June 17 - July 14, 2026

How INDEPENDENT is Our Food System?

By adopting the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, the American colonies broke free from the British Empire, achieving national sovereignty and self-governance, freeing themselves from unfair taxation and overseas control. 🇺🇸 
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas finally received word of their freedom. They fought for—and achieved—the most fundamental human independence: emancipation from the brutal institution of chattel slavery, marking the true fulfillment of the nation's founding promises. 🇺🇸 
In some ways, we've come so far, and in other ways, we've regressed... especially when it comes to food system sovereignty.  A sovereign food system, often called food sovereignty, is a framework prioritizing local control. Instead of relying heavily on massive corporations or global markets, it empowers communities, small-scale farmers, and Indigenous groups to decide how their food is grown, distributed, and consumed.
Our federal government, primarily the USDA, has proven over the past 50 years that it does not prioritize the American farmer or true food security and sovereignty. Instead, they have consistently prioritized corporate interests and shareholders. Over half a million (approximately 500,000 to 559,000) American farms and ranches have gone out of business since the early 1970s. This shift reflects major agricultural consolidation, with total U.S. farm numbers dropping to an estimated 1.88 million—the lowest level in over a century. In 1971, Earl Butz's mantra to farmers was "get big or get out", and he urged farmers to plant commodity crops such as corn "from fencerow to fencerow". These policy shifts coincided with the rise of major agribusiness corporations and the decline in the financial stability of the small family farm.
The phrase "Control the food, control the people" is a well-known maxim. It reflects the reality that whoever dictates a population's sustenance holds supreme political leverage. Historically and today, this dynamic plays out in several ways:
Resource Dependency: When centralized governments, corporations, or occupying forces control the supply chain, they can use rations, subsidies, or embargos as weapons of compliance.
Monopolization of Agriculture: The consolidation of global agriculture into a few multinational conglomerates means the privatization of seeds, fertilizers, and distribution networks. This forces independent farmers to rely entirely on corporate or state systems to survive.
Economic Inequality: As food costs rise, a larger percentage of a population's income goes toward basic survival. This leaves little time or financial energy for political organization or dissent.
Ultimately, absolute power is rarely secured through military force alone. By controlling the foundational need—daily calories—the ruling entity dictates the behavior, health, and compliance of the masses.  Need more proof of this? Look at the entities that control most of the American food supply, and then look at the investor groups.  As always, it's both sides of the aisle. #followthemoney
With the rise of corporate and centralized food systems, people, animals, and the land have become unhealthier than ever before in human history... and small farms and ranchers have become more broke than ever. When we first started the co-op 20+ years ago, Rick Lattin of Lattin Farms (Fallon, NV) served on the co-op's Board of Directors. He told us then that back in the 1950s, he made "more than a doctor". In his last year of active farming (a few years ago), he was penciling out less than $7.00/hour when all was said and done with the farming season. He couldn't sell the volumes he needed to move without accepting "poverty pricing" from the big grocery stores. We've heard this from several other medium-sized farms in Nevada, too. This is part of why we created the Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP - see below for more info); to be able to offer farmers integrity pricing, since the corporate chains either won't deal with the smaller volume that local farms can produce, or they price gouge them so badly that it's more economical for these producers to compost their goods rather than drive them to town.
This season of INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS, we urge you to really take a moment to think about what's left of the INDEPENDENT FOOD SYSTEM.
We wholeheartedly believe that supporting independent food producers is one of the ONLY ways you can fight back against the corrupt powers that be. LOVE YOUR FARMER and support them at all costs. ❤️

Tahoe Food Hub - A Vital INDEPENDENT Distributor Supplying Reno

GBCFC is the ONLY member-owned food co-op in the entire state of Nevada. We are also one of the last fully independent grocery stores in Nevada, alongside several family-owned independent Asian & Mexican markets in the area.  
Our co-op used to operate a food hub called DROPP (Distributors of Regional and Organic Produce & Products, RIP 2008-2020). DROPP bought a lot of produce from local farmers and then redistributed it to businesses in the City of Reno. DROPP closed two months after the COVID-19 global pandemic started. Of the 63 INDEPENDENT restaurants and wholesale accounts we serviced, fewer than half reopened when the pandemic ended. Does this seem suspicious to you??? IT IS.
Thankfully, there is one independent food hub distributor still alive in our area - TAHOE FOOD HUB (TFH), which supplies incredible produce and local goods to dozens of businesses in the Reno area. TFH works directly with local and regional direct farms and ranches on all sides of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many small farms aren't able to become USDA Certified Organic, and, much like our co-op, TFH helps bridge that gap by personally visiting the producers they work with to ensure these farming practices align with their values. 
Maddie Rohner (pictured above) has been the GM of Tahoe Food Hub for a year and a half. Originally from Colorado, she earned her undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Sustainable Food Systems in the Bay Area. Spending time in Tahoe on weekends inspired her to move up to Tahoe for a year or so before finding the food hub.

Maddie loves working with farmers to develop the food system. By speaking with farmers, she learns how our food works from the ground up. She loves to see local food in the community - buying from small farmers and getting their food in schools, hospitals, and restaurants - that fills her heart with joy.
When asked what scares her the most about the local independent food system, Maddie Rohner said, "I think it's unfair how much the sustainable food systems have to rely on the passion of the individual consumer... and something that folks may have to give up if cost increases or access becomes harder. Subsidized food costs make people believe that crappy processed food is the true price, and it makes good food look really bad. Small businesses struggle to buy local, too, when competing against large suppliers facing supply chain issues and pricing pressures. We are lucky to still be in the game with such thin margins."
Chefs in the Reno area - check out Tahoe Food and all of the deliciousness they have to offer:  https://www.tahoefoodhub.org/ - the best plates start with good ingredients.
When you buy local, you give money to the stewards of the land - our land. Local and independent farmers are the ones caring for the same soil, water, and air that you are relying on. The beauty of supporting independent food systems is that you are directly perpetuating food sovereignty - putting people first.
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This month, we will be buying more fruit than ever before from Tahoe Food Hub... and this is primarily because their fruit tastes the BEST. Customers have told us that they didn't even realize how good blueberries could taste until they tried the LoCA Blueberries (Lodi, CA) from Tahoe Food Hub. To help CELEBRATE INDEPENDENT FOOD & FARMERS - we are doing a month-long KILLER sale on the LoCA Farm Blueberries at $4.99/lb and both Brenner Ranch and Twin Peaks Orchards (both in Newcastle, CA) peaches at $3.99/lb, see below for more info.

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🫒 Wild Groves Products $1 Off 🫒

Wild Groves is a family-owned company built on four generations of olive-growing history, producing premium, award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) and gourmet vinegars. Based just 103 miles from the co-op in Newcastle, CA, they are our newest regional direct producer.

Wild Groves California-grown extra-virgin olive oil is certified 100% authentic by the California Olive Oil Council (COOC). This is a very important certification for olive oil to have, as it is not uncommon for olive oil to be adulterated (mixed with other oils) and/or to become rancid due to poor processing and storage.  In a 2011 report published by UC Davis, 73% of the top-selling imported olive oil brands failed testing under International Olive Council standards.  Wild Groves proudly holds the distinction of being one of the most awarded olive oil producers in America. 
We now have several of their gourmet products at the co-op, including: Arbequina Olive Oil, Satsuma Mandarin Balsamic Vinegar, Garlic and Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives, Sweet Garlic Mustard, and Double Truffle Sea Salt.
Sale Cycle: June 17th - July 14th

🫐 Blueberries Are Here! 🫐

LoCa Farm (Lodi, CA) Blueberries ON SALE $4.99/lb

  These beloved blueberries are from LoCa Blueberry Farm in Lodi, California. These berries have become a customer favorite for their exceptional sweetness, plump texture, and rich blueberry flavor that far surpasses any other. LoCa's blueberry season is famously short, with harvest lasting only through June. Grown with a focus on quality and picked at peak ripeness, these blueberries are one of the most anticipated fruits of the season. They'll be gone before you know it! 
Sale Cycle: June 17th - July 14th or while supplies last

🍑 Twin Peaks Orchard & Brenner Ranch Peaches 🍑

Twin Peaks Orchards & Brenner Ranch (both in Newcastle, CA)
Peaches $3.99/lb!

  Family-owned since 1912, Twin Peaks Orchards is now stewarded by the fifth generation of the Enriquez family. The farm is 100% CCOF-certified organic and employs regenerative farming practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. Through composting, cover cropping, crop rotation, minimal tillage, and a unique gravity-fed irrigation system sourced from the American River, Twin Peaks produces nutrient-dense fruit while conserving natural resources.
Brenner Ranch is celebrated for growing over 25 varieties of sweet, juicy stone fruit on their 12-acre orchard. Their highly sought-after peaches and seasonal produce can be purchased directly at local certified farmers' markets across the Sacramento and Tahoe regions.
Tahoe Food Hub is proud to partner with Twin Peaks Orchards and Brenner Ranch to bring their outstanding organically grown fruit to the Truckee-Tahoe region.
By supporting these farms, customers are helping preserve a historic family farm while investing in a more resilient, regenerative, and INDEPENDENT local food system.
Sale Cycle: June 17th - July 14th or while supplies last

🍓🍋 Co-Op Kitchen Sales 🍋🍓

Strawberry Cream Cookies $1 Off!
A decadent, cakey cookie made with strawberry curd, topped off with sweet and creamy buttermilk cream cheese frosting. Gluten-free so that everyone can enjoy for only $3.99.
Local Lavender Lemonade $3 Off!
Sweet, refreshing, and lightly floral, this lemonade is made with only four ingredients (water, organic cane sugar, organic lemon, and local lavender). Our lavender is from Reno Food Systems (Reno, NV), and Churchill Butte Organics (Stagecoach, NV).

 

The Benefits Of Adding Electrolytes To Your Water
The benefits of adding electrolytes to water, especially on hot summer days, are becoming more widely known. Many companies are now marketing electrolyte and hydration-enhancement products as knowledge of and demand for them have increased. However, as with many health trends, not all products are created equal. 
One very popular brand, LMNT, has recently come under fire and is facing class-action lawsuits over deceptive marketing and a lack of ingredient transparency. This scrutiny centers on the ingredient maltodextrin, which is included in some flavors at levels between 300 mg and 450 mg but is not listed on the label, allegedly concealed under the generic term "natural flavors." LMNT acknowledges the lack of upfront disclosure of the actual amount but maintains that it’s not enough to affect blood sugar in most healthy individuals. As of April 2026, the company stated that Raspberry Salt and Orange Salt are now rolling out with tapioca fiber as their flavor carriers, with more to follow soon.
We have recently introduced new electrolyte powders to give our shoppers more options for hydration enhancement. We are excited to see real sea salt and/or ocean minerals used by these brands, rather than just a single mineral found in LMNT - sodium chloride. There are over ninety essential minerals, and high-quality sea salts have them all. Barbara Oneil says that magnesium (found in sea salt) opens the cell door for water to enter. We are the salt of the earth, let's get salty! Here are the new offerings and what we love about each one.
🧂 Laird Superfoods Electrolyte Drink Mixes are completely free of artificial sweeteners, colors, chemicals, dairy, soy, and gluten. Potassium comes from freeze-dried coconut water powder; calcium and magnesium are whole-foods-based and derived from seaweed; and the mixes are flavored and sweetened with dried fruit powders and monk fruit extract.
🧂 Solti Hydration Mixes are made with certified organic ingredients and contain no added sugar, artificial sweeteners, or flavors. They use organic coconut water powder, organic fruit powders, bamboo extract, and oceanic minerals derived from Aquamin™ Marine Seaweed, providing a balanced electrolyte profile that is gentle enough for everyday use.
🧂 GoodOnya Electrolyte Drink Mix isn’t a new option at the co-op, but we love that it is made with only six natural ingredients and is certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, and free of artificial dyes, chemicals, and artificial flavors.
Michelle Nash
Nutrition Education Director
Certified NTP & MScN
The Great Basin Community Food Co-op

Fresh From The Co-op Kitchen

Tofu Spring Rolls are back! Marinated cucumber and tofu, Housemade pickled veggies, rice noodles, and greens make the perfect delivery method for our amazing dipping sauces! Gluten-free, vegan, and seed oil-free, these are made fresh daily for $11.99.
🦴 Best Boy Lamb Bones 🦴


Grass-fed and finished lamb bones from Ale Ranch (Gerlach, NV) are back with a new look! Raw bones are great treats for your best friend that help clean their teeth and keep them busy and happy. These bones can also be used to make a yummy, rich broth for your lamb stew.
🌱 Ripcord Farm Garlic Scapes and Carrots 🌱


Local Organic Garlic Scapes from Ripcord Farm (Washoe Valley, NV) - $2.49/bunch.
Scapes are the stems on garlic that, when harvested, encourage the bulb to grow larger. Scapes are delicious sautéed, in stir fry, and even pickled!
🍯 Fisk Farms Honey Shrubs 🍯

A honey shrub is a non-alcoholic drinking vinegar made by blending raw honey, vinegar, and fruits, herbs, or spices. This flavorful concentrate can be diluted with sparkling water for a refreshing drink or added to other drinks to make a delicious cocktail or mocktail. It also makes a great base for vinaigrettes, marinades, bread dips, and more. What is your favorite way to use these yummy elixirs?
Fisk Farms is located in Fallon, NV. They take pride in using the freshest ingredients possible, sourcing fruits such as apples, pears, plums, and peaches from Two Ravens Farm and Cherry Dog Orchard in Fallon. Ginger, lemongrass, basil, cayenne, mint, and tulsi are grown with care at their own Fisk Farm Herbs. The honey for the shrubs is either from their 12-hive apiary or from another apiary in Northern Nevada. 
The co-op now offers Fisk Farms Honey Shrubs in a smaller 50 ml size if you'd like to give them a try. We currently carry Blackberry Cardamom, Peach Basil Lime, Pear Ginger Lemongrass, and Fire Cider in both 50 mL and 250 mL.
NEW ITEMS in Grocery & Wellness 🤎






























Nomadica Canned Wine
Nomadica is a woman-owned company located in Lodi, CA. They focus on creating exceptional, sommelier-quality wine from grapes grown on sustainable, organic farms.
Nomadica practices low-intervention winemaking, using boxes or cans instead of bottles to reduce their carbon footprint. These delicious wines also have zero grams of sugar, making them easier on your body. 
Golden State Cider & Bristlecone Brewery
Golden State Cider is back on our shelves with a new Jamaica flavor! This 100% fresh-pressed cider is made from heirloom apples grown local to Sebastopol, CA. Their ciders are non-GMO and free of artificial flavors.
Bristlecone Brewing Company is located in Reno! The founders, including former Alibi Ale Works brewers, focus on creating excellent German-style beers, lagers, and IPAs. 

Arlington Bridge Is OPEN - What About the Foodshed Cafe?

Arlington Bridge reopened on June 9th and we couldn't be more relieved!  We are very nerdy at the co-op, and we have spreadsheets for EVERYTHING. - every single leading and lagging indicator that you can imagine.  One of those spreadsheets tracks sales by day and year-over-year, based on the day of the week.  Since the bridge reopened, we have seen our sales grow by 11% to 28% each day, just in the first week!
We have also been receiving nonstop calls, in-store questions, and DMs about the reopening of the Foodshed Cafe.  Our Board of Directors spent its last full meeting primarily discussing this topic, and they plan to address it in our July E-Letter.  Stay tuned, as this will likely be our feature story next month.

Round Up For Food Justice & Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP)

WHAT IS THE GBCFC ROUND UP PROGRAM ALL ABOUT?
Beginning in January of 2026, all Round Up donations will go to the Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP). LPSP is our version of the USDA Farm Bill, except instead of subsidizing billion-dollar corporate industrial farms - the ones that toxify the land, water, animals, and people - we are subsidizing our very own local farmers and ranchers. We are doing this so that we can pay these producers integrity pricing and still sell their goods on our shelves at affordable, market-competitive prices, making the most delicious and nutrient-dense foods more accessible for everyone.
Co-op shoppers can round up their change to the nearest dollar at the cash register after each purchase to donate to the program. There is also an option on the pinpad to contribute additional funds or larger amounts directly via the Friends of the Foodshed (FOTF) website. Note: all donations over $250 are tax-deductible. As of 2026, all of these Round Up Funds go back to the Local Producer Subsidy Program.
We recently teamed up with a new 501(c)(3), Friends of the Foodshed (FOTF). FOTF has taken on larger donations to the LPSP program so we can subsidize local grass-fed & finished ground beef for the 2026 fiscal year. We pay $10/lb for our local beef. To reach the mandated budgetary margins, we should be charging $16.13/lb. Thanks to LPSP, we are able to charge $8.49/lb, which is better-priced than a lot of conventional ground beef in the Reno market. Once the Northern Nevada growing season is in full swing (April - October), you will find lots of local vegetables such as mixed greens, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, etc. on our shelves at LPSP pricing!

Donate To The 

Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP)

Do you want to help our local farmers and ranchers receive INTEGRITY PRICING while expanding access to affordable local food for more of our community members?  If yes, then donate now!  All 2026 donations will go towards our NEW Local Producer Subsidy Program (LPSP).
Friends of the Foodshed is a 501(c)(3) that has been preserving the work of Farmers and Ranchers in Northern Nevada and connected watersheds for over 20 years. We are dedicated to providing education about health and environmental issues and to promoting a healthy lifestyle for all living things. ❤️
Donate to Friends of the Foodshed




Anyone can shop, everyone can join!
Open everyday from 7:30am – 9pm
Great Basin Community Food Co-op
240 Court St Reno, NV 89501
775.324.6133
info@greatbasinfood.coop
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