Building Healthy Food Access for All

Entry door at Putney Co-op

 

Guest blogger, Faye Conte,
3SquaresVT Advocate at Hunger Free Vermont

In 1844 the first food co-op was formed in England to help community members access safe, nutritious food at an affordable price. Today, there are hundreds of food co-ops around the country. While they may look a little different than the original co-op, their intention is the same: to provide their community with high-quality food at affordable prices. High-quality, healthy food at any food store can be expensive, though, and is often out of reach for low-income families relying on food assistance.

Over the past year, Hunger Free Vermont has partnered with the Neighboring Food Co-op Association and the Cooperative Fund of New England on the Healthy Food Access Project which helps food co-ops in New England make their stores more accessible to all community members. With generous support from Jane’s Trust, this project provides support and technical assistance to co-ops as they develop and launch programs that make food more affordable, including Food for All and Co-op Basics. Food for All provides a 10% discount in the store for households participating in benefit programs like 3SquaresVT and WIC. Co-op Basics is available to all shoppers, and provides staples like bread, milk, and diapers, at affordable prices. Both of these programs require the co-op to sell goods at a lower profit margin; despite the initial financial hit, many are lining up to launch the programs! Additionally, we have been able to raise awareness about hunger among co-op staff and their communities through educational events and trainings.

Over time, the new shoppers the programs attract to the stores, and the additional purchases that current shoppers are able to make, often results in an economic win for the stores. This work is a great example of how helping everyone afford nutritious food is good for families and good for the economy. Through this project we have reached nearly 40 co-ops in New England with information about food insecurity and the important role food co-ops can play. So far, we have helped 20 co-ops in New England improve, launch, or begin to develop food access programs, including 10 that serve Vermonters. We are excited about unique partnerships like these that empower communities to care for their neighbors and welcome everyone to the table. To learn more about the Healthy Food Access project, contact Faye Conte at fconte@hungerfreevt.org or visit nfca.coop/healthyfoodaccess.