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Why I Love Our Food Co-op

Posted at 7:32 PM on March 20, 2008 by Donna McClurkan (10 Comments)

If I could find the person that took the time to write and post this note on the bulletin board in the back of the People's Food Co-op, I'd personally thank him/her. Besides the lead-in for this blog entry, it prompted me to become an owner last month. Here's why:

The selection - Finding local food is easy because signs are posted throughout the store. In response to requests from locavores, new locally-sourced foods are added as space permits. And space is at a premium these days - a search is underway for a new, larger downtown Kalamazoo location. Unless you've seen it, you wouldn't believe the variety of stuff packed into a mere 784 square feet of space!

The staff - Within days of my being named a participant in Locavore Nation, Heather sent me a type-written, two page list of all the local foods sold at People's. Rosie took me on a guided tour to make sure I knew the location of all their local food. Both have been great resources, especially early in the project when I was feeling overwhelmed. Without exception, everyone is helpful and knowledgeable about the products in the store.

The music - It's an eclectic, interesting mix of artists - not what they play in the supermarket.

The emails - Updates are sent twice monthly, and sometimes more often if there's something to shout about, like "Meyenberg goat butter - creamy with only a hint of goaty goodness," or a seasonal offering, such as "broccoli sprouts from Blue Dog Greens."

The bulletin board - A place where customers can request information ("does soy or almond milk have the same cooking properties as regular milk?") or ask for an item to be stocked ("Irish moss jelly for asthma?"), or simply express a sentiment.

The deli - Scrumptious food is generated from a tiny kitchen in the back of the store, with locally sourced offerings such as free range egg salad, black bean hummus, tofu spreads & salads from Michigan-grown soy, and seasonal produce incorporated into sandwiches and the hot food bar.

The "green" - Everything that can be recycled, is. Last time I was in the kitchen, 5 gallon containers full of scraps were stacked high, being held for local growers' compost heaps. Bulk food selections cut down on packaging (bring your own, if you like). Here is fellow locavore, Elizabeth showing off the lengthy and colorful row of bulk bins.

Shopping and buying ownership in grocery co-ops like People's is an investment - in community, job and economic growth and the environment. If you don't have a food co-op that YOU love, check out this site.

Comments (10)

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Hi Donna - I am totally jealous and green with envy! Thirty five years ago (yikes!) as college students, we had access to co-ops and it was great. I don't know of any around here but I am going to do some serious searching now. You have many reasons to be in love. Take care, Barbara

Posted by Barbara Kattman | March 21, 2008 7:40 AM

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Hi Barbara - please let us know if you found a co-op within reasonable distance of your home. Hopefully, the link on the post will help. Good luck!

Posted by Donna McClurkan | March 21, 2008 8:10 AM

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Hi Donna. I work at a food co-op and love mine too. I liked your link to the "Coop Directory Service" but wanted to suggest some other links as well:
How to START a food co-op
and
Another place to FIND food co-ops, the Food Co-op Directory at Cooperative Grocer magazine

Posted by Doug Walter | March 21, 2008 4:40 PM

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Doug - thanks for sharing additional sites. I learned a lot by reading the Co-op Grocers' Info Network on how to start a co-op (cool graphics,too!)

Posted by Donna McClurkan | March 22, 2008 4:55 AM

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Hi Donna - I checked to see if we had any co-ops nearby. Unfortunately, we don't. I am wondering if we have enough interested people around here to start one. I'll keep you posted as this thought evolves. Take care, Barbara

Posted by Barbara Kattman | March 24, 2008 7:26 AM

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Donna--

I went to college in Kalamazoo and am very familiar with the food co-op! It was a favorite source of ingredients when we residents of 103 Thompson Street did our Saturday shopping. And that was over 25 years ago!!! Glad to hear that they're still doing good things.

--Johanna

Posted by Johanna | March 24, 2008 11:47 AM

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Johanna - so glad you checked in on the co-op after 25 years! You might be interested to know the co-op just rec'd "Finding Grace in Kalamazoo" recognition by the Kalamazoo Public Library for their community building contributions (4 organizations were recognized - 2 of them food related - the other is Sarkozy's Bakery). Also, on a sep note, I checked out your excellent blog on urban chickens (myurbanchickens.blogspot.com) and will become a regular reader. Our chicks arrive tomorrow a.m. and I can't wait to meet them and start writing about our experiences! Thanks so much for your comment. Donna

Posted by Donna McClurkan | March 24, 2008 1:09 PM

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Whoops - Correction: Johanna's blog is www.busysolitudefarm.blogspot.com. Great source of info on chickens and wonderful photos, esp Chick-Chuck's. Will become a regular reader of this one, too!

Posted by Donna McClurkan | March 24, 2008 1:24 PM

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Hello!
I love my co-op, Madison Market. When I have told people there about our Locavore Nation project, I get all sorts of great advice.

Paulette in Seattle

Posted by P. Thompson | March 31, 2008 9:18 PM

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Hi Paulette, it sounds like you have access to some great local food & resources at your co-op, too. Thanks for helping raise awareness about these wonderful places to buy local and organic! Donna

Posted by Donna McClurkan | April 1, 2008 5:24 AM