Co-Op Meeting: 02.13.2010
Aj Schwanz
Yearly Meeting Office
Present:
Brendon Connelly
Jennifer Perez
Jill Beals
Lisa McMinn
Aj Schwanz
Azure option: 3 ordering groups in Newberg
-- don't want just a 'food buying' group - want co-op to be more
-- Azure could be used initially to stock shelves
-- some folks in group already have buying connections: chocolate,
etc.
- not always local
-- should bring Azure ordering groups into discussion
Members
-- need buy-in with folks who are already thinking cooperatively
-- need seed money
-- need to have a community meeting and explain desires/structure/buy-
in/values
- will be a mechanism to buy shares
- this money will support lease, contracts with suppliers
- the core co-op group will help get things to this point
Feasibility study
-- should be done before community meeting
-- will help assess folks' connections, desires
- some shop locally, some organically, some fair-wage-ed-ly
-- who are we reaching out to?
- who is our community?
Organizational group
-- instrumental in laying out initial structure of co-op
- define parameters: ex. will it be buying locally first? then
organically? then fair trade?
- types of items on shelves: desire to be beyond produce
- bulk
- dried foods
-- need defining mission
-- help pool resources: local connections, online
- from Aj: http://www.ecotrust.org/foodfarms/
- http://food-hub.org/
Reflection on Food Meet at Fox
-- appreciated comment about connecting with Hispanic community
-- are we in competition with Rays?
- Rays has some local produce, but also produce shipped in
-- will try to have The Next Step(s) outlined and ready to present at
Earth Day Food Meet (tentatively to be held at Cultural Center)
- interest
- ideas
- have clear mission for organizational structure
- name/identity
- the more questions we answer, the more information and structure
we can provide at April event
- answers, but fluid (structure to provide growth and
flexibility)
Co-op
-- desire voiced to have co-op available to wide spectrum of socio-
economic backgrounds in Newberg area
- may be more expensive, but want to be accessible to all
- involves a marketing piece (talk with Rob Westervelt)
- don't need to stress 'organic' - this word appeals to upper
white community
-- not convert, but create space to feel welcome, make local/organic/
fair-wage foods accessible
Organizational group meetings
-- try early mornings (Bren will shoot out an email)
-- monthly
-- in the next two meetings:
- define parameters
- get road map
- start talking to folks
- ex. folks connected in community (hair stylists, etc.)
- have feasibility study done: Jill and Lisa
- timeline (probably start backwards and work forward)
- summary presented
- finalize different pieces
- start discussion on Google Site
Why are we here?
-- outlet for local farmer
-- community
-- take back food sovereignty
-- access to dried goods
-- gas, time, resources spent in Newberg
-- classes
-- learn about food
-- Newberg store front
- resources (local meat, dairy)/clearing house
-- bike delivery
-- information about real food
Submitted by Aj Schwanz