Let's Talk About Food Coops... ( 2. February 2007, 13:42 by Derek Young) ~ Love My Slow Food
A few months ago we started talking about starting a food coop in Jamie’s living room. It would now appear a new group is rising to start that food coop discussion anew. The group representing various organizations are are trying to generate discussion about the vision of a customer food co-op in Tacoma.
A public meeting will be held to disseminate basic information about food co-ops, the group’s basic goals, Q and A, and collect input as well as volunteers to help this project develop.
The meeting will take place Wednesday, Feb. 21st from 5:30-7 pm at the Allen-Russell Building, 1321 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street.
From the email:
Why are we interested in a Tacoma food co-op?
- to provide affordable, fresh and healthy food to citizens from throughout Tacoma
- to generate an institutionalized support and a direct outlet for struggling local farmers (the group involves a Tacoma Farmers’ Market Representative)
- to create a more efficient and established avenue for local restaurants to purchase local produce and other healthy and ¨green¨food alternatives
- to foster social capital via welcoming facilities, co-op memberships and participation, public education
- to engender economic injections to the chosen area, including jobs, improved image, tax revenue
- to possibly locate the co-op in the improving Hilltop (Upper Tacoma) area, to assist this transitioning area that has experienced troubles
- to reduce environmental impact Tacoma food consumption, notably the externalities of extensive food transport, the impacts of water pollution, soil depletion and genetic alterations associated with industrial agriculture, over-packaging,
- to fortify a location which creates a tangible and continuing education for many community members about nutrition, environmental issues, and to bridge the urban-rural social divide
Commenting Is Closed
Comments are allowed for two weeks from the posted date. If you want to make a comment or reopen this discussion, please contact us with your request. Thank you for visiting.
Oh sweet. I totally dropped the ball on actually driving this issue, like, at all… Glad some others jumped in.
1 | Posted by jamie from thriceallamerican | Feb 2, 02:51 PM
I have some land listed on the corner of 19th and Yakima Ave. Many people including myself have thought it would make a great location for a small grocer on the 1st floor with condo or apartments above. If anything was built it would be a year or 2 away from compeltion, giving you time to plan. Great high traffic spot, close to UWT and St. Joes. If you guys are interested in the site or future project let me know.
2 | Posted by Jake | Feb 2, 03:33 PM
Wow. Weird.
We are in the process of moving to Hilltop (around 8th & J) and I’ve been talking to people about the need for a food coop in that area.
Why not explore leveraging off an established co-op? They might not be interested, but Olympia has a good, established, true co-op with at least two branches currently. Some sources of supply could be shared, and their co-op experience and knowledge could be leveraged.
In any case, I will be at the next meeting.
3 | Posted by rc | Feb 3, 12:08 AM
How exciting to see this first thing on Sat. morning! I’m on the co-op steering committee and it’s been fun to mention the cop-op idea, because everytime I do someone says – “Hey! We were just talking about that yesterday!”
In response to RC’s comment above, we have already been in touch with the Olympia co-op. They work with a group called Northwest Cooperative Development Center, whose main purpose to it assist groups who are starting co-ops. Their director has already come up to T-town and spoken with our group. He may or may not be at the meeting in a few weeks. We are following pretty closely their recommendations for groups starting co-ops. You can find out more at www.nwcdc.coop
Thanks for passing the word along!
4 | Posted by Katie M | Feb 3, 09:44 AM
Bellingham Community Food Co-op has a pretty successful model as well. They have been around for over 30 years when the city had a population of 1/4 of what Tacoma has now.
Initial placement is pretty critical to make sure it can work. Bellingham is now seeking to add another branch:
Welcome to the Community Food Co-op, downtown Bellingham’s natural grocer. What began in 1970 in Fairhaven as a 900-square-foot store with fewer than 10 items has grown to an 11,000-member-strong natural grocery store. We encourage you to participate by shopping, joining, and building and supporting a sustainable, vibrant community.
You’ll find organic produce, meat and seafood, wine, an exciting deli, a juice & espresso bar, great housewares and fun stuff, bulk items, natural and organic grocery items, baked goods, dairy, and supplements and wellness products. Welcome and enjoy!
Here’s how they are rasing funds for their second store:
We’re raising funds for our green roof by giving you the opportunity to participate in the process—you get a brick or paver engraved with your name on it and the Cordata building will have its green roof.
Is there any possibility that something like this could work in Freighthouse Square? That’d be mutually beneficial to all of the existing businesses in there, as well.
Also, the proximity to public transit would be awesome. I imagine that’s important to many potential co-oppers. Myself, I go to UWT and hardly ever drive in Tacoma.
7 | Posted by James M. | Feb 4, 01:35 PM
Anyone know who to contact if you’re interested in helping out but can’t make the meeting?
8 | Posted by Michael G. | Feb 5, 11:59 AM
tacomafoodcoop@gmail.com is the email account we have set up.
9 | Posted by Katie M | Feb 5, 02:05 PM
Commenting is closed for this article.
