Last month I had the pleasure of visiting the Georgia Avenue Food Cooperative. What is a food cooperative? By definition it is, “food distribution outlet organized as a cooperative. Food cooperatives are usually consumer cooperatives where the decisions regarding the production and distribution of its food is chosen by its members.” (Wikipedia)
The Georgia Avenue Food Cooperative is an initiative of the Georgia Avenue Community Ministry. The initial co-op was launched in 1991 and subsequent ones came in 1994, 1999, 2000, 2008 and 2011. The motivation for the co-op was to provide food to low income families and individuals. Currently there are 7 co-ops, 6 of which are on site at the ministry. Each cooperative has a 50 member capacity and at the time of my visit there were 300 families being served. The goal of this co-operative is two-fold:
- Food Security (USDA defines this as” access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.”)
- Fight homelessness