At Menomonie Market Food Co-op, being central to a thriving and healthy community is a phrase we use often. It is our Ends statement (similar to a mission or vision statement), and it influences nearly every decision we make, large or small. Whether it is developing a new giving program or providing great customer service, we strive to make our co-op a place where everyone feels welcome. One of the ways that we support our community is through education and connecting people with their food on a deeper level by hosting events throughout the year. Unfortunately, just about all of them have been put on hold since the beginning of the pandemic, but I’m thrilled to share several will be returning to our calendar soon.

Since we made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining community classes in March of 2020, you’ve been asking when they would return, and I am excited to say they will be coming back in a small capacity this fall as we ease back into offering them again. If you are not familiar with this program, our community classes are offered in two terms each year, one September through mid-December and another mid-January through May. We take the summer months off while much of our community travels and enjoys the sunshine.

Topics covered in community classes range from basic cooking techniques to foraging, health and wellness, and home maintenance, so there is a little something for everyone. These courses are also taught by experts or enthusiasts in the Chippewa Valley, including Master Gardeners, local business owners, and staff members. Watch for our next class calendar to be announced later this summer so you can sign up to learn something new.

In addition to community classes making a small but humble return in a few months, we plan to bring fall events back to our store later this year. Did you miss the Holiday Open House, meeting local vendors, and sampling new treats? You’re in luck! As long as we can do so safely, these sampling events will be returning within the coming months, so get your taste buds ready to try new foods.

As events in the Chippewa Valley return, we plan to have our teal tent set up at as many of them as possible so we can serve up delicious food from our Deli or just connect with you in person. Keep an eye on our social media profiles for updates on which ones we’ll be attending.

We’ve missed seeing you learn and connect with all the wonderful local food in our region and are counting down the days until we get together for classes and events again.

This article was originally published in the July/August 2021 issue of our bi-monthly newsletter, The Morsel. If you’d like to read more stories like this one and stay up to date on the latest co-op news and events, pick up a print copy in-store on your next grocery run or find more news on our website here.