![]() Grocery operators in both urban and rural areas cite lack of access to financing as one of the top barriers to the development of stores in underserved areas. Additionally, the Food Co-op Initiative, which was formed to spur the development of food co-ops, has helpful resources on its website. They can help with feasibility studies or finding funding. If you are considering a co-op model, get in touch with your state or region's cooperative development center. To find family farms in your area, visit LocalHarvest. Co-ops usually support local community economic development by creating jobs and selling produce grown on nearby family farms. Co-ops operate on a shared equity model where residents invest in the co-op by giving their money and/or time, and often receive a discount on the food they buy as a member.įood co-ops can take the shape of retail stores or buying clubs and are often committed to consumer education, product quality, and member control. To learn more about questions to consider when planning your food retail strategy, check out these assessment tools on Healthy Food Access 101.ĭespite the challenges, groups across the country have successfully worked in partnership with food retailers to develop and expand supermarkets and grocery stores in underserved communities.įood cooperatives (co-ops) are worker- or customer-owned businesses that sell grocery items to their members. Each community must first determine whether they have the capacity and demand to support a supermarket or grocery store. While supermarkets and grocery stores are an excellent strategy for increasing healthy food access in a community, they are complex businesses that operate on thin profit margins. Research shows that the presence of supermarkets and grocery stores that sell healthy food in a community leads to not only better dietary choices, which helps individuals maintain a healthy weight, but also to better economic health of an area by creating jobs, anchoring complementary development, and boosting housing values nearby. ![]()
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