NYT: Food Co-op Exile's Story Demands 2,000 Words
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and…
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and much-hated co-op, the topic of members in trouble draws a bushel of opinions. An organic bushel, of course…The co-op, a place that raises aspirations for society, makes us raise aspirations for ourselves. I am still suspended, but imagine myself someday returning and remaining in good standing. Nostalgically, I envision old friends and former roommates in the aisles, examining the white nectarines. But I wonder: couldn’t it be a little mellower?” —Flunking Out at the Food Co-op
Photo by Betty Blade.
CARGAR that is an awesome idea!!! if anyone wants to pay me to do their hours ill gladly do it 🙂
*rob*
i think the teenagers of park slope should be FORCED to work at the co-op.
*rob*
“if you or your spouse have a busy life, you cannot join with us”.
Reword. If you or your spouse aren’t creative enough to find 2.75 hours out of the ~600hrs a month the co-op is open, you don’t really value it enough, and thus the feeling is mutual.
I’ve walked by it so I feel that I can comment.
Well, I think the fact that all the members work there actually is a plus, since there is a sense of community that comes from that level playing field. I’ve had a few run-ins at the coop with the occasional bad apple, but I think that’s all they are (as will be the case in any big group of people) – most folks at the coop are normal and nice, and just want good food, and good prices, and also like the community aspect to members all working together. I’ve shopped at coops where you can pay a membership fee and I actually prefer the PSFC, but that’s me. Anyway, I do think many people complaining here are just blowing hot air based largely on myths, stereotypes and unfounded rumors. Not to say no one has ever had a bad experience there – I’m sure some folks have – but it seems that’s the exception, not the rule (but an exception that I suppose is fun to write 2000+ word articles about).
Oh, I think most of the ire comes from the fact a lot of people who would seriously consider joining for an annual membership fee cannot imagine giving up more of their time.
They find it weird/disconerting that the co-op has a policy that basically says “if you or your spouse have a busy life, you cannot join with us”.
People don’t like being excluded.
@southbrooklyn – I do appreciate you feel my comments are heartfelt. Working at a non-profit and seeing the consequences of ideologically-tinged waste is part of my motivation. I like to think I have a brain, and can help ponder how to make things better. I like the idea of co-ops, and would love to join a sane one in my neighborhood. I care about Brooklyn, people and my city.
Not enough?
I don’t get the ire either. But given that much of it comes from folks who have never even been there, who cares what the blowhards think?
*rob* : “if you think the people who shop at the coop come from ‘all walks of life’ you are insane.”
* * * *
Rob, you’ve obviously never set foot in the place because you couldn’t be more wrong. The Co-op is one of the few places you can go to see corporate lawyers, Rastafarians, low-income people of all races and backgrounds, creative types of all kinds and large Hasidic families all shopping and working together. To me, this is one of the nicest aspects of the Co-op, along with the awesome prices and glorious produce.
Having said this, however, I must admit that the mismanagement and rigid, Soviet-era rules and ambience drove me away more than once (i.e., after two stints at membership, one lasting about 4 years and another about 1 year). I’d gladly shop there again and pay a higher price for their products than working members, but the old-guard managers find this morally reprehensible. They’d rather deal with the chaos of 15,000 people each working shifts of 2.75 hours each month, customers standing in hour-long lines to go through *three* checkout procedures to purchase their groceries, and massive cheating by superfluous member-workers.