Comments on: Opening a New Food Co-Op http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/ For People and Planet Earth Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:39:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Organic and Ethical Food - The Road to Your Table | Will Taft . com http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-7030 Organic and Ethical Food - The Road to Your Table | Will Taft . com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:13:54 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-7030 [...] my article on our local food co-op efforts went up a few days ago, I received an email asking me why buying food from such a store was more [...] […] my article on our local food co-op efforts went up a few days ago, I received an email asking me why buying food from such a store was more […]

]]> By: Anna http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6977 Anna Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:48:51 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6977 Thanks Will, I just came back to look, yes the results are showing good - I like voting. Anna :) Thanks Will, I just came back to look, yes the results are showing good - I like voting. Anna :)

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6976 Will Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:36:51 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6976 Thanks as always Anna! I guess the protein is OK, but I still was my produce well! Glad the poll worked for you. I see your vote fine. If you click on the "View Results" button, does it show you the totals? Thanks as always Anna! I guess the protein is OK, but I still was my produce well!

Glad the poll worked for you. I see your vote fine. If you click on the “View Results” button, does it show you the totals?

]]> By: Anna http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6975 Anna Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:31:15 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6975 I think Will you know my answer. I am all up to it, however, I don't practice all the time, as we don't have full access. However, I do it whenever I can. Our superstores are working harder and harder on these ideas, and we have few stores like that that started very slow few years ago and now they are booming, but the boom became I think a greed, because they sometimes sell stuff that is just no believable at all. BTW I voted, I shop but we don't have memberships, and I digg this story for you too. Thanks for sharing this story, and reminder as always. Anna :) Oh and I still really think that the organic food should be much cheaper, it is much simpler food to eat. But then I understand the costs associated with timing and also loss of crops. I just remember those old days, when my parents grew everything themselves, and costed them almost nothing, and they were still able to sell extra. And we never had anything for spraying for bugs, I guess extra protein never really was harmful for us, lol. I think Will you know my answer. I am all up to it, however, I don’t practice all the time, as we don’t have full access. However, I do it whenever I can. Our superstores are working harder and harder on these ideas, and we have few stores like that that started very slow few years ago and now they are booming, but the boom became I think a greed, because they sometimes sell stuff that is just no believable at all. BTW I voted, I shop but we don’t have memberships, and I digg this story for you too. Thanks for sharing this story, and reminder as always. Anna :) Oh and I still really think that the organic food should be much cheaper, it is much simpler food to eat. But then I understand the costs associated with timing and also loss of crops. I just remember those old days, when my parents grew everything themselves, and costed them almost nothing, and they were still able to sell extra. And we never had anything for spraying for bugs, I guess extra protein never really was harmful for us, lol.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6971 Will Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:38:12 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6971 I have added a poll to the post! It would be great if everyone who has already commented could go up and click an answer. Thanks! :-) I have added a poll to the post! It would be great if everyone who has already commented could go up and click an answer. Thanks! :-)

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6970 Will Sun, 24 Feb 2008 00:36:10 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6970 Thanks Alan! Good points, all. I think another important factor in a co-op's success is for them to have helpful as many friendly, intelligent people on staff as possible that want to work there and really believe in the co-op principles and healthy, safe food in general. I really believe, having shopped at a successful co-op about 10 miles from here that the number one reason they are successful is the management and staff they have. Yes they have many affluent and educated customers, but those types of customers can be high maintenance because they expect the store management and staff to be enthusiastic and helpful. If the co-op does not hold up that end of the deal, customers these days really do sometimes have other shopping options. -Will Thanks Alan! Good points, all.

I think another important factor in a co-op’s success is for them to have helpful as many friendly, intelligent people on staff as possible that want to work there and really believe in the co-op principles and healthy, safe food in general.

I really believe, having shopped at a successful co-op about 10 miles from here that the number one reason they are successful is the management and staff they have. Yes they have many affluent and educated customers, but those types of customers can be high maintenance because they expect the store management and staff to be enthusiastic and helpful. If the co-op does not hold up that end of the deal, customers these days really do sometimes have other shopping options.

-Will

]]> By: Alan http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6941 Alan Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:30:37 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6941 I think it's really a question of IF the co-op can purchase directly from small local sources and offer prices that are not only competitive but are a real Value. When I lived for a time in Cambridge MA I was 2 blocks from a co-op store and their prices were about HALF what the upmarket organic supermarket across the street charged on local produce and staples like beans, rice, etc. It did not have the breadth and depth of selection of the upmarket place but it was quite competitive with the traditional supermarkets in town on the items it carried. The store was not limited to members but members received some discount and thus attracted Lots of shoppers and was able to do the Volume needed to be able to afford the fixed costs of running a grocery store. I think it’s really a question of IF the co-op can purchase directly from small local sources and offer prices that are not only competitive but are a real Value. When I lived for a time in Cambridge MA I was 2 blocks from a co-op store and their prices were about HALF what the upmarket organic supermarket across the street charged on local produce and staples like beans, rice, etc. It did not have the breadth and depth of selection of the upmarket place but it was quite competitive with the traditional supermarkets in town on the items it carried. The store was not limited to members but members received some discount and thus attracted Lots of shoppers and was able to do the Volume needed to be able to afford the fixed costs of running a grocery store.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6939 Will Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:30:06 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6939 Caleb, that is pretty much true. We need to close the gap in price a bit between good food and "bad" food. It is not a 100% thing, though. There are many good, healthy foods that are not expensive, just like there is a lot of overpriced pre-packaged garbage for sale. Caleb, that is pretty much true. We need to close the gap in price a bit between good food and “bad” food. It is not a 100% thing, though. There are many good, healthy foods that are not expensive, just like there is a lot of overpriced pre-packaged garbage for sale.

]]> By: Will http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6938 Will Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:26:08 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6938 Trudy - It is physically located in Southern Oregon. Memberships are open to anyone and are lifetime memberships. You can contact me directly if you like by clicking on the "Contact" tab at the top right of this page and filling in the form. -Will Trudy - It is physically located in Southern Oregon. Memberships are open to anyone and are lifetime memberships. You can contact me directly if you like by clicking on the “Contact” tab at the top right of this page and filling in the form.

-Will

]]> By: Trudy http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6932 Trudy Fri, 22 Feb 2008 23:06:40 +0000 http://willtaft.com/organic-food/opening-a-new-food-co-op/#comment-6932 I would like to know where is the Opening of that new Co-op which I just read! Would like to join them If I could. Thank you I would like to know where is the Opening of that new Co-op which I just read! Would like to join them If I could.
Thank you

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