Hungry for change? Put the power of food co-ops on your plate and grow your local food economy. Food has become ground-zero in our efforts to increase awareness of how our choices impact the world. Yet while we have begun to transform our communities and dinner plates, the most authoritative strand of the food web has received surprisingly little attention: the grocery store—the epicenter of our food-gathering ritual. Through penetrating analysis and inspiring stories and examples of American and Canadian food co-ops, Grocery Story makes a compelling case for the transformation of the grocery store aisles as the emerging frontier in the local and good food movements. Author Jon Steinman: Deconstructs the food retail sector and the shadows cast by corporate giants Makes the case for food co-ops as an alternative Shows how co-ops spur the creation of local food-based economies and enhance low-income food access. Grocery Story is for everyone who eats. Whether you strive to eat more local and sustainable food, or are in support of community economic development, Grocery Story will leave you hungry to join the food co-op movement in your own community.

Food Co-ops are grocery stores that are owned and controlled by the people who shop in them. Co-ops' first priority is to meet the needs of those shoppers rather than maximize outside investors' return. Interested in starting a food co-op in your community? Food Co-op Initiative has assembled this comprehensive overview of the development process with checklists, templates and extensive referrals to other sources of support. This is the "must have" guide for new food co-op organizers.

Maximize return on your advertising and promotion investments by using co-op. Read how to begin producing win-win relationships between and among manufacturers, distributors, and retailers, and how to work within the complex legal and IRS guidelines that govern co-op's use.