Board News & Views
Andrew Anderson, Vice President
“Whatever the reason people choose to live in or visit Viroqua, the co-op sits at the heart of our community.”
Summertime is likely my favorite time of the year at the Viroqua Food Co+op. I love stopping for a chat with my friends and neighbors, watching the patio bustle with life, and browsing through the greenhouse filled with amazing perennials (when I simply can’t fit another perennial in my garden). I particularly enjoy shopping the produce department, which is packed with local berries and veggies from our friends and neighbors, all within 100 miles of its front door.
This is also a time when our small town hums with visitors from across the state and country. People of all ages come here for many reasons. They come to enjoy the beauty of the Driftless area, to listen to the Music in the Park, to wade through our small but mighty farmer’s market, to cast their lines in our Class A trout streams, or to simply enjoy a slow paddle down the Kickapoo River. Whatever the reason people choose to live in or visit Viroqua, the co-op sits at the heart of our community. It is a staple for our residents and an unexpected surprise for visitors.
You might be asking yourself what the special sauce is that makes the Viroqua Food Co+op so different. Food co-ops, including the VFC, are more than just places to buy groceries; they are community-centered organizations that aim to provide good food while also supporting local economies and practicing democratic, socially responsible business. June marks an important annual milestone for our co-op. It’s the start of the annual election cycle for the Viroqua Food Co+op Board of Directors, where co-op member-owners have the opportunity to participate in a cooperative, democratic process and represent the voice of the ownership at large while also shaping the strategic direction of the co-op, now and into the future.
This year, we have two seats open, so I encourage anyone interested in being a guiding member of this great organization to learn more about joining the board by visiting the co-op website: www.viroquafood.coop/board-application, or by attending our Summer Sips event at the co-op on June 13th where current board members will be present to answer any questions you may have.