New Film Takes a Contemporary Look at Food Co-ops in the US

Education, participation, independence, and cooperation. These are four of the seven cooperative principles that keep food cooperatives rooted in their mission: to serve their communities. Food for Change, a work-in-progress documentary planned for release next spring, looks at how food co-ops manifest these principles in their day-to-day operations.

The film takes a contemporary and social-historical look at cooperatives in the United States, exploring three periods of co-op expansion: the first wave following the financial collapse of 1929 when co-ops proved to be a mitigating factor against hard times; the second wave of the 1970s driven by a counter-culture desire for whole and organic foods; and the third wave, currently underway, aimed at both of these concerns.

Food For Change’s release is timed to coincide with the United Nations designation of 2012 as the International Year of Cooperatives. The plan is to show the film in hundreds of locations across the country on the same day and to follow-up with national discussion on the cooperative ways of doing business.

To date, 64 co-ops in 25 states, including the Viroqua Food Co-op, have contributed nearly 40 percent of the budget needed to complete and distribute the movie.

The project needs support from co-op members too. Please visit www.foodforchangemovie.com to watch the trailer, view scenes from the movie, and consider making a contribution. Your investment in this documentary will help us communicate a deeper understanding cooperatives and will help the present wave of co-op expansion.

To make a contribution click here.