Goodbye to the Wedge

It was a warm August day in 1985 when the Wedge Board President, Terry Gips, approached me about working at the Wedge Co-op. Working at North Country Co-op, and experiencing 3 years of 35% growth, I viewed NCC as stable. Their sales were over $1,000,000/year and the finances were in the black. I decided that my efforts could be better used at the Wedge, which was struggling then to get back on its feet after some internal turbulence.

My first days were hard, dealing with disgruntled employees and customers. The Wedge got some positive momentum and the sales and finances steadily improved. Going to the Farmers markets, starting "production and marketing agreements" with local organic producers (Gardens of Eagan and Wild Plum Farm), and teaching the produce staff about good customer service and display building all helped in the rebuilding process.

Organic Day 1986 attracted the attention of then Minnesota Governor Perpich, St. Paul Mayor Latimer, the three major TV stations, and 28 co-sponsors from the "organic movement." The political success of the event was tremendous, with Gov. Perpich declaring it Organic Day '86 and giving the OGBA $200,000 in funds over the next two years. Unfortunately, the event itself lost money. Being the underwriting sponsor, the Wedge picked up the tab. I resigned my position until...

In March of 1990, Dan Foley hired me as Produce Manager. It was refreshing to have a general manager who understood the potential of the co-op and had the confidence to achieve it. With Dan's support and vision, the Co-op's sales and financial position grew. Demand for a new store built momentum several times. Three expansions later, 1993, 1997 and most recently 2002, the Wedge was transformed from a small convenience store to a modern, state of the art, natural foods cooperative grocery.

When a national natural foods chain came to town in the mid '90s, they hired 4 of the 8 staff from our produce department. I rebuilt with a strong crew who are the nucleus of the Wedge's produce department today, Dean Schladwieler, Barth Anderson, Travis Lusk and Mark Wickland. Thanks to these folks and the rest of the committed produce staff, our sales have surpassed the $4M mark for the 3rd consecutive year. Over the past 10 years the Wedge's produce department has won City Pages best produce award 7 times.

Co-op Partners Warehouse was founded June 13, 1999. This produce and perishable goods warehouse had been a vision of mine for nearly 8 years. With the Wedge's sales increasing and the backroom storage areas shrinking, a service was needed to deliver fresh, perishable product to the Wedge multiple times per day, everyday. Lakewinds was CPW's first customer, and remains a strong supporter. Our warehouse also delivers to Seward, the Mississippi Markets, Linden Hills and 30 other co-ops from Grand Marais, MN to La Crosse and Milwaukee, WI.

Thanks to our founding staff at Co-op Partners Warehouse, Rick Christianson, Patricia Good, Bob Mortenson and Ephriam Aelony, who are still with us today. Special thanks to Laurel Zastrow, who transferred with me to Co-op Partners Warehouse from our retail produce staff, and after 8 years at the Wedge has left us to pursue a family life in upstate New York.

Over the past 15 years of involvement with the Wedge Community Co-op, I can say that it has been the best place that I have ever worked. Our customers are the best. They appreciate and support our organic and local producers, and most importantly, they support the co-op way of doing business. Together, our caring staff and dedicated consumer-owners have built one of the strongest retail food programs in the nation, and with your continued support, will be a community asset for many years to come.

It has been a pleasure and an honor serving the Wedge community, and I look forward to working with the Wedge in my new capacity as a consultant. I wish you all many blessings for the coming years and hope that you continue to build a consumer co-op society through the process of cooperation.

Editor's note: Edward wants to correct Professor Produce from last issue. He actually let the woman keep the case of celery that fell out of his trunk.