Food co-ops were at the helm of the organic food revolution. They've been leaders in local and sustainable sourcing, transparent labeling and bringing healthful food to the fore. And yet, some people still don't understand what a co-op really is, or why they're increasingly relevent in an age when grocery stores are in an ever-evolving state of change.
So we took the plunge and consulted with a cooperative veteran, Pam Mehnert of Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative to chat co-ops: what they are, why they're relevent... and, most importantly, why they're cool.