Community Co-op Market is a beneficial resource for healthy food | Mark Mahoney

In researching this topic for my weekly column I came across a Feb. 24 My Turn column by Martha Weinstein highlighting the transitional journey that the food co-op has traversed over the years.

In 1974 I was finalizing my B.S. degree in Foods & Nutrition at FSU and well remember the Leon County Food Co-op on Macomb Street and its subsequent relocation to the old IGA Store on Gaines Street. Its next move to the Apalachee Parkway location as the New Leaf Market and present-day Community Co-op Market has been an evolving journey.

What is a food co-op?

A food co-op is essentially a grocery store that’s owned by the people who shop there. Typically, co-ops aim to offer high-quality foods at fair prices — for shoppers and producers. Doing business this way helps keep money in communities by supporting local growers, mom-and-pop vendors, the best craft brewers, etc. And, of course, all this local commerce helps create jobs, too.

If eating local and/or organic produce is important to you, a co-op is a great place to shop. You’ll also probably have several brands to choose from if animal welfare standards, like cage-free eggs, grass-fed beef and free-range chickens, affect your purchasing decisions.

And you’ll find products from vendors who champion sustainable farming and fishing practices.

Other perks may include an impressive bulk foods/spices section packed with all kinds of grains, nuts, snacks, teas and more at bulk prices.

Typically, anyone can shop at a food co-op — you don’t have to be a member. If you choose to become a member by paying the co-op’s dues (usually a flat rate for a lifetime membership) you’ll have a say in how the co-op is run and probably get discounts on certain products, too.

Our local Community Co-op Market

Founded in 2019, Community Co-op Market (CCM) is a retail food co-op serving Tallahassee, Leon County and surrounding communities in the Big Bend area. It was established to meet the community's needs by providing goods and services with a focus on supporting local and regional producers.

Though the CCM is community-owned, membership is not required to shop there.

The mission of the co-op is to ensure that everyone has access to healthy food (focused on local suppliers) and help foster a strong local community.

The values and principles of the co-op include: self-responsibility, democracy, equality, honesty and social responsibility.

Additional financial assistance for shoppers

The Co-op believes that everyone should have access to nutritious food and want to make that possible as a community-owned natural foods grocery store. A description of two programs follows with links for more complete information.

Shopping with Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) and the Healthy Food Access program: Providing ongoing purchasing power is available through the Co-op’s partnership with this USDA-funded program. You can find out more about this program at ccmgrocery.coop/fab

There is also a program called Healthy Food Access. Any CCM member who is enrolled in a financial assistance program may qualify for this program. Details can be found at ccmgrocery.coop/hfa

There are many other efforts CCM champions including: Supporting nonprofit organizations by contributing to Change for the Community Register Round-ups. Through Community Advocacy & Donations the co-op is dedicated to enriching the lives of the people in the area, through supporting other local businesses and nonprofit organizations.

A final word

If you’re curious about the Community Co-op Market and desire to support this local resource, please stop by and/or access the website for details. Supporting local (and regional) producers demonstrates your concern for those groups that emphasize sustainability and can help engender a positive impact on our environment.

You might just meet some new neighbors and walk away with a grocery bag full of the finest local produce, or maybe some of the world’s most nutritious foods.

Let’s all support this local community resource and assist our producers while helping to improve the community’s quality of life through consuming more nutritious and sustainable foods. Mother Earth would ask no less.The Community Co-op Market is located at 1235 Apalachee Parkway; 866-985-2667. Contact Info@communitycoopmarket.Coop.

Reference & resource information

What is a food co-op and why should you join one? tasteofhome.com Details on various aspects of our Community Co-op Market can be accessed at ccmgrocery.coop.

Mark Mahoney has been a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (R.D.N.) for over 35 years. He can be reached at marqos69@hotmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Community Co-op Market stocked with food from local producers