June Newsletter

In this month's newsletter: 

• Word from the Board
• June Owner Deals 
• Pollinator Week
• Pastry Case Update
• Mole In-Person Cooking Class 
• Mug Rugs In-Person Art Class
• Recipe Feature 
• New Products 

Word from Board

This month the Board would like to highlight some of our favorite Co-op items! These are the things we love and keep us coming back to the store. If you haven’t found your favorite item yet, we encourage you to try ours!

Mickey Parson

Favorite Item: Purely Elizabeth granola.

One of my favorite products at the Co-op is Purely Elizabeth granola. It is my daily go-to topping for Greek yogurt and fruit.

Robert Taylor

Favorite Item: Actually a group of items - Co-op bulk spices

I try different recipes and having the bulk spices from the Coop allows me to buy only what I need for a recipe instead of holding a whole jar of spice that will probably go stale before I use it all.  CGFC carries so many herbs and spices that I rarely fail to find exactly what I need in the small amounts required, and even for more expensive spices, the price is very inexpensive for those small quantities. 

Andrew Muller

Favorite Item: Naturally Flavored Maple Cookies

These snacks are my guilty pleasure, vegan, with a fun maple leaf shape and a nice vanilla flavor, I have to resist picking up a package every time I pass by the cookie isle near the checkout. If you haven’t found the cookie for you yet, the Co-op has a lot of exciting options!

Owner News

News for our Co-op Owners

June Owner Deals

Dozens of sales every month for Owners

Owner Deals are bigger and better than ever, with dozens of products on sale all month! With updates happening behind the scenes, be sure to keep your eye out for our changing cycles. Each one brings a fresh set of deals, so there’s always something new to discover.

Pastry Case Update

June 1st, 2026

Starting in June, we will no longer offer house-made pastries on Sundays and Mondays. We will still have treats available in the case, including Ye Old Donuts, on those days. The rest of the week you’ll find all your favorite house-made treats available.

Classes & Events

Every month, we host both In-Person and Virtual Classes in our Flatlander Classroom!

Mole In-Person Cooking Class

Friday, June 12th from 5:30-7:30pm

Learn how to make traditional Mole with Chef Ernesto Rodriguez, founder of El Molcajete Sauces! Students will learn how to prepare a flavorful mole from scratch using dried ancho and guajillo chiles, roasted vegetables, plantains, apples, nuts, sesame seeds, piloncillo, and Mexican chocolate.  

This delicious sauce will be paired with chicken thighs & seasonal vegetables, all highlighting the unique flavors of Oaxacan, Mexico! Students will leave with recipes, cooking tips, and a deeper appreciation for one of Mexico’s most iconic sauces.

$40/person - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket.

Mug Rug In-Person Art Class 

Wednesday, June 17th from 5:30 - 7:30pm

Learn the art of punch needle while making your own mug rug coaster from start to finish in this class led by Brittany Heyen of High in Fiber Rugs. Keep the tools and materials to make more at home with your new skill.

Participants will design their own coaster in the shape of a circle. Some ideas include a citrus slice, simple flower, smiley face, stripes, or anything abstract. The creativity is yours!

$35/ticket - Owners can use promo code: OWNER for $5 off their ticket.  All sales are final after 48 hours. Refund requests made after this period will not be accepted. Limited seating available - only 12 seats per class. Waiting List will be made available once tickets are sold out.

Pollinator Week

Saturday, June 27th from 10am - 12pm

Did you know that pollinators contribute to 1 out of every 3 bites of food we consume? That’s an important role! This year we are partnering with the University of Illinois to celebrate our hardworking pollinators! Join us on the patio outside of Common Ground & get creative with provided supplies or work with Common Ground Staff to make any of the following crafts:

Tissue Paper Flowers
Coloring Pages 
Flower Crowns
Pipe Cleaner Insects

This event is free & open to all ages. Drop in before or after the market, and stay for as long as you like.  

Community News

Round Up For Good Update

Take a look at the incredible impact we made together to raise funds to support some of local community projects right here in Champaign-Urbana!

May's Round Up For Good Grant

$5746 raised for Common Ground's Food For All Program

Mission: Common Ground's mission is broken up into 5 Ends that guide our organization.

End #1: The Co-op is the center of an inclusive, vibrant community.

End #2: The cooperative movement is strengthened.

End #3: The Co-op serves as an educational resource on food issues.

End #4: The local food movement is equitable, robust, and environmentally sound.

End #5: The Co-op supports our community's resilience while ensuring it's own economic stability. 

Project Proposal:

Food For All is our food accessibility program. One aspect of our fourth end is to ensure that healthy and affordable food is accessible to all people. Food For All was created to do just this, and through grant donations and fundraising, we have been able to keep this program going. A Food For All grant will cover full owner equity, giving members all of the same benefits that owners receive. They also get a 10% discount on our entire produce section as well as on all Co+op Basics products. All of the funds raised through Round Up For Good will go directly towards providing our customers with that 10% discount.

June's Round Up For Good Grant

Proceeds benefit Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Mission: EIF is the primary food source for a network of 160 food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and other programs working to feed our neighbors facing hunger. In the last fiscal year, we distributed more than 11 million meals (25% of which was fresh produce) to local families, children, seniors, and veterans experiencing food insecurity in our communities.

Project Proposal: Funds received from the Round Up For Good grant will support our Foodmobile program, which has evolved in recent months to have a greater impact. The need is higher than ever: our pantries are serving 90% more people now than they were in 2022. The evolution of our Foodmobile program in recent months allows us to meet our neighbors where they are, and to provide nutritious food to neighbors in approximately 100 rural and underserved communities across our 18-county service area. Each dollar we receive enables us to deliver three meals to members of our community facing hunger.

Recipe Features

We've been cooking up some healthy and affordable recipes for your enjoyment!

New Products

Take a look at some of our new items and fan favorites!

Thanks for Reading!

Enjoy the coupon below on your next shopping trip.