If you look for local and organic options when shopping for groceries, you’ve probably been to Moonflower Community Cooperative already.
If you haven’t yet visited the natural foods market, Saturday, Aug. 10, is a good time to get acquainted: The store will be celebrating 40 years since its founding as the Moab Food Co-op. (The market became a member-owned food cooperative six years ago.)
The event will include live music from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free product samples throughout the day, and discounts on purchases of locally and regionally sourced products.
“We’re having as many of our local and regional vendors as possible to create those connections so people will know who they’re supporting while strengthening local and community economics,” Moonflower General Manager Derek Whitworth said.
Some of the vendors include Wasatch Organics, marketer of Utah honey; Antelope Trading Company, a Grand Junction, Colorado-area business that makes drinking chocolate; and Sundial Medicinals, with owner and herbalist Emily Stock sharing cold summer teas.
“Moonflower is an incredible asset to this community,” said Stock, who also serves on Moonflower’s board of directors. “Sundial Medicinals is lucky to be one of the many local vendors that are supported by our amazing natural grocery co-op.”
Other local vendors include the Moab supplement company Synergy, with samples of berry-powered lemonade; Nature’s Fusion, an essential oil and CBD company; and massage therapist Emily Terris, who will offer five-minute massages throughout the day.
Katriana Gillette of Belle Tige Organic Skincare will also be there displaying the natural skincare products she makes from roses, herbs and fruits grown at her Castle Valley farm.
“Our goal is to preserve the beauty and essence of our handpicked crops, and curate them into healthy beauty products,” Gillette said in an email to the Moab Sun News. “Like many small-scale farmers, we’re carving out a specialty niche for organic beauty, and Moonflower is helping us grow and deliver healthy products to our community.”
Moab musician David Steward will perform guitar music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Linsey Mountford of Wasatch Organics will be playing her harp for the entire day.
If free samples and live music weren’t enough of a reason to stop by on Saturday, consider this: Moonflower owners (co-op members) will receive a 15 percent discount on all local and regional products purchased that day. Nonmembers will receive 5 percent off purchases.
Afterward, a community meal, featuring local and regionally grown produce, will take place at 5 p.m. Both the in-store celebration and community meal are free and open to the public.
You can become an owner by paying $100 for a lifetime membership — which is good for an individual and members of his or her family. Memberships can be purchased via five annual installments of $20 each. Some of the benefits of ownership include a 10 percent discount on one shopping visit quarterly; access to special owner-only sales on a variety of products each month; discounts on special orders; and the opportunity to attend monthly meetings with the board of directors and participate in governance of the nonprofit in additional ways.
The annual meeting — for co-op members only — will take place at 4 p.m. on Aug. 10. Whitworth will present a slide show presentation regarding the co-op’s past year and will announce three newly elected board members.
What: “The Phase of the Moon,” Moonflower Community Cooperative’s six-year anniversary celebration and annual owner meeting
When: Saturday, Aug.10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Community dinner at 5 p.m.
Where: Moonflower Community Co-op, 39 E. 100 North
Information: facebook.com/events/310094503230679/
“We’re having as many of our local and regional vendors as possible (at the anniversary celebration) to create those connections so people will know who they’re supporting while strengthening local and community economics” — Derek Whitworth
