The Co-Operator the Monthly Newsletter of the East End Food Co-Op / Pittsburgh, PA Know Your Gmos by Heather Hackett, Marketing & Member Services Manager
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Vol. 24: Issue 11 / November 2013 The Co-operator The monthly newsletter of the East End Food Co-op / Pittsburgh, PA Know Your GMOs by Heather Hackett, Marketing & Member Services Manager Last month, your Co-op was proud to • Bob Madden (Garden Dreams) folks to taste, many of which were donated er was invaluable! They provided the venue, sponsor our first community forum on the • Joe Zgurzynski (Country Barn Farm) from conscientious manufacturers. Annie’s helped to arrange the set up, and supported topic of GMOs. We want to share with our Homegrown Organics were particularly our promotional efforts. members what a success this event was, and And of course, our keynote speaker: Jeffrey generous in their donation of five cases of express our appreciation to everyone who Smith of the Institute for Responsible Technol- assorted products. We also received support In closing, our gratitude also goes out to helped make it possible! ogy! Mr. Smith’s presentation on “Documented from our friends at Nature’s Path, Dr. Bron- everyone who attended this event. It is our Health Dangers of GMOs” was inspirational to ner’s, Eden Foods, Green Mountain Gringo, hope that soon there will be labeling laws in The speakers included: say the least, and he was kind enough to per- and NuGo Nutrition. place to increase transparency about GMOs. form a book signing for interested attendees. But until then, your Co-op will continue to • Kate Safin (Food & Water Watch) We also want to acknowledge our partnership promote consumer education and increased • Jeff Shaw (Burgh Bees) There were an abundance of free samples with the Chatham Food Studies Program, awareness of the impacts genetic engineering • Sarah Heald & Karen Stark (GMO Free PA) of Non-GMO Project Verified Products for whose assistance in putting this event togeth- may have. IN THIS ISSUE: CO-OP DEALS FLYERS: October 30 – November 12 CO-OP NEWS 2-3 November 13 – November 26 ANNUAL REPORT 4-5 MEMBERS ONLY: THANKSGIVING PREPARATION 6-7 Be sure to use your 10% quarterly discount by December 31st! The next quarter goes from January 1 – March 31. THE FOOD YOU EAT 8 IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ON YOUR PLANET 9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The next meeting will take place on Monday, November 18th at 7 PM. FOR YOUR INFORMATION 10 STAFF NEWS 11 NEW MEMBER ORIENTATIONS: To register, call 412.242.3598 x 103 CAFÉ MENU & EVENTS 12 or email [email protected] East End Food Co-op • 7516 Meade St. Pittsburgh, PA 15208 • www.eastendfood.coop • 412.242.3598 • Open to Everyone, Every Day 8 AM – 9 PM DO NO DELAY NO DO DATED MATERIAL: DATED PERMIT NO. 1800 NO. PERMIT PITTSBURGH, PA PITTSBURGH, PAID Pittsburgh, PA 15208 PA Pittsburgh, U.S. POSTAGE U.S. 7516 Meade St. Meade 7516 ORG. NONPROFIT East End Food Co-op Food End East CO-OP NEWS Before Today Board Corner by Eryn Hughes, Outreach Coordinator by EEFC Board of Directors Have you ever picked up a piece of fruit from the by AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to Explosive growth in natural food sales prepare for leasehold improvements or con- Co-op’s apple table and wondered how it got here? America), who were required to attend board and nationwide continues to confirm a monu- struction, perform leasehold improvements or You might see a sticker with the country of origin, committee meetings. There were 600 member mental shift in consumer preferences. People construction, and prepare for opening. or a sign announcing that this apple is from a local households, each required to work two hours a everywhere are demanding a greater degree of farm. You could also see one of many certifications month. EEFC opened its first retail storefront to quality, integrity, and sustainability from their As we remain in an exploratory mode, the bulk that speak of sustainable farming practices and shopping members in 1978, at 5474 Penn Avenue food suppliers. As vanguards of this cultural of our work with Bill and Jeanie was concen- promise valuable nutrition. But no label can tell you (now the Pittsburgh Glass Center). change, natural food cooperatives are seizing trated on the systematic assessment of feasibil- the initiative to expand their operations and ity. Several field-tested tools were applied to how this fruit came to be here in this particular store. give people more of what they want. realistic hypothetical expansion scenarios to EEFC officially incorporated on June 12, 1980 and educate the Board and Management on best Most of us who shop at the Co-op don’t know was temporarily housing the Consumer Coopera- The Ends Statement of the East End Food practices from actual co-op expansions. These much about how this organization, that provides tive of Pittsburgh (CCP) in their warehouse. The Co-op requires us to consider this evolving tools included processes for assessing organiza- so much good healthy food and more, came to CCP operated as a bulk and produce distributor landscape and intelligently explore new op- tional readiness, conducting market feasibility be. The truth is that there have been thousands of to 20 local food clubs, plus 150 co-ops and local portunities for growth so that we may greater studies, and pro forma financial planning, all people cooperating for years to get that piece of businesses in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, enhance the physical and social health of our within a framework of robust risk assessment, fruit into your hands. Working in the community until it folded in 1981. When our sister co-op on community. To help us do this, the EEFC due diligence, and a clear timeline with well- and alongside Co-op volunteers, I’ve come to Semple Street closed its doors in 1985 after 12 Management Team and Board of Directors defined decision points. notice a wealth of information about the history years of providing healthy and organic foods, their recently engaged the CDS Consulting Co-op of the East End Food Co-op (EEFC) in almost members and staff joined our membership. It was to provide a three-day “Orientation to Expan- The valuable insights received from these every corner of Pittsburgh. decided then that the EEFC should offer afford- sion Planning,” facilitated by Bill Gessner sessions allowed us to draft a feasibility as- able and healthy food to members, as well as the and Jeanie Wells. Bill is the lead consultant sessment checklist tailored to our unique po- Offering access to more affordable food was the general public. More people shopping meant lower at CDS, with over 25 years of experience sition, with a focus on the roles of the Board main motivation for the original endeavor that prices for all. And listing two prices, member and assisting more than 250 co-op expansion and Management in executing an expansion projects. He is also the author of Expansions project. Whether the future of your Co-op evolved over the years into our East End Food Co- non-member, for every item demonstrated the and Relocations for Directors and Manag- involves expansion of its current footprint, op. In 1972, Point Breeze residents David and Ro- value of cooperative membership. Indeed, we were ers of Natural Food Cooperatives. Jeanie has one or more additional retail locations, non- dah Zarembka were impressed by their experience “stronger together.” successfully led two major expansion projects retail or non-traditional business models, with “buying clubs” in Philadelphia and decided and has expertise in building strong manage- or some combination of all of these, East to start one in their basement to address poverty Your Co-op relocated to its present location on ment teams and systems. End Food Co-op is committed to employ- in Pittsburgh’s East End. Originally organized January 12, 2000, and membership has contin- ing every resource at its disposal to serve through the East End Cooperative Ministry, the ued to grow to over 10,000 households. Staff Bill’s immersion in the area of co-op expan- our membership and greater community in club’s ultimate goal was to become an independent has increased to over 80 employees. And as the sion projects has enabled him to craft a formal accordance with our Ends. First among these co-op owned by community members. Member- person who coordinates volunteers, I work with expansion planning and execution methodol- resources are the experiences of our friends ship cost only $1 and food was distributed at open approximately 150 active members who contribute ogy that may be applied to projects of varied in the co-op world who have successfully air markets, in church basements, at homes for the an average of 175 hours each month. But I will sizes and scopes. At the core of his process led the way. Stay tuned for updates and op- elderly, and even in a private garage. never know exactly how many other people have are four sequential stages: assess feasibility, portunities to contribute! helped to make this store a reality. When I think of After an initial $20,000 startup grant (provided all those crucial members who volunteered their by U.S. Catholic Conference Campaign for Hu- time over the last 41 years for the benefit of our man Development) ran out, the club established community, I appreciate some of what it took to member work-shifts to keep the business running. get that apple into my hands. And it is all the more 2013-2016 At this point they had three staff members, funded sweet because of it. EMBERS OARD M EEFC B Your Co-op is pleased to announce our newly elected Board Members: Mike Collura Sarah Aerni Jared Evanoski Look for the full recap of the 2013 Annual Meeting in next month’s issue of The Co-operator! Mannella, Susan.