Interest High in Making Locally Grown Food Easier to Get

If there was one unifying theme at the general interest meeting at the Catonsville Food Co-op Thursday night, it was that people were sick of driving so far to get locally grown and organic food.

About 50 people gathered in the Catonsville Library to discuss the feasibility of starting a co-op in Catonsville. The meeting was organized by Catonsville mom Shannon Thomas and Nina Johanson, another resident who is helping to start the group.

The turnout was a little higher than both women expected, with people crowding in after the 6:30 p.m. start time.

Many attendees had been members of food co-ops in other parts of the country and nearly all of them said they wanted a place to shop closer to home.

Roughly 300 food co-ops operate in the United States with fewer than 10 in Maryland.  Other nearby food co-ops include the Baltimore Food Co-op and the Common Market in Frederick.

Here are what you can expect from a food co-op, according to Thomas:

1. The store is open to member and non-member shoppers.

2. Shoppers may join the co-op as member-owners.

3. Prices are set to cover all costs and should be competitive with the market.

4. Members are required to make an equity investment to join the co-op.

5. Equity is refunded to members upon termination of membership.

6. Members will receive special benefits; some co-ops may establish specific requirements, such as working in the store, for members to receive these benefits.

To join a food co-op, you will need to pay a membership fee that could be annual or a one-time fee, which the Catonsville Food Co-op will have.

Here are the next steps the group will take:

1. Interested members stayed after the meeting to form a steering committee.

2. The group will look to start a buying group that will allow them to buy in bulk from local growers.

3. The steering committee will investigate finding a storefront space, researching items and agreeing on membership requirements.

For more information, e-mail Thomas at catonsvillemarket@gmail.com or follow the group on Facebook or Twitter.