[Fareshares_newsletter] Fareshares newsletter December 2020

[Info at Fareshares]

*News from Fareshares food co-op, December 2020*

Early winter greetings from Fareshares!

*Contents:*

- Thanks for sticking with us
- Finance
- Luxuries from Palestine
- Fresh veg this week
- 7p a day to protect your health?

** Thanks for sticking with us **
Fareshares has been open again for face-to-face shopping for three 
months now, albeit still serving at the door rather than self-service. 
We will probably continue with door service for a while yet, out of an 
abundance of caution, but we look forward to opening in the 
old-fashioned way in due course.

It has been great to see regulars coming back, and to be giving people 
back the reassurance that we will be open at our advertised times. 
Serving at the door has also, interestingly, meant that more of those 
who normally walk by without coming into the shop are stopping and 
asking what it's all about.


** Finance **

We had a rough couple of months recently when our arrangements for 
paying cash into the bank were interrupted, so we were running out of 
funds to pay suppliers with. This, coupled with the losses and expenses 
of four months' closure, meant we had to cut back on orders and depend 
on a substantial loan from a member of the collective. Now we have 
worked out a new arrangement for paying in cash, we are building up our 
stocks again. The 56 Collective was fortunately awarded a small business 
coronavirus grant, so Fareshares is able to suspend its contributions to 
the rent account temporarily to allow our finances to recover.

Now we are over the worst, we feel once again able to make regular 
orders of bread, fresh fruit and veg, and even chilled goods (we've just 
received our first order from Suma for many months).

Thank you to those who are able to add a donation to cover our overheads 
when you shop. It's needed, and always appreciated.


** Luxuries from Palestine **

Now in stock, we have our traditional winter delights from occupied 
Palestine, via the wonderful Zaytoun. They make great presents ... 
especially to yourself!

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Organic & Fairtrade Certified - 250ml & 750ml

Zesty za'atar - a traditional Palestinian herb mix - 80g jar

Medjoul Dates - Jericho's Finest - 250g and 500g boxes

Freekeh - smoky green wheat - 200g box

Organic Maftoul - Palestinian Giant Couscous - 200g box


** Veg this week **

The following fresh veg is on sale from today, Thursday 3rd December:

- Cauliflower
- Kale, cavolo nero
- Red onions
- Desiree potatoes
- Apples (various)
- Dirty carrots
- Red cabbage
- Swede
- Brown mushrooms

Come and get it!



** 7p a day to protect your health? **

You're generally onto a winner health-wise if you eat a wholefood 
plant-based diet, but you risk serious health consequences if you don't 
take special steps to make sure you get enough vitamin B12 which, with 
very few exceptions, is not present in plant foods. Likewise it is 
difficult to get enough iodine from a strict plant-based diet. And 
everyone, irrespective of diet, should be supplementing with vitamin D 
between October and March in these latitudes.

VEG1 is the nutritional supplement developed by The Vegan Society. It 
provides an affordable, reliable source of vitamin B12, B2, B6, D3, 
Folic Acid, Iodine and Selenium, covering all your bases -- 
https://www.vegansociety.com/news/blog/why-i-take-veg-1

We are looking at stocking VEG1 tablets. We would sell these at the same 
price as they're advertised by the Vegan Society, but buying from us 
would save you the shipping cost (£3.07). They come pots of 90 for £6.60 
and 180 for £12.70. We're looking at a minimum outlay of about £200 to 
start stocking VEG1. So the question is, if we stock them, will you buy 
them from us? Please drop us a quick line back to info at fareshares.org.uk 
if you will, so we can gauge demand. Thanks!

Happy hols,

Fareshares

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