The Rising Tide Grateful Card has successfully entered its second phase with greater functionality and customized rewards for our amazing customers (for whom we are so very GRATEFUL!). Come into the store today to enroll in the program and receive these valuable rewards:
- Grateful Card Coupons: As you accumulate points in your Grateful Card account, you’ll receive bi-monthly, hassle-free “Grateful For You” e-coupons through your email. Why hassle-free? You won’t ever need to present the coupon or have it scanned from your phone; when you qualify for a coupon it will automatically appear in our system and we’ll tell you about it at checkout after your Grateful Card is scanned. The more you spend, the more valuable your coupon will be. It’s that simple.
Spend $200-$600 in two months: Receive a 10% coupon
Spend $601-$1000 in two months: Receive a 15% coupon
Spend $1001+ in two months: Receive a 20% coupon
(Note: it’s important you scan your card every time, so that every point you earn finds its way into your account.)
- Birthday Coupon: Check with our cashiers to be sure we have your birthdate in our system.
- Social Media Coupon: Be on the lookout for targeted emails to share on your social media platforms. Share and receive a coupon for $2 off a $10 purchase. (You’ll receive your coupon the day after you share.)
- Digital Juice/Smoothie Card: Buy 10 16 oz. Juices or Smoothies and the 11th one is on us. No need to carry your card around; we’ll have it all in our system.
- Senior Discount (65 and older): 5% off entire purchase at every visit.
- Supplement Discount: 20% off Rising Tide brand supplements at every visit.
We’re so excited to be sending out your Grateful Card rewards! You deserve it!
Whatever you’re out there doing, we hope you’re doing a lot of it and having a ball! Our Wellness guru, Jen, has some super skincare tips to help protect your outer layer all summer long.
- Choose your sunscreen wisely. Jen loves the super clean MyChelle Sun Shield broad spectrum SPF30 that comes on clear, is never sticky and is safe for ocean reefs. Plus, it’s 100% vegan and contains none of the bad stuff (parabens, petroleum, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, ureas, or artificial fragrances or colors). Think of it as your summer skin-surance policy.
- A lovely shade of tan. In the quest for that perfect summer skin tone, the antioxidant power of BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin may help lengthen time to sunburn, leaving you instead with that coveted tan. There’s also evidence that astaxanthin can act as an internal sunscreen, protecting the body from damage caused by UV rays.
- Banish that burn. If you forget to reapply your sunscreen (it happens to all of us!), Jen recommends this dynamic duo to soothe and heal burned skin. Blend together Aura Cacia Lavender Essential oil (reduces that burnt feeling and prevents blisters…keep in the kitchen for stovetop burns, too) and Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gelly (cools, soothes and hydrates tender skin…keep in fridge).
We’re beyond excited to announce that the Rising Tide Grateful Card is entering its second phase with much greater functionality and customized rewards for our amazing customers (for whom we are so very grateful!).
NEW Grateful Card Features Starting Aug. 1:
- GRATEFUL CARD COUPONS: As you accumulate points in your Grateful Card account, you will receive bi-monthly, hassle-free “Grateful for You” eCoupons through your email. Why hassle-free? You won’t ever need to present the coupon or have it scanned from your phone; when you qualify for a coupon it will automatically appear in our system and we’ll tell you about it at check out after your Grateful Card is scanned (it’s important that you scan your card EVERY TIME, so that every point you earn finds its way into your account). The more you spend, the more valuable your coupons will be. It’s that simple.
- Birthday Coupon: Check with our Cashiers to be sure we have your birthdate in our system
- Social Media Coupon: Be on the lookout for targeted emails to share on your social media platforms. Share and receive a coupon.
- Digital Juice/Smoothie Card: Buy 10 16 oz. juices or smoothies and the 11th one is on us…no need to carry your card around; we’ll have it all in our system.
- Senior Discount (65 and older): 5% off entire purchase at every visit
- Supplement Discount: 10% off Rising Tide Brand Supplements at every visit
- FREE Reusable Bag for new Grateful Card sign-ups
- More valuable rewards in the works…stay tuned for details!
In the weeks to come, we’ll post signage in the store explaining the program for shoppers. If you have any questions about the program, feel free to ask one of our Cashiers or ask to speak with a Manager.
We can’t wait to start sending out your Grateful Card rewards! You deserve it!
We’re so excited to have made Cove Animal Rescue our Charity of the Month for a second time! The first time—last summer—was also our first occasion to visit the shelter to see firsthand all the great work being done there. One look at their cat wing (all those climbing, playing, happy cats!) and we were sold! This is a shelter created and staffed by true animal lovers.
Cove Animal Rescue, located right here in Glen Cove, strives to help eliminate the fear and stress that make an animal difficult to present for adoption. They do so by providing cage-free environments such as the cat wing mentioned above, and the recently completed outdoor dog runs and play areas.
Stop in to visit, choose a wonderful animal to adopt, or become a volunteer; Cove Animal Rescue is always looking for loving volunteers to give the animals affection and attention to prepare them for when they go home with their own human. Volunteers must be 16 and older, or 14-16 with an adult. And while the nonprofit shelter is partially subsidized by the City of Glen Cove, they also accept volunteer fundraisers to help raise money to pay for food, medical care and staffing.
Thank you for helping to raise money for this amazing charity throughout July through our Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) program! As always, we’re so grateful for our wonderful customers.
June is Men’s Health Month — time for men you know and love to assess their health routines and see where positive changes can be made. Where to start? Choose supplements specifically geared toward health issues that only men will face. Our resident Wellness Guru, Jen, offers up her top picks for all those amazing men who want to live in optimal health.
- New Chapter’s Every Man’s One Daily. It all starts with a great multi. Every Man One’s Daily is a whole food based multivitamin, featuring fermented vitamins and minerals that are easily digestible and easily assimilated by the body. Jen likes the addition of Elderberry (plus Eleuthero and Astragalus) for enhanced immune function.
- Life Extension’s Ultra Prostate Formula. Whatever the state of your prostate, this is one to add to your daily routine. This product does it all: promotes healthy prostate function, supports normal urine flow, inhibits excess estrogen, and supports a healthy inflammation response, all while helping maintain healthy PSA levels.
- Nature’s Plus Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein Powder. If your man’s boosting his smoothie with product that isn’t serving him, it might be time for a new protein powder. The Nature’s Plus Pumpkin Seed powder is packed with 15g of protein per serving and the great-tasting pumpkin seeds (and beneficial fatty acids) shown to promote prostate health.
With so much talk these days about opioid addiction and the side effects of many popular over-the-counter pain relievers, it’s more important than ever to have a safe, effective, natural pain squasher when you really need it.
Curamin Extra Strength—on sale at Rising Tide all month—combines natural pain-reliever Curcumin (the bioactive ingredient in turmeric) with anti-inflammatory Boswellia, mood lifter DLPA and the enzyme Nattokinese (helps ingredients move through the bloodstream so they get where they need to be!) for a potent nutrient combo that helps alleviate pain, with none of the negative side-effects of aspirin and other conventional pain relievers.
Highlights of Curamin Extra Strength:
* Fast-acting
* Shortens recovery time
* Helps you stay in the game, doing the things you love
* Fights inflammation throughout the body
Curamin Extra Strength is rarely on sale, so take advantage of this great June deal.
30 count, reg. $24.99: ON SALE: $19.99
60 count, reg. $59.99, ON SALE: $35.99
120 count, reg: $83.99, ON SALE: $66.99
Honey in its raw, unadulterated state is a healthy sweetener revered for centuries for its amazing antibacterial properties, abundance of trace minerals (iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and more), immune-boosting and digestive properties and other health benefits. Truth is, we can’t get enough of the stuff, and love it the most when it’s local. We sat down with the president of Southampton-based Hamptons Honey Company, Gabriel Alfaya, to learn the inspiration for this sweet Long Island biz, and what makes it stand out from the many other (lesser) honeys on the average grocery store shelf.
RT: Who are the people behind The Hamptons Honey Company?
GA: The Hamptons Honey Company was conceived almost 17 years ago when my partners, Frederic Rambaud and Alan Ceppos, purchased their home in Water Mill and were looking for a pursuit that would allow them to “give back” with all the land they had acquired. After reviewing several other options, including starting a small farm or vineyard, Frederic’s background in beekeeping lit a spark. I came aboard in 2008 and Hamptons Honey grew to the next level.
RT: How would you describe the role honey plays for those pursuing a clean, healthy lifestyle?
GA: Honey is considered a superfood, and is integral to a healthy lifestyle…especially local honey, which has many health properties and never spoils. It’s good for fighting allergies, soothing burns (honey is a natural antibiotic), and is a healthier alternative to sugar for cooking and baking.
RT: What makes The Hamptons Honey Company different from other honey?
GA: At Hamptons Honey we strive to ensure that all of our honey is local and never overly heated or treated. Honey should always be warmed gradually and never made too hot (overheating it can rob it of many of its healthy qualities). Our emphasis on quality is second to none. We know our customers love our products and we try never to forget that.
RT: How important is it for you to source honey locally, from local beekeepers?
GA: We believe that honey is always best when local. For example, if you suffer from allergies here in the Northeast, using an Orange Blossom honey—though delicious—will not help your body combat those allergies. Local beekeepers are a vital component of our food system and we try to make sure to keep the cycle going.
RT: What’s one fun thing most people don’t know about Hamptons Honey?
GA: EVERYTHING is fun – If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, what’s the point in doing it? I enjoy meeting with our stores, setting up our displays, thinking up new products and labels. It’s all a lot of fun.
RT: What’s the latest from Hamptons Honey? Anything new in the pipeline?
GA: We’re always trying to think outside the box. Right now, we’re toying with the idea of two new creamed honeys: a blueberry and an apricot. We’re also considering a hot chili-infused honey…or even a honey-infused BBQ sauce or salad dressing…stay tuned.
RT: When you’re not noshing on honey… what are you loving to eat right now? What are your top go-to’s (snacks, drinks, wellness products or other)?
GA: Too many times I’m guilty of not eating as well as I should (just ask my wife!). But anything caught in the ocean is good for me… and a nice bottle of wine!
RT: What are the best ways to use Hamptons Honey?
GA: Honey is so versatile and can be used so many different ways. You can bake with it, put it on your fruit or oatmeal, enjoy it right out of the jar on a spoon, mix it with other spices and develop your own BBQ rub, etc. And, of course, use it in your tea!
RT: What’s your favorite recipe to make using Hamptons Honey?
GA: My buddy Sam has come up with the best BBQ rub using our honey…amazing!
RT: What’s the strangest way you’ve heard someone use your honey?
GA: A woman once called to tell me that her dog was suffering from a persistent cough and her vet wanted to operate on the dog. She started feeding the dog a little honey and the cough eventually went away. Yes, apparently dogs can get allergies, too!
RT: So many in this community dream of starting their own business. What’s your best piece of advice for launching a successful local biz?
GA: Great question. First, never lose sight of the fact that you and your customers are basically a partnership. They want to provide the best products for THEIR customers so you in turn need to make sure you’re giving the best products that you can to your stores. Also, never grow faster than you’re prepared for. That growth will be short lived. If you can’t continue providing the service that people have come to expect, you’ll eventually lose those customers. That means you must be willing to invest in personnel and infrastructure to ensure that your customer service is always on point. And lastly, your employees are ambassadors of your brand…treat them like family!
Local Farm Welcomes Volunteers of All Abilities
Alethea Vasilis graduated from college, then took her backgrounds in dance and cultural anthropology and embarked on a life-changing adventure to Northern Mali. Here she saw firsthand two agricultural communities coming together through dance, drumming, and food. She was hooked.
When she returned to the U.S., she worked as a support person for Rachel, a young woman with autism. She brought Rachel to her father’s farm (her dad is Peter Vasilis of Long Island’s Orient Organics), and Rachel fell in love with the calming rhythm of farming work. This led to the start of the one-acre SustainAbility Farm at Oyster Bay’s Plantingfields Arboretum in 2011, which Alathea worked at and then managed in 2013. In 2014, when SustainAbility moved to Upstate, New York, Orkestai Farm was born.
Orkestai—derived from the Ancient Greek for collaborative movement, or the part in a theater piece when dancers move together to interpret nonverbal parts of the play—provides an opportunity for Alathea and her staff to bring together farming and the arts through a program she calls a CCA: Cultivated Community Agriculture. A CCA share at Orkestai consists of a weekly CSA share filled with local and sustainable produce, free access to Expressive Agriculture events (like a one-of-a-kind performance by theLong Island Vegetable Orchestra), yoga on the the farm, and, perhaps most importantly, thrice-weekly experiential farm learning, when people of all abilities come together to build community, learn about farming, and develop confidence in areas previously unexplored. New for 2018: a Kids’ Program for ages 2-10, featuring experiential learning once a week and one Sunday a month (no CSA share included).
According to Vasilis, the diversity among the volunteers and staff at Orkestai mirrors that of the crops themselves. “Orkestai Farm facilitates person-centered expressive and educational support for people of all abilities as they learn to grow food, participate in an inclusive community, and care for the land, ” she says. “We echo the notion of environmental biodiversity with a call for the acceptance of human neuro-diversity, a philosophy which honors the inherent worth of everyone in our community.”
To tour Orkestai, or inquire about the CCA program or about your group volunteering at the farm, visit http://www.orkestaifarm.org. And thank you for contributing to this wonderful program for the month of June through our Bring Your Own Bag program!
For National Dairy Month, we’d like to talk a bit about some of our favorite milk and milk products: those that come from 100% grass-fed cows.
The reasons for our passionate support of these products are two-fold. First, there’s nutrition. One study showed that organic whole milk from grass-fed cows contains more than 60% more omega-3 fats and 25% fewer omega-6 ones than conventional milk (a ratio of more omega-3s and fewer omega-6s is a formula for lowering risk of chronic disease). A study in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that consuming grass-fed milk products also means a boost of certain important nutrients, especially iron and vitamin E.
Second, grass-fed milk is better for the environment. In order to produce the highest-quality milk, pasture-fed cows are moved to different pastures throughout the season, a pattern that prevents overgrazing, creates healthier water tables, puts carbon back in the soil by increasing grass production, and improves the health of grazing land.
Our Milks Are Better
At Rising Tide, we’re proud to carry a variety of grass-fed milk products from family-owned farm cooperative Organic Valley, along with smaller, artisanal dairy companies like Pennsylvania’s Trickling Springs Creamery, and Maple Hill Creamery, based locally right here in New York State. The standards these companies adhere to are outstanding. Click here for a look at what food and farm policy watchdog group Cornucopia Institute has to say regarding the many dairy companies on the market. (Hint: the Big Food options don’t fare well!)
We’ve also got a bunch of grass-fed milk CHEESES that you will want to work your way through (take your time; enjoy yourself!):
Maple Hill Stone Creek Cheddar
Maple Hill One Year Cheddar
Maple Hill Dharma Lea Dutch (Gouda style)
5 Spoke Creamery raw milk Harvest Moon
Organic Valley Grassmilk Cheese in Raw Cheddar
Organic Valley Grassmilk Cheese in Raw Sharp Cheddar
Diva Cheese, made with certified mountain meadow milk from the UNESCO Biosphere Mountain Dairy in the heart of Switzerland.
***GRASS-FED DAIRY ON SALE***
Maple Hill grass-fed Kefir in Plain and Strawberry are on sale all month. reg. $5.99, ON SALE $3.99.
This month and next, middle- and high-schoolers could be faced with higher-stakes exams that can lead to increased anxiety. Stress can hit while studying, or when sitting for the actual exams. Before test tension hits hair-pulling levels, try some natural de-stressors to help calm and center your student. Try them one at a time to see which one works best for your child.
- Stress Relax Pharma Gaba by Natural Factors. This natural source of the brain compound GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) can be both physically calming and help with mental focus. Teens and tweens (10 and up) can take two of these chewables as needed (up to 2x/day), either preventatively before a big test or as a grounding agent while studying.
- Rescue Remedy by Bach Flower. This famous blend of five different Bach Flower remedies is gentle and side-effect free, and can be used with kids of all ages. Take during times of acute stress as needed for balance and clarity.
- Homeopathic Stress Relief by Siddha Flower Essences. Add this liquid tension-reducer to your child’s water or juice; sipping throughout the day may help quell temporary anxiety while helping boost concentration. Stress Relief works progressively and cumulatively, so give to your children regularly for best results.
On May 12, join us in celebrating World Fair Trade Day and the movement of small-scale farmers and artisans around the world. Consumers and mission-driven brands are a key part of this movement; to shop these brands is to invest in food and farming systems that feed the planet and give back to the land.
Each fair trade brand’s products and its producers tell a different story: Alaffia’s deodorant helps support reforestation projects in rural Togo, increasing food security and helping to slow erosion. Alter Eco’s chocolate partners are reintroducing heirloom cacao varietals as part of an agroforestry project in Ecuador. In India, Dr. Bronner is partnering with a project that is revitalizing land into a rich, regenerative ecosystem to grow mint oil that puts the tingle in your soap—and a wealth of food and cash crops. Equal Exchange’s coffee helps power deep organic practices, and farmer-led workshops that pass the wisdom on to the next generation of Honduran farmers.
Small-scale producers are growing food and farming systems that give back to their communities and regenerate our planet. When you support the fair trade brands that support them, you’re helping grow that future, too.
Look for special in-store deals throughout May, and let your purchases be Fair for Farmers every day!
Now when you order hummus at the Rising Tide Deli, you’ll enjoy the special recipe concocted by our very own Chef John. This fresh, creamy dip is notable as much for what Chef leaves OUT of it as what he puts in. (Hint: there’s NO cumin…for many of our customers, this is a huge plus!)
RT HUMMUS
***100% Organic***
* Chickpeas
* Tahini
* Lemon juice
* Garlic
* Olive oil
* Sea salt
* Black pepper
We’re thrilled to introduce you to High Mowing Organic Seeds, our valued source for organic seeds since 2015. What began with just 28 varieties in1996 in founder Tom Stearns’ backyard has since grown exponentially—a one-man operation now a thriving business making available to home gardeners and commercial growers over 600 heirloom, open-pollinated and hybrid varieties of vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seed.
True to its roots, High Mowing Organic Seeds continues to grow many of the varieties they sell on their 40-acre farm in northern Vermont, setting them apart from the majority of other seed companies. Come check out our wide assortment of Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified seeds on the racks at the front of the store. We’re just about a month away from the ideal time to plant your backyard garden. Start planning now!
Assorted seeds: $2.75/each
***New for 2018*** We’ve got an entire rack of High Mowing Organic microgreens seeds! Studies show that microgreen plants contain up to 40 times higher levels of vital nutrients than their more mature counterparts. Choose from Red Beet, Russian Kale, Broccoli, Green Chard and more.
Microgreens seeds: $5.99/each
With gardening season fast approaching, we’re excited to bring in our amazing selection of organic plants from Marion Gardens, located right here on Long Island’s North Fork. We spoke to Chris Gaipa, who, along with his father Walter, is responsible for the day-to-day operations at Marion Gardens. This is a family business through and through, based wholly on a love of organic gardening and a desire to provide the best possible organic product for their customers on Long Island and beyond.
RT: Who are the people behind the Marion Gardens?
MG: The core people behind Marion Gardens today are myself and my father Walter. Beyond that we wouldn’t be where we are today without my mother, Linell, and Betty and Gabriel, our two mainstay employees.
RT: What is the story behind the creation of the company? How did Marion Gardens get where it is today?
MG: Marion Gardens was started by my parents, Walter and Linell, with a 6′ x 8′ hobby greenhouse growing bonsai trees. That morphed into field grown cut herbs that were sold at NYC farmer’s markets. Eventually we settled on growing wholesale finished plants. Today we have two acres of covered greenhouse space that we use to sell over 300 varieties of Certified Organic herb and vegetable plants to garden centers and natural markets all over Long Island. We have experienced steady growth while making sure to maintain our roots as a small, accessible family business.
RT: How does Marion Gardens stand out among other Long Island plant and herb growers?
MG: Other growers may have a portion of their business dedicated to herb and vegetable plants or a portion of their business dedicated to growing organically, but we are completely committed and our sole focus is on growing 100% Certified Organic herb and vegetable plants. Non-organic herb and vegetable plants are often advertised as “all natural” or “GMO free.” However they can still be grown with chemical fertilizers, pest controls, growth regulators and treated seed. Certified Organic plants MUST be GMO free and ONLY use USDA Certified Organic compost, fertilizer and pest controls, which includes the use of beneficial insects. Only plants grown under the strict USDA Certified Organic standards can make this claim. We are inspected every year and have to pay a sizeable fee to be Certified Organic. Yet, we wouldn’t grow any other way.
RT: Have you always been 100% organic? If not, what was the process that led you here?
MG: We have been growing on Long Island since 1987 and we began the transition into organic back in the early 2000’s. We have been full Certified Organic since 2007.
RT: What’s one fun thing most people don’t know about Marion Gardens?
MG: We have spinoff businesses from Marion Gardens wholesale. My wife Angela and I have a small retail outlet in the front of our wholesale greenhouse that we open for a few months every spring. We also began Organic Harvest which ships Marion Gardens plants nationwide, and is one of the few growers of Certified Organic plug trays. We even got an order from Alaska this year! If you know anyone that’s not local that’s looking for a quality organic plant, send them to theorganicharvest.com.
RT: What’s the latest from Marion Gardens? Anything new in the pipeline we should know about?
MG: We are always trying to grow new and interesting varieties. That’s one of the most exciting parts of what we do.
RT: As a company devoted to organic plants…what are you loving to eat right now? What are your go-to (snacks, drinks, wellness products, etc.)?
MG: What aren’t we loving to eat! This time of year we are focused mainly on the cold hardy greens, in particular kale and arugula. But we are looking forward to getting our garden planted and experiencing the new varieties of tomatoes and peppers first hand.
RT: We always celebrate local businesses, and are especially fond of those right here on Long Island. What are the benefits of running your business on the Island?
MG: Long Islanders stay true to their roots. And in our case, the garden center industry on Long Island hasn’t been nearly as affected by the big box stores as some other places. This has allowed us to continue to have so many outlets to sell our plants. And Long Islanders love to garden! We know what we want and we really seem to appreciate and seek out quality, local products. So many people nowadays will only grow organic plants and gardens and we are thrilled to be able to provide them with the opportunity to do so. And we appreciate that Rising Tide Market feels the same way.
RT: As an extension of the last question…many of our customers dream of ditching our everyday life to work on a farm or run a local business. What’s your one piece of advice for those considering this kind of lifestyle change?
MG: This is one we get a lot. This industry is a lot of fun, and it is a beautiful thing to enhance and encourage what Mother Nature has set the stage for. With that being said, it certainly isn’t for everyone. I’m not sure most people realize the amount of energy (and with that, stress!) that goes into working year-round but making a majority of your income in a few short months. We work long hours and it’s a physical and mental grind to raise so many different kinds of plants all at once. However, we are very proud of the work that we do and we thrive off of all of the positive feedback we get. I know I speak for all of us when I say we wouldn’t have it any other way.
RT: Dream big. What is your wildest dream for the future of Marion Gardens?
MG: Just to continue to provide a service that we’d be grateful to have for ourselves, and to continue to touch people’s lives in a positive way. That’s what gets us out of bed in the morning. Early!
Last Earth Day we made big news when we launched our BYOB—Bring Your Own Bag—initiative, wherein we began to charge customers $.10 for every paper bag we used, and donate those monies to a different local charity each month. The goal? To cut our use of paper bags in half, year over year. And while we’re still striving to meet that goal, we made incredible headway by cutting our paper bag usage by 30% in a year’s time. (Incidentally, fewer paper bags meant a savings of $3,900 for Rising Tide Market…all of which and more was donated to 11 different local charities. Thanks to this planet-saving program we were able to donate $5,000 to these charities from 2017-18, and we’re still going strong!)
On Trend
With BYOB, we are clearly representing a movement that’s gaining ground in our neck of the woods. Suffolk County passed a $.05 plastic bag fee in January, and The village of Sea Cliff followed suit last month. The issue is certain to come up in our hometown of Glen Cove before you know it, and we will most certainly be on the front lines, encouraging this Earth-positive change.
As Earth Day approaches again, we’re excited to fill you in on a new planet-forward partnership we’re exceedingly proud of. Climate Collaborative—a coalition of concerned businesses from the natural products industry working collaboratively to catalyze bold action, amplify the voice of business, and promote sound policy to reverse climate change—was introduced to us last year by INFRA, a coalition of independent retailers that has played a vital role in the day-to-day workings of our business for close to a decade. (INFRA’s mission, incidentally, coalesces beautifully with that of the Climate Collaborative: To strengthen our members through collaboration to forge a sustainable future.) As Rising Tide has always been dedicated to doing its part to protect the planet for future generations, we didn’t hesitate to sign on, and immediately went to work evaluating our impact on the environment and changes we could make to mitigate it.
Commitment to Change
“Change isn’t easy for most people,”says Jerry Farrell, Rising Tide founder and owner for 42 years. “Every time we take action to lighten our carbon footprint, it is a change that comes from our customers first. They are always pointing us in this direction, and they always appreciate these changes once we’ve committed to them. This is just how our customers are.”
“Pretty soon Glen Cove will be faced with a decision to require a tax on plastic bags and there will be more debate on this topic,” Jerry continues. “For us, and for our customers, this is an easy decision to make, and Rising Tide will take a leadership role.”
As a condition of our partnership, the Climate Collaborative has asked each member to commit to four of nine innovative and practical climate initiatives. Rising Tide has chosen the following:
1. Food Waste. We’ve already begun the process of reducing food waste in our supply chain, by implementing a system for tracking waste. The next step: analyzing the waste to see where we can create efficiencies.
2. Energy Efficiency. We’ve taken steps in this area by switching our lightbulbs and refrigeration to LED lighting. When we move to the new store, we’ll also be looking to source a more energy-efficient and better quality freon for our refrigeration.
3. Packaging. As most of our customers already know, we made the decision to eliminate plastic bags five years ago. More recently, last year, we took the additional step to charge our customers $.05 for each paper bag we give out, and then to donate those monies to a different local charity each month (see above). As we move forward, we’ll also be looking closely at all of our single-use items (tableware, straws, food containers) and finding ways to source the most sustainable, eco-friendly products. Through our relationship with INFRA and the Climate Collaborative, we are able to see what other stores throughout the country are doing in this area. Some of the stores in California, for example, are using mason jars for their soups, and reusable containers for water, laundry detergent etc. This is the kind of thing we would like to implement when we move to the new store.
4. Responsible Engagement in Climate Policy. We’re committed to supporting legislation that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy; increases investment in a clean energy economy; supports climate change adaptation; and puts a price on carbon emissions. INFRA, the trade organization that represents Rising Tide and hundreds of other independent natural food retailers, is actively lobbying in all of the above areas. Through INFRA we are able to stay abreast of all the important legislation that impacts organics, the food supply, and other topics that affect our customers and our business.
Stay tuned for more about our relationship with the Climate Collaborative and how it will help us walk the path to sustainability for years to come.
We are pleased to introduce you to our March Charity of the Month:
Community Solidarity.
Community Solidarity is America’s largest all-vegetarian hunger relief food program. Each week, Community Solidarity assists thousands of families by sharing free nutritious vegetarian groceries and hot gourmet vegan meals at food shares in four locations: Hempstead, Farmingville, Huntington, Wyandanch and Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The plant-based foods they offer these families are not only healthier than most foods offered by mainstream food banks; they’re also compassionate and sustainable.
Community Solidarity’s mission is simple: By promoting a vegan diet, and sharing vegetarian groceries, they save animals. By empowering communities, and ending hunger, they help people. In 2017 Community Solidarity provided over $13,155,297.38 of assistance including over 5,257,857 pounds of vegetarian groceries! Every $1 donated to Community Solidarity allows them to rescue 328 pounds of vegetarian groceries—that’s a week’s worth of groceries for 11 people. We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to their efforts through Rising Tide’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)/Charity of the Month program.
Wanted: Volunteers!
Community Solidarity is always looking for volunteers to distribute groceries at their food shares, to organize clothing drives, or to offer talents in other areas. Get in touch with them and see how you can make a difference.
As we write this, we’re in the midst of our fourth nor’easter in so many weeks. It certainly doesn’t FEEL like spring, does it? But cold as it is, this is the BEST time to begin an anti-allergy protocol that should allow you to skate through allergy season unscathed (or at least in better form than in years past). Here Jen offers her springtime allergy prevention protocol. All three are safe for children, except where indicated. What are you waiting for? Start now!
- Nettles Quercetin by Oregon’s Wild Harvest. Stinging nettles are itchy when they touch your skin, but when ingested have been shown to promote a healthy immune response to seasonal allergies. Quercetin is among the important flavonoids that fight inflammation in the body, including inflammation related to allergies and asthma. Together they’re allergy prevention gold. Take one on an empty stomach once/day.
- Nenningers Naturals Triple Allergy Defense. These homeopathic remedies provide symptom relief of pollen, mold and dust allergies all in one bottle. And they do it all quickly, with no drowsiness and no harmful side effects. Take once daily.
- Neti pot. When used properly morning and night, the warm water and salt solution in this little vessel will loosen mucus to relieve congestion and clear out pollen and other allergens. We carry the Nasopure Nasal Wash System, as well as the more traditional net pot, from Ancient Secrets. For basic instructions on using a net pot, click here.
For children (who may be uncomfortable with the neti pot), use Xlear saline spray twice daily, morning and night. The spray not only moisturizes and soothes irritated sinuses and nasal cavities, but its secret ingredient—xylitol—prevents bacteria and allergens from sticking to nasal tissue.
Bonus tip for allergy sufferers: Put a little Un-Petroleum Jelly on a Q-tip and gently line the nostrils before you go outside—especially if you’ll be out in the woods or if it’s a windy day. The sticky jelly will catch the pollen before it has a chance to wreak havoc on your system.
We’ve had great breads in the store before, but that doesn’t stem the excitement we feel at bringing our customers hand-crafted artisanal breads and scones—baked fresh daily—from
Essential Baking Company. All Essential Baking Co. breads are made using traditional artisan techniques combined with the best local, organic, and natural ingredients.
Great bread should not be complicated. Each Essential Baking Company recipe begins with just four basic ingredients:
*Unbleached Wheat Flour
*Water
*Sea Salt
*Naturally occurring yeast. (Essential Baking Co. uses its own sourdough starters, which allows its dough to go through a long, natural fermentation process that encourages naturally occurring yeast.)
Come check out these wonderful breads for yourself:
- Tuscan Baguette (Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified) $3.99/each
- Fremont Sourdough (Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified) $4.99/each
- 5oz Ciabatta buns $1.69/each
- Currant Scone $2.99/each
In 2013, Miriam Wietniewska and Sam Friedman fell in love. But they were often at odds over dessert. Sam loved sugary desserts like cookies, cakes and ice cream. Miriam would look at the ingredients and cringe – sugar, high fructose corn syrup, polysorbate 80, carrageenan? Ahhh! One night, Miriam whipped up a four-ingredient “ice cream” made of coconuts, cashews, dates and cacao. For the first time, Sam was hooked on a healthy dessert. Soon enough, friends, family, and even perfect strangers wanted MUD in their home. Today, MUD’s Coconut Mousse product line is available in more than 60 health food and grocery stores in NYC, Long Island, Upstate NY, Connecticut and growing. Its purpose is clear: to nourish people and their higher purpose—and give them sweet nourishment along the way.
Since 2015, over 20,000 people have tried MUD. They often ask: ‘Are you sure there’s no dairy or refined sugar in here?’ Yes, they are 100% sure.
Note to customers: Make sure to let MUD soften! Since they use no preservatives or gums, it gets hard in the freezer. MUD is best enjoyed thawed for 20 minutes at room temp, or even from the fridge!
RT: Who are the people behind the MUD?
M: Sam Friedman, the sweet tooth, and Miriam Kwietniewska, the health nut.
Sam is a social entrepreneur from Rockaway Beach, NY with a passion for creativity, collaboration, and commerce. Before MUD, he founded an IT platform that today is helping fund global agricultural projects. Sam has always had a big sweet tooth. Before the age of 12 he ran a chocolate-covered pretzel stand, and sold ice cream in his home town. Sam serves as MUD’s CEO and Chief Taste Tester, helping keep MUD sweet.
Miriam Kwietniewska is a soulpreneur with a passion for health and wellness. At age 9, Miriam emigrated from Poland to Long Beach, NY. Her interest in healing started thanks to her mom’s Multiple Sclerosis (MS). At the age of 23, Miriam experienced divine intervention after seeing someone heal themselves from progressive MS. She applied holistic healing principles to herself, which changed her life and led to the co-founding of MUD. Today, Miriam is coaching her mom to heal herself naturally, continuing to develop natural products, and collaborating with change-makers to awaken the collective consciousness of the planet. Miriam serves as MUD’s Chief Product Officer, helping keep MUD healthy.
RT: What makes MUD different from other dairy-free frozen desserts out there?
M: First, MUD uses whole foods, not processed derivatives. We use whole cashews and dates to preserve precious vitamins, minerals, and fiber for you! Each serving of MUD has 12 vitamins and minerals, and 4-5 grams of plant-based protein. Other dairy-free frozen desserts use liquid milks, syrups, natural flavorings and powdered gums and fibers, which have little to no nutrient density.
Secondly, MUD’s Coconut Mousse is real food that tastes like dessert. It’s organic nuts and fruits ground and whipped together for your pleasure and convenience. And we sweeten exclusively with dates, not with refined sugar or high glycemic syrup. Dates grow on palm trees in arid climates, and in Ayurveda are considered a ‘sattvic’ food (light, pure energy). Dates are low to medium glycemic and contain a lot of fiber, which helps to offset the glycemic response in the blood. In other words, although MUD’s Coconut Mousse tastes like a dessert, it doesn’t carry the negative side effect of a sugar crash. Satisfy your sweet tooth while nourishing your body.
RT: How important is it for you to source ingredients locally?
M: All of our ingredients grow in countries with a tropical climate like Madagascar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Dominican Republic. The only ingredient we can currently source from the USA is our organic dates from California. When we source ingredients it’s very important for us to know where they’re coming from and how the people, crops and local environments are treated. As we grow, we learn how to ask better questions and how to source closer to the source. For instance, we source our Madagascar vanilla from a company that partners directly with small farmers via their cooperatives, and we source our organic coffee and cacao from certified fair-trade partnerships.
RT: What’s one fun thing most people don’t know about MUD?
M: Each serving of MUD’s Coconut Mousse is infused with Ocean energy. MUD is made in Rockaway Beach, a true New York City gem. Rockaway is a peninsula nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Manhattan skyline, making it a perfect place for nature lovers who love the creative energy of the city!
RT: What’s the latest from MUD? Anything new in the pipeline?
M: Yes! We are expanding our distribution reach, and are expected to be sold in over 500 stores in the Northeastern U.S. before the summer of 2018. Yay! On the research & development side, we are developing a new flavor line of Mousses made with unique nut and seed varieties.
RT: When you’re not noshing on MUD… What are you loving to eat right now? What are your go-to (snacks, drinks, wellness products, etc.)?
M: We love to cook at home, especially Ayurvedic-inspired meals.
For snacks we love Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips, Lara Bars, Eating Evolved chocolates, REBBL Drinks, Harmless Harvest coco water. Our favorite Wellness products are Essential Rose Life Roll-On (smells divine!) and Bach Flower Essences.
RT: How has it been to open a business in NY State? What’s it like to be a “local” food business?
M: It’s been challenging yet rewarding. New York is such a busy place that you can find inspiration all around you, and you have millions of entrepreneurial minds at your disposal. Being local has meant a lot for us. We derive a lot of support from our Rockaway Beach community who have given us the opportunity to sell MUD at the local farm, food co-op, markets, etc. We also love meeting the local store owners that share bits of advice, wisdom, and laughter. It makes the hard days manageable, and we feel like we’re building a strong network of friends and allies. We are also part of the Long Island Food Council (LIFC) which has been invaluable in helping us scale our business. Through LIFC, we meet industry professionals who guide us, and we’re given the space to pitch and refine our ideas and strategies.
RT: So many in our community dream of starting their own local business. What’s your one piece of advice for launching a successful local biz?
M: Do it from a heart-centered place. Allow the business to choose you, not the other way around. In other words, don’t sit there and try to conjure up the best new business idea. Instead, practice self-awareness and live your life in heart-centered presence. The perfect business idea will hit you over the head!! Hopefully it won’t hurt too much.
RT: What is your wildest dream about the future of MUD?
M: One million clean, nourishing, accessible and affordable MUD products sold worldwide. All packaging is 100% biodegradable. MUD grows organizational arms to fuel positive change in food, health & wellness, agriculture, mass media, and water industries.
(Photography courtesy of Rising Tide shopper and photographer Ashley Cuoco.)
Organic farming is the solution to nutrient-rich soil
For over 10,000 years, humans have depended on soil. Today, soil depends on us. Due to agricultural processes like higher volume tillage and the use of pesticides and fertilizers, the health of our soil is decreasing at an alarming rate. Without healthy soil, we face more pollution and less cultivation.
Healthy soil is crucial for many important aspects of life on our planet:
- Soil Protection – Soil is a valuable natural resource, essential to creating healthy crops. Healthy soil helps plants soak up essential nutrients, capture carbon from the atmosphere, resist drought and disease.
- Water Conservation – Soil is crucial for a clean water supply, acting as a water filter, trapping pollutants before they enter the groundwater supply. Healthy soil can capture and store water during droughts.
- Vital Nutrients – Healthy soil contains micro-organisms, organic matter, carbon and oxygen to create a nutrient-rich and thriving ecosystem.
- Fresh Air – With low or no-till farming, soil works to capture carbon, preventing it from being released back into the air.
According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about a third of the world’s soil has already been degraded, mainly due to chemical agriculture, soil erosion caused by deforestation, and global warming. If the world continues down its current path of soil degradation, the United Nations estimates that the world’s top soil could be gone within 60 years.
What Can We Do to Save Our Soil?
When we purchase organic meat and produce, farmers are encouraged to incorporate organic farming practices, or to switch to organic altogether. The same goes for organic grocery items. When people continually purchase organic food it shows consumer support for organics and then companies will try to meet that demand with better, more competitive prices.
Cascadian Farm is one of the vendors we can trust to produce food you can feel good about eating, and to help create a sustainable future, one bite at a time. We’ve got many of their products on sale all month long; check out the end cap next to soup aisle.
***ENTER TO WIN***
It’s almost time for you to embark on your own organic gardens (Yeah, spring!). To help support you in your efforts, we’re raffling off a Gardening Kit to one lucky shopper, complete with Tool Tote, Kneeling Pad and Garden Gloves. To enter, like us on Instagram and tag a friend. The winner will be announced on April 2!
If the cute terracotta pots in the Rising Tide dairy section have caught your eye, you are not alone! These little pots belong to local yogurt manufacturer Kalypso Yogurt. Armed with a Mediterranean heritage, a desire to spread a planet-friendly consciousness and a love of great, wholesome dairy, Kalypso founder Nick Trastelis has distinguished his company in a sea of Greek yogurts. Made from all grass-fed cow’s milk, nonfat Kalypso Yogurt brings a fresh, clean, impossibly delicious product to the dairy scene.
RT: Who are the people behind Kalypso Yogurt?
KY: We are a likeminded team focused on mindfulness and living life with intention. We’re trying to redefine our food system by providing the highest-quality ingredients in a sustainable packaging with the goal of moving to a circular economy. In other words, we give you some of the best Greek yogurt in a healthier and recyclable little pot.
RT: What was the impetus behind the creation of the company? In other words…why yogurt?
KY: Nic, our founder, is a fourth-generation dairy artisan. For him, yogurt and cheese runs deep…and it’s personal. While living in Greece he came across an article in Fortune magazine about another yogurt company that was beginning to lay a foundation for Greek yogurt here in the U.S. It was an instant challenge. He defined what Kalypso was going to stand for, its core values, and the importance of consistently communicating these values, and set out to deliver an unequaled quality of yogurt steeped in tradition. The unknown was how best to share this gift of nature.
RT: What makes Kalypso different from other Greek yogurt out there?
KY: All of Kalypso’s products are crafted from pasture-fed Jersey milk, no artificial growth hormones, non-GMO’s, and packaged in a healthier terracotta pot. The benefit here is that milk of Jerseys is naturally higher in essential nutrients, containing more vitamins and an array of antioxidants. Our packaging is an inert material and is healthier than plastic or glass containers that leech harmful chemicals and allow UV lighting to breakdown all of the above into a non-nutritious snack.
RT: How important is it for you to source ingredients locally? Why/why not?
KY: Keeping our money where our heart is, is very important to us. Sourcing locally grown ingredients is an investment in the future. By supporting our local farms we are helping to ensure that there will be farms in our community tomorrow. This is hugely important for our food security.
RT: What’s one fun thing most people don’t know about Kalypso Yogurt?
KY: The name Kalypso is derived from Greek mythology. Kalypso was a sea nymph in Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”. She used her powers to enchant Odysseus (the hero) and kept him under her spell for most of his stay on the island. Our tag line is “seductively delicious.” A clever little spin, we thought!
RT: What’s the latest from Kalpyso? Anything new in the pipeline we should know about?
KY: We have recently undergone our organic certification and will slowly begin to offer that certification on all our products. We also recently launched our line of premium finishing butters in a few amazing flavors, and these have been well received by our fans. One day very soon our dessert pods will be ready to roll out, too!
RT: When you’re not noshing on yogurt… what are you loving to eat right now? What is your top go-to (snack, drink, wellness product or other)?
KY: Balancing a busy work schedule and maintaining a wholesome diet can be a challenge. Keeping indulgent and nutritious snacks on hand is essential. Our go-to’s right now are Baresnacks banana and coconut chips, and our own homemade watermelon and key lime kombucha. Fermentation is in our DNA!
RT: What’s your favorite recipe to make using Kalypso as an ingredient?
KY: We can’t get enough of Spanakopita, or spinach pie. It’s simply fresh spinach, leeks, house-made feta and whole milk Greek yogurt. Even with all the chopping needed for the prep, it’s well worth the effort.
RT: So many in our community dream of starting their own local business. What’s your one piece of advice for launching a successful local biz?
KY: Our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life… get out there and do it. Don’t ask for too many folks’ opinions, you’ll hear many reasons why not to launch. Define your passion and run with it!
Try Kalypso Yogurt in Natural Plain, Madagacar Vanilla, Carolina Peach, Mission Fig, Mixed Berries and Toasted Coconut.
**Make GREAT Valentine’s Day Gifts!**
Diffusing fragrant, high-quality oils makes any room smell amazing. Essential oil devotees may also diffuse their favorite oil or combo of oils with the hopes of alleviating stress or anxiety, depression and insomnia.
Using an ultrasonic aromatherapy diffuser like the ones we’re featuring from Spa Room makes adding aromatherapy to your life easy and convenient.
The Aroma Pod: GREAT FOR KIDS (available in pink and blue). This palm-sized ultrasonic diffuser is the perfect tool for the littlest oils lovers, or for any small space. Requires no heat or chemicals for worry-free diffusion in kid-friendly spaces. A USB plug makes it easy and convenient, and great for travel. $19.99
HerbalAir: PERFECT FOR ON THE ROAD. This aromatherapy diffuser has a natural wood finish…and fits in your car’s cup holder! USB plug for portability, wherever you’re off to. $29.99
Spirale: ELEGANCE MEETS AROMATHERAPY A sleek white corkscrew design is a chic addition to the most stylish rooms. A soft white light mixes with the aroma mist for ultimate relaxation. $29.99
Cascade: WITH COLOR-CHANGING LIGHTS. The modern outer shell embraces the inner textured accent piece providing serenity for your senses. The beautiful, flowing design of the Cascade™ will mesmerize as the color-changing lights filter through the step-ladder inlay. $49.99
February is Heart Month! Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle is paramount when it comes to preventing heart disease. There is also a handful of well-studied supplements that may decrease your risk even further. We probed the natural medicine-loving mind of our Wellness guru, Jen, for her very top picks when it comes to preventing cardiovascular disease and maintaining healthy heart function.
- Fish oil: Packed with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil is one of the only natural remedies proven to bring down triglycerides. Get it from fish (especially fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, lake trout or mackerel); the American Heart Association recommends adults eat at least two 3.5-ounce servings of fish each week. Not much of a fish eater? Supplement with 3,000 mg daily; 1,000mg with each meal. Jen recommends Wiley’s Finest Alaskan Fish Oil, on sale for Heart Month: 30 softgels $13.59; 60 softgels $31.99
- Hawthorn: Health-promoting flavonoids are the reason Hawthorn has been used for centuries as a heart remedy. The whole herb form (flower, leaf and berry) has been shown to improve blood flow, guard against blood vessel damage, and otherwise regulate and strengthen heart function. Jen likes organic Hawthorn by Oregon’s Wild Harvest, on sale for Heart Month: 60ct/ $13.59
- CoQ10: Not only does CoQ10 destroy free radicals that cause cardiovascular problems and heart disease, it also sparks energy production in every cell of your body—including the heart. Aging, intense athletic activity, and cholesterol-lowering agents such as red yeast rice and statins can compromise the levels and/or natural production of CoQ10 in the body. Supplement with Blue Bonnet Ubiquinol, the “active” antioxidant form of CoQ10, on sale for Heart Month: 30 softgels $13.19/60 softgels $22.79
In celebration of Heart Month, we’re also discounting the following heart-related supplements:
As we dive into a new year, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who made it possible for Rising Tide to donate more than $7,000 to local charities in 2017.
–The launch of our Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB)/Charity of the Month program was an unmitigated SUCCESS! Since the program began on Earth Day 2017, we’ve raised more than $4,000 for amazing charities in our local area, at the same time raising awareness about the use (overuse!) of paper bags. Thanks to YOU all, we were able to reduce our paper bag usage by ***23%***, and we are well on our way to meeting our goal of cutting our bag use in HALF in one year’s time.
The BYOB donations not only help local Charities of the Month to continue to thrive and meet their own goals—they also allow us to meet the people behind the charities, and to learn more about the wonderful and exciting work going on in our own backyard. So…a great big thank you as well to all those folks that work to serve the neediest members of our community!
–Our first-ever Round Up for the Holidays allowed us to reach our goal of $3,000 ($1,500 from our customers matched by Rising Tide Natural Market). This money will be evenly split between two local charities that help fight hunger in Glen Cove and beyond:
the North Shore INN and Island Harvest. This cause is near and dear to our hearts…we’re always ready and willing to help others get the food they need to thrive.
Looking forward to more giving this year! Thanks, as always, for your support…
The new year is a great time to reassess different aspects of our lives, including our fitness and nutrition regimen. What’s serving us? What could be tweaked to help us meet our workout and weight-loss goals? All-important protein—a metabolism booster and muscle builder—is a great place to begin that review.
Garden of Life protein powders and bars are ON SALE for the entire month of January. Try out a few and see which best meet your needs. Garden of Life is an innovator in organic, non-GMO whole foods products, and a company we have always relied on for traceable, science-backed formulas that are as clean as anything on the market.
PROTEIN BARS
- Organic Fit High-Protein Weight Loss Bars (Green coffee bean extract to burn fat; Ashwagandha to fight cravings)
- SPORT Performance Protein Bars (20g of organic pea and rice protein)
POWDERS
Raw Organic Meal (Shake & meal replacement)
Raw Protein and Greens (Combo protein & greens)
Raw Organic Fit (Fat burning/weight loss)
Organic Whey Protein (Creamy grass-fed whey protein)
Organic Plant Protein (Grain free)
Check out what
Garden of Life is up to and decide what’s right for you. If you have questions about any of the GOL products we carry, feel free to ask Jen or any of our staff in the Rising Tide Wellness department.
We are pleased to introduce you to our January Charity of the Month: All Our Energy.
All Our Energy advocates, educates, involves and empowers the public to support renewable energy and act on environmental issues. Their core missions: renewable energy advocacy and awareness, environmental stewardship, and public education and involvement through events and outreach opportunities that lead to action from participants.
In keeping with these missions, one of All Our Energy’s main efforts has been to reduce the proliferation of single-use bags on Long Island. In 2016, the group was instrumental in getting a $.05 bag tax passed in their hometown of Long Beach, and is currently working to see the same law established in Rockville Centre, Sea Cliff and other Long Island towns. As many of you know, this is also a cause we are passionate about…in fact, our Charity of the Month program is funded by our very own Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) initiative—a policy that charges customers $.10 for every paper bag we give out at checkout, then donates those monies to a different local charity each month.
Upcoming Film About Plastic Bag Pollution
On January 25 at 7 p.m., All Our Energy in conjunction with Sea Cliff Village Environmental Conservation Commission and the Sea Cliff Village Library will present a free screening of the award-winning film “Bag It” at the Sea Cliff Village Library. Don’t miss a chance to learn more about how plastics are affecting our lives…and what we can do about it.
In the past, we have devoted this space to a local food vendor, but this month we decided to broaden our definition of Local Flavor to include successful local businesses that help make our ‘hood such a great place to run ours. First on our list was our neighbor across the street, Strong Island Styles. Since Brian Basile opened his barbershop in 2006, he has had a few very notable experiences; among them, he entered a reality show hosted by Cedric the Entertainer in 2015 (and won 1st place!), and last summer was given the honor of cutting MMA fighter Conor McGregor’s hair prior to his press conference with Floyd Mayweather. Brian is a self-taught barber, and uses a combo of old-fashioned straight razors and “new school” techniques to create the kind of shave designs and patterns he is known for. (He also created his own hair product, which is said to ward off evil spirits.) His shop, now home to 10 barbers, is always buzzing, and while it can’t be judged on flavor, it’ s a great example of local color.
RT: Why did you open Strong Island Styles?
BB: As a young man I was into fashion, which led me to cutting hair for fun. Once I started getting very good, my customers were lining up around the block. I absolutely love giving people makeovers. It’s something that makes me happy to go to work every day. Getting a haircut is one of the cheapest ways to change your mood and feel good.
RT: Who is your ideal customer?
BB: Contrary to all these very expensive salons and corporate-style men’s grooming parlors, I wanted to take the most talented barbers and cater to the customer that cares solely about quality.
RT: What should people know before they come to your shop?
A few of our barbers cut women’s hair. Being that we are a barbershop and we cut hair kind of fast, we give haircuts to women who don’t want to go to the salon and spend $100 when they can spend $20 on a haircut from us.
RT: What is one thing about Strong Island that most people don’t know?
One thing people don’t know about me is that I enjoy speaking to very old customers and hearing about when they were young and how different our generations are.
RT: In what ways does Strong Island give back to the Glen Cove community?
Once a year during the St. Patty’s Day Parade in Glen Cove, we do a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s. We shave heads to raise money for childhood cancer. This will be our ninth year doing this.
RT: Of course we’re always interested in what people like to eat. What’s your favorite product from Rising Tide Market?
My favorite food is the salmon burger. I also love the coconuts that the friendly staff cuts a hole in so I can drink right out of it with a straw.
We’re kicking 2018 off the way we do each year, with our annual New Year’s Day party!
Enjoy yourself on New Year’s Eve, then come in and soak up the healthy New Year’s vibes with family and friends at Rising Tide Market. We can’t THINK of a better way to ring in the new year.
- Everything in the store* will be 20% off, ALL DAY LONG!
- RAFFLES: Enter to WIN more than 30 amazing raffles from many of our most popular vendors. From now until the end of the year, you will receive THREE raffle tickets for every transaction at Rising Tide Market. Put your ticket in the jar of the raffle(s) you most want to win. We’ll be awarding raffle prizes all day on Jan. 1, including some REALLY juicy ones (the Solgar raffle features a Fitbit Flex2, and the New Chapter raffle has a Nutri Ninja!
- GRAND PRIZE: We are giving away an Apple iwatch! You must shop on Jan. 1 to enter to win the Grand Prize.
- FREE 8 oz greens drink, bone broth tasting, and lots of free samples.
- Music and more!
We’ll see you on Jan. 1!
* Except Everyday Low Prices.
As the cold weather creeps in, retreating inside is inevitable. Also inevitable: more time spent in indoor air makes us more susceptible to whatever bugs might be lurking.
This year, take proactive steps to keep all miserable critters at bay. RT’s resident wellness guru, Jen Musgrove, offers her Top 3 Picks for staying cold and flu free this winter.
Elderberry: As far back as 460 BC, Hippocrates referred to elderberry as his “medicine chest,” owing to the great many health benefits conferred by the brightly colored herb. One of the oldest medicines on the planet, this natural antiviral and antimicrobial has been shown to shorten duration of cold and flu; in fact, it’s comparable to drugs like Tamiflu for the treatment of flu (with none of the harsh side effects). TRAVEL TIP: If you’re planning to take an airplane this winter, it’s been proven that supplementation with elderberry before, during, and after air travel has beneficial effects on travelers’ health—particularly respiratory health.
Jen likes the Gaia Black Elderberry Syrup for adults and kids. Use as directed.
Andrographis: Used as a cold remedy since ancient times in both India and China, the powerful andrographis herb is a great tool for squashing colds before they get you. (Unlike elderberry, andrographis is not known to be helpful once you’re in the acute phase of a cold, but does its best work as an immunity-boosting preventative.) Get your andrograghis fix with Kold Kare by Kare N Herbs. Use as directed. (Note: Kold Kare is safe to use with kids; Jen suggests one tablet a day.)
Astragalus: A Chinese herb used medicinally for thousands of years, the Astragalus root’s main claim to fame is its ability to regulate the body’s immune response. Specifically, astragalus boosts white blood cell activity to guard against seasonal colds, viruses and respiratory infections. Classified as an adaptogen, it also protects against mental, physical and emotional stress. (Bonus!) Jen recommends taking Oregon’s Wild Harvest Biodynamic tincture, and for children, Herbs for Kids Astragalus.
Stay healthy!
With New Year’s Eve parties (and all of 2017!) behind you, it’s time to take your first healthy steps into 2018.
Spend the first day of the new year with your friends at your favorite natural food grocer. The Rising Tide New Year’s Day bash is the place to spend Jan. 1, 2018:
- SHOP for healthy, organic, GMO-free groceries, supplements and produce…20% off the entire store!*
- Enter to WIN dozens of awesome raffles from many of our best-selling vendors…a raffle is awarded every hour!
- SAMPLE our health-boosting RT Bone Broth, along with loads of other tasty items.
- CHILL to the laid-back musical stylings of our very own Josh and Steve.
- TOAST your friends and neighbors—with FREE Rising Tide greens drinks!—for a beautiful, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful year to come.
- GRAND PRIZE...everyone who shops on Jan. 1 is entered to win a brand new Apple Watch! We look forward to seeing you there!
* Customers will receive 20% off everything in the store EXCEPT Every Day Low Prices.
We are pleased to introduce you to our December Charity of the Month: Island Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Program.
Founded in 1992, Island Harvest is Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization. Its volunteers and staff deliver millions of pounds of good, surplus food to a network of 570 food pantries, soup kitchens and other non-profits that provide feeding services to those in need. Island Harvest plays a vital role in countering the sharply rising problem of hunger here on Long Island.
Support for Hungry Kids
With Rising Tide’s BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) monies for December, we will contribute to Island Harvest’s Weekend Backpack Feeding Program, designed to supplement meals on the weekends for children who depend on school breakfasts and lunches during the week. The Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program provides packs of nutritious, shelf-stable food in 28 schools to 1,729 children on a weekly basis. These children rely on school lunches and breakfasts, but may not have solid meals on weekends and holidays, when school is out. Each packs contain four nutritious and ready-to-eat meals, two snacks and two servings of milk and juice—and double that amount for holiday breaks. The food packs are distributed with newsletters that include age-appropriate, multilingual games and puzzles encouraging healthy eating, plus information for parents about local food resources.
This supplemental weekend food lets children return to school nourished and better equipped to learn, socialize and excel. During the 2017/2018 school year, approximately 62,500 packs of food will be distributed—bringing thousands of weekend/holiday meals to children who otherwise would go without. Rising Tide is so excited to be able to contribute to their amazing efforts!
Plans, parties, shopping, cooking (not to mention the occasional night of overeating/drinking, later bedtimes, etc.)—this time of year everyone is go, go, go. Sometimes this perpetual activity can lead to trouble sleeping when you finally stop at the end of the day.
Our resident Wellness guru, Jen, has three great products that she consistently recommends to those who suffer from intermittent insomnia—at the holidays or anytime.
- If you like tea… try Gaia Sleep & Relax Tea. As part of a relaxing nighttime routine, sip a cup an hour before bedtime. Let the chamomile, lemon balm and passionflower do their thing, relieving tension and quieting the “Monkey Mind” that can prohibit restful sleep.
- Not a tea person… Try Sleep Better by Oregon’s Wild Harvest. A nutritional supplement featuring organic valerian root, organic ashwagandha root, organic passionflower tops, and organic hops, Sleep Better has helped many a troubled sleeper when nothing else would.
- If you had a crummy night and need a boost to make it through the day… try Four Sigmatic Stay Awake Mushroom Coffee Mix. Coffee plus Mushrooms, add it to your morning brew and it’ll feel like you’ve had a Red Eye—all energy, no jitters. You’ll also get the benefit of amazing functional mushrooms like cordyceps (for energy) and chaga (to boost immunity).
Here are some great tips for changing behaviors that can inhibit your ability to get a solid night of zzzz’s.
Rest easy this holiday season!
Our new hummus obsession is the freshest, most homemade-tasting we’ve found. Ithaca Hummus will stand up to all your chips, crackers, and veggies, and makes an AMAZING sandwich spread or salad topper. We sat down with Ithaca Cold-Crafted founder and president Chris Kirby to see what makes their hummus so tasty and their mission, so admirable.
RT: What’s the origin story of Ithaca Hummus?
CK: We started out at a stand in the Ithaca Farmers’ Market; selling one flavor of hummus (Lemon Garlic) which we made fresh for our customers every day. We made deliveries to local Co-ops ourselves, packing the hummus in coolers on ice and into our cars for delivery all over upstate NY. It wasn’t the easiest or most efficient system, but it was what we needed to do to keep the hummus fresh. Our food ethos is to keep the flavors of our raw ingredients alive, and this idea is really what unites us as an organization. It’s the common goal that we all work for, it’s what we’re passionate about, and it’s what makes our hummus taste so fresh.
RT: What was the impetus behind the creation of Ithaca Hummus? In other words…why hummus?
CK: Hummus is becoming a staple item in the U.S. and we felt like there was a huge difference in flavor between what we could make ourselves at home and the premade stuff in the grocery store. We thought there needed to be a better option for people like us who were unimpressed with bland tasting store-bought hummus, but didn’t want to go through the annoyance of making it themselves at home.
RT: What makes Ithaca Hummus different from other hummus out there?
CK: ‘This hummus tastes so much fresher than any other brand.’ That’s what we hear from almost every person who tries it. Customers want to know why, and honestly, the answer isn’t a simple one. Unfortunately, food manufacturing has become a very industrialized practice in our country. Artificial ingredients, heat pasteurization, and preservatives all have a very negative impact on the nutrients in our food and the way it tastes. We’re using cold-pressed, raw ingredients that are never heated or compromised with preservatives. So, it’s really a combination of selecting super fresh ingredients and being very intentional about the way that we process them that makes our hummus taste so fresh and unique.
RT: What’s an interesting thing about Ithaca Hummus that most people don’t know?
CK: We have an entire section of our facility that is dedicated to handling raw produce and cold pressing the fresh juices we use in our hummus. I think we are the only hummus company that is part cold-pressed juicery.
RT: What’s the latest news from Ithaca Hummus? Anything new in the pipeline we should know about?
CK: We are a passionate team and we love food so of course we’re always thinking up new product ideas, but we think it’s important to incorporate customer feedback into the ideation stage of new product development. What we’re hearing most frequently from customers today is that they just want more of what we’re already doing. Right now, we are focused on making our products more accessible and increasing our distribution. In the next month, we’ll be launching a direct to consumer online store and we are working on developing larger sizes of our current flavors.
RT: When you’re not noshing on fresh hummus… What are you loving to eat right now? What is your top go-to (snack, drink, wellness product or other)?
CK: Emmy’s Organics Coconut Cookies. If you haven’t tried these they are indulgent little superfood bites that are perfect for a quick snack. Our favorite is the Dark Cacao flavor.
RT: How has it been to open a business in NY State? What’s it like to be a “local” food business?
CK: New York State (specifically Tompkins County) was an awesome place to launch our business. We have had the full support of local organizations like the farmer’s market and cooperative extension from the beginning. When we opened our first plant in 2015, Tompkins County Area Development helped us with the loans we needed to buy equipment and get started. Small “local” businesses are usually too risky for traditional bank financing, so without local organizations like TCAD we wouldn’t have been able to grow as fast as we have.
RT: As an extension of the last question…so many in our community dream of starting their own local business. What’s your one piece of advice for launching a successful local biz?
CK: The difference between an idea and a business is customers. To thrive, a business needs to solve a real problem that its customers are facing. Ask yourself: what is the value proposition of my business? Ours is: hummus at the grocery store that tastes like it just came out of the blender. Multiply the impact of the problem your business solves times the number of customers that face the problem. That’s the value your business creates in the world. Starting a business is hard work. Make sure you’re not putting all that hard work towards an idea that there aren’t any customers for.
**ON SALE ALL MONTH: Rising Tide has all three flavors of Ithaca Hummus (Lemon Dill, Beet, Garlic) on sale for the month of November. Regularly $5.79, now $4.99. Pick some up for Thanksgiving!**
We are pleased to introduce you to our November Charity of the Month: North Shore Sheltering Program.
Twenty-two years ago, two homeless men—in separate incidents—froze to death in Glen Cove. It was this double tragedy that brought religious and community leaders together to found the North Shore Sheltering Program, housed every year since in the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove.
A Hot Meal and a Safe Place to Stay
The volunteer-based North Shore Sheltering Program provides homeless men with food and shelter in the winter months (from late November through March). Every evening from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., the program accepts up to 25 men a night (they have had 30 on some bitter cold winter nights), and allows them to see a nurse, have a hot, nutritious supper, sleep in new sleeping bags, watch television, read, talk with counselors, and have access to a shower. Hot meals and supplies are all donated by local organizations.
The mission of the program is simple and one we are very proud to support: No man will ever freeze to death again on the streets of Glen Cove.
“Gratitude is the wine of the soul. Go on. Get drunk!”
— Rumi
It’s easy to focus on all the things you want to own, create, or experience, but research shows that appreciating what you already have may be the key to living a healthier, happier life. As we gather with friends and loved ones around the Thanksgiving table (or any time, for that matter!), take a few moments to stretch your gratitude muscles—maybe even jump start a regular gratitude practice that can have a serious impact on many aspects of your health. An ever-growing body of research confirms that gratitude has a number of potent health benefits:
* Improves physical health by lowering inflammation and blood sugar; improving immune function, blood pressure and heart health, and encouraging general self-care
* Increases happiness and life satisfaction by lowering stress and emotional distress
* Improves emotional resiliency, which also helps combat stress and anxiety
* Improve mental health by triggering the release of mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and oxytocin, while inhibiting the stress hormone cortisol
* Improves sleep, which can have far-reaching benefits for physical and mental health
Simple Gratitude Practices
Start a tradition for the month of November by creating a Gratitude Tree (you don’t need to be crafty or coordinated to pull this off and the trip out in to nature to collect your branches is an added bonus!). You’ll have a ready-made Thanksgiving table centerpiece and a conversation piece built into one.
Check out these other suggestions for being more thankful, more of the time, summarized from Robert Emmons’ book, “The Little Book of Gratitude,” (adapted from www.mercola.com).
- Focus on the kindness of others instead of being self-centered. This will increase your sense of being supported by life and decrease unnecessary anxieties. Cherishing the kindness of others also means you’re less likely to take them for granted (which improves relationships, which makes you happier, and so on and so on!).
- Along the same vein…Give credit to others while also acknowledging your own contributions. Being grateful for someone’s help does not negate your own contributions. (In other words…being grateful for YOU can have huge payoffs!)
- Focus on what you’ve received rather than what’s been withheld. “The ‘surplus’ mode will increase our feelings of worth; the ‘deficit’ mode will lead us to think how incomplete our life is,” Emmons says.
- Acknowledge your positive emotions rather than suppressing them. “Gratitude recruits other positive emotions, such as joy, contentment and hope, and these produce direct physical benefits through the immune or endocrine systems,” Emmons writes. “A grateful perspective on life is a stress-buster, so grateful people are more equipped than others to deal with uncertainties, ambiguities and situations that trigger anxiety.”
- Avoid comparing yourself to people you perceive to have more advantages. As Emmons notes, “Wanting more is related to increased anxiety and unhappiness. A healthier comparison is to contemplate what life would be like without a pleasure that you now enjoy.” This might mean reframing your relationship to social media (leaving more time for things that really matter) or scheduling periodic social media breaks.
If it’s Good Enough for Oprah…
Here’s a tried-and-true way to make gratitude a regular part of your day, perhaps with long-lasting effects. It takes just five minutes.
Have a very grateful November!
Bone broth has been touted far and wide for its many health benefits. Better hair and nails? Check. Increased immunity? Check. Reduced joint pain/inflammation? Check. Improved digestion and a healthier gut? Check, check.
Now the healing power of bone broth can be yours every day of the week at Rising Tide Market. Our customers are over the moon for our NEW RT Broth Bar, which features Hormone- and Antibiotic-free Chicken Bone Broth every day, along with an Organic Mushroom Broth option for our vegan friends. Add-ins are free (have it your way!), and include Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric, Organic Scallions and more. As the cold weather creeps in, our Broth Bar will be the one place you want to be. See you there…
