Why Im like "Fuck the Co-Op!" (nrr)
Sun_Fortune
1,374 Posts
In the past few weeks I've come to the realization that eating anything made through the agri-business system is unethical. I wont get into that incredibly boring parts of the argument, but all you have to do is really study the numbers for five minutes and its easy to see how unsustainable and terrible it is for our health, our enviorment and for animals. So I'm trying to find some places to buy foods that are made semi-locally and on humane and enviormental farms. Whole foods and soon Trader Joes seem like options, but they are both so expensive. Im not saying that food and especially meat prices should not reflect their true value, but those stores are businesses catering to a specific, well-eduacted, financially stable demographic. I dont really trust them.I started looking into shopping at the co-op, and you have to pay a member fee (which Im fine with) and work there a couple hours a week. Now Im young, and although I find myself pretty busy, I should be able to pitch in a bit. But here's the rub: If you talk to anyone for a bit of time about the food we eat, almost anyone will agree and be willing to shop at a humane and ecologically friendly place. Even though, most of these people won't. And the reason is one of convenience. George and Martha Beercan who are raising their kids and working hard jobs, want to eat right and be ethical memebrs of our society, but they simply dont have the time or in the cases of those upscale health food markets, the money to shop there. Im not exactly sure what it is that a co-op is supposed to be, but from what I can tell they are trying to be a contemplative and humane alternative to agri-business. Their motto is the same as mine -- that it is unethical to support agri-business. But because they are an exclusive club and only those who have the time to work there can shop, they are essentially propogating the sytem they oppose. When you add the requirment of working two hours a week, that is economically the same as charging Whole Foods prices. The co-op represents a life boat for the elite and as such, they are doing nothing to counter the eventual demise that agri-business is creating. In my view, healthy eating is no longer a perk for the rich. It is unethical, in these current times to support stores like Walmart, Keyfood, Ralphs etc. And that goes for everyone. And if the co-op mentality stays the same, the same marginal percent of the population will continue eating ethically -- which will ensure the destruction of our health and ecosystems.
Comments
I joined the local co-op here for 25 bucks. Volunteer stocking of food is optional.
If more people joined, prices would go down too.
the one here is a 1-time membership fee, you don't have to work/volunteer there.
I really have no clue -- Im trying to figure it out.
This is such a boring problem and a problem thats so far away from most people's vision, as a majority of Americans now live in the cities, that I cant really see the people demanding change. Why would the people demand change if chicken is as cheap as it is?
Im the furthest thing from someone who is knowledgable in this, so any of you geogrpahy and farm people should chime in.
this is a more well thought out post than the one you did last week, i agree with your thoughts, whole food and the like know who their markets are, rich folks and hippies (well rich hippies). fast food knows where thier markets are as well, that why they are more abundant in less well to do areas
i never get into these walmart arguments cause i have never been in one except to return a camera someone got me as a gift, i am against the store for many reasons, the main one being the anti union shit, but lower income folks need to eat and i know they don't have the money for wholefoods, and it is funny to me the folks that i know personaly that get the most upset about walmart are people that shop at wholefoods
I always thought that T-Joes niche was to be Whole Foods for those who couldn't afford Whole Foods. On dry goods, their prices are far more affordable than WF.
you're right, they're not bad, but they're usually pretty far from where most working people live.
You can get in-season vegetables as fresh and local as possible, usually cheaper than at the grocery...
They also make jams, cider, house plants, etc
There's a whole lot of reasons I don't (often) shop at Whole Foods, but here's a real good one: they have the worst employee benefits of any company in the US other than Walmart
I worked there for a longass time as a youngin, so I'm also a hatter cuz I have inside knowledge of how screwy they really are... its absolutely about those who are runnin thangs making the most $$$
Karma Co-op Product Policy
Karma Co-op
its sucha boring argument, but from Ive found, the problem with walmart is their "everyday low prices." To get those low prices they buy products from only the most destructive and cheapest farms. When its time to renew they're contracts, Walmart will say, "So and so is giving me this price for chicken. You have to give me a lower one or we wont do business." And becasue Walmart is such a force in the economy, that farm will have to resort to feeding their chickens more corn, cramming more into tiny cages and not participating in the cleanup of the surrounding areas or not investing in reasonable methods for disposing of the maneur to simply stay afloat.
where is this at? sunset park?
dude, thanks for the link. Im willing to spend a bit more for healthy and enviormentally sound food because Im young and can afford it -- I just worry that such a large percentage of country isnt able to. And then you have essentially the same structure as before with those who are able to pay the extra amount lving healtheir and longer lives. But what about the planet?
Theres 2 little china towns that ive discovered. Theres the one in sunset. The one on Ave. U that stretches only 3-4 blocks which is actually inexpensive and a nice fish selection. No record shops within miles though.
Sun_fortune you can also look into community supported farms in your area.
I bought a "farmshare" last year and got local organic vegetables every week (for 14 weeks) for about $15 a week. For additional money you could also get local bread, eggs and cheese weekly.
cool dude this is right by my apartment, i am always passing by curious. thanks
Thats a great idea that Ill definately look into. Thanks.
Ave U and what cross streets? My wife likes to shop at the Korean spots in Queens but Avenue U is probably closer to us (we are in Park Slope)
I have been an advocate of eating from local producers, not eating processed food and taking responsibility for my consumer habits for a few years now.
It is harder to do in some situations (cities vs. towns) but it is do-able. and not only are you helping the world be a better place, you are improving your quality of life.
Sure, no system is perfect (most co-ops have work requirements and they can be SLLOOWWW if you're in a hurry). But to me, co-ops don't seem to be the problem so much as overpriced faux-ops (whole foods, the wedge, etc.).
Since joining a food co-op about four years ago, my food costs have gone down, the quality of food I get is waaay better than what I could get at a neighborhood grocery (it even sons WholePaycheckFoods), and working three hours a month (with work slot flexibility, parental leave, elderly and handicapped exemptions, etc.) is not so bad. Now, aggro hippies... they're another story.
I used to do this in MN. Shit was amazing, but I'm guessing that, like anything, quality and value vary. Ask around.
not sure where you live but it sounds like it'd be worth your time.
I would say its def. closer. Ave. U and I would say est 11 th - 15 th (if your on the Q line you can take the Q to Ave U) Its one of those huge oriental food markets. They have veggies, fruit, fish (some still swimming), tons of different noodles and sauces. oh and the real GINSENG behind the counter hehe. There are 2 very large markets so the prices are on point. Theres this little vietnamese restaurant thats worth hittin up if your there too.
You can also check out that flatbush food co-op on Cortelyou Road. Theres also a farmers market in the schoolyard on cortelyou during the spring/summer. Just south of the park).
thanks dude, but Im really not Mr. Joe EnvioroSensitive. I've been in the dark for such a long time now about this -- it was never something I really thought about in much depth until a few months ago, espcially since Ive lived my whole life in cities. It's one of those problems that seemed to appear out of nowhere. And a problem that seems to be entrenched and insoluble. I just hope that all those average, somewhat conscientious dudes out there like me, can start really appreciating the gravity of the problem.
the co-op I never really understood, because when you have 50-70 hour work weeks plus family to attend to, it just isn't convenient. I think part of the issue is that if people are focusing on making money (which seems to be taking more hours to make the same amount your parents did), then they need a solution that is non-agro-business and is convenient.
I think Trader Joes is a viable solution, but it needs work if it were to fill that need.
And cosign on needing more education regarding food at botht he kid and parental stages. People need to understand what they are eating and the issues it can result in.
i work at the only co-op in texas and it doesn't work anything like the one you described. most co-ops in the nation are linked up though this org....
NCGA
you can find out where other co-ops are and whether they are member or worker owned and how their individual practices are.
gabe
My point exactly, You not being Mr. Joe EnvioroSensitive makes this an even bigger deal. Bro i aint exactly a hippy myself, but a little effort goes a long way.
And this problem did not appear out of nowhere, its just that you have not been informed, the reasons behind that are a whole 'nother thread.
you know Im actually saving up to do something like that. A friend of mine was left a large plot of land in Maine. he cacluated if he could get nine families to join, each would onyl have to pay about 50 thou. share in the food and energy production, take ourselves off the grid etc. And here's the best part: each person would only have to do about 4 hours of work a day! Walden 2 here I come. It just seems like a lifeboat thing and perhaps a bit too "rational."
I think the future will have to have a network of "meta-industrial villages." City living is unsustainable and people are cut off from nature. I think too, that separating oneself off from a larger tribe of family members and friends is not the way to go. We are social people and living in nuclear families is not social.