Most of us wish that we ate a little healthier, but according to meditation app Headspace co-founder Andy Puddicombe, theres a different approach we should be taking when it comes to looking at the connection between ourselves and our food. Mindfulness has less to do with what we eat and more to do with how we eat, Puddicombe says. Somewhat inevitably though, as we slow down and become more aware of what we are eating, we often end up making some changes to our diet.

Years before co-founding Headspace, Puddicombe, now 44, spent a decade training as a Buddhist monk, studying in Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia and Russia, before setting up his own meditation consultancy in 2006 back in the U.K. In 2013, three years after launching Headspace, which has since gone on to become one of the most successful apps in its category, he wrote The Headspace Guide To... Mindful Eating, a book designed to help you better understand your relationship with food. However, Puddicombe's strong connection to food dates even further back into his childhood when he worked in a restaurant kitchen in his native Bristol from the ages of 11 to 17.

We spoke to him about mindful eating and how his diet has changed since moving to southern California, getting married, having kids and battling testicular cancer, all in the past 10 years.

For anyone not familiar with mindful eating, its really the practice of eating without distraction. Obviously, this is easier to do when we are alone, but, with practice, its quite possible to do this when enjoying and sharing food with others, too. The result is that we feel more in tune with our senses, we begin to appreciate and enjoy our food that little bit more and we begin to develop a healthy relationship with our diet.

Both my wife and myself have always been passionate about food and nutrition, and parenthood has not changed that. The biggest change to our diet was just before our first child arrived. I got testicular cancer and, post-op, we decided to not only go vegan, but to also go exclusively raw, for a year. There were many aspects to my recovery, but this was a key part of a holistic approach. It really set the tone for how we have chosen to eat in the years since and whilst it is considerably more relaxed now, that way of eating is still very much part of our and our childrens lives.

While we experiment with new things once in awhile, we definitely have a few staples that we enjoy together. Tofu Thai curry is usually atop the list and jackfruit curry comes up pretty often too, usually with Indian spices, though. We all have a sweet tooth, so my wifes homemade chocolate-orange vegan ice cream usually goes down well. However, our collective favorite is probably a weekend breakfast, whether its homemade granola with coconut yogurt or avocado and chili flakes on toast, its the one time in the week we all get to share food free from any time constraints.

Headspace keeps me pretty busy, so Im very fortunate to be married to someone who likes to cook. Its something I look forward to doing more of in the future, though, as its something I love to do. I studied cooking and nutrition growing up and worked in a restaurant kitchen on nights and weekends from the age of 11 to 17. It was so rewarding and gave me a lifelong appreciation of food, and wine for that matter.

Well, the foods that I enjoy that some might consider guilty pleasures are probably of the sweet variety, namely chocolate and ice cream. About 10 years ago, a friend in London introduced me to the world of artisan chocolate. It quickly became a passion and I continue to hunt down strange, unusual or exceptional chocolate bars from around the world. I have one mindful square following dinner each nightunless theres a truly amazing bar lying around, and then I might have a square upon waking, too.

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How Meditation, Marriage and a Cancer Diagnosis Changed the Way This Tech Entrepreneur Eats - Food & Wine

Before I started meditating daily starting on November 1st, 2015, I had tried meditation on and off several times. I had heard about many of its benefits and had even witnessed its benefits in friends and family members. Nevertheless, part of me was still skeptical. I struggled with my racing mind and at sticking with a practice that I felt that I had no aptitude for whatsoever. The perfectionist in me saw it as a waste of time when there were so many things I had to do or could be doing that were more "productive."

Though I continue to struggle a lot with my monkey mind and have days where I don't stay present for more than 30 seconds, meditation's impact on my life has been nothing short of miraculous and transformational.

Today, I would like to share 5 common mistakes that people make while starting a meditation practice that I wish that someone had shared with me earlier.

1. Believing That There Is A Certain Way That Meditation Has To Happen

I am a very by the book kind of girl. So realizing that there are no strict rules for how meditation has to happen felt both liberating... and scary. The reality is that you don't have to be sitting up to meditate. You don't need to be cross legged on a cushion. You don't need to close your eyes. You don't need to empty your mind. You don't have to meditate at the same time or in the same place or for a specific period of time. You don't need to use a mantra and you don't need to follow your breath the entire time.

You are naturally a spiritual being with or without these things and it is about connecting to that part of you (that connects us all) is a ways that is accessible and that works for you. It less about something you work to achieve and more about something you let yourself be, sink into, and connect with. The real work is being aware and present that it is happening.

2. Not Fully Comprehending What Meditation Is

You know that meditating is good for you. And the Internet is filled with reasons to meditate and the benefits of meditation. But what IS meditation? In the words of Swami Rama: Meditation is a word that has come to be used loosely and inaccurately in the modern world. That is why there is so much confusion about how to practice it. Some people use the word meditate when they mean thinking or contemplating; others use it to refer to daydreaming or fantasizing. However, meditation (dhyana) is not any of these.

Meditation is a precise technique for resting the mind and attaining a state of consciousness that is totally different from the normal waking state. It is the means for fathoming all the levels of ourselves and finally experiencing the center of consciousness within. Meditation is not a part of any religion; it is a science, which means that the process of meditation follows a particular order, has definite principles, and produces results that can be verified.

Though I believe that the meditative experience varies from person to person and even from day to day and minute to minute, I believe that meditation involves a clear, relaxed, and inwardly focused mind. When someone meditates, they are fully awake and alert, but their mind is not focused on the external world or on the events taking place around them Meditation involves and still inner state that allows the mind to become silent. When the mind is silent and no longer distracts, meditation deepens.

3. Not understanding what being in a meditative state feels like.

As I alluded to above, the experience of meditation varies from person to person and even varies for the same person depending on the day, type of meditation, life circumstances, etc. Some people feel a sense of peace and calm. Others feel frustrated and impatient. Others feel more anxiety at first. You can feel dizzy or a vibrating inside or outside of your body. You may feel warmer or cooler. You could feel numb or as though you are being pulled upwards. You may also feel as though your energy is spilling out into the entire room. Or you might feel something else entirely.

Get curious about how meditation makes you feel on different days. There are an infinite number of variable that can impact how meditation might feel to you. Its not static. Some people believe that you are supposed to feel a certain way or you did not achieve a meditative state. That is not true.

4. Not knowing what it means to "achieve" a meditative state.

Some people believe that in order to achieve a meditative state, one needs to be in a quiet room, sitting in a certain position, controlling the breath. Well, guess what? You (and most people) are likely meditating every day without even knowing you're doing it. Also, meditation isn't something to be achieved in the sense of something that is completed, mastered, or checked off once you get there.

You can be in a meditative state when youre staring into space, when youre daydreaming, when you're relaxing in a chair, and even when youre staring at the TV. When your body is relaxing and your mind is quiet, you naturally achieve a meditative state.

5. Believing that one type of meditation is better than another.

Meditation is about being about awareness and connection with your spiritual center on a conscious level, and it doesnt matter how you achieve that awareness. If you find this space through guided meditation, then do guided meditation. If you prefer breath awareness or mantras or something else altogether, do that. Be flexible and patient with yourself and curious and non-judgmental about your experience. Try to see things with a Beginner's Mind as though you were approaching and seeing your experience and yourself for the first time.

People meditate for different reasons and people approach meditation with different goals and hopes. Some people might desire a deeper spiritual connection while others seek to learn how to relax and improve their cardiovascular health. Still others might be in it for a challenge or to try something new.

Whatever draws someone to meditation, there are no rules when it comes to achieving a meditative state. The key is awareness becoming more aware of when you reach this state, more aware of when and how many times during the day you achieve this state, and more conscious of what you are thinking about and doing when you reach this state and while you are there.

Ultimately, remember that meditation is a practice, not a box to be checked or a skill to be mastered. Mistakes happen, even for advanced meditators. I would love to hear about your experiences with meditation, or what keeps you from wanting to meditate. And, I would love to hear about some of your favorite meditations/ experiences with meditation.

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Meditation Misconceptions - HuffPost

SALT LAKE CITY Thomas McConkie sits in a tall, straight-backed chair, the sleeves of his crisp, button-down shirt rolled up to his elbows. He smiles at men and women in sandals, T-shirts and summer dresses, who watch him from two sections of chairs, four rows in each, placed to face the center of the room.

Were just a bunch of adults out on the town doing a little mindfulness, McConkie jokes, referring to the activities hell soon lead. Nothing unusual about it.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Meditation groups may not be unique, but this gathering is. McConkie, an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is also trained in Buddhist mindfulness, is pushing the boundaries of traditional religious practice, helping people of varied faith backgrounds use meditation to deepen their spiritual lives.

"We are not here to tell people whether they should continue in their religious tradition or not. We want to provide space and practice where they can come to a new level of honesty and truthfulness within themselves," McConkie said in an interview, referring to his meditation community, Lower Lights Sangha (pronounced suhng-guh.)

McConkies group meditation work recently caught the attention of a couple of Harvard Divinity School scholars who invited him to apply to a conference they hosted in December. He was one of 80 leaders gathered there to discuss the future of faith and community building at a time when organized religion is on the decline.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Someone described it as the Silicon Valley of religion, said Casper ter Kuile, one of the events organizers. That felt true to us because there was such a sense of deep honoring of history and tradition, but also such openness to how religion is changing.

The conference was part of a broader effort by ter Kuile and Angie Thurston, who are ministry innovation fellows at Harvard, to understand where millennial Americans go to find community and how leaders like McConkie can expand the spiritual offerings of traditional churches.

"We're really thinking about how to help build bridges between what has been and what is coming into being," Thurston said.

Millennials' (lack of) faith

McConkie, 37, didn't set out to create a spiritual haven for millennials in Salt Lake City. He arrived a year too early for that generation, but grew up with the same sort of discomfort with organized religion that's linked to Americans born between 1980 and 1996.

Attendees leave after taking part in Lower Lights group mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

Born into a blue-blooded LDS family with relatives that included high-level church leaders, McConkie left the faith as a teenager, spending his 20s traveling and working in Europe and Asia while studying Buddhism and developing a meditation practice. It took more than 15 years for him to make peace with his Mormon upbringing and to realize he wasn't done with the faith.

"It was my Buddhist meditation practice that helped deepen my understanding of Christianity and deepen my Christian faith," he said.

McConkie moved back to Salt Lake City almost five years ago, ready to reconnect with family members and old friends. Some expressed interest in learning more about meditation, and Lower Lights Sangha, which launched formally in September 2016, grew out of years of smaller gatherings in McConkie's home.

The meditation community is open to anyone, but around two-thirds of the 80 attendees at a recent meeting in June appeared younger than 40. McConkie said his efforts to deepen faith by drawing on diverse religious practices likely resonates best with millennials.

"There's a huge need, especially in the millennial generation, to start to explore what's beyond partisan and religious divides," he said.

Around 1 in 3 millennials are religious "nones," meaning they don't affiliate with a particular faith group, according to the Pew Research Center. Many of these religiously unaffiliated Americans believe in God and pray regularly but don't want to stick within the limits of a single faith.

"Various practices are being unbundled and remixed in people's individual, spiritual lives," Thurston said.

McConkie begins Lower Lights Sangha's monthly gatherings with a brief breathing exercise. Chairs squeak and groan as people adjust their posture and clear their minds.

People meditate as they listen to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"I want to invite you for a moment to do absolutely nothing," McConkie says, the words delivered slowly and deliberately in a deep, soothing voice.

Next, McConkie offers a brief description of his meditative philosophy, which blends Buddhist practice with developmental psychology. He asks people to introduce themselves to their neighbor, encouraging them to share what made them want to meditate.

The main event during the two-hour meeting is a group meditation. McConkie asks people to move their chairs into circles of four or five, then provides speaking prompts.

Participants complete sentences like "Something you don't know about me is" with stories from their own lives, describing their siblings, favorite vacation spots or how lost they've felt for the last 12 months.

Community builders

As people sit in their circles, sharing and listening, McConkie strolls around the room, a smile playing on his lips.

A calm has settled over the room since he cracked his mindfulness joke. He's successfully ushered another group into deeper awareness of themselves and others.

McConkie said nurturing new connections and growth is one of his strengths. The spiritual side of Lower Lights Sangha's work comes naturally to him; the business aspects of community building are a little trickier.

People meditate as they listen to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"What I noticed at the December gathering (at Harvard) is that some people are brilliant social entrepreneurs (and) killer marketers. At Lower Lights, I would not say our strength is our business model or marketing plan," he said.

All 80 leaders invited to the Harvard conference lead some kind of community, which ter Kuile and Thurston define as a group of people who know each other, care for each other and work together to weather life's storms. These leaders came from sacred and secular contexts, including art cooperatives, fitness studios and faith groups that meet at bars.

Samantha Nielsen takes part in discussion as Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"The focus in putting that gathering together was trying to understand what these leaders need," Thurston said.

Conversations centered on issues like funding, overcoming conflict and maintaining relationships even as a community grows. People leading secular groups were encouraged to think about how they could support members spiritually, while leaders from religious contexts like McConkie brainstormed ways to track membership and increase their impact.

"I came back from Harvard in December and said we have got to tighten up the organizational side of what we're doing," McConkie said.

Over the past six months, he and his team have designed a website and debated as to which type of nonprofit corporation they should register as.

McConkie also had the chance to pick the brains of other leaders, who continue to support him from across the country. Although they were only together for a few days, the 80 leaders and others brought in to advise them quickly became their own community, listening and responding to one another's needs.

These relationships "provide for them what they're providing for others," said the Rev. Sue Phillips, a Unitarian Universalist clergy member who helped organize the conference.

Authority shifts

Ter Kuile and Thurston's work, including the December conference, grew out of their shared sense that reports on the decline of organized religion were missing the real story: the rise of new types of communities.

"There's such a sense of doom and gloom within religious institutions. But we see an inspiring story of how people are coming together. We want to tell that story," ter Kuile said.

The pair have published a series of reports outlining how millennials build communities at their gym or through regular dinner parties, and offering tips for how established faiths can evolve in order to attract younger members.

"We're trying to navigate between institutions and the growing number of young people who are finding different ways in which to bring belonging and meaning to their lives," ter Kuile said.

Olivia Knudsen listens to Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights as he leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017.| Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

New developments at the fringes of a faith group can sometimes create a crisis of authority, as more established religious leaders worry about shifts in practice. Denominational leaders must search for a way to welcome new initiatives like a social justice group or service-oriented gathering without compromising on leadership training or core teachings.

"What's emerging asks us to be different, a new 'us,'" the Rev. Phillips said. "The truth is that a lot of denominations focus on propagating the 'us' that they currently are."

The Rev. Phillips urges clergy members to embrace novel ideas and to be patient when there are bumps in the road.

Thomas McConkie of Lower Lights leads a group in mediation and discussion in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2017. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

"The most powerful things traditional leaders can do is come alongside these innovators and say 'yes' at every junction," she said. "That's what I am trying to do and that's what I believe we have to do to become all of who we can be."

Lower Lights Sangha is not linked with the LDS Church, beyond McConkie and some participants' personal involvement in the religion.

McConkie said Mormon doctrine and practices inspire his meditation and vice versa, and he believes his meditation community calls to younger Mormons looking for new ways to express their faith.

"We're discovering new truths together in community. I hope how we evolve is in service of what the church is trying to do and how it's trying to grow," McConkie said.

At the end of June's Lower Lights gathering, McConkie invited people to shout out what they were feeling. They said they were grateful, happy and feeling connected to everyone around them.

"I'm feeling like I should have come months ago," one woman says.

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What a Mormon doing Buddhist meditation has to do with the future of faith - Deseret News

327 0 Posted on Jul 06, 2017, 6 a.m.

Meditation and yoga are not only relaxing; they can also 'reverse' molecular reactions in DNA which trigger ill-health and depression.

Research recently published in theFrontiers in Immunologyjournal shows the behavior of human genes is impacted by different mind-body interventions including yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation. Mind-body interventions, commonly referred to with the acronym of MBI, do much more thanrelaxpeople. They also reverse molecular reactions within DNA that spurthe onset of depression and health maladies. The research was conducted by Radboud University in the Netherlands and Coventry University in the United Kingdom. Ivana Buric of Coventry University's BrainBelief,and Behavior Lab served the study's lead investigator.

About the Research

The academicians at the above-referenced universities reviewed 18 studies encompassing 846 individuals across 11 years. They determined a pattern of molecular changes that result from MBIs and how those alterations benefit mental health as well as physical health. The research team zeroes in on how gene expression is impacted. This phraseology refers tothe manner in which genes are activated to produceproteins that influence the body's biological make-up, the immune system, and the brain.

When an individual endures a stressful event, his sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is stimulated. This is the system that is responsible for the human body's fight or flight response. The triggering of this system boosts the production of a molecule referred to as nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) that regulates the manner in which genes are expressed. NF-kB activates genes to create proteins known as cytokines that spur inflammation at the cellular level. This reaction is helpful as it serves as a temporary fight or flight reaction. However, if it is persistent, there is a higher chance for the onset of cancer as well as faster aging and even psychiatric disorders such as depression.

The Power of MBIs

The study reveals those who practice MBIs experience a reduction in NF-kB and cytokines that spur a reversal of the pro-inflammatory gene expression as well as a reduction in the risk of conditions and diseases related to inflammation. The study's authors state the inflammatory effect of the body's fight or flight response plays a key role in humanity's hunter-gatherer prehistory when there was an enhanced risk of infection resulting from wounds. Yet in modern day society stress is more psychological in nature and sometimes longer-term. As a result, pro-inflammatory gene expression might be persistent and more inclined to spur medical and psychiatric problems.

The Rise of MBIs

In summary, the benefits of MBI commence at the molecular level and alter the ways in which our genetic codes operate. This is fantastic news for the millions of people who engage in MBIs on a regular basis. These individuals already enjoy the health benefits of such exercises. It appears as though they also enjoy the reversal of DNA reactions that induce stress and anxiety. Inlayman's terms, MBIs allow the brain to steer the human body's DNA processes along a route that improves well-being. Additional studies must be conducted to gain a more in-depth understanding of these effects. It will be interesting to find out if the benefits of MBIs are comparable to those provided by traditional exercise or a healthy diet.

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Meditation and Yoga Change DNA - Anti Aging News

Community News

Jul 2, 2017

Swimmers take a break at Nellie Martins water aerobics class.

Nellie Martin, 84, has been an enthusiastic and valued volunteer water aerobics instructor at the Kihei community pool since the day it opened 18 years ago, according to her daughter, Shirley Martin and swimmers Maribeth and Jack Klobuchar.

She is a songsmith with a large repertoire of songs that she uses to keep the activities light and fun.

Martin encourages her swimmers to sing, harmonize and joke along with her as she leads them through a full circuit of exercises.

By the end of each class, participants have limbered up, worked their cardiovascular system and strengthened muscles. Elbows, elbows, back, back.

Martin teaches in the shallow pool area three days per week Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Adults of all ages are welcome. The group size varies from 25 to about 50 during the high season.

An artists representation of Martin, the singing water aerobics instructor.

Men are welcome too there are more than 15 who participate.

Sing or hum along with Nellie its all good, said swimmers Maribeth and Jack Klobuchar. She is a vibrant, zippy lady of 84 years who has boundless energy. Nellie is such a treasure to the Kihei community.

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Songsmith makes water aerobics light and fun | News, Sports, Jobs ... - Maui News

Joy. Just a three letter word that essentially means a feeling of pleasure, happiness or glee. For Jerri Timothy, owner of Fitness World in Price, thats how she would describe her 35-year career in fitness: joyful. But that sentiment was missing for quite some time. Eight months to be exact. Now, after the grand re-opening of the gym, shes finally starting to feel it again.

Joy is my favorite word. Joy. Love it, said Timothy, just days after the re-opening. Im starting to feel human again. Im starting to feel like myself again. Theres that joy again.

An early morning phone call left Timothy devastated on a Saturday in November. A treadmill had sparked up in the middle of the night, catching fire and melting everything around it: fans, light fixtures, an elliptical and treadmill and even clocks.

It blackened everything front to back, top to bottom, said Timothy, explaining that even the bathrooms had soot in the sinks. It was pretty devastating.

Despite the gym building being blackened, Timothy had the aerobics room up and running with classes being held again by Tuesday morning. She has continued to hold dozens of classes per week, but has yet to be able to open the weights and gym building next door, due to waiting on insurance money.

Some money was available through insurance to begin renovations right away. However, after the fire, the building had to meet new regulations in order to keep the hotel running upstairs. With no more insurance money available yet, Timothy had to put a hold on the restoration.

We couldnt let it continue until we know how much insurance is going to take care of, said Timothy. The insurance is the reason why were not open yet we need our insurance to kick in and do right by us to get it going again.

While still holding aerobics and spin classes, Timothy felt like she wasnt doing all she could, not only for herself, but for her fitness family. The gym had memories, but she needed to move forward.

I just felt like I was losing my battle and I wasnt offering as much as I could to the people that were loyal and stayed with me.

She began to look at possible buildings for a new aerobics room and small gym area. I kept looking at the place across the street and it kept looking like it had potential, said Timothy, saying she visited the location three different times.

Although she wanted to move forward, the issue of how to afford a new building, while continuing to pay for the old was still at the forefront.

I just prayed and I said God if this is your will, show me a sign, said Timothy. And a kind gentleman came to my house with a check for $1,000. And I said Theres my sign.

After first looking at the building in February, and not being able to move forward in March, Timothy and her husband Randy finally began work in April and worked all through April and all through May, moving into the new building on June 5. All hours were spent working on the building, with Timothy claiming, We even missed church, sorry God.

The new building features an aerobics room and spin area, as well as a small workout space with almost 100 possible exercises. It also features a personal training studio, which Timothy did not have in the other building.

I love what I do and Im going to do this and Im going to get something going, I dont care what it takes, said Timothy, adamantly. This is my life and Im going to take control. And I prayed about it and it all came together, so now I get to spread that joy again in a new place.

According to Timothy, there will probably not be enough money once the insurance does come through to get the big room going again. However, the plan is to move the workout equipment into the old aerobics studio, and have the gym on one side of the street and the aerobics on the other, in the new building.

The fire was devastating, closing down what was Jerri and Randy Timothys livelihood. However, there was positive that came out of it, according to Jerri.

I think Okay God, you made me slow down. Okay, I get it. But you didnt stop me, because you gave me my aerobics and my spin. So I still have that Im thinking the message from heaven was for me and Randy to slow down and live life.

Jerri Timothy is joyful again, after claiming that she wasnt her normal, happy self during her fitness classes throughout the past eight months.

Theres joy in my heart again and Ive loved doing what Im doing for 35 years Ive just done it, not to get rich or famous, but to help people, said Timothy.

Fitness World is now located at 58 W. Main St. in Price. For more information, call 613-SLIM.

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Businesses open, re-open: Fitness World recovers from fire - Price Sun Advocate

General Manager Kurt Kopperud says the store at 1213 NP Ave. N. will be a big asset for the revitalized downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, with its mix of natural and organic foods, much of it locally produced.

"We're filling a need downtown," Kopperud said Sunday, July 2, as he and staff stocked and prepped the store.

The member-owned store is small by modern standardsabout 5,600 square feet of retail space; 8,800 square feet overallbut it offers a full range of meat, produce, dairy and groceries. You can grind your own coffee and peanut butter, grab a seasonal sandwich or smoothie from the deli, or try the salad bar and food buffet. There's even kombucha on tap.

"It will have some unique options you don't have downtown," Kopperud said.

Local farmers and ranchers are glad to have another outlet to sell their products.

Noreen Thomas of Doubting Thomas Farms near Kragnes, Minn., said Monday that her family is supplying whole grain rolled oats, oat groats, flour, rye, buckwheat and mushrooms to Prairie Roots.

"We're pretty excited about it. It's going to be nice to have another home ... for our local products," Thomas said. "For us, it's returning back to a lot of the foods that are really nutritious. It's like your grandparents used to eat."

Nancy Winkler, who with her husband, Mark, run Nosy Josy Buffalo Ranch near Fosston, Minn., is another fan of the buy-local philosophy.

"Everything they're trying to do is a positive thing. Buying from local is really awesome," Winkler said.

Nosy Josy is offering buffalo steaks, brats and ground meat now, and will probably add roasts in the fall and winter, she said.

"Extremely healthy. Most of your nutritional charts will say it's healthier than grilled chicken," Winkler said.

Prairie Roots' normal hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays, Kopperud said

Talks about creating a cooperative began in 2010.

The former Mathison's print shop building, where Prairie Roots is now, was purchased in 2015 by the Kilbourne Group. That same year, Prairie Roots announced it would move into the building.

The co-op rents the first floor and Kilbourne is expected to rent out the second and third floors, Kopperud said.

If Prairie Roots had opened when it was first envisioned, it would have been near the front of the pack in the natural food business.

Now there's plenty of competition: there's longtime downtown retailer Tochi Products, Natural Grocers on 45th Street and 13th Avenue South, and most conventional grocery stores have added natural food sections.

Kopperud is confident that location, product mix, and the cooperative model will ensure Prairie Roots will be competitive.

"We rely on members to sustain our business," Kopperud said. "There are not many places in town you can shop that you own."

Though anyone can shop at the store, the ownership stake lends people "a sense of pride. I think that's really cool," Kopperud said. There is a one-time fee of $300 for a household membership, but there are also smaller payment installment options. Members get some other benefits that nonmembers don't.

Jamie Holding Eagle, a Prairie Roots cashier and customer service representative, said the co-op will give people the opportunity to shop for fresh items daily, like many Europeans.

"I think that's so important, because you can buy more fresh food and eat healthier," she said. "We have the healthiest soil in the world, and this (store) kind of builds on it."

Kopperud said the store is adding more than 30 jobs to the area's economy.

"We have a really passionate and diverse staff," he said. "I'm excited to open it up and see the community interact with our staff and vice versa."

On the west end of the store, near the checkout registers, a community space is available for meetings and classes on cooking and local and organic eating.

On the east side of the building, an older, wooden structure is being renovated into a cidery and taproom, called "Wild Terra Cider and Brewing."

Kopperud said a grand opening for the store will be held a month or two from now, "once we get our legs under us."

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Prairie Roots Food Co-op opens in Fargo with mix of natural ... - West Fargo Pioneer

The time is ripe for Jeff Bezos to work his business acumen on an area of the US food system thats been slowly growing for years: organic food. And withhis purchase of Whole Foods Market[in June], hell have even more reason to try and convince US farmers to join him.

But theres a problem for Bezos if he wants to make organic food as ubiquitous as an Amazon-branded delivery box. As demand for organic fruits and vegetables has grown, the number of acres used to farm those crops has remained about the same.

For now, the US has relied on importing organic vegetables and fruits from other countries to make up the differencesomething some expertsremain dubious aboutwhen there are instances of imports of so-called organic corn and soy from China, for example, that have been found to be fraudulent.

[Editors note:TheNational Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionreports that organic farming increased in 2015. According to NSAC: A closer look at the2015 Organic Production Surveyreveals that virtually all of the increase of 691,289 acres can be attributed to a single livestock organic operation becoming certified in September 2015. Due to the addition of this large ranch, Alaska shot from up from having around 300 certified organic acres to having nearly 700,000, second only to California in total certified acres.]

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post:Amazons new grocery venture gives Jeff Bezos his greatest challengecreating enough organic food

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Organic crop farming in US slides even as demand for organic food increases - Genetic Literacy Project

To learn more about the new 38th and Brighton store, visit: https://www.naturalgrocers.com/store-location/denver-rino-38th-and-brighton

"Most of Northeast Denver, including RiNo, is a food desert; there simply aren't enough quality food options within walking distance to the community," said Denver City Council President, Albus Brooks. "What makes this even more valuable is that Natural Grocers is a Colorado company that educates the community about health and sustainability."

Natural Grocers provides 100% USDA certified organic produce, 100% free range eggs, 100% pasture-based dairy, naturally raised meats and other high-quality food items at Always AffordableSM prices. The store will also provide free science-based nutrition education classes and a nutritional health coach who will offer free health coaching sessions at the store.

The store will also feature a new concept for the company: "Cottage Wine and Craft Beer," a nook where customers can purchase specialty alcoholic beverages such as craft beer, organic and biodynamic wine and hard cider. This marks the first time in the company's 62 year history that it has sold alcoholic beverages at any store.

The first 100 people in line on opening day will get to spin a prize wheel for a chance to win a variety of gifts, such as NOW supplements, Nova chocolate and Natural Grocers-branded items like cutting boards, cooler bags and coupons to use in the store.

The store will host a free community ice-cream social from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 27.

Grand Opening Celebrations

Opening day activities include:

The new RiNo store will feature a mix of national brands and a selection of locally produced products in a small, neighborhood market environment. The store will also feature a Nutritional Health Coach and offer free nutrition education classes to the public. The store will be open seven days a week.

What to Expect from Natural Grocers

Family-run Natural Grocers was built on the premise that consumers should have access to affordable, high-quality foods and dietary supplements, along with nutrition knowledge to help support their own health.

For more information visit: https://www.naturalgrocers.com/store-location/denver-rino-38th-and-brighton

About Natural Grocers by Vitamin CottageNatural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC; NaturalGrocers.com) is a rapidly expanding specialty retailer of organic and natural groceries, body care and dietary supplements. The company offers a flexible, neighborhood-store format, affordable prices and free, science-based nutrition education programs to help customers make informed health and nutrition choices. Founded in Colorado in 1955, Natural Grocers has more than 3,000 employees and operates 140 stores in 19 states.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-grocers-downtown-denver-store-relocates-to-rino-bringing-organic-produce-to-a-food-desert-300483494.html

SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.

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Natural Grocers' Downtown Denver Store Relocates to RiNo Bringing Organic Produce to a Food Desert - PR Newswire (press release)

Can Amazon democratize the Whole Foods experience without sacrificing standards? Its a question analysts ask.

Its tempting to imagine the merger of Amazon and Whole Foods as fodder for a technological experiment: What if you could simply ask Alexa for organic kale and have it delivered by drone in minutes?

But in the days since the tech giant announced it was buying the grocery store chain, experts in the food industry have begun to speculate about the cultural implications of the sale, and what a merger of Amazons customer-centric ethos with Whole Foods high-minded approach to food might look like.

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Grocery stores have generally lagged behind other retailers when it comes to innovation, said David VanAmburg, managing director for the American Customer Satisfaction Index. But if the Whole Foods side of our shopping and consumer experience can be made as timely and as efficient and satisfying as what the Internet has done for the rest of our retail shopping experience, he said, culturally it could be huge.

Long before we see drones taking off from Whole Foods rooftops, however, were likely to see the expansion of Amazons Prime memberships, VanAmburg said, enabling people who pay the $99 annual fee to get access to in-store coupons, deals, and better prices at Whole Foods than nonmembers.

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And while that might not seem much different from a traditional supermarket loyalty program, the distinction comes from Amazons deep understanding of shoppers habits. After all, this is the company that just incorporated its Alexa artificial intelligence technology into its fridge-friendly Dash Wand device, allowing you to both speak and scan barcodes to update your grocery list.

Amazon dominates the Web in online sales, but getting information about our in-store purchases has always been beyond its reach. Now, if Amazon knows that you bought eggs and peanut butter from the physical store, it could ping you when it suspects youre about to run out. And if youre too busy to get to the store? Theyll happily replenish your pantry with a delivery from Amazon Fresh, the companys existing grocery delivery and pickup service.

(Whether those deliveries would come from Whole Foods or other sources remains to be seen.)

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It has that sort of cool and creepiness factor, VanAmburg said, and it forces us to wonder: How much do we want to let [Amazon] know about us for the sake of convenience?

Doug Rauch believes were willing to let companies know quite a bit. The former president of Trader Joes, who now runs the Daily Table grocery store in Dorchester, said that Amazons maniacally customer-focused culture has already changed our shopping habits, in part because the companys data collection benefits the consumer, such as with the related items and customers also bought suggestions online.

With personalized digital insights, Rauch said, the treasure hunt aspect of grocery store shopping, or the ability to lure customers into making impulse purchases, can begin much earlier, with e-mails about new products available in-store or online. There might be a whole new relationship created with the customer and their food that may not have been crafted so easily or quickly, he said.

One possibility? A hybrid Whole Foods/Amazon store model might make picking out sundries far less cumbersome (particularly if you dread weaving a cart up and down the aisles). Shoppers have been hesitant to buy perishable items online, but Rauch envisions a system in which they pick out dry goods in advance think boxes of Hamburger Helper or tuna fish cans and then show up at the store to select meats, dairy items, fruit, and vegetables. At the check-out, the tuna and other such items are prepackaged and waiting.

The question that has been asked widely among industry insiders is whether Amazons approach to pricing will bring down Whole Foods sky-high receipts. After all, Whole Foods is the store that the public loves to shop at but hates to pay for. So can Amazon democratize the Whole Foods experience without sacrificing their standards?

Early signs say yes. And no.

William Masters, an economics professor at Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, said that the core values Whole Foods promotes like its focus on high-quality natural and organic products, environmental stewardship and healthy eating, and its relationships with suppliers might take a hit.

Chef Alice Waters published an open letter saying I sure hope you double down on the agenda and scale up the practices that we associate with Whole Foods, Masters said. My guess would be in an effort to reach scale, which is Amazons calling card, that they would do precisely the opposite.

Instead, he expects to see a broader range of products in stores that may not be local, organic, or sustainable. That would help bring down prices, as would the behind-the-scenes mechanisms that Amazon employs in its supply chain, like warehouse automation and buying in bulk. Another component that would help cut the prices consumers pay? Amazons ability to manipulate prices depending on circumstances: upselling for home delivery, for example, or trimming costs when a shopper places a recurring grocery order.

There is proof that as part of its effort to take on Walmart, Amazon has begun to focus on targeting a demographic with far less spending power than a typical Whole Foods shopper. Shortly before news of the Whole Foods deal broke, the company announced it was creating a low-cost Prime membership for $5.99 a month for people who use government food-assistance programs.

Some, like John Foraker, president of the organic food company Annies Inc., suggested this could solve the problem offood deserts by allowing healthy food to reach a much wider audience, and at lower prices.

When you combine [Amazons] delivery infrastructure with Whole Foods 450+ stores and organic food supply chain, you enable the delivery of natural and organic foods to most places in the US in a matter of an hour or two, he wrote in the days following the announcement.

And it makes financial sense, said Jason Chung, a senior research scholar at NYUs Sports and Society program, who points out that Whole Foods decision to open in lower-income neighborhoods in Harlem, N.Y., and New Orleans was met with enthusiasm from analysts. They have a business model, and I think they have the logistics expertise. They also have a business imperative to do so.

But farmers remain skeptical that such measures wont cut into their own margins.

Dave Chapman, an organic farmer in New Hampshire who sells his tomatoes at Whole Foods, worries that Amazon will drag down the companys principles in pursuit of lower prices.

My concern is that rather than using brilliant innovation to figure out the needs people have, they might fall into the trap of competing with Walmart, he said. It reduces the quality so you can reduce the price.

Over time, the biggest impact may be in the way Amazon gradually shifts the way shoppers feel about patronizing Whole Foods. Perhaps offering better service, lower prices, or a mission that offers greater access to a wider swath of the public will create a different emotional response in customers, as opposed to the knee-jerk guilt or exasperated sticker shock that many experience at the register.

In short, can Amazon help us to hate ourselves a bit less when we fill up our reusable bags at the checkout?

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Amazon, Whole Foods merger could change food shopping - The Boston Globe