From Monday 22nd February, the Caversham market, formerly held at Mapledurham Playing Fields Pavilion, has moved to the True Foods shop at Grove Road in Emmer Green.

Last year we moved to an annual membership system so now is the time to renew for another year. For the small sum of five pounds you can continue to benefit from special members-only discounts and make your contribution to the success of our favourite local food market. Look out for information at the markets.

Not a member? Then look at our page about joining the Co-op.

The True Food Co-op will be opening a shop in Grove Road, Emmer Green in 2010 to complement the existing markets and provide a fixed outlet for our goods. On Saturday 3rd October 2009 3 - 4pm Emmer Green youth & community centre Grove Road there will be a meeting with the local community where they can

• find out what it is all about
• talk to members and volunteers
  
• look at the shop plans
  
• share views
  
• find out about becoming a member

Light refreshments will be available and kids are welcome.

Note that this follows on from the True Food Co-op members meeting and we hope that members will stay behind and participate.

From Wednesday 30th September a new central Reading market at the Wesley Methodist Church Hall from 5pm to 8:15pm has been running. This has been the alternative venue for the fortnightly Saturday market when the RISC hall has been unavailable, so regular customers should be able to find it. There's parking beside the church off Queen's Rd, and the market entrance to the hall is on Watlington Street. The introduction of this venue fills the long standing gap in the weekday evening markets.

Turn out on the first evening was good with over 45 people coming through the doors. This included a few old friends but also many newcomers, who we hope will make True Foods a regular part of their shopping pattern

The committee is pleased to announce that the Co-op has secured a lease on shop premises in Emmer Green. This will serve a double duty, both as a replacement warehouse and base for the mobile markets, and as a new shop.

Situated in Grove Road, in a densely populated area near to two schools, a community centre and Drs surgery, the new home for the Co-op will provide much needed space to store goods and restock the mobile markets as well as allowing us to open a fixed location shop. However, a complete refit is required and much volunteer effort will be needed so current plans are to open in Spring 2010.

The Co-op is able to take this opportunity to expand thanks to the help of a the Lottery Grant awarded as part of the Local Food Initiative. This also sees the recruitment of two Local Food Co-ordinators on a job share basis, who will work on increasing the proportion of goods from local suppliers and a replacement warehouse manager who will also take on responsibility for running the shop.

Get the most out of energy efficiency measures for your home: Voluntary group Reading Energy Pioneers (REP) are holding two introductory events at True Food Co-op in February to inform and inspire homeowners.

Tues 10th February (18.30-20.00) Downshire SQ
Contact: Sunil coley@readingenergypioneers.info

Thurs 19th February (19.00 - 20.00) Newtown
Contact: Sabrina eldon@readingenergypioneers.info

Industry experts will be on hand to give a flavour of the options i.e. Insulation, Boilers, Solar heating, Wood burning stoves, behavioural changes etc.
And REP volunteers will be introducing our free program, designed to help you get information and advice on green energy measures, installers, grants and discounts.

* Invest in your home
* Save carbon emissions
* Cut fuel bills

The next General Meeting of members' will be held on Saturday 31st January at the RISC conference hall from 14:00. As well as reviewing the last few months, there will also be workshops on market-based groups and the buying policy of the Co-op.

The Downshire Square market already has an active support group which has put on several successful events and works to support the running of the market itself. The first workshop will consider how similar groups can be encouraged to form at the other venues.

The second workshop will look at our buying policy. Now that we also offer some local produce from growers without organic certification how can we clearly communicate what we do and do not sell. The True Food Co-op constitution states that we promote "affordable access to organic foods and ecologically sound products". How do we balance local and official certification?

Come along and have your say.

It used to be that shoppers had to find their way into the kitchen to get their hands on the market's selection of chilled goods, but thanks to a new fridge these are now available in the main hall along with everything else. The range includes cheese, a variety of tofu products, non-dairy spreads, butter and most recently yoghurt.

It doesn't look as though it would be easy to miss, but I managed to walk straight past it the first time it was in service at Downshire Square and another shopper asked why the fridge (in the kitchen) was empty!

Recent shoppers at our markets will have seen the new loose goods bins. The new design of bin means that they can't be stacked inside one another, which is important for food hygiene reasons, and it comes in different hues. Colour-coding makes set-up and re-stocking easier and so helps to make the markets more efficient.

The new bins were bought with the proceeds of the Salsa night, so once again thanks to Sharon, the team at Red Hat Salsa and all others who helped on the day.

Thanks to Jordan for taking the photo.

The True Food Co-op is holding a general members meeting this Saturday afternoon at RISC. All members are urged to attend or send their apologies as these are exciting times for the organisation as it grows and moves forward. The agenda includes a discussion and vote on proposed changes to co-op membership, including the introduction of an annual fee. There will also be consideration of the visual appearance of the markets, leaflets and other marketing materials and an update on the prototype 'tower' which now displays our coffee, tea, biscuits and small jarred goods. Come along and get involved in where the TFC is heading.

True Food's stall at Caversham Festival proved very popular on Saturday. So many interested people stopped by, that the team even ran out of leaflets. Some people were worried that organic food was expensive, but as many of you know our prices are very reasonable because we are a non-profit organisation that seeks to make good food affordable. Many of the vegetables we sell are bought from local growers and organisations that don't use chemicals, but don't have official organic certification. reducing costs to us and our customers.

The stall featured some of the snack foods sold at the markets, such as dried fruit and nuts, Bombay mix and cans of drink. These were very popular and over £200 pounds was taken, although the main aim of the day was to spread the word about the True Food Co-op. Regular shoppers, please look out for new faces and be ready to lend a hand if anyone is looking a bit lost at your next market.

Many thanks to the volunteers, Beth, Chin, Jessica, Tanya and Jonathan, who gave up their time to run the stall.

Chris, Joanna and Dave are taking a well-earned break next week so there won't be any markets. Your last chance to stock up will be on Saturday at RISC so don't get caught out. Normal service will be resumed on Monday 1st September at Caversham.

Many thanks to the volunteers posting notices on the market doors to explain the lack of market to anyone who does show up.

Next Tuesday 29th July will be a special Child-Friendly Day at Downshire market, where the kids can play games or do quizzes while the adults do their shopping and have a cuppa.

Book Launch

Benefit Party with Red Hat Salsa

The same evening was also the night of the True food Co-op benefit party organised by Sharon Lawrey and the team from Red Hat Salsa. The evening began with a salsa and merengue class for absolute beginners (and some of us were definitely absolute beginners), followed by a salsa party and world music disco where we could try out our new steps. Lucinda Woods was on hand to give free (and much appreciated) massages. Between dances, guests munched on True Food nibbles and browsed on the True Food stall (ably manned by Tanya and Jonathan). One of the highlights of the evening was the raffle, with some great prizes including a True Food hamper, kitchen equipment, handmade organic beauty products, vouchers for free salsa classes and a massage voucher and prizes donated by Hotel Chocolate, Lush, M&S and Heelas. Overall we managed to raise about £300 to fund the purchase of new food bins for True Food Markets.