What do you expect to find at your friendly local food co-op? Bulk coffee beans; local meat, dairy, and vegetables; enslavement-free chocolate; environmentally friendly washing products; and more, right? How about clothing? Or board games or calendars? In little ways, food co-ops offer product lines that go beyond the traditional grocery store.  

I started thinking about this when I needed a pair of Vermont-made socks for a last-minute Christmas present in Madison, Wisconsin, in December. I knew I could find them in Madison, but I was surprised when Darn Tough’s dealer locator showed the nearest dealer was the Willy Street Co-op, Madison’s premier food co-op. Sure enough, the co-op had a wall of socks to choose from. Even though the selection was depleted by other last-minute present hunters, I could still find exactly the right pair for the intended recipient.

Note in the photo that Willy Street was also selling board games (on the high shelf) and greeting cards. 

Looking around our own co-op with new eyes, it occurred to me that we stock things outside the typical grocery store selection, too, like the warm hats, calendars, books, water bottles, and mugs near the Wellness section of the store.

Hunger Mountain Co-op is, at its core, a grocery store, and has been since 1972. In preparation for strategic planning, however, I’ve highlighted ways other food co-ops have expanded their offerings to include things like gasoline stations and auto maintenance, hardware, and floral delivery. Our mission statement gives us broad latitude to create and sustain “thriving cooperative commerce” writ large. If we use our new property to expand the store, would we want to expand the range of what we sell, too? To include what? Look for updates on the strategic planning process for opportunities to give your input! 

Vision Committee Survey Extended 

This is your store, and we’re asking for a lot of input from you now—both in the annual Shopper Survey and in the Vision Committee’s survey about revised Ends Policies. To give you more time to respond to the survey about the fresh set of ends policies that will guide everything from our store operations to community outreach, the survey is being kept open another week, through February 24.  

If you haven’t done so already, please review the Committee’s report and complete the survey; your honest feedback on a simple “agree / disagree” scale will let the Committee refine the draft, report back to the council, and ultimately finalize the new ends policies. 

Ask us anything at the next Co-op Connects on Monday, March 9, 4:00 – 5:00 pm 

On Sunday, Feb. 8, General Manager Mary Mullally and I stood in the store, offering chocolate hearts from Lake Champlain Chocolates, as part of our almost monthly “ask us anything” Co-op Connects sessions. Here are some comments we heard from the people who stopped by:  

• I love the Co-op; it’s a social experience. I started shopping here exclusively during Covid and haven’t stopped. 
• I’ve been shopping here for 30 years and love the place; I want us to expand next door. 
• Painting diagonal spaces in the parking lot would help people see better when pulling out.  
• The aisles are too narrow—we’re too successful! 
• I love the Co-op! And may I take some chocolate for my kids, who are waiting in the car? 

If you’ve missed us in a previous Co-op Connects, or want to connect again, please join Mary, me, and possibly another council member for our next Co-op Connects on Monday, March 9, 4:00 – 5:00 pm. We’d love to chat with you about the past, present, or future of the Co-op – or anything else on your mind. Look for us at the Demo station.  

The Wrap 

A man walked into his doctor’s office with a cucumber up his nose, a carrot in his left ear, and a banana in his right ear. He asked, “What’s the matter with me?” 

The doctor scratched her head a moment and then replied, “You’re not eating properly.” 

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!