Co-Op User Fee Increase

Dear West Michigan Co-Op Vendors and Buyers:

This is to inform you that during the August meeting, the West Michigan Co-Op board voted to increase the user fee from 2% to 5% for vendors and buyers alike, effective beginning the October 2009 cycle. This decision did not come easily but was mandated to ensure Co-Op sustainability and future growth.

Both vendor and buyer comments were taken into consideration, as were the financial statements and forecasted outlook. While the board realizes that this current economic period is difficult for everyone, it feels strongly that the Co-Op must brace itself to ensure viability for all. We hope that everyone will be supportive of this change as we are all striving for the same thing: healthy, local, sustainable food and “green” supplies from healthy, local, sustainable vendors.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jerry Adams, Executive Director, at the West Michigan Co-Op. He will be happy to help you.

Sincerely,

Nathan Creswick,
Board President

Jerry Adams,
Co-Op Director

Volunteers Needed for Harvest Celebration!

The Horizen Hydroponics Grand Harvest Festival is taking place next weekend, Saturday September 26th 11am-4pm.

What a great way to spend a fall afternoon celebrating the harvest season and talking with people about the West Michigan Co-op! And the best part is that our season doesn't end, it goes straight on through the winter! But how many people don't know that?!

Would you like to help hand out brochures and tell others about the West Michigan Co-op?

Two volunteers are needed for each of the following shifts:

• 10:30am-noon
• noon-2:00pm
• 2:00-4:00pm

The festival location is 1614 Leonard St. NW.

Please email tara@westmichigancoop.com or post a comment on our Volunteering Forum if you are available to help out!

Thanks!!

October Book Club Meeting

Our next book club meeting will be on October 12th at 6:30pm. A volunteer is needed to host, so please contact Veronica at veronicap@tds.net if you are interested!

The book we will be reading is Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India by Madhur Jaffrey. The book is available at Kent District Library - or you can order on-line - or borrow from a friend.

Since we always have food at our meeting we suggest that those attending make one of the recipes in the book - or any Indian dish that they love.

Please respond to Veronica at veronicap@tds.net if you plan on attending.

Happy Reading!!

Local First - Eat Local Challenge Dinner - September 17

What: Come follow your food from farm to plate, experience live cooking demonstrations, meet some of the best chefs in town and the farmers they work with, enjoy local, seasonal food and celebrate Michigan beer and wine. Many of your favorite Grand Rapids venues will be present: Bar Divani, Bistro Bella Vita, Patricia's Chocolates, and more!

When: Thursday, September 17 from 5:30 -9:30 PM

Where: San Chez Bistro (38 Fulton SW Grand Rapids, MI 49503)

Tickets: $25. Click here for tickets.

"Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food"

Time magazine recently ran a great story about the state of the agriculture industry in America. The article describes conventional farming methods and the resulting high costs to the environment, the economy, and the health of both humans and animals.

As an alternative to these destructive conventional farming methods, this article describes the importance of sustainable agriculture and the consciousness of food buyers who take the important step to learn where their food comes from and what farming practices are used by that producer.

To read the article, click here.