Month: July 2025

A blue garbage dumpster with a Hartels Disposal label on it stands next to a sign that says "Food Scraps Drop Site" in the Denfeld Whole Foods Co-op parking lot.

Closing the Loop
Posted on by Whole Foods Co-op

Whole Foods Co-op and Resource Renew Celebrate Compost Partnership

Compost is a nutrient-rich addition to any garden. Previously known as Garden Green, Premium Compost is a special compost created from local food scraps and yard waste and  is processed right here in Duluth at Resource Renew, the brand of the Western Lake Superior Sanitary District. Premium Compost is available seasonally at both Whole Foods Co-op stores. 

Given the popularity of Premium Compost and our Owners’ love for composting, in April 2025, the Denfeld store became a Food Scrap Drop Site for Resource Renew’s composting program, making it easier than ever for Co-op shoppers to practice composting.  

“Shoppers have been asking for us to be a Food Scrap Drop Off Site,” said Erika Osterman, Store Manager of our Denfeld location. “We’re thrilled to be able to provide this service and to help make it easier for our neighbors to keep food scraps out of the landfill.” 

A blue garbage dumpster with a Hartels Disposal label on it stands next to a sign that says
Food Scraps Drop Site bin at the Denfeld Whole Foods Co-op.
Two people at the Denfeld Whole Foods Co-op are standing next to a table with table cloth and runner with the Resource Renew logo. One is wearing a headband with a banana on top and the other has a watermelon wedge headband. There are boxes of compostable bags and information about composting on the table.
Dori Decker and Lorilee Blais, Resource Renew Environmental Program Coordinators, tabling at the Food Scraps Drop Site Launch Party at the Denfeld Whole Foods Co-op.

Whole Foods Co-op is excited to build on its partnership with Resource Renew, whose composting program keeps over 2,500 tons of organic matter out of landfills every year.  

When asked why composting is so important, Dori Decker, Environmental Program Coordinator at Resource Renew shared, “Twenty percent of the trash in our district that is going to the landfill is food waste. Diverting food scraps from the landfill can preserve the longevity of our region’s landfill, which is projected to close in 2026, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce household trash volume (which can mean savings for the household!).”  

The Food Scraps Drop Site bin is open 24/7 for people to deposit their food scraps. At-home food scraps buckets and BPI-certified compostable bags are available for free through Resource Renew, and additional bags are available for sale at both Co-op stores. Resource Renew encourages the use of BPI-certified bags to keep the drop sites clean and reduce critters and bugs.  

Plastic buckets with lids and the Resource Renew logo.

This partnership between Whole Foods Co-op and Resource Renew closes the loop, turning food scraps into valuable compost while supporting the environment. Owners, shoppers, and community members are invited to use the Food Scrap Drop Off Site in their composting routine and are encouraged to complete the loop by looking for Resource Renew Premium Compost at Whole Foods Co-op every spring to nurture their gardens.

A large bag of Resource Renew Compost with two boxes of BioBag compostable food scraps bags, sizes small and tall.


Resource Renew Premium Compost and BioBag BPI Certified Food Scrap Bags are available seasonally at both Whole Foods Co-op stores! 

The Composting Process

Just how does a banana peel and coffee grounds become compost, a nutrient-rich soil? They follow a 9-month journey at Resource Renew’s facility. 

Steps: 

  1. Material Collection: Residents and businesses drop off organic materials at designated sites, including the Whole Foods Co-op Denfeld store. Drop site accepted materials include food scraps and BPI-certified compostable products, which are free of plastic, metals, and other non-compostable items. Please note that yard waste is to only be dropped off at the Yard Waste Compost Site. 
  2. Sorting: Collected materials are transported to the composting facility, where they are meticulously sorted to remove contaminants. 
  3. Grinding: Larger organic materials are ground into smaller pieces to accelerate decomposition. 
  4. Mixing and Aeration: Ground materials are combined with the daily delivery of food scraps to create a uniform mix of carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials. Aeration promotes microbial activity, essential for effective decomposition. 
  5.  Active Composting: Compost is placed in large, aerated windrows, or piles, for several weeks, with staff monitoring temperature, moisture, and oxygen levels. High temperatures help eliminate pathogens and weed seeds. Compost can reach temperatures exceeding 150 degrees. 
  6. Turning and Monitoring: The compost pile is periodically turned to maintain optimal conditions for microbial activity. 
  7. Curing: After active composting, the material cures for several months, allowing it to mature and stabilize its nutrients. 
  8.  Screening and Packaging: Mature compost is screened to remove oversized particles and contaminants, then packaged for distribution. 
  9.  Community Distribution: Premium Compost is available for purchase throughout the area, including at both Whole Foods Co-op stores.  

Compost information provided by Resource Renew. 

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A box full of jars of Wisconsin apple butter with the words "Hand Crafted" on the lid labels.

Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative
Posted on by Whole Foods Co-op

Stronger Together

Today is pack-up day,” said Laura Ashenbrener, Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative’s General Manager. Once a week, producers from across the Chequamegon Bay region bring their goods to the co-op’s aggregation center in Ashland, WI.  

On a cool but sunny spring morning, the warehouse’s two conveyor belts were bursting with products. Throughout the year, freshly picked fruits, vegetables, meat, baked goods, honey, flowers, and other products will pass through the same area to be sorted, packed, and sent to drop sites. “Our delivery driver goes up to Duluth and Superior twice a week,” said Ashenbrener, looking over the product being prepped for the voyage. 

Also known as Bayfield Foods, the producer-owned cooperative unites 21 member farms and food producers across the region. Whole Foods Co-op shoppers may recognize some of their member-owners, including Café Coco, Drifty Acres, and Observation Hill Farm. Between the owners, Bayfield Foods provides over 400 different products through their year-round Community Supported Agriculture program (CSAs). 

A photo of members of the Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative smiling while packing boxes of produce on a conveyor.
Farmers Abigail Klema of Suri Fina Farm and Rob Hartman of Twisted Twig Farm pack CSA boxes at Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative. Photo courtesy Bayfield Foods.

By working as a co-op, members become stronger together. Farmers pool resources, gain access to storage facilities and equipment, and collectively market their products. They are also able to tap into a large distribution network. The CSA program alone will distribute over 300 weekly shares over the summer. For the individual farmer, this means that, with a single delivery to the aggregation center, they can reach more than 300 customers from Bayfield to Cloquet!  

Four people pose in front on a conveyor of boxes inside a warehouse.
From left to right: Karra Prudhomme, Bayfield Foods CSA Manager; Mike Gordon; Brian Clements of Northcroft Farm; and Laura Ashenbrener, Bayfield Foods General Manager.

“There was a group of farmers looking for ways to move their products locally, more efficiently, and out of the area,” explained Brian Clements of Northcroft Farm, one of the owners and current board chairman.“It doesn’t make much sense for multiple farmers to drive to Duluth separately, so they started the two programs.” 

In addition to the CSA program, Bayfield Foods operates as a wholesaler, providing efficiency for both farmers and buyers. The entire catalog of products is accessible through a single point of contact, streamlining what would typically involve multiple orders from various farms.

Bayfield Foods also supplies schools and local restaurants. “In the Duluth/Superior area, the Superior School District buys a lot of apples and fruits when in season,” Ashenbrener said. As for restaurants, “One of our biggest customers is St. James Social in Bayfield. They really prioritize local and seasonal foods.” 

With an eye towards continuing to support its member-owners into the future, the cooperative recently received a Whole Foods Co-op 2025 Grow Local Food Fund grant to enhance its infrastructure through purchasing a new 15′ x 15′ walk-in freezer. With anticipated installation in the fall, the freezer will increase space, reliability, and efficiency. “We can offer appropriate storage for the meat producers,” Ashenbrener said of the investment. “If they need storage, they can rent freezer space [from the aggregation center]. It’s an affordable option for local farms.” 

A large warehouse building with a vehicle parked inside. The front bumper, grill, and headlights are visible through the open sliding door.
Two people packing boxes on a conveyor in a warehouse.
A trailer with the Bayfield Foods logo next to a white building.

This year marks 15 years of the Bayfield Regional Food Producers Cooperative, and they continue to adapt and grow. But, when asked what she loves about her work, Ashenbrener is drawn the community, “I know a lot of the farmers, and I like working for them. I like working with local foods; it’s a big community passion in this area. Local places are really important.”  

Bayfield Foods offers multiple drop sites including Duluth, Cloquet, and Superior, as well as home delivery for an additional fee. Visit bayfieldfoods.org for more information on Bayfield Foods, including how to sign up for their CSA.

International Year of Cooperatives 2025 logo with tagline "Cooperatives Build a Better World."

The United Nations has designated 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives. In recognition, Whole Food Co-op will be celebrating throughout the year! We’ll be highlighting cooperatives we’re in cooperation with in-store and here in the Co-op Blog. We’re excited to share the stories of co-ops that are creating quality products while having a positive impact on communities across the globe.

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