August 2020

By
The Beet

Sustainable, Local, Friendly- 3 words to describe Ben Penner Farms (and the man behind the products, Ben Penner, himself!) Located on three separate farms totaling over 70 acres of organic soil in Belle Plain, Henderson, and LeSueur, every Ben Penner Flour product is MOSA Certified Organic and 100% produced in Minnesota. Penner has been farming in Minnesota since the fall of 2009. He produces and sells alfalfa, hard red winter and spring wheat (both heritage and new varieties), food-grade soybeans, organic vegetable starter plants, cover crops, lentils, black beans, and pinto beans through no-till organic farming practices using a combination of rye cover crops and crop rotations. All flour is not created equal. While it can be easy to know the difference between whole grain, conventional and organic flours, one type you may be unfamiliar with is 'heritage variety' flour. So, what is

By
The Beet

"Will it get me high? What's it even made from?" We get it. The world of recently legalized-CBD can be daunting. There's a lot of information (and misinformation) you can find online. Plus, it can be very difficult to find trustworthy brands producing CBD that you let you feel confident using. So, will CBD get you high? Nope. CBD (Cannabidiol) has been found in lay and scientific studies to not alter users' consciousness and has been deemed "non-psychoactive". However, keep in mind that CBD has been shown to have anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic, anti-craving, alerting, and mood-elevating effects in human studies. While those benefits of CBD do not alter users' mental or physical functions (even in very high doses), it does clearly impact users' psyches-- thus considered a non-psychoactive substance. What's CBD made from? CBD is the non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is

By
The Beet

  "Certified Transitional" is one of the best ways to support farms as they transition to organic farming practices. Food for Thought: Just because a label doesn't read "Certified Organic" doesn't mean it's not produced through organic practices. What does it mean to be "Certified Transitional"? Organic has become the fourth largest food commodity in America, according to the USDA, but there aren’t enough farms growing organic food to keep up with demand. As of 2017, less than 1% of American farms (approximately 18,000) have organic certification! That's where "Certified Transitional" comes in - a new verification created to encourage more farmers to make the switch to organic farming. One of the most daunting hurdles to becoming certified organic is the 36-month transition period that any farm must go through before being granted organic certification

13750 Co Rd 11, Burnsville, MN 55337

Call us during store hours at: 952-891-1212

Valley Natural Foods Co-op works in partnership with the South Metro community to support health and well-being through education and expertise in local, sustainable food and wellness services.

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OPEN on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 – 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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