Co-ops Around the Country

By Elizabeth Archerd, Member Services Director

Near the end of October, a.k.a. Co-op Month, I had the pleasure of flying down to Austin, Texas for a conference with my peers in the natural food co-op world. It gave me a chance to taste the delicacies of the Wheatsville Co-op deli (popcorn tofu, anyone?) and check out a unique town that is determined to retain its own history and quirks.

I was also invited to attend the semi-annual membership meeting of the Wheatsville Co-op. The meeting was held in a locally-owned (of course - this is Austin!) movie theater, the kind with a menu and table service. After the board candidates introduced themselves, the designer and contractor for the upcoming expansion and remodel of the co-op gave a presentation. Then they played a short film, "Independent America," while the audience dined on the menu offerings, all picked up by the co-op. The film was shocking - even to a veteran "buy local" person like me. Downtown districts of small-to-medium sized towns all over the country are deserted, while all the business has switched to a few big box stores and fast food outlets on strip malls on the edge of town. Apparently, I need to leave Minneapolis more often. The film revitalized my dedication to support locally-owned businesses for local products, balanced with fairly-traded products when local products are not available. What we do here at the Wedge is important. It is more than selling stuff - it is keeping dedicated producers and craftspeople alive.

The conference itself was full of stimulating presentations, especially from other co-operators around the country. The co-op in Las Cruces, NM, Mountain View Market, recruits young shoppers and creates a sense of community by holding annual punk rock concerts in the co-op. I tried to imagine that working out at the Wedge, to no avail (sorry, punk fans).

Austin is also the corporate home of Whole Foods, Inc. I did not have time to visit the Mother Ship, but all those who did told a similar story. It was over-the-top retail theater, a sort of Grocery Mega Mall. A great place to visit, but no one could see shopping there for groceries every week. When I go back to Austin sometime, I definitely plan to take in "the show."

The professional presenters at the conference kept hitting the same theme. All over the country, communities are looking for better ways to feel connected, to have a sense of home when they shop or eat out. They want to know that their money and labors are supporting values they share and neighbors they see. Every presenter said some version of this message, too: you co-op people are so lucky to be in your line of business right now, you are already hitting every note.

After three decades of work, co-ops are perfectly positioned to lead the economy in the direction that matches the values our citizens share, whether left or right: community, mutual support, service and generosity. I feel so proud to be part of the work of the co-op community. As we move into the holiday season, I will hold the gratitude for our community, made possible by every one of you, close to my heart. Have a safe, happy, healthy holiday season.