In the U.S., retail food co-ops have often been synonymous with natural and organic products. That’s changing. Many 1970s-era food co-ops are carrying more conventional foods and there is a notable revival of interest in the co-op model from a wider diversity of people. This year marks the most active in recent decades of food co-op openings and ground-breakings, and many of these efforts are in rural communities with zero access to grocery stores or in Low-Income, Low-Access (LILA) food areas. The evolving food co-op landscape mirrors the changes taking place in the dominant food system. The blurring of lines between conventional and natural continues — told through the introduction of natural brands at conventional stores beginning 20 years ago, or through the continued acquisition of these brands by more dominant conventional players, or through the merging in distribution of natural giant UNFI and conventional giant Supervalu. Lines are blurring and inflation is adding fuel. Whole Foods is revisiting its product mix to retain its ‘upmarket’ but inflation-weary customers. PCC Community Markets is asking its member-owners to return their grocery dollars to their co-op following their more price-conscious members shopping elsewhere. Meanwhile, discount retailer Wal-Mart has just launched its upmarket Bettergoods brand. Lines are blurring! The fog is thick.
WHAT’S BEYOND THE FOG? How might the changes taking place among food co-ops and in the wider food system help reveal the changes and opportunities presenting themselves to Provender members? How might the changemaking missions of Provender members evolve to meet the moment and how might we position ourselves to adapt to an increasingly uncertain future? Is being ‘counter-cultural’ today the same as it was 50 years ago? This session will explore these questions through a presentation and participatory engagement.
JON STEINMAN is the Author of Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants (New Society Publishers). His book release tour took him to 130 food co-ops and 23 in development. In partnership with the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), Jon published ‘THIS COULD BE OURS – a PHOTO ALBUM to inspire your food co-op dream’. His Grocery Story Press designs content for food co-op communications and is the publisher of the Food Co-op Finder mobile and web apps.
Jon regularly delivers educational sessions to food co-op boards and staff and is a frequent keynote speaker at food co-op annual meetings. He is an Accredited Professional Dialogue Practitioner and the creator of Cooperative Dialogue – an approach to group communication that he has introduced at previous Provender conferences. Jon was an elected director (2006-2016) of the Kootenay Co-op in Nelson, British Columbia – Canada’s largest food co-op specializing in natural foods – serving as board president in his final two years — and was the writer and host of Deconstructing Dinner – a radio show, podcast and television series.