Rainforest honey is Back
Those of you who have been awaiting the return of our best-selling rainforest honey can wait no more. It's back!
Due to this year's late Wet Season, and not enough rain when it did rain, the flowers didn't flower, the bees didn't collect pollen and honey wasn't being produced at the usual time of year.
However, the bees got busy once the pollen did start to make an appearance, and Community Foods is again stocking rainforest honey, thanks to the bees kept by beekeeper Robert Martin.
"This is a prime example of global warming in action," says Community Foods Co-Ordinator Peter Reay. "We went through an extended heat wave pattern last year which delayed the start of the Wet Season, and once it did start, we didn't get enough rain to promote anything like real growth and flowering. Plants were just hanging on. Then finally, when the plants did flower, the rain didn't help, because it was making it hard for the bees to collect the pollen they need in order to fill their own hives, let alone produce honey for us."
Peter says add to this the spray drift from agricultural pesticides, and you have a recipe for unhappy bees and even unhappier bee-keepers.
"So all up, we're really pleased to have our rainforest honey, because the story here is not about having honey in the shop, but about having happy bees producing it.
Plant Foods & Community Foods - Online Ordering
Community Foods is working in partnership with Plant Foods, a not-for-profit, community project of Paradise Earth Foundation. It brings together producers of organically grown plant foods with the Cairns community. The aim is to help secure a future for producers while providing greater access to farm fresh produce at wholesale prices. In a few easy steps you can have your weekly fresh organic produce, packaged goods & select Community Foods products.
Skill Up with Community Foods
Upskill Now at Community Foods for Retail Experience
Community Foods is having a volunteer recruitment drive to boost community relations and help upskill anyone interested in learning valuable customer service, retail and sales skills.
Alex Daly, long-term Community Foods volunteer and JCU student, says volunteering at the store has not only taught him about stock rotation and ordering, money handling, point-of-sale operations and food handling, but also given him a strategic insight into production trends and competition, marketing and general small business practices.
“I’ve been volunteering regularly now for two years and I love it. I get to meet a broad range of people from the Cairns community, including many of our international visitors; in fact Community Foods is now a cornerstone of my social life. I highly recommend it.”
Trisha Fox of the Management Committee says new volunteers are eased into the role of sales assistant, and learn all aspects of the running of the shop over time, with two dedicated training sessions from one of the co-op’s founders, Alan Beard.
“We’re keen to welcome new people who share a passion for whole foods with minimum packaging, have a go-getter attitude and are not afraid of learning, working and meeting new and like-minded people. We’re a co-op and we work together. And it’s a lot of fun,” she says.
Anyone interested in volunteering can go to the co-op website: comfoods.org.au and fill in the on-line form, pop into the shop at 74 Shields Street, just down from Cairns Central, or phone 4041 5335 to make a time to come and in and chat.
Welcome to Community Foods
Are you looking for an alternative to your local supermarket? Come have a peek at our shop on Shields Street, Cairns!
We stock a range of organic, biodynamic, & health foods. We can provide any quantity, including unopened bags in bulk for cheaper prices. We support local suppliers.
Please come and have a look at our range including:
- Nuts, Seeds, & Dried Fruits
- Freshly ground Peanut Butter
- Grains (including Quinoa, Buckwheat, Polenta, Millet & many kinds of Rice including purple Jasmin)
- Freshly ground flour with our flour mill
- Beans, Peas, & Lentils
- Pastas (including gluten free)
- Oils, Tahini, Miso, Tamari, Shoyu & Vinegars
- Fresh Herb Teas & Spices
- Organic Fair Trade Chocolates
- Honey, Agave & Molasses
- Shampoo, Conditioner, & Olive Oil Soap
- Wemoon Menstrual pads, menstrual cups & household cleaning products
- Eden Seeds
It's easy to find us as we are based in the centre of the city or you can give us a call. We are always happy to hear from people with ideas, comments, questions or looking to volunteer at Community Foods. Please feel free to contact us.