We were at two events on Saturday 4th August: Earley Green Fair and the Summer Spectacular at the Museum of English Rural Life.

Reports so far from volunteers have been very positive. Many people at MERL had already heard about us, which means that the message is getting out there and hopefully we'll have reminded a few to come along to the markets. Thanks to Tomiko, Brian and Nadine for being on the stand. It was a very interesting event with talks and displays on the theme of sustainability.

On Saturday 28th June, Beth and Chin ran a True Food Co-op stand at the Reading Credit Union's Family Fun Day. The RCU were lucky with the weather and despite being located at the old lido, a stone's throw from the Thames, there was no need for wellies. There were brisk sales of fizzy drinks to face-painted children and a late run on rice cakes. Jessica, Rupert and I all helped for a few hours each and Rupert came away with the star prize in the raffle.

It was also our first chance to model the new True Food T-shirts, which really helped to identify who we were supporting. Spares are available for loan to volunteers working in public, or buy one for yourself at your next market.

Top tip for those running the next stand is to bring a bucket and ice so that the cans can be sold cold. Thanks to Joanna for organising stuff for us to sell and keeping the pricing nice and simple.

The TFC committee is a group of five people, elected by the members of the co-op or co-opted by other members of the committee. They take care of the overall functioning of the co-op. It is entirely composed of volunteers. In this feature, we introduce you to the different members of the committee and their motivations. (from left to right, top to bottom on the picture).

• Would you like to be involved in an award-winning, dynamic, innovative social enterprise?
• Are you interested in helping bring about a more sustainable food chain?
• Can you help bring together your community?
  

Then you might like to apply for our new position of Organic Market Assistant.

Can you spare an hour or so to help Joanna and Chris to set up, welcome customers or pack away at your local market? Just one or two people to help out really lightens their load and is a good way to get to know some of the other people interested in True Foods.

A few weeks ago I helped pack away at Downshire Square when the regular volunteers were busy and I was given a warm welcome, the last piece of cake and friendly instructions on what to do. Typically, two people help with packing away the markets and it involves repacking the baskets of goods, loading them onto the cages and wheeling these out to the lorry for Chris to load. There's also cups to wash-up and signs to take down.

Set up is roughly the same but in reverse! Volunteers help with unloading the baskets of goods, arranging the stock on the tables and making sure the price labels are in the right place. The third volunteer role, and this is one that involves lifting nothing heavier than a teacup, is a host who helps customers with their shopping.

At some markets there are regular helpers, but at the moment we urgently need more volunteers, especially with the holiday season coming up when regulars might be away. If you can help talk to Chris or Joanna at your next market or fill in the Volunteer form.

Every contribution makes a difference!

The TFC stand at Forbury Fever proved very popular with visitors to Reading Borough Council's green event. While nobody was keeping count, there was a steady stream of interested people attracted by our new display board. The Mayor came round and shook hands, Juliet was interviewed for local radio and one (very) young visitor decided a volunteer's finger looked good enough to try and eat!

Many thanks again to all who completed our customer survey. The response was far greater than our volunteer survey team had expected, but the data has now been analysed and action is already being taken.

One finding was that many people would prefer weekly markets and we are now trying this out at Caversham Heights on Mondays. If this goes well, then there is the potential to extend the idea to other locations. Also, the ability to pay by Debit Card will be coming soon, so keep an eye out at the markets. We're also looking into ways of providing more information about some of our more unusual products. If you have any favourite recipes, then bring them along and share them.

After two years of hard work bringing the True Food Co-op into existence, Chris Aldridge announced at the AGM that he was stepping down as Chairman. He will remain on the committee and in his role as Market Manager will provide a vital link between the day to day running of the Co-op and the executive. Stuart Major takes over as chair and gave a warm tribute to Chris on behalf of the membership, commenting that without Chris and Jo's volunteering input, the Co-op would not exist.

The Caversham Heights market has gone weekly! From now on the market will take place at Mapledurham Playing fields every Monday, excepting bank holidays, but including any fifth Mondays.

Not only will this make life easier for customers, it also fills the gap left by the closure of the Lower Caversham market at the end of last year. To accommodate the change, the New Hope market in North Reading has changed to the second and fourth Wednesdays.

Reaction so far has been very positive according to Market Manager, Chris Aldridge and Market Assistant, Joanna MacDouall. Customers appreciate not having to remember which Monday it is and being able to stock up on fresh fruit and veg from us on a more regular basis. If running a weekly market goes well, then some of the other more popular markets may also go weekly.

The True Food Co-op's third AGM will take place at RISC on Saturday 19th May. Members should have received their invitations by now. If yours has not arrived, please contact us to check the address information we have for you.

Proposed topics for this year's meeting include feedback from the customer survey, the role of members in the future of the Co-op and next steps for the growth of the markets. It will also be a chance to meet the new committee members and catch up with old friends. We hope to see you there.

To find out more about becoming a member of the TFC, visit our membership page.

Rob White took over Jez Taylor's land near Sulhampstead in West Berkshire last autumn. He is already selling his vegetables to the TFC. You may have tasted his delicious salad bags that seem to keep fresh forever.

In this column, we'll retrace the evolution of the True Food Co-op, and how it developed over the time.

Everything started in 1998. Chris was working at Ellis Organic's small organic farm near Sonning Common, and saw one by one the wholefood shops close in Reading, not least due to the arrival of the Oracle. What brought prosperity for some lead to the increase of rents and the disappearance of local shops.

• Would you like to work as part of a community co-op?
• Do you think that food produced in a more sustainable manner should be more accessible in the community?
• Are you interested in developing this vital and challenging role?
• Able to organise your own workload?

We’re looking for someone to join our busy Organic Markets Co-operative as Warehouse Manager. Closing date Monday 30^th April 2007

Lyn Brookes will be running her organic gardening course again on Saturday 28th April and donating all proceeds to the True Food Co-op. Learn to source your veg even more locally than TFC!

Please telephone Lyn on 0118 9793576 or email stevelyn@btinternet.com for more details. Alternatively fill in the application form to book your place.

Mutant foods are back! After the likes of Aventis, SynGenta and Bayer were forced to quit the UK back in 2003 (see SchNEWS 448) - after the most succesful ecological grass-roots struggle in history, BASF are trying again with farm-scale trials of GM spuds.

We are very pleased to welcome three new members to the management committee. In February, Tomiko Morley, Bruce Denney and Carol Denney joined the True Food Co-op committee. This brings the team back up to full strength after Martin and Joanna stepped down due to other commitments.