Did you know that October is co-op month? Co-op month has been an annual October celebration across the United States for more than half a century. It is a time for cooperative businesses to reflect on their shared principles and to educate others about the value of belonging to a cooperative.
But did you know that we have our own co-op, right here in East Lansing? The East Lansing Food Co-op is a nonprofit, community-owned and democratically-run grocery store. The store started as a buying club for people that wanted access to healthier foods. ELFCO is open to all shoppers and anyone can buy into being an owner. Being an owner has some added benefits, like discounts in the store and voting rights.
ELFCO emphasizes the importance of a quadruple bottom line – people, planet, purpose and profit. The store offers a space where customers can meet their neighbors and interact with friendly staff members. It seeks to support and give back to local producers, local institutions and the local economy. ELFCO also appeals to students and offers them a 10 percent discount on Sundays.
ELFCO has eight core character traits. These include:
1. Sustainable: ELFCO has a recycling program, solar panels, energy-saving coolers and more.
2. Local: Vendors, farmers, staff, board and other services all come from the greater Lansing area.
3. Fair: ELFCO pays its staff, customers and vendors fairly.
4. Healthy: The store builds healthy relationships in the community, healthy bodies through products and education and a healthy economy through support of local businesses and organizations.
5. Honest: ELFCO works to be transparent about business practices, growing practices, organic and non-GMO certification and business decisions affecting their owners and customers.
6. Democratic: The store tries its best to foster participation and empower individual owners to participate in the greater co-op movement.
7. Authentic: ELFCO offers participation, healthy goods and customer service. Other companies have jumped on the healthy/sustainable/customer-oriented bandwagon just because it’s trendy, where ELFCO has offered these practices for decades.
8. Accessible: Everyone is welcome at ELFCO. The store works to keep owner share prices and product prices accessible to everyone.
If you’re interested in learning more, the MSU Campus Center Cinemas is screening a documentary about the history of food co-ops on Friday, October 21 at 7 p.m. in Wells Hall, room B-117. The film is called “Food for Change,” and you can check out the trailer here.
ELFCO supports local business, uses sustainable practices and directly connects with customers. It’s organizations like ELFCO that help East Lansing thrive!