Announcing our New General Manager!

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I bring you very exciting news!

We are pleased to announce that our interim general manager, Jessica Bosworth, who has done a wonderful job leading us through this recent transition, has stepped up and accepted our offer for the position of General Manager. Jessica brings years of grocery, leadership and management skills to the table and has already rolled up her sleeves ready to lead.

It was clear when we announced our decision to the store managers and staff on Tuesday that Jessica receives tremendous respect from her team. The applause and energy in the store after our announcement was energetic, genuine and inspiring.

Jessica will also be the first woman to lead our Berkshire Food Co-op as GM. It is about time.

I would like to extend enormous gratitude to my fellow board members who met quite often over these last several weeks as we explored the future of our leadership. We came together as one voice wishing to hire talent from within, recognizing that Jessica knows our culture, our ownership and greater Berkshire community. She is eager to empower her team, help us to grow responsibly, and make sure we are achieving our organizational ends.

Next time you stop in for a delicious hot bar lunch or dinner, a relaxing smoothie from the café or your regular shop, be sure to wish Jessica well.

Thank you for all of your support.

Phyllis Webb

BFC Board President

COVID-19 Policy Update

In light of the rise in Covid-19 cases in our area, and the number of Covid-19 related (and other) staffing shortages, we have made some changes to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 amongst the staff and community, ensuring we can keep our staff healthy, our departments open, and continue to serve you: 

• Mandatory masking for all customers, regardless of vaccination status  

  • Continuing to offer curbside shopping to anyone who can’t or won’t come into the store for any reason

• Mandatory masking at all times in all places for all staff, regardless of vaccination status

• Spreading out tables in the café seating area to allow for social distancing 

• Suspending any “events” which encourage unnecessary gatherings, especially indoors 

  • Offer “grab n go” giveaways in place of events so as to continue sharing goodwill and cheer in the community without sacrificing safety

  • Return to distanced, outdoor-only events once the weather warms/it is safe to do so 

• We will revisit this often as the Covid-19 situation evolves

We need to keep our staff safe and healthy in order to continue feeding you! And we want you to continue to feel comfortable while shopping with us. That’s why we’re making these changes. Thank you for understanding and cooperating! We can’t wait to see your smiling eyes behind your mask soon.

Hot Bar Price Change

A letter from Kyle, our Fresh Foods Manager:

To our Berkshire Food Coop community,

Thank you for your continued support over the years and the continued pandemic. Through the last year, we have continued to do our very best to provide good food for our community while providing our team with fair and equitable wages. This has been our goal from the beginning, and it’s written into our mission.

That being said, it’s time to update our Hot Bar, Salad Bar & Soup prices. Starting January 1, 2022, Hot Bar and Salad Bar will be $11.99/lb. Soups will be $4.49 for small, $6.49 for medium, and $9.99 for large.

The last time we updated these prices was 5 years ago. Since then, our costs have increased dramatically. Part of that is due to a huge increase in the cost to us of the ingredients and packaging we use. While it’s not the whole reason, COVID did play a part in that increase, and we’re seeing this trend in many other departments here. Another huge part is providing fair wages to our team. We just increased our minimum wage to $16/hr, which is amazing!

We realize this change is sudden and may come as a shock. However, if we are to continue offering quality products and and equitable wages to our team, this change is necessary. It also gives us some room to expand our menu and include some new options!

We appreciate your continued support of your Berkshire Food Co-op and the Prepared Foods Department. If you have any questions about this pricing update, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Happy eating!

December Featured Artist - Jon Caplan

“Looking back over my interest in photography, there have been numerous periods and events that have drawn me back into the medium… escaping to Berkshire and Hampshire counties during my teenage years, shooting for my year books (high school and college), hitchhiking across country, a variety of other travel adventures, and buying a home years ago in Egremont.

”I was fortunate to take a couple of wonderful photography courses in college (B&W, with dark room film processing & printing) that focused strongly on light as the photographer’s medium. My wife, Michele’s more recent evolution from jewelry designer to painter also has inspired me, and has amplified my awareness and appreciation of color. It’s wonderful for us to be able to collaborate. We shared a venue in Pittsfield’s October 2019 First Friday Artswalk, which now feels like many years ago.

”Since March 2020, I’ve been more focused on local landscapes, finding solace in my frequent Coronamania Therapy walks. I love the interplay of light and color during the twilight hour on Baldwin Hill and the surrounding area, which has inspired me to attempt to capture the bucolic beauty of Egremont, Great Barrington and the Berkshires. I've also enjoyed capturing the wonderful street life in our community.”

Fall in Love With the Berkshires - By Matt Sinico

I've lived my entire life in Berkshire County, and I know it’s easy to get lost in its own beauty. Winter, spring and summer all have their own special traits and qualities. I think, however, if you were to ask anyone who’s lived or visited this area they’d say fall is the best time of year. This year the fall equinox was September 22nd, though Indigenous Peoples Day is usually the biggest day of the season, with peak foliage falling around the first two weeks of October. Berkshire County has a plethora of places to see, food to eat, and drinks to… drink. Route 7, running north to south, is the spine of the county. It’s the main connector from Vermont to Connecticut. Most towns and cities in Berkshire County are not far off this main route. Almost all the stops I’ll talk about can be found not more than a five to ten minute drive from this central artery.

The first place to stop and look around is the highest point in Massachusetts: Mt. Greylock Reservation at 3,491 feet. From its peak on a clear day, you can see as far as 90 miles away. No matter when you visit, there's plenty to do and see. The park is open from dawn to dusk. For more information you can visit the mass.gov webpage about it.

As you continue south on Rt. 7 you’ll run into Stockbridge, home to the Norman Rockwell Center. Rockwell’s “Main St. at Christmas” is one of the most famous paintings in Berkshire County history. You’ll also find Chesterwood, home of sculptor Daniel Chester French who sculpted the Lincoln Memorial. Both these museums are perfect to visit during Fall as they are in the middle of peak forest conditions. Take a moment and visit the porch of the Red Lion Inn on Main St and enjoy a hot toddy. The red wicker chairs are worth the price of admission. It’s one of the longest standing hotels in the United States—some parts of the building are from 1773. Down the street, the Mission House will teach you about the Mohicans who lived on this land before any of us.

Our heart always seems to be in Great Barrington. Which is home to another peak one needs to climb. Monument Mountain is, famously, where Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville first met. They both called Berkshire County home. From the top of Monument Mountain, you can see three states.

Fall Festivals are in great demand in Berkshire County. There’s the Lenox Apple Squeeze in Lenox, the Harvest Festival in Stockbridge, the Lee Founders Celebration in Lee, and Fall Foliage Parade in Pittsfield. If it's food and gifts you crave you will not be disappointed. Falling in between the end of September and beginning of October, these four festivals define a true fall celebration. Parades, antiques, homemade goods, games, and—do not forget—food and beverages. Attending these celebrations is cherry on top of the fall atmosphere of Berkshire County.

Apple picking is a ritual deeply rooted in Berkshire County lore. There are many opportunities to dive into our local delicacy. These are three of the most popular places to get your apple picking itch scratched. Each has many activities and choices for taste buds craving locally grown apples.

Once you have experienced fall in the Berkshires you will surely be back year after year. No vacation anywhere else at any other time of the year is like our fall spectacular.

Happy Co-op Month! What makes Co-ops special?

Have you ever wondered what makes the Co-op different from other grocery stores?

Community Owned - A Co-op or Cooperative is a customer/community owned business. That's right YOU can own a grocery store. Every member owns one share of the business. Like with other businesses, when the store is making a profit you get a share back. At our Co-op that portion of profits is called a “patronage dividend” and is based on how much you spend so be sure and present your card every time you shop!

Savings! - Quarterly, we host “Owner Celebration Weeks” where you AND any household associates get 15% off one shop. This is a great time to stock up on your Co-op faves. Every day, owners have access to our Buying Club - big savings when you buy items in bulk. Additionally keep an eye out for Special Owner Savings sales and extra discounts just for owners.

Our Neighbors - One of the main goals of the Co-op is to support local and regional farms and businesses. We strive to bring in a variety of local, seasonal produce and products. As an owner you are furthering that mission through your purchases, networking, and influence.

Have a say - As an owner at the Co-op, you are entitled to one vote in all elections and ballot initiatives. Each year you have the opportunity to vote for our Board of Directors - the Co-op’s governing body. YOU have a say in who runs the store. You also can vote on things like our “Round up for change” recipients and help decide who in our community will get this donation.

Personalized Service- What other grocery stores welcome you by your name when you come to the register? Allow you to open and grind a bag of whole-bean coffee? Send long-time customers a get-well card when they hear of an illness? At the Co-op, community is at the core of what we do. As an owner, you have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than a grocery store.

COVID Mask Policy - May 29, 2021

    Grabbing a mask when you leave the house has become a habit at this point. If you’re like us, you feel like something’s missing if you go somewhere without it-almost like you forgot to put on pants! With the recent announcement by both the CDC and the state of MA, however, we feel it’s safe for you and our staff to transition out of that habit. To that end, beginning Saturday, May 29th the Co-op will have a new mask policy:

• For staff and shoppers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, wearing a mask in our store will be optional.

• For staff and shoppers who have not yet been fully vaccinated, wearing a mask is required when inside the store and outside when social distancing is difficult.

• Anyone who is fully vaccinated but wants to continue wearing a mask is encouraged to do so!

• We won’t be asking for proof of vaccination to enter the store. We trust you to respect our staff and your fellow customers and do what’s necessary to keep our community healthy.

    If you feel uncomfortable coming into our store for any reason, we encourage you to use our Curbside Pickup service! We run Curbside Pickup every single day, and the dedicated Curbside team has got it down to a science after a year of practice. Visit our website to place an order or read about the service.

    We know this change might be difficult to get used to for some people, so please be kind to one another. Remember that you don’t know what the person next to you is going through after a year of constant change and hardship. Our staff has been through a lot this year as well, and you, our shoppers, are a major reason why we keep our heads up and stay positive. 

    Thank you for sticking with us and being patient and understanding while we navigate a difficult year. You bring smiles to our faces every day, and we can’t wait for you to finally be able to see them.