Who hasn’t marveled at the fact that unsweetened or naturally sweetened products cost more than those made with high-fructose corn syrup or that foods with hydrogenated oils are cheaper than those without, or, that fruits and vegetables grown organically are more expensive than those foods made from genetically engineered seeds, grown with chemical fertilizers and sprayed with pesticides? Where along the march toward progress did more steps away from nature make a product less expensive and products with simple ingredients, free of additives become so expensive? Who hasn’t sighed with bewilderment when a single bag of groceries cost $60?
We’re not going to get too much into the politics of subsidies and agribusiness here, we must be honest, shopping the co-op can sometimes force us to ask these questions. Our own particulars, as a small, non-urban, independent co-op, mean that we have few deliveries and low inventory, and so don’t benefit from discounting programs that larger stores receive.
Many shoppers come from penny-pinching ideals and thrill at a bargain. But over time, our own families have come to shift their values when it comes to the percentage of income we spend on our food. We spend more of our monthly budget on groceries because we believe in organic, local and whole food cooking, whenever possible, but also because we value eating at home, and on a deeper level, feel more sustained by these choices. It is possible to shop the co-op affordably, and to concentrate on using our bulk basics, such as beans and whole grains, and fresh produce that form the building blocks of a healthy diet for ourselves and the planet.
In this time that we celebrate Co-op Month and honor cooperative values, it’s easy to look back on our more than 30 years of history and say, “My how we’ve grown,” but, really, though our ranks now include nearly 1800 members, more staff, more space, more products, more, more, more, our values have never wavered. We are still the same store that began as a group of folks who chose to say, “No” to the increasing presence of highly processed Frankenfoods on the market. The world has changed around us since we began, but, at the same time, it hasn’t.
The worries of the past are still with us—perhaps even more visible. Just in the last few months, a major egg recall has brought the unsavory aspects of factory chicken farming to light. The recent ruling against genetically engineered sugar beets that dominate the marketplace, and the risk of cross-pollination to organic crops, also highlights the tendency over time toward consolidation and reduction in diversity, in farming, as in business. As an independent store, we prefer to foster a community-minded atmosphere with our members as well as anyone who happens to walk in.
Just as the co-op’s founders worked with their neighbors to make the buying club a success, our buyers have also worked with local and independent vendors and farmers whenever possible. Our first-ever Local Harvest Fest on Sept.25 featured samples and discounts from local and regional vendors, and gave our shoppers a chance to meet some of our loyal suppliers and growers.
That low-key, familial atmosphere is just what Board member, produce grower & chicken farmer Janna Goerdt found when she talked to members about how and why they shop the co-op. See page two to read the comments that some of you—our members—shared about why you keep coming back.
We can’t all get “back to nature,” but we can certainly look to nature for guidance, and we can look to the basic foods as an ideal. At the same time, we are equally concerned about the future—the future of the soil, the crops, our children, and our children’s children. Part of the choice of shopping here is a decision to support growers and companies who choose not to use harmful pesticides on their crops and antibiotics on their animals, who respect the earth enough to think how their fields might fare in the long term instead of searching for the quick fix.
Innovations in farming have helped grow more food for more people, in more parts of the world, it’s true. But when those practices create a monoculture and limit the natural diversity of the land, and when farming practices begin to sap the nutrients from the food as well as the soil, we have a problem. But somehow, even as the politics of organic and close-to-home foods becomes more popular, it’s no easier to achieve, and not necessarily more affordable.
Sometimes it feels as if we’re swimming against the current. And maybe we are. The culture we live in—farmers, companies, distributors, retailers, and consumers alike—has long been steeped in the idea that food must come cheaply and it must come fast. But, whether it’s popular, easy, or fast, we’re sticking with our original values. After all, all we want is just good food—for ourselves and for future generations.
Thanks for supporting us in Co-op Month, and every other month of the year. We couldn’t be who we are without you.
