October 2026
The monthly newsletter of Basics Cooperative Natural Foods.
*After more than a decade at $2, we finally needed to raise the Basics Smoothie of the Month price. The good news is, it’s still just $1.50 on Super Tuesdays and only $3 the rest of the month!
New Co-op Owners
Welcome!
Andrew Cipriano
Diane Corn
Jasmine Mueller
Tyler Pimm
Stephanie Wolf
October Round Up Non-Profit: Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin
Remember to tell your cashier you want to Round Up your purchases to the nearest dollar to donate.
Staff Anniversaries
Thank you for your dedication.
Halloween candy is here! Click to browse our online store.
Doing Good, Works with Frontier Co-op
Frontier Co-op is celebrating 50 years of doing good as a cooperatively owned business! As their longest-standing Co-op member-owner (we also turn 50 next year), Basics was the inaugural recipient of their new $5,000 Community Impact Grant. We used the grant to create both social and environmental impact locally. Then we took the story on the road.
Happy October Co-op Month! Thank you for supporting co-ops!
Road Trip
Basics Bulk manager Sarah and Marketing & Customer Service manager Amber attended Frontier’s 50th Co-op Owner meeting, tours, and staff celebration in Iowa in September. Amber shared how Basics is using the Community Impact Grant for good in our community.
At co-ops, we see food as more than a commodity. The cooperative model emphasizes transparency, ethical sourcing, organic and sustainable agriculture, education, and community stewardship at home and abroad.
Leaders in Corporate Social Responsibility
Amber & Sarah with Frontier Co-op CEO Tony Beddard, a champion for corporate social responsibility. Under his leadership, Frontier Co-op has grown from $36.5 million in net sales to $235.9 million in 2023 and contributed more than $10 million to philanthropy worldwide.
Using our 2026 Community Impact Grant from Frontier Co-op, Basics partnered with local food pantry ECHO and organic farm UpBeet Produce to address food insecurity while supporting local organic agriculture.
Manufacturing Success
Touring Frontier’s impressive high-tech testing and packaging operations. Downstairs is an on-site daycare; upstairs are offices overlooking the countryside.
The grant funded weekly organic CSA produce shares distributed through ECHO from July through October. By connecting the food pantry with a local farm, the program also qualified for a matching Connecting Farms to Families grant through Hunger Task Force, effectively doubling the impact of the original award. The program was adapted to reduce barriers for food pantry clients by delivering produce directly to ECHO rather than requiring participants to travel for pickup. Simply Organic by Frontier dips and roasting herbs are donated weekly with the vegetables, along with the weekly CSA newsletter containing recipes, storage tips, and vegetable preparation tips from the farm.
Co-ops are uniquely positioned to support our local communities through programs just like this. We are community-owned, locally focused, and built around long-term relationships rather than purely financial goals. This is the co-op difference. We are so glad you are a part of it!
Annual Round Up Survey
Happy Co-op Month! Basics Owners, please take a couple of minutes to complete the annual Round Up Survey. Which local nonprofits do you want the Co-op to support over the next year? It’s your Co-op. We want to hear from you.
Featured Owners
Fair Trade Month
From farm to shelf, the Real Deal matters. That's why we're proud to offer Fairtrade options like coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, and sugar – real products backed by real sustainability standards, supporting fairer prices and better working conditions for the farmers who grow them. Happy FairtradeMonth!
Sip, Sip, Hooray!
Giant Jones Brewing Co.
Are you a fan of unique craft beer? Basics now carries Giant Jones Brewing Company beers out of Madison! This brewery is the only one in Wisconsin that is certified organic. They are also woman-owned and have a strong focus on sustainability (for example, they send spent grains to be used on local farms). Not only are these beers unique in their styling, but they also pack a punch with high ABV levels of 7% or more. All are pint glass bottles for $7.99 at Basics: Canadian Style Spruce Beer, Belgian Style Dark Strong Ale, Polish Style Breslau Schoeps, and Scotch Ale.
Events
Corporate Wellness Partners
Thank you to our current partners, Janesville Veterinary Clinic and Janesville Athletic Club, for partnering with Basics to support a healthier workforce and community. Are you a local business owner or manager? Inquire about our Corporate Wellness Partner Program. Empower your staff to achieve their best health with private wellness classes, extra discounts at Basics, product giveaways, and more!
Click here to view past editions.