Anyone Belong to a Co-Op?

[SusanT]

A group is trying to start a co-op in my neighborhood. I've seen these in other cities but haven't had much direct experience with them. The joining fee is $25.

Are any of you members of a co-op? What's it like? Do you find that you shop there more than a regular grocery?

[hlao23]

I was a member of ours last year but I let my membership lapse. I'll probably renew it soon tho'. The joining fee here is also $25 or you can volunteer to work x amount of hours. Our coop has been here since the mid 70s (according to the sign http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif).

I don't go to the coop often. There are a lot of items that I use on a regular basis that they don't carry (certain veggies, brands of some things). Also parking is a nightmare.

I do try to support it because I just love the idea. It's also been wonderful because ours carries many things the supermarkets don't (at least around here). The co-op is where I've found my wheatberries, flax seeds, and soy flour to use for some wonderful CL recipes I wouldn't have been able to try otherwise.

[emilycat]

I've been wanting to ask about these for a while, but kept forgetting to post -- what is a co-op exactly?

[SusanT]

It's a cooperative store owned by the members. You pay a membership fee to join or can barter to spend a few hours working on behalf of the co-op in exhange for membership. They usually specialize in the whole foods/natural/organic type of products. Most belong to networks of other co-ops that pool buying power to buy goods at lower prices.

It's basically an alternative to corporate owned whole food stores and grocery stores and makes it a little more accessable to everyone. The only type of food store in this area which is similiar is a corporately owned store and it's very expensive.

A friend in Seattle was a member of a co-op while she lived there and it was a great store.