Author Archives: Stephanie Rupertus
-
Notice of Election for Board of Directors – March 15th Deadline
Posted on February 28, 2012 by Stephanie Rupertus in Events
It’s almost been a year since our Inaugural Board Elections and there are 5 Board positions to be filled for 2 year terms. If you are interested in leading the South Philly Food Co-op and working on behalf of the member-owners by making the best decisions for them, please submit an application. As a Board Director, you must have time, willingness to prepare for meetings, be attentive to group process, have the willingness to learn, and be willing to assume responsibility for group decisions.
*Please note that a candidate for the Board of Directors must be a member-owner of the Co-op in good standing and must have attended one General Membership Meeting and one Committee Meeting. Click here to review our bylaws.
If you are interested in running for one of the 5 positions, please submit a nomination form with 18 member-owner signatures and your response to the following questions:
1. Why is the South Philly Food Co-op important to you?
2. What has been your involvement with the Co-op to date?
3. How will your experience, skills, or unique perspectives strengthen the Co-op Board?We will be holding a Nomination Night to help you get signatures (more details to follow). Elections will be held at the General Membership Meeting in May (date TBD). Click here to download the form and to read the specific instructions.
Submit the application form with signatures by March 15, 2012 to Matt Egger matt.egger@gmail.com
- South Philly Food Co-op Election Committee
-
Happy Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 14, 2012 by Stephanie Rupertus in Events
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you are wrapping it up at work and heading home to your loved ones.
I just wanted to quickly pop in and say that we had a great time on Sunday, devouring tons of sweets.
The talented Chef Chad Durkin showed us how to make whoopie pies and an adult chocolate milk. All throughout the demo, he shared great tips such as ways to “repurpose” ingredients -using beet juice to dye red velvet cake, infusing vodka with coffee beans to make fun cocktails, and creating your own vanilla extract by submerging vanilla bean pods in bourbon or rum.
Martin Brown, from Little Baby’s Ice Cream, was also there serving up some delicious chipotle chocolate ice cream and vegan ice cream made from coconut milk, chocolate and peanut chews (who knew peanut chews were vegan?).
Thanks to Albert Yee who was there to capture it all for us!
-
Meet Chef Chad Durkin at our Love Your Co-op Event!
Posted on January 18, 2012 by Stephanie Rupertus in Events
Are you are looking for something to do for Valentine’s Day? Show your love by attending our Love Your Co-op event on Sunday, February 12th!
Join us for chocolate, cheese and wine tasting as well as a demonstration by Pastry Chef, Chad Durkin. Chad was the Executive Pastry Chef at Susanna Foo’s restaurant, The Water Works Restaurant and Lounge and has competed on several Food Network Shows. He’ll be demonstrating an easy to make-at-home dessert that you can replicate for your loved one on February 14th. (Don’t worry, it’s not the gingerbread house pictured below!)
In addition to the demonstration, you can enjoy complimentary chocolate, cheese, wine, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, and a chocolate fountain with fruit, pretzels, and pound cake!
When: Sunday, February 12, 2012
Where: 842 Wharton St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (Board Director’s Home)
Session 1: 2:00pm to 5:00pm (Demonstration begins at 3pm)
Session 2: 6:30pm to 9:30pm (Demonstration begins at 7:30pm)
Tickets*: $12 each ($7 for member-owners**)Reserve your tickets by going here for the afternoon session and here for the evening session. (Each session is limited to 30 people so get your tickets now!)
*Parents: Kids under 12 may attend for free and do not need a ticket!
**Members: To receive your member-owner discount when purchasing your ticket, enter your membership number under the promotional code. Example: Member62We hope to see you there!
-
Meet a Member-Owner: Aubin Clever
Posted on December 20, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
Meet Aubin Clever!
What do you do for a living?
I am an IT Business Analyst working for a large multinational holding company located in Philadelphia, PA.Do you have a nickname?
I have many many nicknames, the most prevalent and common being Aubie.How did you hear about the food co-op?
Through the Passyunk Square Civic Association.Why did you join the food co-op?
I love the idea of a co-ops in general, and the thought of having access to fresh, locally sourced food seemed like a no brainer.How long have you lived in South Philly?
I bought my house in May of 2007.Which neighborhood of South Philly do you live in?
I live in Passyunk Square, or as I have tried to get it called for years, P-Square.What do you like best about your neighborhood?
It is walkable, relatively safe, still fairly affordable and has a great mix of people. There is also a nice restaurant and bar scene, which I enjoy.What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
I like to make a good old red gravy. I love the process, the smell of it when cooking and also all of the things you can do with it when done. I also would say a close second is tandori chicken.Honey Crisp or Pink Lady?
I am a Gala guy.Kale or Collards?
Collards for sure. Especially if they are cooked with some sort of bad for you meat.Bacon or Sausage?
Bacon. Has anyone ever answered sausage?Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
This is a very tough question. I suppose I will say dark chocolate because it isn’t supposed to be bad for you. So I don’t feel guilty when I eat it.We’d love to hear from you! Please consider sharing with us why you became a member-owner. Email Stephanie.Rupertus@gmail.com to help with this feature.
-
Meet a Member Owner: Aaron Bauman
Posted on December 13, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
Meet Aaron Bauman!
What do you do for a living?
I’m a software engineer at Message Agency. We do websites for nonprofit organizations… do you know of any?
How did you hear about the South Philly Food Co-op?
I heard about the co-op from a Passyunk Square Civic Association email.
Why did you join the food co-op?
I try to support small businesses whenever I can, so I’m stoked about having an alternative to Big Box grocery in the neighborhood. The equity share price seems like a bargain.How long have you lived in South Philly?
I moved with my girlfriend Leigh, to whom I’m now married, from Astoria New York about four and a half years ago.
Which neighborhood of South Philly do you live in?
I love all the tiny little neighborhoods in Philadelphia. It’s always fun to hear different folks’ opinions of the boundaries. Leigh and I are right around 8th and Reed, which is technically Passyunk Square. But, depending on who you talk to, we’re somewhere between East Passyunk, Italian Market, Bella Vista, Pennsport, Southwark, Dickinson Narrows. Well, in New York people are always adding “Heights” to the end of neighborhood names to make them sound fancy. We like to call our block of Franklin Street, “Franklin Heights”.
What do you like best about your neighborhood?
I try not to play favorites. Here are my top few favorites in no particular order: Capitolo Community Garden, Fond, Devil’s Den, FrancoLuigi’s Pizzeria, our proximity to Center City, our proximity to Citizen’s Bank Park, and our proximity to I-95.What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
I know it’s a stereotypical guy thing, but I love putting anything on the grill. I like to grill salmon, ribs, burgers, and sometimes even vegetables. Basically anything that goes well with beer.What are your favorite products?
I prefer whatever I can get in the bulk bin.
Honey Crisp or Pink Lady?
Gala all the way.
Kale or Collards?
I don’t really eat either, and I don’t have anything funny to say about them either.
Bacon or Sausage?
Bacon. For. Ever.Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
Hmm… that just gave me an idea for a beer: Dark Chocolate Milk Stout. I’m sure it’s been done before, but that might have to be my next batch.We’d love to hear from you! Please consider sharing with us why you became a member-owner. Email Stephanie.Rupertus@gmail.com to help with this feature.
-
6 New Member-Owners!
Posted on December 12, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in Events, News
Thanks to everyone who came out last Wednesday night to The Wishing Well (in the rain!) for our fundraiser. It was a complete success because we had six more member-owners join us! Some people stopped by to say hi and pick up their membership cards but if you weren’t one them, don’t worry – we put them in the mail today!
We’ve had some questions come up about member-owner numbers (you’ll see it on the back of your card – here is mine).
We’ve recently upgraded to a content management system called CiviCRM to help us with our business needs, so if your membership number is different than what you originally received it’s because of this database change. Remember the primary benefit of carrying around your card will be access to our wonderful Shop South Philly program.
[Top photos by Albert Yee]
-
Meet a Member-Owner: Albert Yee
Posted on November 22, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
Please tell us, have you been enjoying this weekly series? I’m so curious that I scroll right to the question, “Why did you become a member-owner?” This week we are featuring Albert Yee, who is a fantastic photographer and has helped us capture many co-op events. (Psst…keep reading below to see what Albert says about milk chocolate, I feel the same way!)
Meet Albert Yee
What do you do for a living?
I’m a freelance photographer and also work part-time at the local food non-profit, Fair Food, in Reading Terminal Market.How did you hear about the South Philly Food Co-op?
I heard about the co-op right in the beginning but because I wasn’t living close enough to South Philly, I didn’t take a selfish interest. After moving south of South Street, I saw it was well on its way and decided to join.Why did you join the food co-op?
The notion of the food co-op was foreign to me prior to moving to Philadelphia and the business model is an intriguing one. I was aware of other member-owner groups, but I had never been a part of one. As my interest in the local food movement has grown, the thought of having a direct say in the products that will appear on the shelves of a place I
co-own, sounded like something I wanted to be a part of.How long have you lived in South Philly?
I live north of Washington Avenue but south of South Street. I normally just say the Bella Vista/Italian Market area. I’ve been in Philadelphia for 8 years, South Philly for 1 year.What do you like best about your neighborhood?
I love the proximity to really tasty and inexpensive eats. All the Mexican spots (Taqueria la Veracruzana was my favorite prior to moving to the area), Vietnamese eats (I’m on a quest to find the perfect pho and so far Pho 75 has it) and the breadth of 9th Street is unbeatable.What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
Lately it’s between stir fry and spatchcocked chicken. Stir fry because it’s a great way to incorporate a rush of a number of ingredients at all different times into the wok. Spatchcocked chicken over shallots, garlic and herb fingerling potatoes is super easy to prepare and yields a lot of food. Plus, spatchcock is fun to say.What are your favorite products?
I’m a big cheese fan and living by DiBruno and Claudio’s and working at Fair Food gives me unlimited access to it. The mozzarella at Claudio’s is consistently the best I’ve had because of its freshness, which is so important with mozzarella. DiBruno is the gatekeeper of my favorite cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy: Berkswell. It’s a delectable sheep’s milk cheese with a whopping price tag, but every once in awhile I like to splurge on it. Local creameries produce some awesome stuff as well, such as Sue Miller of Birchrun Hills Farm. She makes an incredible blue called Birchrun Blue which is creamy, dense, and rich. (It gives traditional Stiltons a run for their money.) Lastly, Cherry Grove’s Toma Primavera is fantastic in the summer with it’s golden glow. I’ve been to both farms to see how the cows roam free, it’s something everyone should see.Honey Crisp or Pink Lady?
My favorite apple is the Gold Rush which is a late season apple like the Pink Lady. It has the sweet/tart/crunchy/juicy qualities of Honey Crisp, but heavier on the tart, lighter on the sweet. The best thing about them is that you can store them in your fridge in the fall and if you’re disciplined enough, enjoy them 6 months later still crunchy.Kale or Collards?
Lacinato kale all the way. But it’s been awhile since I’ve had some proper ham hock’d greens which could sway me back to collards.Bacon or Sausage?
The double hickory smoked bacon available at Fair Food is my single favorite food item I buy on the regular. It’s absolutely heavenly and importantly, it’s *hickory* smoked, not the lighter applewood.Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
Milk chocolate is fake chocolate. Dark chocolate all the way.We’d love to hear from you! Please consider sharing with us why you became a member-owner. Email Stephanie.Rupertus@gmail.com to help with this feature.
-
Meet Marsha Shiflet
Posted on November 15, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
This month we started a new series called “Meet a Member Owner”. You’ll hear more about why your neighbors decided to join us.
Meet Marsha Shiflet!
What do you do for a living?
Currently, I’m retired. I’ve had lifetimes as a community organizer, grant writer, trainer, project manager, insurance salesperson, landlord and business owner - in both the profit and non-profit sectors.Do you have a nickname?
Many, including “Marsha Fall-Down” but my favorite is “Grandmom”.How did you hear about the food co-op?
I saw a sign for the very first meeting over a year ago, and I guess it stirred my social work roots, the rest is history!Why did you join the food co-op?
My good friend Sylvia Carter is a founding member of Weaver’s Way, and encouraged me to attend the first South Philly Food Co-op meeting because she thought my skill set would be helpful. I landed on the Steering Committee and stayed on it until the Board elections in July. What a great group of people! I put my money where my mouth is because I believe this will be a great thing for the South Philadelphia community. Although many of us older folk are not dissatisfied with the shopping opportunities in this area, a food co-op will give us so much more. This area is a real melting pot, and the opportunity to be a part of bringing the various neighborhoods and cultures together via food is very appealing.How long have you lived in South Philly?
Over 30 years. My husband, Bob Santoro, was born and raised here.Which neighborhood of South Philly do you live in?
A terrific little enclave sometimes referred to as the triangle, between Passyunk and Broad, Moore and McKean.What do you like best about your neighborhood?
We have had a HUGE influx of young, vibrant people over the last several years. They have meshed well with the old-timers, and our area is full of life, neighborhood activities, babies and dogs.What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
Large amounts of anything! Our social life revolves around food, and I particularly enjoy making large batches of my favorite recipes and bringing people around the table, especially for holidays (although we do it on a daily basis as well!).What are your favorite products?
Local and fresh, high quality products especially imported from Italy!Honey Crisp or Pink Lady?
Actually, Gala or BraeburnKale or Collards?
KALE! I was introduced to kale chips at a Steering Committee meeting and have become addicted.Bacon or Sausage?
Bacon, although my husband’s sausage sandwiches with broccoli rabe or pickled eggplant on good South Philly rolls are hard to resist!Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
How can you even ASK? 85% dark, of course!We’d love to hear from you! Please consider sharing with us why you became a member-owner. Email Stephanie.Rupertus@gmail.com to help with this feature.
-
Meet Sarah DeGiorgis
Posted on November 8, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
This month we started a new series called “Meet a Member Owner”. You’ll hear more about why your neighbors decided to join us.
You probably recognize Sarah’s name from all her wonderful blog posts about her garden, Meet Sarah DeGiorgis (officially)!
What do you do for a living?
I work at the University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine in The Office of Faculty Affairs (no, not those kinds of affairs).Do you have a nickname?
Since no one can pronounce my last name, my friends in college started calling me DeGorgeous. In high school I was Sharna. Lately I prefer “Little Cheetah.”How long have you lived in South Philly?
I have lived here for 2 years but I’ve been in Philadelphia for a total of 5 years.Which neighborhood of South Philly do you live in?
Too close to Pat’s and Geno’s.What do you like best about your neighborhood?
Friendly neighbors, a mix of different people and lots of young people. Oh, and lots of good food!How did you hear about the food co-op?
I heard about the co-op in the spring of 2010. I saw a flyer that said something like, “Interested in starting a food co-op in South Philly?” I went online and signed up for the mailing list. I’ve been writing about growing food and gardening in South Philly for the blog.Why did you join the food co-op?
The main reason I joined the co-op is that I am unsatisfied with my food purchasing options, not only in South Philly but in other parts of the city. I try to eat lots of vegetables but it’s difficult when the only produce available is shipped from across the country and covered in pesticides. A few years ago I was able to solve that problem by joining a CSA (Lancaster Farm Fresh) with my roommates but I was getting too much food and felt bad for having to throw out what I didn’t use. Another reason I joined (without getting too philosophical) is because I like that co-ops are all about equality: almost anyone can join because the initial investment is not very much ($200 total in this case, that can be paid in installments) and everyone has to do their allotted volunteer hours each year (8 hours.) Since all members are also owners, all decisions must be voted on so everyone has a say. All this adds up to a nice community of like-minded people who are invested in the co-op.Kale or Collards?
Both! Leafy green veggies are my favorite!Thank you for sharing, Sarah!
We’d love to hear from you! Please consider sharing with us why you became a member-owner. Email Stephanie.Rupertus@gmail.com to help with this feature.
-
Meet Christy Santoro!
Posted on November 1, 2011 by Stephanie Rupertus in News
This month we will be starting a new series called “Meet a Member Owner”. You’ve heard enough from the committees, now you’ll hear why your neighbors decided to join us.
Meet Christy Santoro!
What do you do for a living?
I am a homebirth midwife and my practice is Motherland Midwifery. More importantly, I’m a mama to Itzela and a partner in life with Martin!How did you hear about the food co-op?
Now that you ask that, I’m not sure! It was either through meeting Alison Fritz and Dan Pohlig or through Newbold Neighbors. I served on the Outreach Committee for a year in a limited capacity but had to step off of that officially due to time constraints. But I’m pretty involved and connected in South Philly as I see my work as a midwife including being a community resource and connecting like-minded folks. I’ve shared the info about the co-op with all of my clients in the area as they are prime consumers of healthy foods as homebirth families and new parents.Why did you join the food co-op?
I’ve always tried to join co-ops wherever I’ve lived, from Weaver Street Market in Carrboro, NC (Chapel Hill) to Mariposa in West Philadelphia. In fact, whenever I travel, I try to find the local food co-op as a way of orienting myself to where I am since co-ops serve as a hub for most all the things I care about most: community building, local and healthy food, natural medicines, people and planet over profit, keeping money in the community, etc. The past years living in South Philly have been the first time in my adult life that I’ve gone more than a year not belonging to a food co-op so I am very excited that this effort is well underway. I love being part of something that I have a personal and community stake in and can help create and influence in terms of offerings and selection and values. Along with my passion for midwifery and women’s health, supporting and creating local food systems and nutrition education and cooking have always been near to my heart. I was involved in the beginnings of the Clark Park Farmers Market in West Philly and worked as a Nutrition Educator for Philabundance before completing my training as a midwife. Now that I am a mother, I am even more motivated and committed to buy fresh and buy local and I see the SPFC filling an important gap for myself and my neighbor’s shopping needs. We are part of the Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA and buying club, Winter Harvest buying club and the Bouvier Street Community Garden…when the Co-op opens we will be able to get the vast majority of our food within the neighborhood–can’t wait!What is your favorite meal to cook and why?
Oh there are so many! But with it being autumn, it is hard not to focus on a soup or stew. There is an Indonesian Spinach Squash Soup I’ve been making for years. It is very layered in flavor and versatile in terms of pairing a squash and a green from a range of options–my favorite combo is using butternut squash and kale. It is especially lovely when I can get over to the Indian Market at 43rd and Walnut for curry leaves as they contribute a unique flavor that just sets off the rest of the spices and herbs in the soup. And then I can get a few of the amazing homemade samosas to go with the soup too! The soup and samosas, along with a mixed green salad – that definitely has some arugula in the mix – tossed with sliced pears, toasted pistachios, pomegranate seeds and a citrus balsamic dressing with some feta cheese crumbled on top is a lovely meal. Perfect for a crisp fall evening!Honey Crisp or Pink Lady apples?
Honey CrispKale or Collards?
That’s a hard one…but I’d have to say Kale.Milk Chocolate or Dark Chocolate?
Definitely dark…the darker the better! And if it has little bits of cocoa nibs- heaven!Do you have a nickname?
Nope but my adorable daughter Itzela who joins me at the co-op meetings has several: Itzy Bitzy, Zela Bella, Smiley Wiley (her last name is Wiley).What are your favorite products?
While I aspire to cook as much as possible from scratch there are a few treats I especially enjoy. I love the Sesame Seaweed Rice Chips by Lundberg particularly when paired with Bobbi’s Garlic Hummus. Panda Licorice Chews. All kinds of sea vegetables especially Dulse, which is one of my daughter’s favorite snacks. We live on Seven Stars Farm Plain Whole Milk Yogurt-you can just tell those cows are happy living on that biodynamic farm. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I like to ferment all sorts of stuff at the house, but when out and about I really enjoy an ice-cold GT’s Mystic Mango Synergy Kombucha drink. I love Rishi teas, especially the organic masala chai which is the closest I’ve found to being back to a chai stand in India. Lastly, we love Ray’s Seitan for making homemade veggie cheesesteaks especially if topped with Kennet Square mushrooms and Smoked Cheddar from Lancaster Farm Fresh on fresh rolls from one of the wonderful bakeries in South Philly.Christy is a personal hero to a few of the ladies on the Board. Thank you for sharing your story! Please consider sharing your story about why you became a member-owner. Click here to help out with this feature.
