by Andy Johnston, Produce Category Manager
Happy New Year! Personally, I’m so glad to be moving on to 2024. Last year was a tough year for my family and I: I was diagnosed with stage-4 colorectal cancer in Dec of ’22, and started 16 weeks of aggressive chemotherapy on Jan 2, 2023. After months of chemo, radiation, a major surgery, and several minor surgeries, I’m currently cancer-free! So yeah, good riddance 2023!
Throughout my journey, my status as the primary cook in our house had to take a backseat. Initially, I just didn’t have the energy (or appetite), and eventually I just couldn’t contribute to anything at any level. Family and friends prepared frozen meals for us, and the convenience of having to just heat something up was welcomed and greatly appreciated!
There are so many reasons we look for convenience when it comes to our food. For many, it’s a matter of time. For some, it might be a health condition or physical changes that literally take away our ability to do the things we used to do. And, as many of us will commit to eating healthier in the New Year, it’s nice to know that there are products available to help support our efforts, while also providing a high level of convenience.
This is where Olden Organics in Ripon, Wisconsin, comes in! Tracy and Dick Vinz started farming vegetables using sustainable methods back in 2003. Using sustainable farming methods was important to the Vinzes; they wanted to ensure they were offering their customers the highest quality products, while at the same time taking care of their land and the environment. In 2016, they received their organic certification, and Olden Organics was born! Like many other fruit and vegetable growers, so much of their hard work was going into the compost: it wasn’t “perfect,” and if it’s not “perfect,” you can’t sell it. To help reduce the waste, they started their on-farm production kitchen in 2017. When I asked Tracy how the kitchen fits into the farm model, she replied “Personally I feel it is a match made in veggie heaven. I can not imagine having one without the other.”
Today, the Vinzes operate a 100- acre certified organic farm and an on-site production kitchen. They grow over 25 types of fruit and vegetables, most of which are grown for the production kitchen, and some for farmer’s market, and for the Co-op! Tracy oversees the production kitchen, sales, accounting, and staffing, while Dick manages the field production, greenhouse production, and equipment. Together, they employ up to 20 full- and part-time staff.
In 2017, Tracy reached out to Willy Street Co-op and pitched a few of the items they were producing in their new production kitchen. I think we started with the four or five products they were offering, all of the “veggie noodle” type. Over time, they began offering additional veggie products, and started bringing in organic fruit items to help expand their product offering and utilize their production equipment. Today, you can find up to twenty Olden Organics value-added products on our Produce department shelves throughout the year! Their products are so awesome, that our Delis are working with Olden Organics to provide us with specific products to expand our organic produce options on the hot bar.
So what’s so awesome about Olden Organics value-added products? Everything!
They’re local! They’re produced locally, and—when possible—they’re made with produce grown right on the farm.
The quality is exceptional! They use fresh, organically grown produce. We order the product, and two days later, it’s on our shelves.
The products are versatile. Yes, the Butternut Squash Cubes and Roasting Mix are perfect for roasting, but they’re also perfect for a hearty winter soup or stew. The Beet, Zucchini, and Butternut Squash noodles are all great substitutes for pasta, or sautéed and served as a side, but they also work great as pizza toppings and in stir-fries. The Savory Hash is the perfect addition to stuffing, or as a side, but when lightly sautéed along with their Shredded Brussels sprouts and lightly seasoned with some taco seasoning, it’s the perfect filling for a burrito or quesadilla.
They help reduce food waste—not just on the Olden Organics farm, but in your house! Have you ever wanted just a little coleslaw, bought a cabbage, and the other half sat in your crisper for a month before you tossed it? I have. Like all of the Olden Organics products, the Slaw Mix is portioned to help ensure you can use it all without generating waste.
They’re convenient. Everything about these products is easy: roasted root vegetables without having to wash and cube a bunch of parsnips, rutabaga, and beets. Their Sweet Potato Fries are as easy as tossing with a little olive oil and turning on the oven: what’s not to like? You can eat incredible, nutritious, local food with minimal time and effort.
With Olden Organics value-added fruit and vegetable products, eating healthy has never been so easy and convenient! We’ll be promoting their products on our Owner Rewards promotional program January 15-21. Stop in, save some money, and see how easy it can be to incorporate more healthy, whole foods into your diet.
Have a happy, healthy New Year!