Our renewable energy project is coming to fruition, generating clean, renewable energy, and helping power our community-owned grocery store. This week we are completing installation of a rooftop solar array.

The co-op is the first retailer in the region to add a solar—an environmental and economical investment. The 51 kilowatt solar array will generate about a third of the co-op’s electricity, resulting in an estimated $500 per month savings. As energy costs increase, the savings will be significant: one estimate shows the co-op will save nearly $1 million in electrical bills over 25 years.

“We’re excited to model how a coastal business can successfully take advantage of solar energy,” co-op general manager Matt Stanley said. “This project reflects the cooperative model’s emphasis on environmental stewardship as well as the power of people coming together to make something extraordinary happen.”

The total cost is approximately $200,000 and includes a variety of funding sources in addition to our own capital. The co-op worked with Elemental Energy to install the system and secure grants. Pacific Power’s Blue Sky program participants were instrumental in the project happening.

“It is always a great day when we can partner with a small business like Astoria Co+op, to help power a brighter future for the community,” said Alisa Dunlap, regional business manager at Pacific Power. “We’re pleased that through our Blue Sky program Pacific Power customers can nurture more renewable power and support the goals of local schools, libraries and community centers and other essential services.”

Blue Sky is an opt-in program that gives Pacific Power customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint while supporting the development of new renewable energy. Through Blue Sky customers can also invest in qualifying, renewable energy projects for community-serving organizations. Since 2006, Pacific Power Blue Sky Block participants have supported more than 120 community-based solar, wind, geothermal and renewable energy projects across Pacific Power’s service area.

We will have to complete the inspection process before the solar system is up and running. Once that happens, we will have a monitoring page so you can see in real time how much power the solar project is generating. Stay tuned for more information!

You don’t need a Mardi Gras parade to let the good times roll! Try this Jambalaya to spice up your day. Jambalaya is one of the most celebrated dishes of Louisiana. Similar to Spain’s paella, Jambalaya was originally created as a way to use up leftovers. Don’t wait for leftovers, though, to enjoy this delicious fusion of flavors! Check out the recipe.

Let your co-op do the cooking this Valentine’s Day! Lasagna, salad and chocolate-dipped strawberries will be available to go. We make everything from scratch using pastured meats, organic produce and other wholesome ingredients. All you have to do is heat the lasagna and serve for the perfect at-home celebration. Menu as follows:

• Meat & Three Cheese Lasagna
• Mushroom Lasagna (vegetarian)
• Green Salad – With chicories, lettuces and blood orange vinaigrette
• Chocolate-Dipped Organic Strawberries

You can find these items packaged in various sizes in our salad bar cold wells. Available first come, first served Friday through Sunday February 12–14 while supplies last.

Your co-op is preparing a special offering for you. Score these deals Friday–Sunday!

Your support could help Double Up Food Bucks in Oregon continue and expand. The program aims to put more healthy fresh fruit and vegetables on the plates of low income Oregonians while supporting local growers and businesses.

Oregon State Senate Committee hearings are scheduled for two Double Up Food Bucks bills. These bills seek to advocate for at least $3-million toward Double Up incentives at grocery stores, farmers markets, and farm-direct outlets.

The hearing for SB 440 & SB 555 (duplicate bills) will be on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 3:15 pm in the Senate Committee On Human Services, Mental Health, and Recovery. If you support Double Up Food Bucks, this is the time to make your voice heard! Double Up Oregon leaders have asked for the co-op’s help in drumming up supporters to testify at the hearing. Here’s how:

• Provide written testimony is support of the bills. Click here for submission instructions and a template message to use if you wish. Written testimony should be submitted non later than 9am on Tuesday, February 2. You can submit the same testimony for both bills.
• Provide spoken testimony in support of the bills. This can be short and sweet (one-minute or less). Use this link to register to present spoken testimony on Tuesday, February 2 at 3:15pm.

If you have any questions, you can contact Ryan Schoonover at Oregon Food Bank rschoonover@oregonfoodbank.org

Double Up at the co-op

Astoria Co+op is the only grocery store in the lower Columbia region to offer Double Up Food Bucks. After success at farmer’s markets, the program extended to a small number of grocery stores in Oregon last spring.

Double Up matches the value of SNAP spent on fresh fruits and vegetables providing shoppers with credit for future produce purchases, up to $10 per shopping trip. SNAP stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.

The Oregon Legislature approved $1.5 million in the 2019-2021 biennium budget for Double Up. The Oregon Food Bank is administering the Double Up grocery pilot program in cooperation with the Fair Food Network and Farmers Market Fund.

According to organizers, only 11% of Oregonians consume enough fruit and vegetables for a healthy life. For the one in six Oregonians experiencing food insecurity, eating the recommended servings of produce is not affordable. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of many serious and chronic conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

The co-op is a community-owned grocery store. The co-op accepts SNAP, offers Double Up Food Bucks and WIC. Anyone can shop (no membership needed).

Double Up Food Bucks at Astoria Co+op – Printable Flyer

Co-op owners, it is your time to shine! One great perk of ownership is saving money. So, make your list and choose a shopping trip to stock up and save up to 20% February 1–28, 2021. Here’s how the discount works:

· Spend under $100, get 10% off
· Spend $100–$149.99, get 15% off
· Spend $150 or more, get 20% off

You must be a co-op owner with equity payments up-to-date to receive discount. Applies to items in stock and does not stack with case discounts.

Not a co-op owner? It’s easy to join and take part in the savings. Click here to learn more about co-op ownership.

Thanks so much for your support!

Rounding up a few cents at check out can really add up to a significant sum for local non-profits. Your co-op donated more than $40-thousand dollars to local non-profits through our Change for Community program in 2020. Average monthly fundraising from asking customers to round up purchases to the nearest dollar has tripled since moving to a bigger new space about a year ago.

To raise that kind of money, consistency in asking customers to round up is key. The pandemic has made that especially challenging with communication barriers including masks and plexiglass, but staff have been dedicated to the cause. One of our cashiers (Mason) came up with a solution—holding up a sign asking if you’d like to round up—for when it’s too difficult to hear.

“While it’s certainly never expected, we’d like to relay a heartfelt thank you to our shoppers who have rounded up. The success of this program is a testament to their generosity and the passion our staff has for community,” General Manager Matt Stanley said.

Through our Change for Community program, we raised a total of $64,130.56 in 32-months benefiting dozens of local non-profits. $40,347 was from 2020 alone. The monthly record was $4,732.95 for Clatsop Animal Assistance. Local non-profits serving our lower Columbia region can apply online. Our staff review applications and select recipients.

The current (January 2021) Change for Community recipient is North Coast Land Conservancy’s Rain Forest Reserve Project which aims to conserve 32-square miles of Oregon’s coastal forest. Anyone can shop at the co-op and can contribute to the program by rounding up or donating pocket change.

UPDATE: Donuts are sold out!

Did you know it’s already been a year since the grand opening of our beautiful new store?! To celebrate, we’ve got a special offering of a wildly popular item, co-op donuts. If donuts are your jam, hop online and pre-order your box of donuts for pickup this Sunday, January 24.

To avoid store crowding, all donuts must be ordered ahead of time. These handmade, melt-in-your-mouth beauties are quite labor intensive, so the offering will be limited. We recommend ordering now before our stock runs out!

These are yeasted donuts and are not vegan or gluten-free. A box of 6 contains: 2 plain glazed, 2 chocolate glazed and 2 berry glazed. Cost is 9.99.

Donuts that aren’t picked up by closing time January 24 will be released to staff or donated to the food bank (no refunds). If you need your donuts curbside, call when you arrive (503) 325-0027 and we can make that happen.

Thank you so much for your support! This has been quite a challenging first year, but it has been a success thanks to YOU!

Salons and spas aren’t operating at full capacity in many areas, yet we still need grooming. So, your co-op is having a self care sale January 10–16. Save 20% on all body care: soaps, shampoos, natural hair coloring, lotions, bath salts, cosmetics, essential oils, toothpaste, deodorant, hand sanitizer and more. Enter to win prize giveaways and get free vendor samples. We hope this sale makes it easier to stock up on everyday essentials and items to pamper yourself.

Please note, sale is for in-store purchases only.