“Go team go!” said boardmember Sam Moore when he learned of today’s $5000 investment note.
Sharon Dent is happy to announce that we have received $246,500 in investment notes from the community so far. From people like you.
Thank you to those of you who have already ‘voted with your wallets’ to bring a locally owned, locally run, and locally financed grocery store to downtown Burlington and the greater Alamance community.
Sarah Cook
Co-Manager of Comm. and Brand Mgmt
I watched Food Inc Tuesday night at Elon University. The primary conclusion I drew after watching this documentary was that Alamance County desperately needs a new grocery alternative. After watching intently, I am even more committed to the mission of Company Shops Market. We need a market like this, here in Alamance County, now. The film passed harsh judgment on the kind of shopping/consuming we are currently limited to here in Alamance.
The film investigates the industrial food supply in the United States with special focus on a few key issues: the meat industry, GMOs and agri-business, the politics of food legislation and regulation, the cost of foods, etc. Here is a rough breakdown of the different themes that the movie addresses:
The film outlines these observations through short, titled vignettes. For example, “From Seed to Supermarket” is a segment about the Monsanto corporation and their success in patenting new strains of soybeans. This is followed by a segment called “The Veil” which attempts to explain how these mega-corporations can use regulation and lawsuits to keep consumers in the dark and to silence the rare protest that does arise. (As an aside, the segmentation of the film was less effective than I thought it would be, since the segments are not stand-alone and do rely on concepts introduced in previous segments. As a professor I was drawn to the modularity of the film, hoping that it would be possible to pull out bits and pieces of it to address different teaching and learning objectives in different classes. Unfortunately, the segmentation is less issue-oriented and more personality-driven in this film.)
Food Inc. ends by drawing a parallel between consumer and government reaction to the excesses of the tobacco industry in the 1970s and 1980s. Consumers are urged to take charge of their own choices and to hold these large corporations accountable for their practices. It was on the drive home when my husband and I were talking about concrete actions we could take – as the film encourages – to vote with our wallets. If I wanted to buy locally-grown bulk whole grains or locally-grown organic chicken, where am I to do this? Should I burn fossil fuels to drive to one of the ‘boros (Greensboro, Pittsboro, Carrboro) with a natural market, or should I buy something organic-but-Canadian at the grocery store? We grow organic healthy produce right here in Alamance County, and meat too, but they are hard to find in grocery stores. Farmer’s markets are great but they’re not open at all hours and on all days. At what point does it become discouraging for “normal people” to try to shop in this piecemeal fashion? What to do, what to do…
One of the interviewees in the film cautions against “making the perfect the enemy of the good”. We here in Alamance are in a little bit of a bind right now in trying to combat this food problem solely by voting with our wallets. We need to make the best effort we can, with the tools we’ve got (farmer’s markets, organics in stores, local farm shops, the occasional trip to an out-of-town co-op or natural market). And we might have to contribute to this cause in other ways (activism perhaps) until we have more viable shopping alternatives here in our own county. Of course, Company Shops Market will hopefully provide this missing link between consumers and producers here in Alamance, so we need to keep working at that as our longer-term solution.
Happy eating!
*This is a guest post by Megan Squire. She is a Company Shops Market Owner and a professor at Elon University
Watch Food, Inc tonight at Elon University!
Come see the movie that reinforces the motivation behind the local food revolution; Food, Inc. Join Company Shops Market at Elon University on September 22nd @ 9 PM. You’ll never look at dinner the same way.
New Location for Tonight’s Show:
The showing of Food, Inc has been moved inside to the Oak 212 because the chance of rain and a scheduling issue in McKinnon.
The Oaks is the apartment/dorm complex on Williamson Street directly behind the gas station at the corner of Haggard and Williamson and directly across from the Koury Athletic Center and Fine Arts Bldg. There is a big parking lot adjacent to the building (as you can see from the google maps image below).
Randall & Cyndi Smith of Smith Angus Farm have asked us to spread the word and invite our owners to the Alamance Co. Farm Bureau 2009 HOMEGROWN Tour.
Alamance Co. Homegrown Tour
Sept. 26, 2009. The Tour runs from 1:00 – 5:45pm & Dinner & Gospel Sing starts at 6:00PM.
$5.00 Per Person (includes tour & dinner at Martin’s Chapel Church in Mebane). Children under 12 FREE.
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And as a reminder, the next Company Shops Community Pot Luck event will be held on that Saturday evening as well.
“Wine, Dine and Dogs” CSM Potluck at GlenMarie Winery
Saturday, Sept. 26 from 5-8pm at Glen Marie Winery
Join us at GlenMarie Winery for an evening of fellowship with Company Shops Market owners and friends. Bring your favorite dish to share. And bring your friends! There is a dog park at the winery so bring your dogs too, big and small. Enjoy some wine, food and a relaxing evening. GlenMarie Winery is located at 1838 Johnson Road, Burlington, NC. View the Invite on Facebook and visit GlenMarieWinery.com for directions.
Earlier this week, Nate and I meet up with Anne K. Morris, the new director of the Burlington Downtown Corp. You may have heard her speak at the recent Owners Meeting held last month. Over a leisurely lunch at the locally owned Dan Thai restaurant (yum!), we discussed her vision for the revitalization of downtown Burlington. We all agreed that Company Shops Market has the opportunity to play a substantial role in the revitalization effort. We have the opportunity as individuals and as a co-op to change the course of our community and to bring the bustling vitality and energy back to downtown Burlington. Join us in preserving our past while creating a better future.
Anne Morris speaks at the Company Shops Market Owners Meeting in August
Anne was thrilled to learn that Nate and I are big fans of traditional community-centered towns and ‘Small Town America’. She suggested that we check out the book Changing Places: rebuilding community in the age of urban sprawl by Richard Moe and Carter Wilkie. The book is a series of case studies documenting the efforts of communities around the country who have struggled and succeeded in creating vibrant and thriving towns and cities. I’ve only read one chapter so far (did you know Disney tried to build an amusement park in the middle of historic Virginia?) , but it looks to be an interesting and worthwhile read.
Sarah Cook
Co-Manager of Comm. and Brand Mgmt
Hi Everyone!
Nate and I attended our first Company Shops Market board meeting today. We even gave a little presentation on the power of Social Media for building community and why we think it’s a great tool for creating conversations and sharing of ideas within the co-op.
Company Shops Market Board Member Eric Henry at this month's board meeting.
Almost every time we see board member Sam Moore, he has brought along a basket of whatever is growing on his farm to share. This week it was Dixie Red Delight Apples, which Sam tells me is are an ‘old south’ variety that was introduced from Britain around the 1830’s and hybridized for growing in the south.
Nate snacking on a Dixie Red Delight Apple courtesy of Sam Moore
We discussed a whole bunch of exciting ideas and opportunities. Including a soon-to-be-announced event to be held in October at the Store. Plus the great news that we are up to 1410 members and have received $241,500 in investment notes so far (including the Hayden-Harman note that allowed us to procure the old A&P building).
In my opinion, the community investment notes program is going to be critical to our success. We are expecting to raise 1.5 million dollars from community members like you. And the rest of the necessary start-up capital will come from commercial bank loans. Please consider investing in your community, in downtown Burlington, in local food, and in your local farmers by participating in the Company Shops Market Investment Program.
Sarah Cook
Co-Manager of Comm. and Brand Mgmt
We are so excited to announce plans for an upcoming screening of the movie FRESH. Company Shops Market invites you to come watch this inspiring movie about “New Thinking on the Food Your Eating”. See it Monday, October 5th, 2009. Exact showtime to be decided soon.
We will have more event details coming soon, but until then, here’s the movie trailer:
We hope to see you there!
Nate Perry & Sarah Cook
Co-Managers of Comm. & Brand Mgmt.
Company Shops Market Co-op
The Blog is back online! Going forward this will be a central repository of information about what is currently happening at Company Shops Market. By visiting the blog you can see the growth as it has happened, comment on things you read there, and really dig into what all the excitement is about!
By the way, we are looking for some fresh voices to contribute to the blog. If you’re a co-op member and are interested in writing about co-op events, food and farm issues, local economy or other topics that directly relate to Company Shop’s mission and would be of interest to the co-op owners, we want to hear from you.
We are going to be stepping up the flow of information out from the coop through the Blog, Twitter and Facebook. But we would like to know, how often would you like to hear from us? A few times a week? A few times a month? Please leave your comments here on the blog and we will take them under consideration.
Nathan Perry & Sarah Cook
Co-Managers of Communications and Brand Management
As temperatures cool, harvests come in and summer transitions into fall, it is the perfect time of year for outdoor events. And boy do we have some great ones coming up.
The Arabian Nights: A Final Banquet of the Summer
September 19th @ 5:30 PM at Cane Creek Farm
Come and celebrate the end of summer with a party like you’ve never seen! Cane Creek Farm presents a tantalizing evening with local food prepared by executive chef Jay Pierce, of Lucky 32, & belly dancing by Leigh Brown of Metaform Movement. $40 per person, $30 for farmers. Visit CaneCreekFarm.us or the Facebook Event Page for more information.
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Hungry for Change? Watch Food, Inc:
September 22nd @ 9 PM on Young’s Commons at Elon University.
Come see the movie that reinforces the motivation behind the local food revolution; Food, Inc. Join Company Shops Market at Elon University on September 22nd @ 9 PM on Young’s Commons, which is the grass between the library and Koury Athletic Center. You’ll never look at dinner the same way.
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“Wine, Dine and Dogs” Pot Luck
Saturday, Sept. 26 from 5-8pm at Glen Marie Winery
Join us at GlenMarie Winery for an evening of fellowship with Company Shops Market owners and friends. Bring your favorite dish to share. And bring your friends! There is a dog park at the winery so bring your dogs too, big and small. Enjoy some wine, food and a relaxing evening. GlenMarie Winery is located at 1838 Johnson Road, Burlington, NC. View the Invite on Facebook and visit GlenMarieWinery.com for directions.
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2nd Annual Piedmont Green Gala
2053 Willow Spring Lane, Burlington, NC 27215
Saturday, October 3, 2:00PM to 8:00PM
T.S. Designs invites you to our 2nd Annual Piedmont Green Gala. Please join us in reconnecting with the local community in Alamance County. Local, now more than ever, is critical and the Green Gala is a celebration of our community’s connection. Sustainable businesses and organizations will be highlighted throughout the day with ideas of how to live a greener lifestyle. Live music and local food will add a festive kick to this gala. The Howie Dewitt Band that will be playing at the Green Gala! www.myspace.com/howiedewittmusic. Please plan to attend! Visit the Piedmont Green Gala Facebook page or R.S.V.P. through e-vite http://tinyurl.com/mowcfz
Myths vs. Truths – Board president Sharon Dent clears up a few misconceptions
Saturday, September 26th, 2009Myth: The co-op is broke, struggling, or floundering.
Truth: We certainly aren’t broke, ‘sick’, or struggling!
We’re very much alive and kicking and into the final phase of the project: financing the renovation and upfit of the building and getting the market opened. In fact, we’ve received over $240,000 in community investment notes so far with $7,000 in new investment notes this week alone.
Myth: We must have 2,000 owners before we can do anything.
Truth: Nope; not true again. 2000 owners is a goal, but not a requirement.
Statistics suggest 2,000 owners (converted to shoppers) would be ideal by the time the market opens its doors. Which is why we set this as one of our goals but not a requiement. We are well on our way with over 1400 owners already, and are proceeding with the financing and the construction phase. Keep in mind that co-ops get additional owners for the life of the co-op and we will always be seeking new owners. Weaver Street Market in Orange County has over 17,000 owners.
Myth: The co-op is a non-profit.
Truth: Company Shops Market, Inc. is definitely a for-profit corporation.
Company Shops Market, Inc. will be a nice company to work for and to do business with, and will be a wonderful community citizen, but we are definitely a for-profit corporation. Specifically, we are a North Carolina cooperative corporation.
(This message was reposed due to some blog technicalities)
Tags: Co-op Health, Facts, Myths
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