Food Co-ops
Anyone who wants to support their local farmers, meet new neighbors and work together by volunteering and voting on what happens at their local food market should look into a food co-op. Anyone who wants fresh and natural food that profits your local economy should look into a food co-op. There really is no substitute for fresh and natural food; however, it probably will not come cheap.
Cheap food or food-like substances come from a drive through window or a superstore. If organic or natural food grown and/or raised locally is important to you, the biggest deciding factor many just be your pocket book. Traditionally, a food co-op is a food market or organization owned and operated on a volunteer basis by its owners. Sounds simple, right?
A couple quirks in the standard system are whether or not the co-op utilizes a storefront and also sells merchandise to the public. I have to admit I’m in favor of this kind, for our family has taken great advantage of this set up in almost every town we’re in. Just a simple online search for a health food store in any town can potentially point you in the direction of a health food store that is actually a food co-op. Some of these stores also sell vitamins and supplements, herbs, teas and coffees. Some have sitting areas and some have cafes. The members vote democratically (one member equals one vote) on what is wanted and needed by those members, be it on volunteering, food selection, or added products beyond what is available locally (like coffees and teas to make and sell in the cafe). Members may also pay a fee to join, but then get a discount when they buy.
There seems not to be a typical co-op or typical member or customer, and the richness of variety in both food choices and diversity of members and customers makes food co-ops an interesting part of our economy indeed.
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Nicole Lorenz loves the concept of food co-ops and supporting local farmers and the local economy, but as her family travels regularly, can not join one to get the full benefit. She encourages you to seek out more information on this topic to see if joining a local food co-op will fit into your lifestyle.
6 Responses to “Food Co-ops”
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Around here it’s much cheaper to go the the local Farmers Market than to join a Co-op. I do like the concept though. What we are doing this summer is having a group of us grow different veggies in bulk and then sharing it amoung ourselves for canning and preservation. This year our house is growing green beans and cucumbers. One family is growing an acrea of tomatoes, another is growing a half acrea of green and hot peppers and another is growing an acrea of squash and zuccini.
(root veggies won’t grow in clay soil unfortunately.
Dan, I have much the same idea here. There are a bunch of us in the area that have greenhouses. I’d love to team up with others and trade. I think it’s a great way to dodge rising food prices, get what you want, and be better prepared in general.
There’s also a website: http://www.zayconfoods.com where you can buy fresh food (meat is frozen usually) in bulk – by the case. There is no cost to register and they have locations all over the country. All they do is coordinate getting the product from farmer to public. I believe there is a coordinator at each local distribution place who helps coordinate. Once you register and put in your zip code, they will send an email when there is going to be a shipment including all the particulars. You just go to their website, choose what you want and pay with a credit card. Then you go pick it up at the designated location and time.
Bountiful Baskets (http://bountifulbaskets.org/) is another option for many of us in the west, and is especially good for those of us in the north country where there are few farms producing fresh, local produce.
The largest problem I’ve encountered is the fact that there is no choice of what will be included in the basic basket, and one is challenged to find a use for things they would not normally purchase. Some people trade these things to others for what they’d rather have, and some give them away.
Organic baskets and add-ons are also available.
Wow, Dan, what a great deal you’ve got going on! That is way cool.
I just finished reading an autobiographical story of a woman who, with her husband, runs a cooperative in NY. It was a fascinating and candid look at their lifestyle and the wonderful products they grow: The Dirty Life: A Memoir of Farming, Food, and Love