Food co-ops: the good, the bad and the ugly

Does anyone out there belong to a food co-op? I do, and have for years now. What is a food co-op, you ask? Actually, they take on many forms, but my co-op is a bunch of people that order monthly from a buying club.

The things I love about my food co-op are . . .

• You can buy the things you love and use all the time in bulk, saving a ton of money and ensuring that you always have them when you need them.
• They offer natural food items that are hard to find in even natural foods markets, and for a lot less money.
• There is more fresh produce available than you can possibly imagine in your wildest dreams, usually for cheaper than conventional produce at the supermarket.
• Grass-fed beef is available and costs about the same as conventional supermarket beef, maybe a bit more expensive.
• Natural personal care products are a huge savings, probably one of the biggest savings categories. From shampoos to supplements, there are huge bargains to be had.
  

Things that bug me about my food coop are . . .

• Some of the bulk items are just too large for one household, and if the members of your coop don't want to split them with you, you are out of luck.
• If something is out of stock, you don't get a chance to order again for a whole month.
• Sometimes the produce comes in less than stellar and needs to be sent back, which is a bummer if you were counting on having a certain fruit or veggie.
• It is a lot of work sometimes. Each person in the co-op has a job to do, and if things aren't flowing smoothly that month, it can be a time drain.
• You really have to plan ahead. There is no running last minute to the supermarket; you need to place your order in advance and know what you'll need for the next month.

The food co-op is such a part of our lifestyle here at my house that I am not sure I could live without it now. From saving money to making sure that quality food is always available for my family, it really has become a necessity.

Want to join a food co-op but not sure where to get started? The Co-op Directory Service has lists of distributors and also of existing co-ops near you. If you wanted to join a co-op of people who order from buying clubs, the one my co-op orders from is United. Maybe they have one near you and you can start reaping the benefits of a buying club too.