Main Menu

Eat Local Month 2021

 

Eat Local Month ELM square logoAll September long, we are making it even easier for you to eat local.

We are putting many local products on sale, giving away local products, and celebrating local farmers and vendors. Owners can save $50 on Owner-only sales this month. 

Not an Owner? You can join today for $10, or less if you qualify for financial assistance. See our Ownership page for details. You can also stop in at the Co-op and check out one of our three stores before you make a decision; everyone is welcome!

Click here to see our promotional flyer.

Enter to win $100 worth of local products (three prizes - one per store - awarded each week in September).

 

Three reasons to eat local

  • It's fresher. Local foods tend to be fresher than those shipped from across the country or farther away, and fresh food has more nutrients.
  • It helps local farmers and vendors. You're supporting your local farmers and keeping the agricultural viability of their communities alive. Most small farms were struggling even before the pandemic, and now many are facing bankruptcy.
  • It helps our community. Buying local keeps money circulating in local communities, which helps keep our neighbors employed and more financially secure. 

Sales and giveaways

  • See our weekly Owner Rewards sales here - check back each week in September for new sales. At the link, you can also sign up to receive the weekly flyers via email.
  • Load Up on Local every day in September! When Owners buy $50 or more in local goods at one time, you’ll get 10% off those local goods! Look for the purple tags, which tell you something is local - you may be surprised how many local products you can get! Discount available to Willy Street Co-op Owners in September (2021). Does not apply to gift cards. While supplies last. All specials subject to availability. Sales quantities may be limited.
  • We'll be giving away prizes every week in September. Each Monday at noon, starting September 6, you'll have one week to enter to win one of three tote bags full of local products - each one a $100 value! Enter to win on our website (a link will be posted on this page), on Instagram, and on Facebook. Three winners - one per prize pickup store - will be randomly chosen from all entries. 
    Giveaway #1 - breakfast, lunch & dinner - CLOSED
    Giveaway #2 - snacks - CLOSED
    Giveaway #3 - wellness - CLOSED
    Giveaway #4 - adventure

Local definition graphic

Our three levels of local

Lots of stores talk about shopping local. What does that really mean? The definition varies depending on where you shop; there is no set definition for "local" in the grocery sector. At our Co-op, local means the product was sourced from anywhere in Wisconsin or from within 150 miles of the State Capitol building. Local products are noted with purple tags in our Co-op, and we break down our local definition three ways:

100% Local tag

Products above this shelf tag are entirely local. If the product has multiple ingredients, all of them are local and the product is baked, cooked, mixed, etc. locally.

 

 

 

Essentially Local tag

At least 50% of the ingredients are grown or raised in the state of Wisconsin, or within 150 miles of the Capitol building in Madison.

 

 

 

Locally Prepared tag

Products above this tag are made locally—and may be made with some local ingredients—but they do not meet the criteria we use for our "Essentially Local" designation.