Co-op Cohorts: The Fan Report

When I relocated to Richmond in the fall of 2013 for a new job, it became immediately obvious that exciting things were happening in the area.  I had moved from a city in Florida with few healthy and socially-conscious food-purchasing options, and I was thrilled to learn about the up-and-coming Richmond Food Co-op.  Over the course of this past year, it has been truly inspiring to witness the increasing momentum generated by the Co-op and its activities, and to be part of a very passionate group of people who are highly dedicated to bringing socially responsible, affordable, and healthy food options to the Richmond area.  The more we can get the word out and increase awareness of the Co-op and connections between community members, the more quickly we can open its doors!

With this in mind, I am also the organizer of the Fan neighborhood Cohort, which seeks to bring together Co-op members and guests who live in the Fan neighborhood for social and networking gatherings.  It’s a really fun way to get to know other like-minded community members with similar interests and to share ideas about how to increase engagement in and awareness of the Co-op.  We will be having our FIRST kick-off event this coming Thursday, December 11th, 2014:  together with the East End Cohort, we are hosting a Holiday Cocktail Hour at the beautiful Jefferson Hotel.  Come out to see the holiday decorations and meet some cool people!  Everyone (both members and non-members) is welcome—you don’t have to live in the Fan or the East End to attend, and feel free to bring any guests you’d like! 

Details:  Jefferson Hotel, TJs lobby bar, 101 W. Franklin Street, Richmond.  5:30pm-7:00pm

Hope to see you there!

-Karen Dyer, Fan Cohort Leader

Bizarre Market + Richmond Food Co-op: Give the Gift!

Bizarre Market Holiday, Richmond's month-long local/handmade pop-up shop, is in its ninth year at Chop Suey Books in Carytown! Featuring all things sparkly, snuggly, modern, functional, delicious and supremely crafty, the market has become a favorite spot for holiday shoppers across the city. Find handcrafted toys, modern jewelry, artisan-made cutting boards, screen prints, ceramics and much more from 60 selected artists.

Making this year particularly special are the third annual TINY AUCTION, a fundraiser for the Richmond Young Writers scholarship fund AND Richmond Food Co-op gift memberships! The auction is comprised of one-off items made by artists in the community, a very special gift-getting opportunity for those who love rare finds. And for the food lovers and community builders in your life, there's the option to purchase a Richmond Food Co-op membership, complete with a rosemary-adorned burlap gift sack of Co-op goodies to stick under the tree. The gift of the Co-op is not just a local gift, it is an investment in making our local even better.

Details:

Bizarre Market Holiday

November 29th-December 24th

Chop Suey Books, 2913 W. Cary St. (across from the Byrd Theater)

Open Mon-Thurs 10-7, Fri-Sat 10-8, Sun 12-7

-Bird Cox, Co-op Supporter

http://birdcox.com/

Buy Local!

Buy Local, Buy Local, Buy Local! This is what we hear coming out from small businesses everywhere in America these days.  Why does this matter and who really cares?  I care, the Richmond Food Co-op cares, and now businesses in Richmond can show they care.  Supporting your local businesses not only drives the local economy but it creates a sense of community in your town.  The Co-op is proud to announce the launch of its Buy Local Program.  This program gives member/owners privileges at participating establishments in Richmond.  These small businesses value their community and understand what it takes to make Richmond thrive in today’s economic climate.   

We are pleased to announce the first 6 local businesses that have aligned their values and said, yes, we believe the Co-op is a great way to drive the local economy!  This vision is why I became a member/owner of the Co-op, and now Co-Chair the Buy local Committee. I enjoy healthy and delicious food, but realize that my eating habits can negatively impact my wallet.  I believe in the Co-op business model because it brings sustainable, local food to the masses, by lowering the costs to the consumer.   With lower operating costs and a lower profit margin, prices can also be lower. With the establishment of the Co-op, healthy food moves from being a trend for the elite, to a way of life for all.

The Buy Local Program allows member/owners to start receiving tangible benefits during the startup phase of the Co-op.  Starting this month, anyone who presents their membership card at a participating business will receive a discount on their purchase.  Amy Ayers, Owner of Julep’s New Southern Cuisine has supported the local economy for over a decade by sourcing local and sustainable products since day one.  Amy is proud to participate with discounts at both Julep’s and Mint.  Olio Uptown, where we held our February event has supported the Co-op since the beginning. Black Hand Coffee, serving fresh daily roasted coffee is a neighborhood favorite and site of many Co-op planning sessions. Hawthorne Healing Arts is an integrative medicine clinic who also believes in healthy food for all.  Finally, Brooke March, Licensed Massage Therapist, is a founding Co-op member and believes a strong community starts with great food and healthy individuals. For more on the program and our participating partners, visit our website.

Our team plans to grow the participating members exponentially over the next few months to bring even more benefits to our member/owners.  Any businesses who would like to put their money where their values are, we encourage reaching out via email at BuyLocal@RichmondFoodCoop.com.

-Jamie Nowakowski, Buy Local Committee Co-Chair

Updates to the Program: 

• 5/21/13: Welcome Local Suds! 
• 5/22/13: Welcome Lockhart Family Farm!

Wide World of Co-ops







Maps tell the best stories.  And this map is making a couple of points:

1)  Richmond can support a co-op.

• Our smaller VA cities (whom we love) are showing us up.  Take a look:
• Harrisonburg, VA: Population 49,973
• Roanoke, VA: Population 96,714
• Neighboring states have cities comparable and larger in size to us that have thriving food co-ops:
• Durham, NC: 233,252
• Greensboro, NC: Population 273,425

Richmond, VA:  Population 205,533

2)  Richmond needs a co-op. 

Looking at Richmond on this map, it's clear that we are smack in an underserved area.  There are 7 food co-ops in North Carolina and 5 in Maryland. Virginia's capital needs to be represented in the co-op landscape.

So we're doing something about it.  As we write this post, we are 75 members strong and barely a week into our membership campaign.  We have the momentum, and we are funneling it into action.

Let's be the cartographers of our own food destiny. Together we will put Richmond on the map and help fill that hole!