A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: 8192

Message: Non-static method Jco_entry_catcount::usage() should not be called statically, assuming $this from incompatible context

Filename: jco_entry_catcount/pi.jco_entry_catcount.php

Line Number: 17

Store and Department News | Wheatsville Co-op
Skip to main content

The Latest News from Wheatsville

Wellness News

You take your wellness seriously, so we listen to your needs every day. Over the years this give and take has led to the most finely-tuned wellness department imaginable. We offer a wide variety of bodycare, vitamins, supplements, and natural, herbal and holistic remedies: all cruelty-free, all the time, no exceptions. Hey, doesn’t that make you feel good already?

Our knowledgeable team is here to help you find just what you need, but remember, we’re not doctors, so please seek professional advice before deciding to follow alternative therapies.

Local Vendor of the Month: Austin Natural Soap

Each month, we highlight a different Vendor of the Month in our stores. Please join me in celebrating our October Vendor of the Month, Austin Natural Soap!  Austin Natural Soap’s mission is to help clean up the world, one bar of eco-friendly soap at a time. Austin Natural Soap encourages everyone to give back to and help protect and conserve our soil, water, air, flora, and fauna because it is all interconnected!

Austin Natural Soap was founded by Annette Mayfield in 2000 with a mission to serve the local community by providing natural, homemade, and vegan soaps.  These unique, non-chemical-based soaps have drawn a dedicated customer base in Austin, Texas and have grown into other Southwest retailers. What started as a hobby turned into a thriving small, local business with the support of a loyal customer base. 

Support this local business by stocking up on their soaps both in the Wellness Departments at each of Wheatsville’s locations or by visiting their location in South Austin.  Let’s make the world a little greener and cleaner one bar of soap at a time!

  Share

Mosquito Control

With record-breaking high temperatures this May, it feels like summer is already here. Mosquitoes are out and they’re hungry. Whether you’re hitting the hike and bike trails, exploring the greenbelt, or just hanging out in your backyard, Wheatsville has got you covered! Both locations offer a wide variety of Deet-free, plant-based bug repellents to help keep the bugs away as you and your family enjoy outdoor activities in our verdant, blooming city. Here are some of my top picks:

Badger
Anti-Bug Shake & Spray

Good for skin; bad for bugs. Keep bugs at bay with this effective, DEET-free bug spray. With a woody citrus fragrance, it smells fresh and clean while repelling insects—thanks to a tried-and-true blend of citronella, cedarwood, and lemongrass. Comes in a lightweight, infinitely recyclable aluminum bottle.

Alba Botanica
Anti-Bug Spray Deet-free


keep bugs at bay with this botanically-based repellent. Effective against mosquitoes and ticks,, air-powered, easy-to-use spray, DEET-free, biodegradable formula

Austin Natural Soap
Buzz Out! Spray

TRIED AND TRUE! They're in the15th year of making this all-natural effective solution for your creepy crawly and buzzing bothers. Try it - you won't be disappointed!  BUZZ OUT! Natural Insect Repellent contains a proven blend of plant-based essential oils in an alcohol & jojoba oil base.

SKEETER SCREEN

Offers a variety of products to help deter mosquitoes and other bugs so that you can relax and enjoy the outdoors.  Wheatsville carries the following Skeeter Screen products: Deet free personal spray,  Yard Sticks, Spreadable Skeeter Screen for garden/yard, patio egg, and more.

Patio Egg Refill

A 8oz refill for your favorite mosquito deterrent: The Patio Egg!

Spreadable

Don’t let the mosquitoes spoil all the fun... A safe and effective outdoor barrier treatment. Safe around children and pets! Will not harm beneficial insects! Great floral scent!

Personal Spray 4 oz

The Deet free personal spray is actually designed to pray on the skin and is made from water based essential oil formula designed to deter mosquitoes and other
biting insects

Yard Sticks

Yard Sticks will help deter hungry mosquitoes! Stick it to pesky mosquitoes with our Scent of Nature essential oil formula and create a “no fly zone” in your area!

  Share

Vendor of the Month: Alaffia

Thanks to Robin Michael, Alaffia Western Regional Sales Manager, for answering a few questions about Alaffia.

What is your origin story? Who started the business and why?

Alaffia is a fair trade body care organization that began in 2003 by founders Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde. The two met when during Rose’s service in the Peace Corps, she was stationed in Olowo-n’djo’s village of Kabole.  Headquartered in Olympia, Washington, Alaffia’s clean, safe, and efficacious products incorporate indigenous, nutrient-rich ingredients handcrafted at our six women’s cooperatives in Togo and Ghana.

Do you have a special tagline or slogan?

Beauty – Equality - Empowerment.

What would an employee say is the best part about working at Alaffia?

“The work is very diversified, and I get to try my hand at many things.  Furthermore, the work feels meaningful, and I think it attracts such great coworkers- talented, smart, and all of whom want to help the business succeed.”  -Matthew Barrett, Marketing Supervisor

“The fact that we empower and employ people across the globe, here and in Africa, to make the world a better place.  It’s all about making the world a better place…through kindness, empowerment, empathy, listening, and sustainable practices.”  -Dane Halter, Alaffia Broker

Anything else we should know?

Our empowerment projects have affected more than 50,000 lives for the better! 

Fair Trade defined

Fair trade is a movement of individuals and organizations working to ensure producers in economically disadvantaged countries receive a greater percentage of the price paid by consumers. While there are several definitions of fair trade, they all include:

Fair Trade Price - base price for raw ingredients or goods is adjusted higher than open market price.

Price Premium - a percentage above the base fair trade price is paid into a separate account for development projects in producer communities. Working Conditions: fair trade operators must adhere to basic human & labor rights, including the right to organize, no child labor, access to health care, and so on.

Environmental Stewardship - fair trade organizations must minimize environmental impact. To Alaffia, fair trade means paying a fair price or wage in the local context, providing equal employment opportunities, engaging in environmental sustainable practices, providing healthy and safe working conditions, being open to public accountability, and reducing the number of middlemen between producers & consumers. We believe fair trade should be environmentally, economically, and culturally sustainable and give local communities the opportunity to self-empower.

Fair Trade Unrefined Ingredients:

Shea Butter - Shea butter is the oil from the nuts of wild Shea trees scattered throughout the wooded savanna of West and Central Africa. It’s protective and emollient properties are most valued for skin care. Most shea butter available to the general public outside West Africa is white and odorless: in other words, it has been refined to remove the natural scent and color of natural shea butter. The yellow tint of unrefined shea butter is due to the Vitamin E content. Refined shea butter is often hard and grainy, not smooth and creamy like pure, unrefined shea butter.

Unrefined Coconut Oil - Virgin coconut oil is traditionally extracted oil from fresh fruit of the coconut palm, Cocos nucifera. Coconuts have been cultivated in coastal West Africa and been part of the diet and skin care for centuries. We extract our virgin coconut oil by hand using traditional fermentation methods in Togo, West Africa from fresh coconuts grown organically on small farms. We use our virgin coconut oil in its natural, unrefined state for maximum effectiveness.

Handwoven Baskets - Members of Alaffia basket cooperatives receive fair wages and health care for their families in return for indigenous skills and knowledge. The weavers craft the baskets in their own homes, and Alaffia collects the baskets once they are completed. This gives the weaver flexibility to work at a pace that is convenient for her, her farm, family and social community duties. Made with wild-harvested Savannah grass, each basket is completely unique and the leather tag inside is personally signed by weaver

Empowerment Projects - Alaffia’s success is not simply measured by profit. Our success is measured by empowerment. Empowerment Projects are Alaffia’s mission in action, funded by the sales of Alaffia products. Alaffia invests in our communities because it is our moral responsibility and to ensure African resources empower African communities. The goal is to alleviate poverty and encourage gender equality. Our Empowerment Projects include several Education-Based Projects, Maternal Care, Eyeglasses and Environmental Sustainability. All of Alaffia’s projects empower Togolese communities to provide their skills and knowledge to the rest of the world and rise out of poverty.

  Share

Guide to Seasonal Wellness: Sunscreens

With longer days and sunny weather rolling in, now is the perfect time to assess your sunscreen options and find the product that will best suit your and your family’s needs for the coming seasons. Whether you’ll be gardening (check out our Seed Savers selection!), hiking in the Greenbelt, swimming at Barton Springs, picnicking at Zilker park, biking around the Ann + Roy Butler hike and bike trail, tubing in San Marcos, or if you just want general daily
UV protection, we’re sure to have a sunscreen for you.

Many people choose natural sunscreens because they may offer a reduced exposure to synthetic chemicals, and may be safer for both your skin and the environment. Natural sunscreens are mineral-based and non-toxic, and they work differently than chemical sunscreens. Synthetic sunscreen ingredients absorb UV rays; zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the main active ingredients in natural sunscreens, are physical sunscreens. Rather than absorb UV rays, they block them. It's like having little "shields" over your skin protecting you from sun exposure. When visiting beaches and swimming in natural bodies of water, it’s important to consider the impact of sunscreen on marine life and ecosystems; many natural sunscreens are labeled “reef-safe”, which means that they do
not contribute to the destruction of precious coral reefs.

DERMA E
Ultra Sheer Mineral Body Sunscreen Mist
This lightweight, water-resistant (80 min), SPF 30 mineral sunscreen mist offers broad-spectrum protection in an effective, antioxidant-rich formula to help fight free radicals and nourish the skin. Active ingredients: titanium dioxide and zince oxide. Bonus: it goes on clear, it’s labeled as vegan and gluten-free, and it’s reef safe!

BADGER KIDS
Natural Mineral Sunscreen Cream - SPF 30
Nourish and protect your kids skin with this mineral sunscreen cream, ideal for long days in the hot Texas sun. Made with just 4 simple ingredients, it’s the first formula ever to achieve the rigorous reef-friendly Protect Land + Sea Certification. Wheatsville stocks a range of Badger sunscreens, including Kids 40 SPF and Baby 40 SPF options, so that the whole family is covered for fun in the sun. Bonus: labeled as cruelty free and Badger is a certified B Corporation!


ALBA BOTANICA
Maximum Sunscreen SPF 70
Fragrance Free  - Clear Spray
This lightweight, quick-dry mist offers Alba Botanica’s highest level of sun protection. The air-powered mist can be sprayed on at any angle. Fast drying, fragrance free and enriched with aloe vera and ginseng extract, waterproof, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, water resistant up to 80 minutes, and recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. It’s also labeled as reef friendly, gluten free, and cruelty free!

***As always, it’s recommended to consult with your doctor and/or dermatologist to help decide what is best for your particular needs.

  Share

Vendor of the Month: Nubian Heritage

Humble Beginnings

Nubian Heritage got its start on the streets of Harlem. Fresh out of college and without jobs, Richelieu Dennis and Nyema Tubman set out to bring the healing traditions of African Black Soap and Shea Butter to the community they loved. Short on experience but full of passion and determination, they mined their knowledge of culturally authentic healing traditions to create natural skin and body treatments to share with their families and community. That was back in 1992, and they've held fast to that commitment every day since.

Passionate about sharing the healing possibilities in Nubian Heritage soaps and other products as well as the cultures they come from, Dennis and Tubman were guided by their community's demand for wellness products that spoke to their unique needs. Expanding their reach for the rich healing philosophies of ancient cultures, their passion spread to communities around the globe.

Nubian Heritage Soaps: Legacy and Vision

Guided by the legacy of ancient Nubia, the world's first melting pot, Nubian Heritage remixes global healing traditions into modern wellness solutions. Ancient Nubia was once a center of cultural trade - a place where goods, ideas and customs from across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean came together to influence each other, then spread across the ancient world. That was the inspiration for the young Nubian Heritage owners: to bring together traditional healing practices, cultural wisdom and indigenous ingredients, remix them and create modern natural solutions for skin and hair care.

This was and still is the Nubian Heritage mission: to make cultural exchange the model for transforming the global community.

The journey of Nubian Heritage has been a long one, but it's far from over. What began in Harlem continues globally as individuals and communities are empowered with healing traditions, rituals and philosophies from around the world. Those same Nubian Heritage owners are constantly developing new products and remedies, and our customers are constantly discovering and sharing new paths to wellness.

Meet the Nubian Heritage Owners

Nubian Heritage FoundersNubian Heritage's co-founders Richelieu Dennis, Nyema Tubman and Mary Dennis created a brand over 20 years ago on the streets of Harlem. After graduating from renowned business school Babson College in 1991, Dennis and Tubman were unable to return to their home country of Liberia due to civil war. Fresh out of college and without jobs, the childhood friends partnered with Dennis's mother, Mary, to bring the healing traditions of African Black Soap and Shea Butter to the community they loved.

Passionate about natural products with indigenous ingredients and fascinated by the cultures they come from, the three Nubian Heritage owners began handcrafting shea butter soaps and salves to sell as street vendors. Guided by the legacy of ancient Nubia, the world's first melting pot, Dennis sought to remix healing wisdom and culturally authentic practices into modern wellness solutions that became Nubian Heritage soaps. In daily conversations with the community as a street vendor, he heard and strove to answer the demand for healthy products that spoke to people's unique wellness needs.

  Share

Co-op Month Spotlight Vendor: Frontier Co-op

Since 1976, Frontier Co-op has been dedicated to advocating for organic agriculture and providing high quality products that are produced with respect for the environment and the people who grow and manufacture them.

Frontier Co-op began as a two-person operation in 1976 in a river cabin in Eastern Iowa. Since then they've grown steadily to become a major supplier to the natural products industry. Their success throughout the years reflects their close harmony with the product needs and the values of their members and consumers.

As a co-op, Frontier is owned by its thousands of wholesale customers, like Wheatsville! This means the business is operated in the shared interest of the members which extends beyond financial interests to the underlying values concerning environmental stewardship and social responsibility. And like all co-ops, Frontier is guided by the 7 basic international cooperative principles wherein values are put into practice.

  1.  Voluntary and open membership
  2. Democratic member control
  3. Member economic participation
  4. Autonomy and independence
  5. Education, training and information
  6. Cooperation among cooperatives
  7. Concern for community

Frontier Co-op addresses the principle of Concern for Community in a large variety of ways thorough charitable funds for each of their three brands: Frontier, Simply Organic and Aura Cacia. More than half of their giving goes directly to improving life in the communities that grow their products; boosting employment and supporting basics like clean water, roads, school and medical care.

The Frontier Co-op Giving Fund is a philanthropic organization, funded primarily by our members’ uncashed patronage checks, that supports social, educational, and environmental causes. The Frontier Co-op Giving Fund has since given millions to a variety of charities and organizations since it was founded in 2000.

Simply Organic products support a wide variety of organic and sustainable farming communities through the Simply Organic Giving Fund. Simply Organic has provided more than 1.5 million dollars of support to organic causes since 2001 and is having a remarkable impact both here in the U.S. and internationally.

Your Aura Cacia purchases help make the world a better place. We’ve established the Aura Cacia Positive Change Project to help women around the world positively transform their lives.

Frontier Co-op provides regular support to organizations and causes that share our values about organics, sustainability, social justice and caring for those in need — American Herbal Products Association, Bulk Is Green Council, the Organic Trade Association, the Organic Center, United Plant Savers, the Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Association and numerous others.

Look for Frontier Co-op brands at Wheatsville in the herbs & spices section (Simply Organic & Frontier) and the bodycare department (Aura Cacia) and know that your purchase of these products makes a global impact.

  Share

Local Vendor Spotlight: fitppl

fitppl was launched in late 2015 and proudly homegrown in Austin, Texas. Their mission is to create clean, sustainable products to help busy people stay fitppl. They only use simple, wholesome ingredients in their products; nothing artificial. They are environmentally conscious thinkers continually seeking packaging and materials to reduce their plastic footprint. This was ingrained in their philosophy from the beginning, and they will continue with this commitment.

We spoke wih fitppl founder, Patrick Schecht, and he graciously answered a few questions for us.

1. Why did you decide to start fitppl?

The initial idea for fitppl was born in August of 2012, while I was working at an Austin-based start-up. They offered great perks in the micro-kitchen, with snacks and food, but most were processed and devoid of nutrients. I've always lived a health-conscious lifestyle and wanted an option to keep me from eating those sugary and fat-laden snacks. I asked the office manager to bring in a protein powder for the kitchen to make smoothies. She brought in a generic, dairy-based protein with flashy graphics and a laundry list of ingredients that you couldn't pronounce. People I spoke with wanted to make healthy choices, but they really needed simplicity to balance out their busy lifestyles. That's when I had my “A-ha” moment and said to myself, “there needs to be clean, simple products to help busy people stay fit people”. That's where the idea was born and I got to work from there. After three years of research and hard work, fitppl was finally launched!

2. Why did you choose the packaging you use?

As I was developing the product-line and business philosophy for fitppl, I wanted the company to have an underlying social cause. It was important to me that the company have a genuine soul and purpose. This initially came to me in October of 2013, while I was in Thailand swimming in Maya Bay. The water was so blue and beautiful, yet there was horrible plastic litter floating everywhere. I did some research and learned about the catastrophic plastic pollution problem plaguing our oceans. As I did more research, I learned about the pitfalls of our recycling programs as well as biodegradable plastic initiatives. In spite of all that, there persists an overall marketing strategy with most companies which supports a throw-away mentally. I found that I was so under-informed about the situation…and knew I wasn't the only one. That's when the “Ditch the Plastic” campaign was created. The campaign’s purpose is to educate people that any packaging discarded doesn't just go away or get automatically get recycled. Reducing demand and reusing is the key. This is why we chose to use kraft-paper pouches instead of bulky plastic containers and each bag of protein and superfood includes a reusable wooden scoop.

3. What are the advantages of your plant proteins and superfood?

We kept the ingredients clean and simple for each product. No other ingredients, "natural flavors" or stevia. Even without all the artificial stuff, our organic plant proteins are smooth and delicious! They offer 16 grams of organic, raw protein with a complete amino acid profile, and come is 2 great flavors: Vanilla-Goji and Cocoa-Blueberry. Our organic green and red superfood is packed with superfood fruits, cereal grasses plus fresh and salt water algae. They deliver chlorophyll, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients. Our green and red superfood is unique and tangy! You can mix each product with just water, add to your favorite smoothie or include in recipes. They all include a reusable wooden scoop!

4. Anything new in the works?

Lots of awesome things in the works...Stay tuned!

5. What are your favorite things about Wheatsville Co-op?

Wheatsville Co-op is a staple in Austin. Growing up here, I can remember my Dad bringing me in anytime we were on Guadalupe. Wheatsville has so much heart and soul. Their sense of community is amazing. Everyone there is so friendly and supportive. Cody really believed in our philosophy and gave us our first shot as a new company…something I'll never forget. Wheatsville is the ideal fit for fitppl and I couldn't be happier having Wheatsville as our premiere store.

Cody Atkins' Superfood Smoothie Recipe

1 serving of Fitppl Vanilla and Goji Superfood Protein
12 oz Pacific Unsweetened Original Almond Milk
1 sliced and frozen banana
¼ cup Woodstock frozen Dark Sweet Cherries (about 5)
¼ cup Woodstock frozen Blueberries
¼ tsp. Frontier Vanilla Extract (optional)

Combine all ingredients in blender jar. Pulse until a smooth consistency is achieved.

  Share

CBD + You

If you’re into natural wellness, you have most likely heard about CBD. You might have seen our growing selection of over 80 products on the shelf or have heard people talking about CBD as way to alleviate a variety of symptoms.  It’s relatively new and continues to gain loyal followers – but what exactly is it and how can it work for you? Here’s a quick guide to understanding this new and increasingly popular supplement.

What is CBD?

CBD is shorthand for cannabidiol, a naturally found chemical compound in cannabis plants and hemp plants. The CBD compound is the same no matter which plant it’s extracted from.

What’s the difference between THC and CBD?

Both compounds are called cannabinoids are found in hemp and cannabis plants to varying degrees.  The difference is that CBD does not have any intoxicating affects and does not have any addictive properties as noted by a 2017 World Health Organization report.

Is CBD legal?

YES! Products that are manufactured from agricultural hemp, which contains less than 0.3% THC in dry weight, are exempt from the Federal Controlled Substances Act, therefore are currently not unlawful for distribution.  We require all of our brands to submit certified lab results to verify that CBD is in the concentration stated and that the amount of THC complies with the law. 

What are the benefits of CBD?

CBD has been clinically accepted as an effective medical treatment for epilepsy and has also been anecdotally reported to alleviate physical symptoms of anxiety, pain, insomnia and inflammation.

How much should I take?

If you’ve looked at our shelves, you’ll see a variety of concentrations in a variety of delivery systems – oils, capsules, balms, lotions – and even honey. The general recommendation with all supplements is to start off with the smallest dosage and see what works for you. Consult with your physician if you’re currently taking other prescription medications, or are pregnant.

How does it work?

Your body naturally makes neurotransmitters that closely resemble cannabinoids. Discovered in 1990 by Israeli chemist, Raphael Mechoulam, CBD is thought interact with various receptor targets with varying effects by using the body’s own ECS or endocannabinoid system.

With a growing inventory of over 80 products and several brands, your co-op is one of the BIGGEST CBD RETAILERS in town! From tinctures and capsules to lotions and balms, we have loads of choices to suit your needs.

NOTE: This article is not intended to provide diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. As with all supplements, you should talk to your doctor and do your own research about what is right for you – especially people that are currently taking prescription medication, or are pregnant – to make sure there are no adverse interactions.

  Share
Older News More Recent News