Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op

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Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« on: September 04, 2006, 10:39:27 AM » by jamie

Our food co-op (ozark) stopped deliver to us a couple of months ago and say they are going start back soon but not sure if they are. Does anyone know of any other co-op that may deliver to Columbus Mississippi jamie

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2007, 06:44:24 PM » by kaira

I have looked for a post on this and haven't found one so if there is - please direct me. I am looking into a food co-op and am wondering who here is a part of one? Can you give me info about how yours is run - pros and cons - fees, structure, how the fees are used, etc... Thanks.
Kaira

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #2 on: January 11, 2007, 08:28:37 PM » by linemansgirl

I belong to a food co-op. This is the second co-op that I have been part of. The first, Ozark, went out of business last year. That co-op was run by several people that participated in the co-op. There was a 5% mark up to cover their expenses in running things. One lady took the orders, another was the treasurer & another family allowed their home to be used as drop site & distribution center. It worked very well.

The co-op I belong to now is United Natural Foods. UNF has warehouses in both the eastern & western US. You could hopefully find a co-op near you. Their catalog is a bit overwhelming at first. It has TONS of stuff in it. A homeschooling family that lives near us is distributing through them as a family business. They have placed a 20% mark up on things. They are hoping in the next year or two to actually have a store.

Even with the 20% mark up the co-op is well worth it for me. There are a couple health food stores in towns close by, but they are very small & their prices are very high. The nearest pretty good sized store is 1 1/4 hrs. away. I buy things mostly in pretty large quantities to store, which really helps the price a lot. This month they are having a "sale" & waiving the 20% mark-up. I am placing a rather large order this month! Wink

Sorry that this has gotten kind of long. HTH.

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #3 on: January 11, 2007, 09:01:34 PM » by DawnsEarlyBirds

Go to this link to find if you have a United Foods coop near you.

http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/RESOURCES/FABC/FABC_Home.htm

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2007, 12:07:54 PM » by PMESguy

I consider myself pretty lucky. The Twin Cities has the largest Co-op system in the country (I think). There are 8 stores in the metro area which all belong to a natural foods cooperative. Plus there are a number of other natural foods stores scattered across the area in addition.

Each store is run indepentantly, however you can still get store wide special discounts if you visit another store.

The share in the store I joined cost
$100. I recieve a check at the end of the year based on how much I spend over the year and how well the company does. Last year I got a dividend check for $40 I believe. With my membership I get in-store member-only specials, coupons, special bulk rates, a free magazine every month, more.

Id say most of the people that shop at the stores are not members as it's not required to shop there. This is from my own personal experience, I don't have the hard data on that.

If you have the means to do so, I would highly encourage it. After all, when's the last time your supermarket sent you a check at the end of the year for investing in your own health? Cheesy

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #5 on: August 04, 2007, 02:55:18 PM » by *MommaJo*

I just found a co-op that is about 45 minutes away from me. About the same distance as any health food store. Their membership is $24 a year.
We are thinking about joining. They do pick-ups every 2 weeks. And they have a large variety of items. One of their distributors is a grocery store, so we should have access to grocery store items as well as fresh, organic produce, bulk items, essential oils...
It's called Green Seed Co-op. I figure for $24 it has to be worth a try. Oh, wait, they just merged with Eat Fresh Market and are now called EMF Buying Club.
But, anyway, I was told that their prices are still cheaper than grocery stores. The main thing we have to consider is the distance we'll have to drive to pick-up. I don't know if it'll be worth it.

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #6 on: August 04, 2007, 03:10:30 PM » by CountyCork

I highly recommend United Natural Foods buying clubs. I run one here in the Twin Cities of MN and have for many years. It used to be through Blooming Prairie. The catalog is gigantic, and they carry everything and more that the HF stores do. You have to buy cases MOST of the time, but not always.
UNFI will put you in touch with a group in your area. The group I run is about 10 members, and we mark nothing up. We give gas money to the pick up gal, and I do all paperwork and distribution at my house just for fun! It's every four weeks, so no big hassle.
Keep searching for good health - it's out there are it doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming . . .

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #7 on: August 04, 2007, 03:17:08 PM » by Kitty

Quote from: jillymom on August 04, 2007, 03:10:30 PM

We have it, too...and if WE have it in the U.P. where there is no Olive Garden or Whole Foods, well...you all ought to have it, too! Grin

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2007, 09:02:26 PM » by *MommaJo*

Quote from: Yooper Kitty on August 04, 2007, 03:17:08 PM

Quote from: jillymom on August 04, 2007, 03:10:30 PM

We have it, too...and if WE have it in the U.P. where there is no Olive Garden or Whole Foods, well...you all ought to have it, too! Grin

I'm going to do a search right now. That way, if they're available in this area, I can compair them to the one I'm looking at before I sign up.

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #9 on: August 04, 2007, 09:08:37 PM » by *MommaJo*

Quote from: ~mshelson~ on August 04, 2007, 09:02:26 PM

Quote from: Yooper Kitty on August 04, 2007, 03:17:08 PM

Quote from: jillymom on August 04, 2007, 03:10:30 PM

We have it, too...and if WE have it in the U.P. where there is no Olive Garden or Whole Foods, well...you all ought to have it, too! Grin

I'm going to do a search right now. That way, if they're available in this area, I can compair them to the one I'm looking at before I sign up.

Ok, I'm confused. I looked it up and their website didn't even have anything in MI. Huh

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2007, 09:15:49 PM » by Kitty

They have a link to search for community groups...they supply our local co-op, as well as us...Jilly--can you find the link to search for a local group? Maybe I can find it...

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2007, 10:37:57 AM » by BlessedWith4

Thanks for this info. I just emailed these guys in order to find a local buying club, so I hope they get back with me soon!

How much a month do you all spend on groceries? When we buy STRICTLY from our heath food store, we easily spend $800 a month. However, if we were to only buy from our regular grocery store (mostly non-organic foods), then the bill is more like $400-$500 a month. That's about HALF as much! Yikes!!

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2007, 10:16:39 AM » by GraceFaith76

Quote from: ~mshelson~ on August 04, 2007, 09:08:37 PM

[quote author=~mshelson~ link=topic=2164.msg101332#msg101332
I'm going to do a search right now. That way, if they're available in this area, I can compair them to the one I'm looking at before I sign up.

Ok, I'm confused. I looked it up and their website didn't even have anything in MI. Huh

[/quote]

mshelson, Maybe you could look up www.clnf.org (Country Life Natural Foods), they are based out of MI. I sometimes order from them, although I do not do the Co-op (because I do not have anyone to go in on it with - for the free delivery) I just pay the UPS fee. There is also www.azurestandard.com which I love (they have a HUGE selection), they are on the west coast so again I just pay UPS fees. I find the fees are worth it because of the great prices on bulk items (honey, sugar, flour, spices).

I messed up the quote thing...oh well Tongue

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #13 on: August 06, 2007, 05:18:08 PM » by *MommaJo*

Quote from: GraceFaith76 on August 06, 2007, 10:16:39 AM

Quote from: ~mshelson~ on August 04, 2007, 09:08:37 PM

Ok, I'm confused. I looked it up and their website didn't even have anything in MI. Huh

mshelson, Maybe you could look up www.clnf.org (Country Life Natural Foods), they are based out of MI. I sometimes order from them, although I do not do the Co-op (because I do not have anyone to go in on it with - for the free delivery) I just pay the UPS fee. There is also www.azurestandard.com which I love (they have a HUGE selection), they are on the west coast so again I just pay UPS fees. I find the fees are worth it because of the great prices on bulk items (honey, sugar, flour, spices).

I messed up the quote thing...oh well Tongue

.
[/quote]

Thank you. I'll check both of those out tonight.

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #14 on: August 06, 2007, 05:57:08 PM » by Kitty

Finally got around to it:

http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com/RESOURCES/FABC/FABC_Home.htm

Find A Buying Club Near You
United Natural Foods services buying clubs from warehouses in Georgia, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania.

We suggest you join an existing buying club in your area -- starting a new group takes time, effort and dedication. Established buying clubs are often interested in new members to increase the size of their orders and to help with operating the club.

Our Find-a-Buying Club Service links prospective members to existing buying clubs. Using this service is easy.

Email us at bcinfo@unfi.com with: your name, address, city and state, and we will send you information about buying clubs in your area.

We service buying clubs in the following states:

Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #15 on: September 03, 2007, 04:18:39 PM » by WellTellMommy

How do you get started with a coop, that is; knowing what to buy, every time I look at a catalog I'm so overwhelmed; there is toooo much to look at and if you're not familiar with each product you don't know what your getting,( I was the child that would stand and stare when told to pick up my room but when told just pick up ... one subject at a time I was the fastest around.)what do I look at buying first and will it perish before it gets to me?

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #16 on: September 03, 2007, 05:18:40 PM » by CountyCork

Hey! Go to your local health food store, or the natural section at your big supermarket and become familiar with the products, brands, ingredients, etc. TALK to store people and also to friends that eat healthy and find out what they order. Then just take a deep breath and GO FOR IT! You'll have fun trying new things and finding out what you don't like. Don't be afraid to split stuff with others to you are not stuck with a case of something hateful.

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2007, 07:08:04 AM » by BlessedWith4

United got back with me, and we have a LOT of co-ops in our area!

However, now we're debating between driving out for one of those every other week, or starting our own (out in here in the middle of nowhere) OR going with Frontier. Does anyone use Frontier or have you heard of them?

http://www.frontiercoop.com/

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2007, 07:51:56 AM » by Roehrmomma

I have used lots of frontier items.I like it.But never knew they had a co-op.We used ozark growing up.

Em

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #19 on: October 12, 2007, 09:22:05 PM » by lcs

Does any one have ideas on how to find a local whole foods co-op to join. Maybe a website with listings.

Thanks,
lcs

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #20 on: October 12, 2007, 09:30:57 PM » by lcs

Re: Internet [Online] Grocery Shopping
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2007, 04:41:37 PM » by mauimom
Just thought I would throw this out there for all you natural food shoppers that live in the Philadelphia area. My husband and I are originally from Philly. There is a natural foods distributor that is so awesome. Their catalog is over 100 pages long, the minimum order is only $100. (used to be), it is simple to set up an account and they will deliver an order over $400.

"Neshaminy Valley delivers to natural food, gourmet and specialty retailers; restaurants; universities; co-ops; and pharmacies in our refrigerated trucks. Areas of distribution include: Massachusetts; Connecticut; Southeastern New York; New Jersey; Southeastern Pennsylvania; Maryland; Delaware; Washington, D.C.; Northern Virginia (as far south as Richmond)."

My sil lives in Maryland and gets an order on a regular basis. Also you don't have to buy in bulk. Many things they will allow you to buy just 3 of an item. I really miss this place.
There web site is www.nvorganic.com Hope this helps some of you.

mauimom

Just found this post and it is very helpful...thank you and sorry I did not see this before I posted. any other ideas are still appreciated!
thanks,
lcs

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #21 on: October 13, 2007, 10:36:41 AM » by Mama Bear

I order through our homeschool group...or actually, we have enough people ordering that they deliver here. It is www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com they are based in Battle Creek, Michigan. I do not have the rules and regulations of this company...but it might be worth going to their website to see. I really like it. They have EVERYTHING. I buy flour and sugar in 50lbs! and I LOVE it!
Gina

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #22 on: December 04, 2007, 09:01:33 AM » by Roehrmomma

this is not a co-op but it is a cool site to help you find farmers and such.There were several in our area.Hope it helps you to.

http://www.localharvest.org/

Em

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #23 on: December 04, 2007, 09:15:32 AM » by SC

Quote from: Roehrmomma on December 04, 2007, 09:01:33 AM

this is not a co-op but it is a cool site to help you find farmers and such.There were several in our area.Hope it helps you to.
http://www.localharvest.org/
Em

Helps like this are good for someone like me.

I find that what coops now exist usually offer either packaged foods and dry goods OR lots and LOTS of tropical fruits. For families like ours that eat a more whole foods and green veggies diet, a coop means that our budget gets blown on a lot of things that we wouldn't normally eat without getting things we consider staples like dandelion greens. Undecided

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #24 on: December 04, 2007, 09:16:18 AM » by Shady Lane

I'm also with United Buying Clubs. And I absolutely LOVE it!! I do recommend joining a group rather than starting your own if you can . . . the one I'm in (in Missouri) is one of the largest groups, and the more money the group spends per month means the bigger discount OFF the catalog price that we get. We're up to the maximum discount . . . 17% off the ENTIRE catalog. I think we're spending over $5,000 a month tho, in order to get that!

If you have more than one group in your area, do check them out! They can vary depending on who is coordinating!

You can also get produce through them, kind of. They work with a produce company, and will deliver it all on the same truck. It's nice to get things all in one place!

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #25 on: December 04, 2007, 01:01:41 PM » by healthybratt

Quote from: Roehrmomma on December 04, 2007, 09:01:33 AM

this is not a co-op but it is a cool site to help you find farmers and such.There were several in our area.Hope it helps you to.

http://www.localharvest.org/

Em

Thank you for posting this. Our locals farmer's market as well as others I didn't know about are all listed within a 50 mile radius. Grin

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #26 on: July 08, 2009, 08:07:18 AM » by homesteadmommy

Just thought I should post here that if anyone is looking for a co-op in NE OK Azure is planning to start a drop route in this area soon. If you would like to find out more info you can PM - I am the coordinator for our area. Thanks!

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Re: Finding & Utilizing a Food Co-op
« Reply #27 on: July 21, 2009, 06:21:33 PM » by homesteadmommy

Quote from: homesteadmommy on July 08, 2009, 08:07:18 AM

I really should correct this post to say that the route is from Missouri down to Texas. the sucess of hte route is dependent upon finding enough interest. You can pm me for info if you are interested in finding out if there is a drop near you.

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