Tahini Stuffed Dates with Cinnamon Chocolate

Dates are so sweet, they can be filled with nutty tahini for a treat — no sugar needed. A drizzle of cinnamon-spiked dark chocolate makes this delicious dessert even better.

Ingredients

• 8 large Medjool dates

• 2 teaspoons tahini

• 1 ounce semisweet chocolate

• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable oil

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 pinch sesame seeds, toasted (optional)

Preparation

1. Using a paring knife, cut a slit the length of each date and slide out the pits. Scoop ¼ teaspoon tahini into the hollow of each date where the pit was, closing the date to contain the stuffing. Place the dates on a plate or in a tub.

2. Melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave or over simmering water on the stove. Stir in the oil and cinnamon. Drizzle a little bit of the chocolate mixture over each date and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, if using.

3. Serve at room temperature or refrigerate until firm.

Serving Suggestion

The sweet and savory flavors of these dates pair well with salted nuts, soft cheeses or cured meats (like prosciutto). Try adding them to a cheese or charcuterie plate!

Reprinted with permission by grocery.coop

International Workers’ Day

May 1st marked May Day, an important day for workers’ rights around the world. This May Day, the Education and Outreach Committee (EOC) would like to celebrate the finalization of a new union contract! We look forward to the partnership with UFCW helping the Co-op to be a fair and equitable workplace where staff have a say in their working conditions. One of the new clauses in the union contract officially recognizes May Day as a holiday, meaning staff are paid time and a half.

EOC committee member, Chris Qualiano, put together a brief history of May Day and the context as to why it’s important to the Co-op and our community.

International Workers’ Day—often colloquially referred to as May Day—is celebrated each year on May 1st to celebrate and honor the struggles of laborers and the working class throughout the world. The date was originally chosen in 1889 by the Second International, an organization of socialist and labor parties, in order to commemorate the lives of the anarchists that were lost during the aftermath of the Haymarket Affair, a violent clash between police and workers protesting for the eight-hour day which occurred in [the occupied indigenous territory known as Mishigamaw] Chicago three years prior.

While most countries around the world publicly recognize and celebrate May Day under the names “Labour Day” or “International Workers’ Day” [see image 1], the United States does not—Time Magazine writes:

In the U.S, that holiday came in for particular contempt during the anti-communist fervor of the early Cold War. In July of 1958, President Eisenhower signed a resolution naming May 1 “Loyalty Day” in an attempt to avoid any hint of solidarity with the “workers of the world” on May Day. The resolution declared that it would be “a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States of America and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom.”

Mariposa’s May Member-owner Drive

Mariposa’s May Member-owner Drive!

If you’ve been thinking about joining Mariposa, May is the perfect time to become a part of our community! When you join a co-op, you are more than just a member, you’re a member-owner. Co-ops are for the community and owned by friends and neighbors just like you! Plus there’s so many benefits like:

• Opportunity to run and vote for the Board of Delegates.

• Opportunity to receive patronage dividends during the Co-op's profitable years.

• Save on select products each month with Owner Deals.

• Receive a 10% discount on products special ordered in bulk. Visit us in-store for pricing.

And more! See more benefits of member-ownership.

When you join in May, you’ll receive:

• $5 on your account to use at any time on your favorite products!

• A 15% off coupon for our produce department. Welcome spring with local veggies!

• A chance to save 10% on all shopping trips during Owner Discount Days, May 23rd-29th. Stock up on your favorite bbq staples!

Current member-owners can take advantage of our May Member-Owner Drive! 

• Receive $5 on your account when you refer a friend to join! Just have them list you as the referring member-owner on their application.

• All member-owners save during Owner Discount Days! Stock up on all your favorites May 23rd-29th and save 10% each shopping trip.

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Sustainably Savvy in 2022 - Tips for zero-waste shopping at Mariposa

April is Earth Month and it’s a great time to learn how to live more sustainably all year round! At Mariposa, it’s easy to take steps to reduce your packaging while you shop.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

Shop our bulk Section

Use our extensive bulk section to purchase coffee, beans, grains, rice, snacks, nuts, and more package-free! Bring your own reusable container to fill up on your favorites by following these easy steps:

1. If you have not indicated the weight of your container yet, bring it to the register so our cashiers can tell you how much it weighs. Make sure to write it down for next time!

2. Find your favorite bulk goods and fill up as much or as little as you need.

3. Write down the four digit code, or PLU number, to identify which product you purchased.

4. Cashiers will weigh your product minus the container weight and you’ll be on your way with instant savings on your shopping bill AND your carbon footprint!

Don’t have any reusable containers? We sell some right in the bulk section so you can start your collection. You can also re-use old food containers for your bulk shopping needs. Talenti gelato containers are perfect to reuse!

Bring your own bag

Shop with reusable bags and keep them in a spot you’ll remember them when you go grocery shopping. If you forget yours at home or want to add another to your collection, we sell compact Mariposa chico bags and reusable canvas bags at our registers!

If you use our paper bags, they can be a great addition to your compost buckets.

Skip the plastic produce bags

A great way to reduce your waste is to avoid using the plastic produce bags whenever you can. Citrus, bananas, melons, root veggies, & more can go bagless since they already have nature’s protective packaging. If you are looking to bag our greens, mushrooms, or other loose produce, use an earth-friendly produce bag sold in the produce section.

Shop reusable

We have several products to help you live zero-waste outside of grocery shopping. Check out our hot beverage cups, water filters, reusable water bottles, lunch boxes, reusable coffee filters, and loose leaf tea filters near our registers.

Return your glass milk bottle

Try buying milk in glass bottles from our local supplier, Oasis Creamery. You’ll pay a bottle deposit and get that money back when you return the empty bottle at the registers. They’ll reuse these bottles again and again!

Get creative with would-be veggie scraps

Looking for more ways to reduce food waste once you have brought all these ingredients home? Check out this comprehensive guide to using often-rejected veggie scraps such as kale stems, apple peels, and radish greens.

Compost whatever you can’t use

Did you know that Mariposa composts its produce waste? Composting is easy even if you don’t have space for your own compost tumbler. We sell kitchen compost buckets and liners that you can use to get started. Contact local experts, Bennett Compost to drop off and pick up a bucket for your weekly food scraps. Don’t forget that you can compost Mariposa’s paper bags and cardboard egg cartons!

Looking to start your own backyard compost pile? Learn more about composting at home!

Board Elections 2022

This past year has been a testament to the power of cooperation at Mariposa Food Co-op, particularly at the Board level. Here’s a quick recap of the minutes!

In the midst of navigating an ongoing pandemic, the Board elected new officers, trained with Columinate on Cooperative Board Leadership Development, provided support for a racial equity audit, approved the budget for a new point-of-sale system, and so much more… 

We are Now happy to announce 2022 Board elections!

The Board of Delegates at Mariposa sets the Co-op apart from conventional grocery stores. They are the governing body that not only represents the member-owners' interests, but holds the Co-op accountable to its values. Furthermore, each delegate is…

Democratically-elected by YOU!

This year, we have six to eight member-owner spots open!

Among other projects for the 2022-2023 Board term, the Board plans to focus on forming committees about food justice, supporting the community, and planning the expansion of the Co-op.

Here’s your chance to run for the Board!

Have you ever thought about getting more active at Mariposa? Are you interested in seeing how the Board interacts with member-owners and other stakeholders? Now is the time to learn more! All member-owners are welcome to drop by the following virtual events:

• Virtual informational session on Wednesday, January 26th from 6:30pm-7:30pm

• Virtual Board meeting, held on Tuesday, February 1st and Tuesday, March 1st from 6:30pm-9pm or a virtual member-owner orientation.

What’s Involved In Being On The Board:

• Attend one monthly meeting, held the first Tuesday of each month

• Attend one full-day Board retreat, annually

• Work on Board assignments 3-4 hours per month outside of meetings

• Engage in consensus-based decision-making

• Review monthly reports from management

• Hold Mariposa accountable to its values as an important governing body

• Receive a 10% working-owner discount for participating

Elections Timeline

January 12th - Candidate packets available
February 15th - Candidate statements due
February 17th - Candidate statements posted online and in-store
March 17th - Voting opens online
March 31st - Annual elections meeting, voting closes and winners announced!

Thank you for your continued engagement in the co-op and we look forward meeting each new candidate!

In cooperation,

Mariposa Food Co-op

Important Information on Temporary Closing in January

New Registers

In mid-January, we’ll be closing for a few days to add new checkout lanes, cash registers and an updated point-of-sale (POS) system to improve the overall shopper experience at Mariposa.

Gift Cards

A new POS system means that we won’t be able to sell the current type of gift cards that we carry.  ALL GIFT CARDS MUST BE PURCHASED AND REDEEMED by Dec. 31, 2021. When the new POS system is fully installed in January, gift cards that are compatible with that system will be available for purchase again.

If you are a member-owner who comes in to redeem your gift card after the deadline, we can add the amount to your account. If you are a non-member, let a staff member know and we will assist.

Front End Remodel Timeline

(updated Tues., Jan. 6, 2022)

We’re excited to announce a date and timeline for the Front End Remodel! Please see below:

• We will be closed on Monday, January 17th and Tuesday, January 18th.

• Re-open at noon on Wednesday January 19th.

This is our goal but there is a chance this opening time could get pushed back due to unforeseen issues. We will keep you posted every step of the way before we close.

Remodel Schedule Overview

Sunday Evening

• All remaining computer equipment and check-stand units will be removed

• Floors will be cleaned & sanitized

Monday

• Install new check-stands

• Reset wellness & Grocery aisles

• Cleaning, organizing and sanitizing sales floor

• Electrical work begins

Tuesday

• Electrical work finished

• Register system and server installation begins

• Register training for Shift Leads and cashiers begins

Wednesday Morning

• Other staff register training begins

• Back-end training for Buyers & Department Managers begins

Wednesday Afternoon

• WE’RE OPEN!

We’re very excited to re-open as a new + improved store! As always, we thank you for choosing us as your community-owned grocer. If there are any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 215-729-2121 or email ownership@mariposa.coop.

2021 Holiday Guide for Gifts Under $40!

Searching for the perfect gift for a friend or family member? We put together a guide to give you ideas for a range of budgets! Whether you are looking for a funny card or a thoughtful self-care basket, we have you covered.

Mariposa Gift Cards

Give the gift of a shopping trip at Mariposa! Put as much money on as you’d like for your recipient. Purchase online or in-store. ALL GIFT CARDS MUST BE PURCHASED and REDEEMED BY DEC. 31, 2021.

Under $6

Good Paper Cards - Say it with Fair-Trade flare! These cards are cute and punny! $5.99

Acure Foil Mask - Get your friends refreshed and rejuvenated for the new year. $3.99

Mariposa Reusable Tote Bags - Reusable shopping bags for all your trips to the Co-op! $1.49

Crazy Rumors Zodiac Lip Balms - Each balm has its own special ingredient mix for your specific sign 100% natural, cruelty-free, vegan & formulated with organic Shea Butter. $4.99

Under $15

Blue Q socks - Warm and cozy socks for your special person! $12.99

Mrs. Meyer’s Aromatherapeutic Candle - Soy & seasonal candles made with the purest ingredients. $12.99

Fair Trade Felt Ornaments - Hang these cuties on a tree or anywhere else in your home! Each ornament is handmade in Nepal by a group of Fair Trade artisans. $9.99

Himalayan Crystal Salt Lamp - Good vibes only with this home accessory! $12.99

Under $20

Mariposa Tumbler & Mariposa 50th Birthday Hat - ‘Tis the season for hot drinks (& cool caps). Sport gear from your favorite Co-op! $19.99 (ea)

Small Mediation bowl - A guide for setting mindful intentions & being present. $19.99

Andalou Naturals Gift Set - Changes in the weather calls for a new skincare routine! Get started with 5 skincare essentials. $17.99

Burt’s Bees Travel Set - Headed out of town for the holidays? Here’s what you’ll need for the trip! $17.99

Under $40

Hydroflask 21oz and 32oz Bottle - Great for hydrating in style! $34.99 and $39.95 

Norpro Stove-Top Espresso Maker - Make sure you and your crew are buzzin’ into 2021. $22.99 (10oz)

Aura Cacia Oil Diffuser - Freshen up your personal space all season long! $36.99

Lunar Revolution Earrings -You can’t go wrong with these beautiful earrings! Produced in Fair Trade workshops in Nepal. $23.99

Celebrate Co-op Month with Mariposa!

October is Co-op Month which means we have a whole lot happening here at Mariposa! This is a time to celebrate our member-owners, cooperative values, the local cooperative economy, and highlight some of our favorite things about owning a grocery store with your friends!

Member-Owner Drive

Anyone who becomes a member-owner during the month of October will receive a 20% off coupon** to use before the end of the year! Simply ask a cashier for assistance next time you are in, or sign up online! Everyone who joins will also get entered into raffles for some of our newest Co-op swag and our favorite local products.

Current member-owners who refer a friend to join will also get entered into the raffles! Just make sure your friend writes down your name on their application.

Owner Discount Days

Mark your calendars! The next Owner Discount Days is happening from Monday, October 11th - Friday, October 15th. All member-owners receive 10% off all their purchases on that Monday-Friday. It’s a great time to stock up on your favorites or try something new!

**New member-owner coupons cannot be combined with the ODD discount.

Partnership with The Energy Co-op

Starting on Wednesday, 9/29, we’re teaming up with The Energy Co-op once again! Member-owners who sign up to be members of the Energy Co-op by December 15th and remain members with them for at least 60 days, will receive $25 of credit on their Mariposa shopping account. The Energy Co-op sources 100% renewable electricity, renewable natural gas, and is a part of Philly’s robust cooperative economy! 

Use promo code: MFC2021A. Questions? Reach out to them through their website.

Philly Grocery Co-op Day!

Did you know that there are five food Co-ops in the Philly area? In addition to Mariposa Food Co-op, Philly is also home to Weaver’s Way Co-op, South Philly Food Co-op, Kensington Community Food Co-op, and Swarthmore Co-op!

Tuesday, October 19th will be full of sales and special surprises at all 5 area co-ops, and then in the evening from 5-7pm Kensington Community Food Co-op is graciously hosting all of us in their parking lot for a Co-op Day celebration filled with samples, food trucks, music, prizes, and more (rain date October 20th).

BONUS: Visit 2+ local grocery co-ops from the above list in October and you get a special gift from all of us!  Just save your receipts and bring them to our event at Kensington Community Food Co-op on October 19th 5-7pm to redeem.

It's going to be an EPIC day!

Fall Updates from Mariposa Food Co-op!

Hello Mariposa member-owners & shoppers! Elise, your Owner Services Coordinator here. If you’ve emailed the Co-op in the past six years, chances are I’ve been the person who emailed you back. You can find me leading new member-owner orientations, sometimes cashiering, and making sure that your feedback about the store makes its way to the right people. It’s been a long time since I’ve written a blog post, but we have several updates for you all so read on!

The Bulk Section

The most recent additions to our bulk section!

Questions about the bulk section are the number one inquiry I’ve received over the past year or so. As you may have noticed, we are getting the section back to its former glory and we’re so excited about it! To give a bit of context around why it’s taken so much time, at the beginning of the pandemic we didn’t know a lot about COVID-19 and wanted to reduce contact with high touch surfaces like the bulk bins. As time passed, we learned that surface contact is not the main way it spreads, but we also determined that the bulk section needed to stay fully prepackaged for a couple of reasons:

• The bulk section was and is one of our most crowded sections of the store. To reduce crowding and allow for social distancing, keeping it prepackaged allowed folks to move in and out quickly at the height of the pandemic.

• As restrictions eased, we had hired a lot of new people and needed to get everyone up to speed on what would return to the bulk section and how to fill it.

We appreciate your patience as we work to get things back to a sense of normalcy. For now, the scoop bins will remain pre-packaged, but the good news is that we are actively looking into purchasing more of the hanging bins to fill with bulk favorites as they are a better option for the store.

At this time, we are not bringing bulk herbs and spices back. Because of our small store, the grocery team had to make a difficult decision based on low pre-pandemic sales, shopper demand for other products, and limited shelf space. However, you may have noticed an increased selection of small packaged spice options from Frontier Co-op and an expanded selection of loose-leaf teas and medicinal herbs. We appreciate all of your feedback and will continue to assess if and how we can bring back bulk herbs and spices in the future. Questions? Feel free to email me at ownership@mariposa.coop.

Special Orders

At the beginning of the pandemic, the supply chain was completely shocked with people buying more than normal and continued that way long after the “panic buying” subsided. Because of frequent distributor out-of-stocks and the increased workload of our buyers, we put special ordering on hold. When things began to even out, we had hired a whole new buyers team and felt we needed to give them some time to figure out their duties before introducing special orders back to the store.

As we work to bring this benefit back, we’ll start with taking bulk orders for items available in-store only. We hope to bring back all special order options, but starting small will allow us to make sure the system works for both our member-owners and our buyers. We anticipate late September/early October for an official return of special ordering!

(Bummed about bulk herbs and spices not returning? You’ll still be able to special order 1 lb bags of your favorites!)

New Hires

Haley (they/them) is our new Assistant Grocery Manager!

The Co-op is doing a lot of hiring! We’ve had many new folks join us in the past few months and I’m sure you’ve noticed several new faces around the store. Because we hired so many new people at once, there is a learning curve as folks get trained. As a result, the store isn’t always looking fully stocked with your favorites. However, we want to assure you that all of our staff, new and current, are working hard to make sure we are providing the best selection of products possible as our sales rise back to pre-pandemic levels. Thank you for your patience as we work through this transition and get folks trained and settled in their new positions.

We also wanted to note that our non-admin and non-manager staff are in union negotiations and have been for a few months! This includes cashiers, stockers, and receivers.

Know anyone looking for a job? We’re still hiring for several positions! Take a look and apply either in-store or online.

Working Members

We haven’t had working members in the store for the entirety of the pandemic. This started as a safety measure and is still part of the reason we haven’t welcomed folks back in this capacity. While we miss the program and the folks who regularly helped out around the store, we don’t have plans to bring the program back to its original form for the time being. While we have learned to manage the store with pandemic restrictions, our staff are now in union negotiations. During this time of contract negotiations, major changes to store operations and policies cannot be made. Until the contract has an explicit clause about working members in-store, the program will be on hold.

However, we will still allow folks to earn working member credit helping out at events, at partner organizations in the future, and as Board members!

Round-up for Change

The People’s Fridge on 52nd is our September Round-Up recipient!

As you may have noticed, we did not have an open application period for the Round-up for Change cycle this year. We’ve had over 100 applicants from the past three years, and while so many have aligned with our values, there are only so many months in the year that we can raise money for these organizations. Our staff-led Education and Outreach committee that typically oversees the selection process determined that we would look through past applicants and other groups doing good work around the city so we could prioritize those that have not received money yet. Currently, our full staff is voting for our next recipient, which will receive funds from October-December. We’re excited to raise money for a longer period of time and for our staff and member-owners to learn more about each organization during this extended period. 

Co-op Open House

Save the date! We’re excited to gather with member-owners and other community members on Thursday, September 30th at The Cedar Works! We’ll meet outside to share some food, get Co-op updates, have a chance to ask questions to management, meet the Board and staff, and meet some of our vendors and partners. We’ll be announcing more details soon, but you can RSVP here.

As a note, we are continuing to assess the rise in COVID-19 cases and will make changes to the event as necessary. 

Front End reset

Recently, the Co-op finalized its purchase of a new Point of Sale (POS) System. Our current system, while meeting many of our needs, lacks a lot of desired functionality both from a customer and staff perspective. At the same time, we plan to reset the register check-out area to give it an updated look and use the space more efficiently. There are a lot of moving parts to this project and once started, it will likely require a short store closure to complete. We are hopeful it will be finished before the end of the year and we will keep you updated as we know more specific details.

Thanks for reading this far! If you have any questions, please email ownership@mariposa.coop and I’ll do my best to make sure I get you an answer. We appreciate your patience as we move through this transition period for Mariposa, and we thank you for your support over the past 18 months! This is YOUR Co-op and our member-owners are the reason we can keep doing what we do. See you around the store soon!

In cooperation,
Elise Greenberg and Mariposa Staff

Statement: We Are no longer carrying lesserevil

At Mariposa Food Co-op, there are specific product standards that inform the types of items we sell in our store. A long-time member-owner recently brought it to our attention that we weren’t adhering to those guidelines by carrying LesserEvil, an organic snack food brand, on our shelves.

LesserEvil, owned and led by a white man, appropriates the word “guru” to describe the cartoonish imagery of seemingly Eastern spiritual leader(s) that appears on all of their snack food packaging.

Because of this, the Co-op made the decision to remove all LesserEvil products from our shelves and will not continue to sell them. Additionally, we also notified the company of their offensive, culturally appropriative packaging and the harm that it causes.

We apologize to those in the Asian-American community, and other folks we offended, by choosing to sell this brand, and take full responsibility in making the wrong decision to do so. We extend our gratitude to the long-time member-owner for taking the time out to send a very detailed message telling us where we could do better as an organization, and we take their concerns very seriously.

As we see a surge in hate crimes against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community fueled by white supremacy, it was imperative for us to assess our own practices at the Co-op to see where we can take action to further dissociate ourselves from white-centered-thinking and denounce white supremacy; and instead center the voices of the Asian community and other people of color who have been historically marginalized in this country for far too long. We know removing this brand is a small step, and the work doesn’t happen overnight, but please understand that this is of the utmost importance to us.

The General Manager and Buyers Team will take a look at our current list of product standards and make updates given the context brought forth by the long-time member-owner. We will present these changes to our membership and community by May 4, 2021. The guidelines will be accessible in-store and on our website.

We continue to support and stand in solidarity with organizers, protestors, allies and others working tirelessly to bring awareness to racist attacks and pressing issues the Asian community faces.

In Cooperation,

Mariposa Food Co-op