s vision for growing its downtown presence and is an early step in a more extensive design process that will involve representatives for all the key stakeholders and will include all of our facilities. Our intention is to retain existing facilities and explore how they can best be used given their close proximity to Ashland's vibrant downtown.
For a number of years, the Co-op has been actively engaged in exploring solutions to address limited store capacity and parking. We considered properties outside the downtown core for a second store and decided the best way we can serve our owners is to expand our space and offerings in downtown Ashland.
We believe this property has the potential to address future needs. The scarcity of lots this large in the downtown core makes it an attractive investment for the future.
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By purchasing this property we have secured our option to develop it in the future, as we continue to explore the best way to meet the needs of our shoppers. Our goal is to have a store that is a delight to shop in, where you can get the food you love and trust, and where you can explore and learn more about healthy food and its preparation.
The zoning of this property will allow the Co-op to develop not only a larger store, with significant parking, but potentially workforce and/or cooperative housing on the site.
We welcome your questions and suggestions at AFCCampus@ashlandfood.coop.
More Co-op News
Capiche Conversations: Interview with Tracy Kaiser, Marketing & Education Manager of Ashland Food Co-op
Our own marketing manager, Tracy Kaiser, was interviewed by Melissa L. Michaels for Capiche Conversations.
May Day Community Block Party
Photography by Chelsea Whitney Art
On May 1st, several Southern Oregon businesses came together for a block party to provide a space to gather as a community after a rough spell due to the pandemic and fires. The May Day Block Party was hosted on Main St in Phoenix, where the scent of food trucks mingled with artisan goods such as local cheeses, locally farmed flowers, and even fresh-baked pastries.
May Change for Good Recipient: Rogue Valley Farm to School
May's Change for Good Recipient is
Rogue Valley Farm to School educates children about our food system through hands-on farm and garden programs, and by increasing local foods in school meals.
April Change for Good Recipient: Pollinator Project Rogue Valley
April's Change for Good Recipient is
A Visit with Rolling Hills
Visit Rolling Hills Farm and learn more about owner Dave Belzberg, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than thirty five years.
A Visit with Magnolia Farms
Visit Magnolia Farms and learn more about owner Elissa Thau, who the Ashland Food Co-op is so honored to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Visit with Emerald Hills
Visit the Emerald Hills Ranch and learn more about this fourth generation ranching family that the Ashland Food Co-op is so proud to partner with for more than twenty years.
A Conversation with Katie Falkenberg, Photographer and Filmmaker
Katie Falkenberg's photography and filmmaking has taken her all over the world, and lucky for us - she's been calling the Rogue Valley home for a couple years now. Exquisitely and harmoniously capturing the world around her, she is documenting not only through the lens but also through her peaceful and loving spirit. Katie reached out to us in hopes of collaborating after falling in love with the co-op soon after moving here.
March Change for Good Recipient: North Mountain Park Nature Center
March's Change for Good Recipient is
North Mountain Park Nature Center,
a division of Ashland Parks and Recreation, that encompasses demonstration gardens, a nature playground, and approximately 14 acres of Natural Area that is managed for wildlife preservation and public education.
February Change for Good Recipient: Ashland High Arts Advocates
January Change for Good Recipient: Rogue Valley Mentoring
Since 2005, Rogue Valley Mentoring (formerly the Rose Circle Mentoring Network) has trained over 500 adults who have mentored over 2,000 youth in our valley; letting young people know that they are not alone. A caring and compassionate ear shows them that they matter, and they they are experts of their own experience.
Coronavirus Preparedness at the Co-op
Update as of March 15th, 2022: Oregon Health Authority no longer requires face coverings to be worn in all public indoor settings.
Shopping Safely & Efficiently
As coronavirus cases increase in Jackson County, the Co-op is taking extra precautions to protect shoppers and employees.
To ensure social distancing in the store, the number of persons allowed in the store at once has been reduced to 50% capacity. Understandably, this may lead to a short wait outside of the store, but please be assured the line moves quickly.
In order to keep the wait as short as possible, here are a few steps you can take to help out:
10 Ways to Shine Your Light in Dark Times
By Allan Weisbard L.C.S.W.
Since 1963, autumn has been a difficult time for me. Two months shy of my 13th birthday I lost my younger brother to cancer, then shortly afterwards, President Kennedy was assassinated.