Hello all! It's been crazy busy in PCC land as we wrap up work on a huge project. We're excited to unveil it this month, and I'm also excited to resume blogging on a more regular basis. There are so many stories to tell within this community, from within our stores to way out in the farm fields. There are recipes to try and cooking tips to be swapped. But for now, an update on some of our upcoming events.

Free chocolate tastings: Come taste a range of our extraordinary chocolate between 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 5 at Edmonds PCC or Saturday, Feb. 6 at Greenlake PCC. Whether you prefer milk or dark, fruity or nutty, bitter or sweet, you'll discover new flavors.

Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater drive: You've seen the barrels at your local PCC. If you haven't already donated new or gently used and clean sweaters, coats and cold-weather gear to help those in need, come help fill the barrel by Sunday, Feb. 7.

Donations will be disributed to Wellspring Family Services, serving Seattle and King County.

Care to Shop Food Drive: Volunteers from the Chicken Soup Brigade will be at all nine PCC store locations 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 to collect donations of nonperishable, shelf-stable foods. Please consider a donation while out doing your shopping! 

Mission: Sustainable: Join us for the free premiere of "Mission: Sustainable," a green makeover TV show based in Seattle, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 at Seattle Center Fisher Pavillion, 305 Harrison St. Watch the pilot, mix and mingle with cast (which includes PCC Cooks instructor Becky Selengut!) and crew, enjoy live music and visit booths of local, sustainable companies at the green carpet event of the season. Visit mission-sustainable.com for details and to RSVP.

Happy new year! No doubt, you've drafted a few resolutions for 2010. For me, it's eating healthy, delicious, organic leafy greens daily. I made the same resolution in 2008 and felt energized and aglow throughout the year. I already feel a spring in my step from something I reintroduced to my diet back in early December: a daily delectably sweet (and heart healthy) Texas Rio grapefruit. Be still my heart! 

Thankfully, since I sit near our produce guru, Joe Hardiman, it's easy to keep tabs on all the great fruits and vegetables flowing into our stores. But I hope you know that all of us at PCC are ready to help you keep any healthful resolution, whether it's to eat your vegetables, sip more tea, get your regular dose of vitamin D, treat your skin to all-natural lotions or to cook more at home. Too swamped to cook? Our deli can help with resolutions, too, with a bounty of salads and entrees that feature whole grains, protein-rich beans and plenty of fresh vegetables. Or, make the simplest resolution of all: Drink more water! 

Here are some special events on the horizon: 

• The Bloodmobile will be at our PCC office from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4 and at each of our nine locations this month. Please consider giving the gift of life, and click here for your store's timeslot.

• Join us for a free screening of "Good Food," a documentary about sustainable farming in the Pacific Northwest,  followed by a lively discussion about the documentary by PCC staff. Space is limited, so please arrive before the film is scheduled to begin. And yes, popcorn and beverages will be served! The dates are 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 at Edmonds PCC and 4:30 p.m. Sunday Jan, 31 at Redmond PCC. Check out the preview!

• Celebrate the new year by cleaning out your closet and donating those extra sweaters to the KCTS9 Mister Rogers' Neighborhood Sweater Drive. All PCC locations will accept new or gently used, clean sweaters, coats and cold weather gear from January 11 to February 7. Wellspring Family Services will distribute them to those who need most them.  

• Register now to head on out to Sequim, Wash. and walk the fields of Delta Farm, home to Nash's Organic Produce, Saturday, Jan. 16 on a farm tour. See first hand where those amazingly sweet carrots take root. Meet local farmers and feel great that you, via PCC Farmland Trust, helped to preserve organic farmland, forever.
• If you haven't already signed up for a class or two (or five) with our award-winning PCC Cooks cooking school, what are you waiting for? 

We're in midwinter. That means we're only a few months away from tender spring asparagus, creamy peas, wild Alaskan halibut, fresh lamb, the first crop of organic strawberries up from California and so many annual traditions. Take the time now to savor the joys of winter, those savory stews and sweet baked treats and bubbling slow cooker goodness. And, again, happy 2010! 

They're made from recycled plastic bottles, so much better than letting them pile up in a landfill. And only 87 cents! Know a college student, an ailing friend or someone else who needs some love in your life? Bundle up a home-cooked meal, some fresh organic produce or other treats in one of these puppies so they have a bag to use for later when all the eating's done.

Our amazing art department created four new designs, including my favorite -- the happy produce people shown above.

Who's your favorite produce superstar? I'm partial to Mr. Melon. So jolly.

Frosty nights have arrived and lights are aglow -- time to gather family and friends, appreciate that we have shelter from the storm and to reach out to those who don't. Address this trio this week with PCC.

JOIN US FOR REDMOND LIGHTS 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 at Redmond City Hall and Redmond Town Center. PCC helps sponsor this annual event, which includes a tree lighting, lit river walk and live music. We'll be offering samples of  fresh food and a special party mix, to boot. Visit redmondlights.com for details.

PET LIVE REINDEER, meet Santa and sit in his sleigh at the Issaquah Reindeer Festival, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 1-23 at Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 S.E. 54th St. in Issaquah. Discounted tickets are on sale at Issaquah PCC. Children under 2 are free. Visit cougarmountainzoo.org for details.

DONATE THE DIFFERENCE and help reduce hunger in our communities by contributing to the PCC Food Bank Program. PCC uses your donations (100 percent) to buy nutritious bulk foods at discounted prices, which are then packaged by PCC volunteers and given to local food banks. At the checkout stand say you'll "donate the difference" and your purchase will be rounded up to the nearest dollar, with the difference donated to the program.

AND ON THAT NOTE: If you live/work near Kirkland, stop by the Kirkland Food Bank (11011 120th Ave. N.E.) 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 and volunteer to help package food for needy families. 

DISCOVER A NEW WINE or two or three at our wine tastings. Click here for a list of events through the end of the year!

REGISTER FOR WINTER PCC COOKS CLASSES in the new winter catalog. From kids classes to gluten-free cooking to knife skills to perfect meat and poultry, there's something for everyone.

Have a great week!