Tuesday, November 03, 2009

Open thread: Is there support for a food co-op in New Albany?

Tuesday's presentation illustrating the history and founding principles of the Lost River Community Co-op in Paoli was well attended, with roughly 50 people listening as Andy Mahler, board president (above, right), and Brad Alstrom (left), general manager of Lost River Market and Deli, spoke about their experiences.

Food co-ops are member-owned, self-managed associations dedicated to serving the needs of local farmers and consumers by providing healthy food choices at a fair value. Food co-ops aim to promote community well-being, economic prosperity, and self-reliance. They provide a local option for affordable, nutritious, locally-grown food and goods year round and help guaranty that local food dollars stay within the community.
I didn't take notes, but I will note with approval that among Andy's opening comments was a description of the food co-op as a corrective to "predatory capitalism." Surprisingly, no one left the room. That's refreshing.

Do we have what it takes to pursue a Lost River-style co-op in New Albany? Is this the right market for it? What's the next step?

Thanks go to Andy Terrell, the sponsors, host and concessionaire:

Carnegie Center for Art and History
Develop New Albany
New Albany Urban Enterprise Association
Dueling Grounds Cafe at Destinations Booksellers

17 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Many new faces tonight. Many enthusiastic faces ready to make this happen here.

    Hats off to Andy for organizing a first rate event! Everyone will hear about the next step soon.

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  3. There's nothing more sustainable than communitarianism, and the grocery co-op concept is the epitome of that.

    Thanks to Andy for spearheading this latest version of this effort. It's inevitable, despite the people who fear "them people," that such things will become organic and natural elements of our community.

    What it will take is faith and confidence based on past experience. Past experience flat-out proves that New Albany is progressive.

    It is.

    Our impatience is the only thing preventing us from seeing it.

    More importantly, we are attracting more and more progressives willing to tolerate the marionettes. More and more people are becoming "them people." More and more people are becoming unwilling to bestow legitimacy on the people screaming "Whoa! I'm confused. No!"

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  4. Not only could a food co-op work here, it would be a boon to other community development efforts.

    All other things being equal, who doesn't want to live near a reliable, affordable source of fresh, natural foods?

    "Walking distance to local food co-op" would be an effective real estate marketing tool that speaks directly to quality of life.

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  5. "All other things being equal, who doesn't want to live near a reliable, affordable source of fresh, natural foods?"

    All of the "Headbaggers" who just love New Albany as it is, that's who.

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  6. Oldly enough RAB, Sheila Anderson used to run a Co-op right out of the home you now live in. Distribution was out of the little house on the grounds of St. Paul Parish. Carolyn & I used to be avid members.

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  7. It would be a kindness to remember that Andy (and Ann's) vision is about a "grocery co-op," and not a food co-op. They are different things.

    Food co-ops are into bulk buying for members. (Think 50 lb. bags of rice parceled into 1 lb. containers.)

    Grocery co-ops are daily, so to speak, and offer packaged goods, fresh produce, fresh meats, and whatever its members deem desirable.

    We all take the easy way and say food co-op, but it's like saying "Democrat Party." There's no such thing, but if enough people keep saying it that way, it becomes ingrained and even the media then begin to call it that.

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  9. "Food" co-op is as termed in the original Facebook announcement from the organizers. I cut and pasted. Your free range grain fed organic beef is with them. IMHO, the public will grasp either "food" or "grocery " and understand. The hard word is "co-op."

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  10. I, admittedly, interchange the words freely and need to do a better job of using the word "grocery" instead of "food". Which means I need to get ahold of Daniel Suddeath to let him know to change anything he's writing as I'm sure I used the wrong word in my emails to him.

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  11. Bayern, no criticism intended. My point is that these words might as well be freely interchanged because people grasp both of them, while the "cooperative" concept will require much more detailed explanation.

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  12. I selected the term “Food Coop” for the Facebook announcement so I’ll take “credit” for that. Fortunately, at least 50 people didn’t make the distinction and chose to attend the speech.

    Going forward, I believe Randy makes a good point. There are probably community members who would choose not to read an article whose title includes “Food Coop,” thinking it’s a CSA, even though they’d be interested in the very different Lost River style market and deli.

    “Grocery Coop” or “Market and Deli Coop” might help distinguish the concept.

    Thanks Randy! More constructive criticism is always welcome!

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  13. Hell, my comments on the terminology weren't criticism. I had already discussed this with bayernfan and mentioned that if the media (including this blog) start saying food co-op, you can't later start putting the tape back on the roll.

    And with reference to this:

    edward parish has left a new comment on the post "Open thread: Is there support for a food co-op in ...":

    The Co-op that I was making reference about, was one that pre dated the interenet. All the items that you can find now at Amazing Grace, Rainbow Blossum and BloomingFoods in Bloomington, were ordered from a catalog and each order was then sent in by said co-op leader and delievered by truck for distribution.

    There has been a long line of citizens waiting for an alternative shopping destination for many a year. Hopefully it will happen sooner than later.

    Yes bookseller, everyone knows the difference of co-op's, but thank you for keeping a watchful eye on the editing of thoughts of others. How would we ever get along.

    Cheers


    Up yours, Ed. And I note you deleted it only after doing your little drive-by shooting.

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  14. I think we’re on the same page Randy, but just to be clear, as someone interested in seeing a coop market and deli downtown, I am sincerely appreciative of your comment and did not view it as unconstructive criticism.

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  15. Roger, I didn't take it badly in any way. I realize that I use those words incorrectly and need to be clear as there truly is a difference. Booksellers point is well taken and I've appointed my wife as the "co-op czar" (better would be co-op Reichkanzler, but...) to correct me when I say food instead of grocery. It's working well so far!

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