Fresh Department
Hello,
My name is Kourtney Hanson. Over the past year, I have been in conversation with our GM Stanley about creating a new department at the co-op. I've spent 4 years working various positions in the grocery department and I realized that the previous manager had a lot of departments to oversee. Upon my promotion to produce manager, I realized that we could utilize the knowledge I gained and relieve some of the responsibility for the Grocery team. The Fresh Department is now in effect. We are now overseeing produce, refrigeration, specialty meats and cheeses, dairy and eggs. I have made changes in product placement, and have brought items back that we had previously stopped carrying. I believe these changes are in the best interest of the co-op and our members. I hope you all agree! Thank you for embracing these exciting changes with us. We will continue to serve our community in the best way possible. 
Daily Market Farm, Waterford, CT |
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At Fiddleheads we take pride in sourcing the best local and organic produce for you to enjoy. You can always trust that you'll find the freshest seasonal specialties as well as your favorite staples but we also go out of our way to stock unique options from around the world that you may not be able to find elsewhere.
Organic Produce |
Local Produce |
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All of the produce you'll find at Fiddleheads is certified organic with the exception of some of our local options (please read on for more on the standards we hold our farmers to). You can always find classics like crisp apples, juicy citrus and Fair Trade bananas but you'll also discover seasonal specialties like sweet stone fruits, heirloom tomatoes, plump persimmons and robust watermelons. When the growing conditions around the globe cooperate you'll also find our shelves home to unique items like tropical passion fruit, dragon fruit, star fruit and lychee. We even offer options like fresh Aloe. If you're foraging for something specific don't hesitate to call us for information on availability or special orders!
Provider Farm in Salem, CT
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One of our main and most important missions at Fiddleheads is to help support local farmers and the scrumptious produce they work painstakingly to grow and harvest. In 2018 Fiddleheads customers purchased over 950 local products grown or produced within 100 miles of the co-op, representing over $567K in sales. By prioritizing the products of our local farms we are able to invest directly back into the financial health and fortitude of our community but we are also able to offer you produce that is more sustainable, fresher, and tastier. It is only with the help and business of our local farmers that we are able to offer you such options as huge, crisp bunches of kale (from Hunts Brook Farm in Quaker Hill, CT), bushels of micro greens and bright spring blooms of tulips (from Tiny Acre Farm in Woodstock, CT) and the rare and aromatic Esopus Spitzenberg apple (rumored to be Thomas Jefferson's favorite) from Vermont.
Occasionally there is some confusion about the organic status of produce from our local farmers. The process of attaining organic certification is an exceptionally expensive endeavor that is unfortunately out of reach for your average small scale farmer BUT this does not mean that the growing and harvesting practices of our local farmers is on par with conventional non-organic options. At Fiddleheads we require all of our local farmers to sign the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut Farmer's Pledge. This pledge is signed annually by participating farmers and declares such standards as the priority to "serve the health of soil, people and nature by rejecting the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers [...] reject the use of GMOs, chemically treated seeds, synthetic toxic materials, irradiation and sewage sludge in our farming, and all synthetic substances in all post-harvest handling." Through self policing, high personal standards and pride in their work we often find that our local farmers hold themselves to a standard of stricter quality than certified organic farms. The Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut Farmer's Pledge is available for you to read in full here on their website. |
