Fort Greene Co-Op Chooses Toiling
Despite the low-pitched groan that emanates from the Park Slope Food Co-op due to compulsory work slots, the impending Fort Greene co-op has chosen to follow Park Slope’s model. The Brooklyn Paper reports that every member of the Greene Hill Co-op will work a shift in exchange for discounted organic groceries, though they’re in favor…
Despite the low-pitched groan that emanates from the Park Slope Food Co-op due to compulsory work slots, the impending Fort Greene co-op has chosen to follow Park Slope’s model. The Brooklyn Paper reports that every member of the Greene Hill Co-op will work a shift in exchange for discounted organic groceries, though they’re in favor of a less strict policy than Park Slope’s, which has members work two shifts if they miss one. Can’t have community unless all folks participate, they decided. Now they just need to find a space.
Workers of the Co-op Unite [Brooklyn Paper]
PSFC Produce. Photo by bluesage.
CMU;
Did you even read what I had written? Working is the COOP is NOT leisure time. If it were, it would not be mandatory. Working in the COOP is WORK, and the principal reason is to cut down on your food costs, as Goldie and others have acknowleged.
I can respect Goldie’s point of view, and those of others who are going in with their eyes wide open, have done their own personal calculation, and decided that it is worth their time. I can also respect 11217’s POV that there are other benefits they receive for their effort, in terms of socializing, being part of a community effort, etc. I do not respect your post, because you do not even acknowledge the very basis of the COOP, and you do not even take the time to think about what others have posted. You want to paint this issue in black and white. Find a real issue to get worked up about.
Sper…my point on members cheating as to the makeup of their household should be obvious. Comparing it to people who steal from a store is absurd.
Just because I cheat on my income taxes doesn’t mean you don’t have to pay yours!!!
No Dave, actually despite your dislike of their so-called totalitarian ways, they simply rely on the members to be honest.
You are simply not going to find fresher food anywhere than at the PS Food Coop. The store turns over its entire inventory more than 52 times a year. Produce in particular turns over at an amazing clip (and I know — my job is stocking the produce aisle). Organic produce sells for the same price as conventional produce anywhere else. The savings, if you are someone who wants to eat primarily organic, are tremendous.
However, as has been pointed out above, the Coop is about more than money, and I don’t doubt that this is part of what agitates some people so much. The Coop is a philosophical enterprise — cooperation is at the heart of the mission statement. And the Coop is also about a changed relationship to the food supply. Think of it as a gigantic community supported agriculture program, or as a farmer’s market. We have “our” farmers who grow almost exclusively for the Coop. And the Coop operates as a community center, with various seminars and events throughout the year.
If none of these other aspects of the Coop appeal to you, you probably shouldn’t join — you’ll just get annoyed.
I would never want to allow non-working memberships at the Coop. Yes, it would probably completely overwhelm the store, but more importantly, it would be tampering with an extremely successful organization. I don’t think it’s an accident that the PSFC has lasted this long. Coops that have a two-tiered membership structure and inherently weaker than working coops. Working at the coop generates a sense of ownership that paying a membership fee can never approximate.
And Dave — yeah, I’m sure there are cheaters at the Coop. There are cheaters everywhere. And? If I shopped at a regular store, does that mean I should be mad that I have to pay — just because some people steal? I don’t see what your point is.
cmu…”Keep away, folks, the lines are long enough and the Coop is making a healthy profit.”
I thought it was a not-for-profit.
One capitalism gets its foot in the door there’s no telling what will happen!!! It’s usually a good thing. Maybe it’ll wack some efficiency into the checkout help!!!!
Do they send the Co-op Gestapo around to bang on the door and check to see how many adults live in the household?
“Vere are your papers?”
This is absolutely ridiculous. I can only assume that many of the highly idealistic, altruistic co-op members do, in fact, lie.
Benson, please stop talking rubbish. If you go see a movie and are a lawyer, does that movie represent $1000 of lost billing time? Working at the co-op is OBVIOUSLY in non-billable (aka leisure time) so the opportunity cost is whatever you choose it to be. By your estimation, one should do nothing but work.
11217: No the food selection is very good, but they do run out of stuff sometimes. The produce is MUCH better than Key, Associated and sometimes even Union Market, which is almost 50% more expensive. It’s like an old-fashioned grocery store, and similar in size to Associated.
Daveinbedstuy: the Co-op is very overcrowded as is (remember it’s all volunteer checkouts etc….read “slow”) so the policy of not allowing non-members may be sensible. Also, obviously, a (married) couple buys twice as much as a single person, so why shouldn’t they have 2 shifts? It’s worse if you’re single AND have a room-mate, as the Co-op enforces the same policy. But then, you don’t have to declare your room-mate.
Northsloprenter: hmm, reading between the lines, sounds like you have a well-developed sense of non-involvement…what did your wife say to your adamant refusal?
Like the co-housing thread, I don’t understand why people have to be so down on something they wouldn’t be a part of. Keep away, folks, the lines are long enough and the Coop is making a healthy profit.
All that said, I can (and do) rail on against the Co-op’s weird policies, vibes, inflexibility, over-seriousness and holier-than-thou attitude, as well as anyone, but not against its purpose. And I still bitch every 4 weeks when my shift comes up.
Just checked their website- DIBS you will be invoking Godwin’s Law. I don’t know- it seems kind of over the top- everyone in the household who is an adult has to join, whether or not they are sharing coop food. Look in the section on member orientation.
“The options in the North Slope for produce is despicable”
11217 — I’m not going to tell you the options are great.
Key Foods produce section is poor to average. They pre-wrap a lot of vegetables (e.g., green beans) that should be loose and they leave spoiled stuff on the shelf too long.
Associated isn’t much better.
Union Market is better quality but definitely on the pricey side.
I was mostly thinking of the various places on Flatbush between 8th and 5th and the farmer’s market (grand army and 5th btwn 3rd/4th street.
But, yeah, the options aren’t great.