Choosing to eat healthfully poses quite a challenge for many of us. But there's lots of help at the Co-op Food Stores in Hanover and Lebanon for folks who want to eat smart, support local food producers, grow their own vegetables, learn to cook, or help get nutritious food to people without the means to eat well.
Founded in 1936 in the midst of the Great Depression, the Co-op is among the oldest food cooperatives in the nation.
Owned by its members and governed by a board of local citizens, the Co-op now boasts more than 16,000 active members.
To join, a member buys ten $5.00 shares of Co-op stock, a one-time $50 investment that entitles him/her to all co-op membership benefits.
The stores: High-quality food and much more
"The stores themselves make it easy to eat well by offering a large selection of local, organic, and conventionally grown produce, low-cost whole grains, nuts and beans in the bulk foods department, vegetarian products, local/regionally raised antibiotic-free meats, poultry, and fish, plus a large selection of ethnic, natural, and conventional foods," says Mary Choate, a registered dietitian and full-time Co-op employee.
Choate answers food and nutrition questions in person, by phone, or email, and has developed a gluten-free food list and shelf-label program. She also offers nutrition presentations to area schools at no charge.
"Mary skips jargon and fad diet ideas. Instead, she sticks to the basics of finding ways to make it easier for busy people to eat right, says Co-op Communications Director, Allan Reetz. "She's always coming up with new ways to help our people who visit our Co-op. In fact, her book Better Eating for Life is used by professionals at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center."
"The Co-op offers classes in food preparation, nutrition, gardening, and much more, as well as popular weekly food-tasting events featuring quick-to-prepare, healthful meal ideas and treats," says Reetz.
"Plus we have a lending library and the stores have a wide variety of free brochures available on food preparation, recipes, nutrition, and other health topics. Education of members is at the core of all cooperatives. Mary Choate's work is complemented by the Co-op's education department."
Supporting local food producers
The Co-op not only supports local food producers, but educates interested producers and directs them to resources to help them become successful. "Our practice of paying fair prices to farmers and small businesses for their products kept nearly two million dollars in the local small business economy in 2007," says Reetz.
In addition, for 30 years, the co-op has managed a community garden, where members can rent space to grow their own vegetables. Since 1995, a project called Harvest Partners has organized volunteers to produce vegetables at the site for distribution to local food outlets serving the needy.
A former Co-op employee also founded Willing Hands, an organization that collects and distributes two to three tons each day year-round of excess fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, and other edibles to more than 40 local human service organizations.
Says Reetz, "We're not here to sell products. We're here to help our members and customers buy the products that best serve their needs. We are literally buyers on their behalf, not sellers of goods.
Furthermore, doing good in the community and being good educators is just part of the process. When our members benefit, that means the communities we all share in benefit, too."
Photo credit: Allan Reetz. Used with permission.
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