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One of the oldest food cooperatives in the United States is thriving in Park Slope, a neighborhood in Brooklyn that borders Prospect Park. The Park Slope Food Coop was formed in 1973 and has over 17,000 members.

Keepin’ It Local
The store offers a variety of products, mostly organic, minimally processed foods, but also vitamins, household items, office supplies, gifts, and pet products. All are purchased from local, family-owned farms. “Local” means no more than 500 miles away; during the growing season, most grown-and-raised products come from 100 to 200 miles away.

Park Slope residents have clearly embraced buying fresh produce and other foods, as evidenced by the coop’s healthy membership and several thriving farmers markets that serve the neighborhood, including the Down to Earth Farmers Market (Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 4th Street at 5th Avenue), the Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket (Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., northwest corner of Prospect Park), and Bartel-Pritchard square Greenmarket (Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., southwest corner of Prospect Park).

A Fair Membership
But for those who love the convenience of shopping indoors with consistent products, a coop membership can’t be beat. Here, members not only own the food store, they also run it. Members, who come from all over Brooklyn and beyond, pay a non-refundable $25 joining fee and a $100 contribution to the coop (fees are much lower for people on some types of financial assistance). The contribution will be refunded upon request if a membership is terminated.

Reaping the Benefits
There are many benefits to joining the coop. Because each member contributes labor—2.75 hours every four weeks—the co-op does not pay for 75% of the labor hours needed to keep the store running. That translates into cheaper prices for members. Prices are set at 21% above wholesale. According to the coop’s website, members who were surveyed estimated they were saving 20% to 40% off their weekly grocery bill.

Becoming a Community
Another benefit to joining the coop may be intangible, but is nonetheless important. Since most members do their volunteer work in teams, called “squads,” members get to know each other while working together. Friendships develop, and people feel a connection with their community. The co-op also holds events such as dances, parties, and concerts to give members a chance to see each other socially.

Taking a Stand
Members can feel good that the coop keeps an eye on its vendors’ business ethics. Just one example of many, the coop has boycotted Coca-Cola products since 2004 due to the beverage company’s labor and environmental practices. Local students who are learning about political strategies retailers use to protest corporate or governmental practices can work with a Park Slope tutor to understand the complexities of these types of situations. In fact, tutoring in Park Slope is a great idea for any student of any age and for any topic.