Aldo Magazzeni, founder of Traveling Mercies, flew to Haiti yesterday to help the
victims of the earthquake. He will observe the situation, and decide the
best way that he and Traveling Mercies can help.
KWF will support him in his efforts.
KWF is again partnering with Traveling Mercies, this time in a direct effort to benefit the people of Haiti. As community partners, we will follow our call to action to assist earthquake victims. The funds raised here at KWF will benefit earthquake victims directly.
The Fundraiser will run from February 1st-28th 2010 in all 4 stores.
Aldo will be sending us updates from Haiti during his visit, which we will
post here for you to see.
Traveling Mercies and Living Hope Mission plan to use donated funds for the most needed supplies: water, food, medicine, and clothing.
The plan is to deliver these supplies directly to the people who need it most. He will return to give us all an update on the conditions there, speaking at Kimberton Whole Foods
on February 24th.
A little background on Aldo: Combining a penchant for mountain climbing
with a love ofcommunity service, Aldo began performing volunteer service
in the US and abroad.
Since 1998, Aldo has traveled to, and worked, with communities in Italy, Jamaica, Haiti, Mexico, South America, Bhutan, Nepal, Afghanistan, Kenya, Ethiopia and others.
His affiliation with volunteer groups include local churches, The Salvation Army, The Women of Hope, and The Nyumbani Children’s Home, to name a few.
Aldo created Traveling Mercies in October of 2007, a non-profit 501(c) (3) foundation. In 2009, in partnership with the Jesuits and the International Rotary, Traveling Mercies provided a well to a school in need in Nairobi, Kenya.
Traveling Mercies has also been assisting Tashirat Orphanage in Mexico for the last two years with various projects, and
supportfor the children's lunch program. Additionally in 2009, aid was provided following the devastating
earthquake in the Abruzzo Region in Italy.
Meet Aldo: Wednesday, February 24th: At Kimberton. Meal provided. 7 - 9 PM.
Lecture at 7:30
Register by email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Greetings for the New Year, this is Paul Lawler your new Kimberton Cheesemonger! I am charged with bringing you all the dairy delights the cheeseworld has to offer. And for those of you caught off guard by that last sentence - yes there is indeed a wide cheeseworld out there just as there is for world class wine or olive oils - with it's own flamboyant rockstars like Cypress Grove & classic Parmignano Reggiano and more humble but no less flavorful denizens like PA's Wallaby or our Wisconsin Goat Cheddar. And akin to wine or great beer, every good cheese has it's own story: the people behind it, the specific grasses, unique animal breeds and culture a cheese comes from that make up it's distinctive flavour profile. It's my goal to bring to you the most flavorful distinctive cheeses among these and support our dairy neighbors locally and cheesemaking artisans in the process. One of the most frequent questions I get it is "What is your favorite cheese?" and my answer instead of a cheese name is any cheese whose flavor reflects the flavour of where it came from, whether the minerality of seaside northern California pasture, the distinctive foliage of Parma, or the earthy character currently coming from PA's own cheeses.
With this in mind you can look out for great tasting new goat cheeses from Amazing Acres of Fred and Debbie Bloom in the case from Elverson PA. Their cheeses include a twist on a classic French cheese wherein a disk of fresh goat cheese is covered in grape leaves that have been first soused in brandy! Tastings will periodically take place for new and delicious cheeses we carry, so check our events page for future tastings, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more info!
Also keep in mind we have some great values on ideal cold weather Alpine cheeses with Swiss Emmentaler at a regular price of $9.99 and Classic Gruyere at $2 off per lb. These two are ideal combined in fondue, on their own in hot ham & cheese or grated over soup to comfort in these frigid months. If you have yet to try it do try Serena cheese by Three Sisters of California, my featured cheese of the month. Named after the three sisters of the Simoes family, Marisa Simoes is a cheesemaking wunderkind whose Serena, with it's biting clove and peppercorn flavour I consider the American counterpart to Parmignano.
Enjoy, stay warm, and I look forward to seeing you by the cheese case!
- Paul
I'm Ed Humpal, the coffee roaster for Kimberton Whole Foods. It is my intention to invite you to an adventure around the world with me, at least in hearts and minds gathered around a coffee pot.
Some people around here remember me from my years running a coffee and espresso concession for festivals and special events. When I started roasting coffee as well, Kimberton Whole Foods offered me my first chance at retail sales. Now I roast at their warehouse in Leola and get to write this in the shadow of a 3000 pound pile of green coffee beans. A coffee lover's dream, if there ever was one.
Sustainability and Global Equity
The growth of coffee from a wildcrafted Ethiopian bean to an international sensation that countries intrigued over and tall ships vied for is a fascinating story, but it's a tragic one too. We inherit a history of exploitation and abuse from the Age of Empire. The Fair Trade movement in our times is an important correction. I am a committed Fair Trade roaster, but a certification and an improved margin for the farmer is not, of itself, a final solution to the global imbalance of wealth and poverty. This is an exciting time right now for new solutions and approaches. Many cooperatives and plantations are doing the right thing for the environment and their workers, but are not always willing to pay for certification, or restructure in ways that are required. Some have been finding new ways to the market, such as selling direct to roasters, which creates a lower cost to the buyer, but puts more money in the hands of the farmers. We pledge to you that our choices in purchasing are based on supporting the right farms for the right reasons.
Buy Globally, Roast Locally
Coffee roasted by the large, nationally distributed companies, shipped and warehoused all over our country, has an enormous carbon footprint, and puts a small premium on freshness. Artisan coffee roasting, which is based on small, hand roasted batches, brings the production and distribution of coffee to the “Fresh and Local” market. Coffee that has been roasted only a week or two before consumption has rich flavors and complex aromas that are lost when coffee is roasted for extended shelf life. We'll be bringing you coffees from Sumatra, Bali, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua and more. Expect coffees on our shelf to disappear after their natural harvest has been distributed – though we will make sure we have them again when they become available.
Learn More
Please visit my blog, More Than Just a Pretty Cup, to keep up with what we're doing, to learn about different varieties of coffee, and to read about the projects and initiatives you are supporting by your purchases.
We are honored to have Aldo Magazzeni partnering with us for a fundraiser for Traveling Mercies. He is a local man that has helped improve the quality of life of people all over the world. Aldo’s personal approach to his work promotes peace and understanding.
KWF participated in the Sustainable Business Network ?Sustainafood? Event/Green Restaurant Expo on November 30th.
It was a wonderful, personal event in a beautiful location, and we made several key connections in addition to getting the word out on KWF?s mission.
The attendees were representatives of local restaurants and small businesses, looking to make their business more sustainable on a budget.
Speakers included Judy Wicks of White Dog, Adam Palmer, creator of Pita Pit restaurants, Gary Giberson, Executive Chef and Master Composter, Ann Karlen, Founding Director of Fair Food, Maurice Sampson, President of Niche Recycling, and Jill Fink, co-owner of Mugshots Coffee.
| Pure Essence Demo! Tue Feb 09 @12:30PM - 03:30PM |
| Could it be Lyme Disease? Wed Feb 10 @06:30PM - 07:45PM |
| Cardamom and Curry Chai Sampling Fri Feb 12 @11:00AM - 02:00PM |
| Free Demo! Fri Feb 12 @03:00PM - 05:00PM |
| Special Valentine's Demo! Taza Chocolate Sat Feb 13 @11:00AM - 02:00PM |
