Let's Talk About Food Coops...

A few months ago we started talking about starting a food coop in Jamie’s living room.  It would now appear a new group is rising to start that food coop discussion anew.  The group representing various organizations are are trying to generate discussion about the vision of a customer food co-op in Tacoma.

A public meeting will be held to disseminate basic information about food co-ops, the group’s basic goals, Q and A, and collect input as well as volunteers to help this project develop.

The meeting will take place Wednesday, Feb. 21st from 5:30-7 pm at the Allen-Russell Building, 1321 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street.

From the email:

Why are we interested in a Tacoma food co-op?

• to provide affordable, fresh and healthy food to citizens from throughout Tacoma
• to generate an institutionalized support and a direct outlet for struggling local farmers (the group involves a Tacoma Farmers’ Market Representative)
• to create a more efficient and established avenue for local restaurants to purchase local produce and other healthy and ¨green¨food alternatives
• to foster social capital via welcoming facilities, co-op memberships and participation, public education
• to engender economic injections to the chosen area, including jobs, improved image, tax revenue
• to possibly locate the co-op in the improving Hilltop (Upper Tacoma) area, to assist this transitioning area that has experienced troubles
• to reduce environmental impact Tacoma food consumption, notably the externalities of extensive food transport, the impacts of water pollution, soil depletion and genetic alterations associated with industrial agriculture, over-packaging,
• to fortify a location which creates a tangible and continuing education for many community members about nutrition, environmental issues, and to bridge the urban-rural social divide