All candidates were asked to write a brief statement to answer the question "What are your top three priorities for the Wedge Co-op?"

1. The Wedge must ensure a continued focus on member needs, whether that be through services in the store itself, or through community involvement and investment.

2. This has to be balanced with another important priority - our continued financial growth and stability.

3. Lastly, because of the dramatic growth in recent years of consumer interest in organic and sustainable products, the Wedge is facing unique market challenges as other food retailers "dabble" in the natural foods business. Rising to the challenge of this competitive environment, while remaining true to our founding cooperative principles, is also an important priority for the Wedge.

Current Occupation: Labor Relations Consultant - City of Minneapolis; Community Faculty - Metropolitan State University

Education: J.D. Hamline University; Masters Work in Public Administration; B.A. U of MN, Journalism and Communication

Special Interests: Beloved pets, gardening, yoga, theatre and reading about history.

1. Ensure the board has sufficient resources in place for excellent management of the cooperative. This includes procedures for hiring, monitoring and evaluating. The Wedge owes its industry-leading operations to its phenomenal staff. The board continues to fine-tune processes for working with management and conducting board business.

2. Educate members on the value of co-op membership and the products provided.

3. Meet member needs in the ever-changing natural foods industry.

Current Occupation: Co-op Housing Outreach Coordinator, Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund

Education: M.B.A., emphasis in Management and Marketing, U of MN; Master of Hospital Administration, emphasis in Health Services Administration, U of MN

Special Interests: Community development, historic preservation and adaptive reuse of buildings, organic gardening with edible and native landscaping/butterfly gardening, writing for children.

1. Maintaining the financial prudence that has made the Wedge such a resounding success. Our membership investments have resulted not just in the Wedge's success, but in the success of other local grocery cooperatives, local growers, and suppliers.

2. Exploring new niches for the WedgeÐa bakery supplying other grocers, or household goods are just a couple of ideas.

3. Strengthening our decision- making power with science. When we can influence decisions about agriculture, food production, and environmental stewardship with both the passion of our convictions and the strength of the science behind them, we ensure our voices are heard.

Current Occupation: Full-time graduate student, part-time graduate instructor, part-time computer support specialist.

Education: Ph.D. candidate, Conservation Biology, U of MN; B.A. Grinnell College, Psychology and Mathematics

Special Interests: Anything to do with kids, dogs, and the natural world: hiking, fishing, camping, photography. Getting kids jazzed about growing up.

The Wedge has provided a wonderful service to the people of Minneapolis and to farmers and processors of organic and sustainably grown products.

1. My first priority is to maintain that commitment to excellence.

2. Second, I feel that there is tremendous interest and potential in expanded local food systems. I will work to maintain the Wedge's leadership in this arena.

3. Third, I will utilize my association with agricultural and environmental organizations to strengthen the Wedge's relationship to these community and regional organizations.

Current Occupation: Director of the Environment and Agriculture program at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Education: M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Manhattan College; B.A. In Physics, SUNY Geneseo

Special Interests: Agriculture, development, Latin America.

1. Community Building: We must continue to reach out to the neighborhood not only through philanthropic work but also by making the Wedge a viable option for all members of the community.

2. Education and Training: Community members rely on the Wedge for meaningful information on food, healthy choices, and cooking. We should continue to offer accessible information to our members and provide the most current resources in the food industry.

3. Leadership in the field: The Wedge was the first certified organic grocery store in Minnesota. In keeping with our rich history, we need to maintain our place as leaders in the field of Fair Trade, organics, and best practices for cooperatives.

Current Occupation: Service-Learning Coordinator, U of MN

Education: B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, Women and Development, UMD

Special Interests: Kayaking, cooking, backpacking, Spanish, running, quilting

1. Membership development: helping members get the most from their co-op memberships through improving understanding of the many programs and services the Wedge offers and working to make sure the organization's management team is fully addressing the needs of the members that fit within its mission.

2. During its 30 years of operation the Wedge has developed a substantial body of knowledge and operational best practices that are of great value beyond its immediate community. I would work to make sure that knowledge was shared.

3. Helping the Wedge further develop its commitment to local producers and Fair Trade.

Current Occupation: Group director of brand planning at Carmichael Lynch - Marketing, advertising and public relations

Education: B.A. Speech and Journalism, U of MN

Special Interests: The arts, sports and public affairs with special emphasis on peace and justice issues.