05/02/2024
Almost 20 years ago I was first indoctrinated to the idea of a food co-op. I then spent the next several years helping to try and start one in Walla Walla. There were ups and down way too numerous to list here, a buying club, a mini store in the living room of a college house, a CSA type model... Ultimately it never resulted in a brick and mortar store, but great relationships and much good food was eaten along the way. It was my entry point to local food, which ultimately lead me to farming and so many other things.
I learned shortly after moving to Detroit that there was an effort afoot to start a food co-op. I wasn't as involved this time around, but I was one of the first 100 members to sign up. I watched the building go up over the past year plus. And now, today, I actually went into a co-op that I am a member of and shopped there. Truly an almost 20 year journey, and it ended up just 6 blocks from my house.
Long live the Detroit People's Food Co-op!