Shop at Briarpatch for barbecues and picnics

AH, SUMMERTIME! LONG, WARM DAYS, camping trips, lakeside picnics and backyard dinner parties. In growing numbers, people are turning to BriarPatch Food Co-op for whatever they need for their summer adventures. BriarPatch’s food is nutritious, organically grown and free of artificial additives — good for our health but also the environment. Shopping at “The Patch” […]

Our Local Bounty

NEVADA AND PLACER COUNTIES are home to a growing, healthy and vibrant base of local farms, rivaling the Central Valley, Sonoma and San Luis Obispo. From fruits and vegetables (Riverhill Farm and Machado Orchards, for example) to grass-fed beef (Nevada County Free Range Beef and Sinclair Family Farm) — from olive oil, jams and honey […]

Fresh, local feasts

IN THE FOOTHILLS AND TRUCKEE-TAHOE, the possibilities abound for preparing a fresh, local feast for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s. We are blessed with local farmers and ranchers, farmers markets, a growing number of artisan food makers, and stores that feature local produce and meats. Here are suggestions for finding the ingredients and preparing […]

KVMR Celtic Festival & Marketplace: Music, Magic & Medieval Jousting

THE 21ST ANNUAL KVMR CELTIC FESTIVAL & MARKETPLACE mixes Celtic music and magic Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, set on 100 acres among giant ponderosa pines. There are eight stages and performance areas. The Nevada County Fairgrounds are transformed into a Celtic village and concert venue featuring world-famous musicians […]

Organic grocers: The pulse of the community

“The bulletin board in any organic store is the pulse of the community. You can find yoga, massage, concert listings, bookstores, used van parts (crucial for a touring band), community political information and even lost cats.” — Michael Franti ORGANIC GROCERY STORES ARE BECOMING a hub in more communities, including the ones in our region. […]

Local Eats: “Farm to court dining”

THE FRESH, LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT—from farmers markets to farm-to-fork dining to organic grocers—is becoming a year-round passion in our region. Our fertile soil and water resources are a real asset, along with the know-how of previous generations of farmers in our region, going back to the Gold Rush era. Sacramento has rebranded itself as a […]

Fall cooking classes in the Sierra Foothills

IN FALL, YOU CAN SAVOR THE LATE-SEASON fruits and vegetables from farmers markets, including apples, pears, persimmons and pumpkins. The markets are open until Thanksgiving, or year-round, allowing you to create a feast from the local bounty. Fall also is an ideal time to sign up for a cooking class. The weather is cooler, and […]

BriarPatch completes construction of solar parking lot, keeps it local

The largest carport solar power system in Nevada County has been completed at BriarPatch Co-op Community Market at 290 Sierra College Drive in Grass Valley. This summer the cooperatively-owned grocery store built an innovative 680-panel, 295 kW photovoltaic solar array that spans the length of an expanded parking lot. The system is expected to generate […]

BriarPatch turns 40: “We own it, let’s grow it”

NATURAL FOOD COOPERATIVES are booming across America. The 150 food co-ops of the National Co-op Grocers operate more than 200 stores in 38 states with combined annual sales of $2 billion. Food co-ops have led to a boom in organic foods, now the fastest growing sector of the grocery business. One of the food co-op […]

Foraging for flavor: Summer cooking classes in the Sierra Foothills

DURING THE SUMMER, YOU CAN TAKE advantage of the bounty from farmers markets and farm stands or backyard gardens. Cooking classes feature summer fruits and veggies. In a popular class at Tess’ Kitchen Store, in-house chef Alan Tangren—who was a restaurant forager at famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley—shows you how to select the best fruits […]

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