co op month contest

I have been moving to a new home over the last few days and am pretty run down with all the carrying and dragging and boxing and unboxing. I hate moving; there are few highlights. My high points of the day – Noel and Danielle brought me some expired goat cheese and goat butter. Tonight was dinner with Sarah and Anthony.

Given that I am surrounded by boxes and unfamiliar with which light switch works which light, I am in the mood to be a bit self congratulatory. Please bear with me.

A few months ago I was nominated for the Cooperate for Community Contest. From the Tidal Creek website:

“National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) and Frontier Natural Products Co-op sponsored the first-ever ‘Cooperate for Community!’ contest to educate the public about the benefits of sustainable food and the cooperative model.

Open to anyone aged 18 or older, this contest encouraged co-op members, shoppers and community members to identify and honor the people and organizations that work toward more sustainable food in their community while exemplifying an outstanding spirit of cooperation along the way.”

I won the local competition, but was disqualified from the national stuff because I am a co-op employee. I guess “open to anyone aged 18 or older” doesn’t really mean anyone. Dumb. But I won locally and was able to donate some money to Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and receive a Tidal Creek gift card. Here is what my nominator wrote. (I read it for the first time when it was printed in the co-op newsletter. My nominator is pretty damn cool her ownself…)

“Local Winner – Trace Ramsey

Trace’s everyday life demonstrates his commitment to a just and sustainable world. He is currently the Produce Manager and a board member of our local co-op, Tidal Creek. Trace motivates Tidal Creek to adopt policies and programs that support and follow principles of sustainability.

Since Trace became Produce Manager, he went through the tedious process of organic certification for his department. It is the first and only certified produce department in Wilmington.

Through choosing to try to eat within a 100 mile foodshed and blogging about it at cricketbread.com, Trace has inspired the store. He is helping the co-op identify and connect with local producers and compile this information by creating a local foods guide for Southeastern North Carolina. This guide will be a huge resource to consumers, restaurants and small farmers in our area.

As a part of Trace’s healthy living, he bikes to work everyday, five miles each way. He is an advocate for alternative transportation and has instituted a bike incentive program for employees and customers. Outside of Tidal Creek, Trace has initiated a community garden, organized a community bulk veggie purchasing program helping make organic produce affordable and accessible to low to middle income families, rescued food from dumpsters, helped launch the Cape Fear Biofuels Co-op, and participated in many other projects.

Trace is worthy of the Cooperate for Community award because of his dedication to sustainability and community building through his work and advocacy for organic and local foods. He is truly a leader in our community by facilitating our co-op’s mission of providing fresh food and educating and empowering the public.”

There is my self promotion for the day…