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Jan. 15, 2008
How To Start A Produce Co-op...
We just had our produce co-op today. I am so blessed by this co-op. We started it about a year and a half ago. It has undergone some continual changes, but thankfully it has only improved it. I thought I might share with you how I started it. I am sure there are lots of ways to run a produce co-op, this is the way I chose to do it. It has been the easiest to maintain, as far as I can see. In addition, it requires the work of everyone involved so the co-op does not become a burden to one person.
1. Start asking a group of your friends if they would be interested in joining your co-op. I started with about six families. They were all interested and willing to help me do a bit of "leg work". I have found that shopping with about 15 to 20 families is a good number. You can build up to that number. Too many more than that and the produce will not fit in the shopper's vehicles.
2. Find an area farmers market. This can be right down the road or 20 to 50 miles away, depending on your preference. We go about 25 miles into the major town we are next to. Before you start your co-op, you need to do some reconnaissance work. Our farmers market has a local and wholesale section. We started in the local and then realized that the wholesale would give us more selection at better prices. We do venture to the local side once in a while for special things. It is all in your preference.
3. Once you have your place chosen and you have visited, put together a list of guidelines. This is what I included:
- cost per basket. We decided on $20. Currently, the cost is allowing us so much produce that we are overloading our baskets!!
- Each person must take a turn shopping. If they choose not to shop, their basket price will increase to cover the cost of gas.
- Inform everyone where the produce will be sorted. Each month should be at the same place. We sort at a member's home.
- Information about the farmers market. Contact names for people we have spoken with.
- Money is collected by me the second week of each month. I then give the money to the shoppers for shopping on the third week of each month. This way the money is easier to keep track of.
4. Schedule of shoppers for the year. My goal is to have at least three shoppers each time. This way the burden does not fall on one person to keep track of everything. I try to schedule everyone at six months intervals. If you have a smaller group, they may need to shop more often.
5. Each member must supply their own basket to sort produce in. This basket must be at the sorting point before the produce gets there. This is very important. If you do not have baskets, there is nothing to sort into. Then you end up setting produce all over the floor. Apples and oranges rolling everywhere. Not a pretty picture.
6. Make sure everyone knows that this is THEIR co-op. If we all work together, no ONE PERSON gets the bulk of the work.
One thing I started recently was a yahoo group. It makes it much easier for me to communicate with the members. It also allows for a better trade of information. Now everyone can share questions and answers with the entire group. I do not have to be the only one answering questions.
We also have a file section for uploading recipes. This is good for those "exotic" fruits and vegetables. One of the rules we have is that if you buy something "different", you must share some recipes.
I also made a file of produce we have bought and how it is packaged. This helps the shoppers know what their options are when choosing what they are buying.
Another rule that we have is that whoever shops has the choice of what is bought. You cannot complain about the produce purchases. One good thing is that if you make sure you are at produce sorting, you can choose not to take something your family will not eat. I have found that my family has had the opportunity to eat a lot of new things since we have started this co-op.
I am sure there are a million different ways to run a produce/farmers market co-op. The number one thing I kept in mind when I started this was that I was not going to be the only one doing everything. It is important that everyone has a role, otherwise you start to lose unity in the group.
I hope this has inspired you to start a co-op in your neck-of-the-woods. |
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Jan. 16, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Have fun this year!
Blessings,
Rosina