Happy Birthday St. J. Co-op!
/ 0
The St. J Food Co-op is ten years old. To celebrate its first decade, the Co-op is having lots of events and special promotions. Melissa Bridges, Education and Outreach Director, says, “We have planned a month-long birthday celebration so everyone can get presents from the Co-op!”
The tenth birthday of the Co-op is something to celebrate,” says Carol Adams, Board President. “Our members really stepped up to ensure the success of the Co-op.”
Deborah Goldberg provides the historical perspective, noting that the idea actually started in 1994, and took four years to reach the opening day in 1998 with 100 members. “Everyone was dedicated to the co-op concept of having a member-owned, not-for-profit business that met the needs of the community,” she says.
The Co-op’s goals are the same today as they were at the start: to provide healthy, affordable, local food where everyone can shop. “We are a full-service grocery store,” says Bridges, “With fresh produce and dairy items, frozen foods, bulk foods, meats, chicken and fish, general grocery items, cleaning supplies, wine and beer, vitamins and supplements. What’s on our shelves is what our customers want, from everyday items to specialty foods.”
With the increased interest in food issues and the environmental impact of transporting food, the Co-op serves a very important purpose for many people in the area. “Michael’s Pollan’s writings have alerted people to the need for organic and locally-produced food,” says Adams. “When you buy chicken or strawberries in the Co-op, we let you know what farm they came from, and usually, those farms are very nearby.”
The Co-op board is pleased to report that the store is doing well. “We’re doing 20 times more business than we did just five years ago,” says Bridges. “But we’re really looking forward to the future of the Co-op. We are trying to keep prices affordable, which is hard these days. Becoming a member, and especially a working member, is a great way to lower the cost of your food and still be able to eat the high quality products available here.”
