Food co-ops founded in the late 60’s and early 70’s had two main purposes. The first was to serve a need not being filled by the mainstream marketplace: access to natural and organic foods. The second was personal control over our access to food.

Back then, there was little organic produce available, few natural food companies and a lot of education to do about the corporate food system and its effects on our health and the health of the planet.

I had one farmer tell me that without co-ops, organic farming would not have been nearly as advanced as it is today. He said members of co-ops bought their scrawny broccoli and greens while farmers re-learned how to grow organically.

We still focus on natural, organic, local and bulk foods. Buying in bulk saves money, whether you are setting up your kitchen or just refilling a couple spice jars. Bulk also saves on packaging on your end and ours. Other natural food stores are shrinking their bulk sections because they make more money with triple packaged groceries, but not Harvest. Our bulk food section has won Boston Magazine’s Best in Boston award.

We were also named 2006 Best Fresh Produce purveyor by Boston’s Best City Guide. We also carry natural vitamins, minerals, supplements, tinctures and homeopathic remedies; local craft bread, meat and seafood, deli items, organic wines and New England microbrews, and a variety of packaged natural foods.

Co-ops had a big hand in changing what we eat in this country—not just by what we sell, but by the education that comes with being a cooperative. Now we must compete with large national corporations. The organic food business has grown by 20 percent annually for the last six years. Your local supermarket probably has a natural food aisle and possibly even carries organic produce.

What is a co-op, what makes it different? We operate with a second bottom line. Everyone understands the first one, where we have to operate at or near a profit to stay in business.

Our “second bottom line” is what makes us a co-op. We are in business to serve our member-owners, support natural and organic food production and distribution, local farmers and producers, fair trade producers, and our community.

What specifically do we do differently? We promote organic food from local farmers, but carry “conventional” foods also to serve the neighborhood. We have educational brochures and other food related information available in the stores and on our website—

www.harvest.coop

There are community bulletin boards and space for free local publications; free WiFi in our Café in Central Square; the One Minute Activist letter writing campaign; and free Tuesday night classes in the Community Room at Harvest Cambridge—

www.harvest.coop/pages/stores/calendar.html

We were Equal Exchange Fair Trade Coffee’s first customer in 1986. They now sell over 3 million pounds of coffee while supporting a better life for the growers. We were also the first customer of Red Tomato, the local non-profit distribution group for local farmers. We publicize and provide free space for Red Fire Farm, a State Community Supported Agriculture organic farm. They distribute shares at both of our stores on Wednesdays during the growing season.   

We operate under the Seven Principles of International Cooperation: open and voluntary membership, democratic member control, limited interest on capital, equitable distribution of profits, education, cooperation among cooperatives, and concern for community.

While we serve the general public like other stores, we have member-owners who support the Co-op by joining with either equity or annual memberships. They elect and can run for the Board of Directors, and serve on committees.

Member-owners also enjoy a monthly Member Appreciation Day, where they receive a 10 percent discount on everything except beer and wine. They may post free classified ads. Discounts on goods and services from local businesses come with the Harvest card; and there are members-only specials and coupons.

Harvest is now changing over from a register-rebate to a patronage-rebate plan. Instead of giving member discounts at the register, we will wait until the end of the fiscal year, and divide the profits (when there is one) among member-owners based on their level of purchases during the year.

It’s your Co-op! We hope to see you soon.

Chris Durkin is Director of Membership and Community Relations, Harvest Co-op Market