With food prices rising, join a community co-op Off the Record Barbara Stinson Lee

My husband, Jack and I have Father Martin Diaz, pastor of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, Midvale, to thank for suggesting we get involved with the Community Food Co-op of Utah.

One need only read the monthly Co-op Harvester, the newspaper of the co-op to find that “It’s a simple idea, really.”

The Community Food Co-op of Utah, which has some 35 public food distribution sites (some of which are at Catholic churches) provides nutritious food and fresh fruit and vegetables at from 30 percent to 50 percent savings. It also builds a sense of community by bringing people of all types together to work toward a common purpose. With a combination of volunteer time and buying food in greater bulk, the co-op brings more food into neighborhoods for less cost.

One should not hesitate to join a co-op. As the saying goes – “If you eat, you qualify.” “Together we are building a grassroots food distribution system dedicated to promoting people’s access to affordable, nutritious food – and having a lot of fun in the process,” the Harvester says.

“Each month, members pre-order their groceries,” the Harvester says. “You can order as many shares as you like, and how often you place an order is up to you. On distribution day (generally the third or fourth Saturday of every month), a network of volunteers helps distribute the food to ‘team sites’ along the Wasatch Front where you can pick up your order. Team sites are sponsored by local churches, schools, nonprofits, and community centers, but are open to everyone. If you can’t find a team site in your area, call (801) 746-7878 for more information or to start a food co-op in your neighborhood. If computers and the internet are your friends, go to www.foodco-op.org. You will see there that the Community Co-op of Utah works in volunteer collaboration with the Crossroad Urban Center.

This is what their web site says about the food you’ll find at the co-op: “You can buy quality, healthy food for up to 50% off retail from the Community Food Co-op. Each month, we select about 15 items that you’re most likely to buy at the grocery store – mostly fresh fruit, vegetables, staple items and frozen meat. Then through collective purchasing, we order mass quantities of these items at very low prices. Our food will come from the same wholesalers that supply your local grocery store, so you can expect the same quality. The food will never be donated, out-dated, or damaged.”

You can get a printable order form on the web site or pick one up at Crossroad Urban Center, St. Therese of the Child Jesus Church, St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Park City, or any other distribution site, place your order, then pick it up on distribution day.

Don’t forget to spend a couple of hours volunteering, too. It all helps.