* In case you are wondering, Tony was not compensated in any way for this review. He is just a supporter of Company Shops Market and a fan of Homeland Creamery.

What is your favorite item in the market? If you are a Company Shops Owner and you are interested in sharing your favorite item in the store with a 60 second review of why you love it, please contact pr@companyshopsmarket.coop. (A few rules: Sorry vendors, you can not review your own products. You can not be directly associated with the production or sales of the product you are reviewing.)

Why Local Food? : Several Elon University professors weigh in on why they choose to buy food grown and raised by area farmers. This video is part of the Telling The Story of Company Shops Market documentary series.

Dr Janet MacFall – Elon University Environmental Science Department
“Locally grown food is usually fresher. It’s usually harvested when its closer to ripeness… I know the people who grow my eggs. I know people who grow the meat that I eat.”

Dr Tony Crider – Elon University Physics Department
“I’m amazed at how much people will spend in the clothes they put on their body and the electronics they put in their pocket, and get the best brand names they can afford. But then they’ll put the absolute cheapest and most disgusting food in their body and think nothing of it. If instead you say that you want treat the people fairly, treat the animals humanly and eat a product that you know what went into the animal… then you want to buy from someone you know. And to do that, you almost always have to do it locally. Ultimately, you have to pay the price. If you don’t pay now, you’ll pay later. Either with your health or with your impact on the environment. I’d prefer to pay now.”

Dr Megan Squire – Elon University Computer Science Department
“Buy food grown by people locally that you know. You can can drive out to their farm if you want to see how its grown. That community feel spills out into the store itself. They’re generally fun and happy places to shop. ”

This video was created by Taylor Shain and Elon University Fall 2010 documentary class with Doug Kass for creating this video.

Thank you for creating this documentary that helps show what the local food community is all about. It’s about enjoying food that is super fresh, tastes great, and is full of nutrients. It’s about making healthy food choice that leave you feeling vibrant and alive. It’s about creating relationships with the people who grow your food, having the opportunity to visit the family farms and see knowledge and care and pride that goes into the foods they produce. Its about connecting with the people in your community and building friendships around a shared passion for good food. ~ Sarah C.

Company Shops Market owner and volunteer, Tony Crider, speaks about what we as owners need to do to get the market open this year.

1) Recruit new owners

2) Make a Loan to the Co-op: become an investor

3) Volunteer