My Personal Stock

You’ve heard about rock stars and the food and beverages they must have in their dressing rooms. Well, I’ve been in the natural foods business for nearly 25 years, and when I show up at a new store, by golly, I have my requirements, too!

Along the way in this business I’ve found a number of natural food products that I want on the shelf because A) I can buy them, and B) there’s a good chance that other customers will also like them. Here are just a few items I’ve requested our savvy buyers to source for me that are new to CCM. Enjoy!

Annie Chun’s Peanut Sauce: This is the perfect solution to a ‘pressed for time’ dinner. It’s as simple as stir frying cubed extra-firm tofu, adding diced green onion and carrots, then pouring over the sauce. Serve with brown rice. Easy!

Domaine Bousquet Malbec: It’s organic, moderately priced and just a well-balanced, plummy red wine.

Cadia Maple Sandwich Cookies: Sorry, Oreos. You had your chance. I’m a sucker for anything maple. I fell in love with these decadent Canadian treats and never looked back.

Little James’ Basket Press (France): It’s OK to have two wines on my list, right? I first had their red wine with this label in Austin, Texas, 20 years ago, and I still remember them. The Sauvignon-Viognier is a zinger! Bright and full of citrus flavor. It’s the perfect complement to cheese, fish, and grilled veggies.

Higher Thoughts by Natural Factors: Not a food, per se, but something I take every day. It’s got Phosphatidylserine, which supports memory. Whether or not I could ace the SAT is arguable, but I feel sharper.

GT Kombucha – Watermelon: This thirst-quenching gem was out of stock at our warehouse for so long we thought it was discontinued. I insisted—no, demanded—we throw all of our resources to finding this flavor! Although I risk seeing it out of stock again, I will share this information with you. Just you.

Tucson Tamale – Blue Corn and Veggie (Frozen): Maybe I think of these as comfort food having lived in Santa Fe. Maybe it’s just these tamales are so good. Either way, I inhale them. Easy to prepare, either nuke them or (my preference) let ‘em steam in their corn husks for 30 minutes.

In cooperation,

Troy Bond
Community Co-op Market CEO