Food cooperatives are some of Wisconsin’s biggest champions of locally sourced foods, and they’re not like a typical grocery store. “What makes us unique from other retailers is that we’re run by the people who shop our store,” says Ann Mull, marketing director of People’s Food Co-op. “The cooperative business model encourages people to take ownership of how their food is sourced, sold and consumed with an emphasis on ethics, sustainability and community.”
Viroqua Food Co+op General Manager Jan Rasikas sees a clear tie between ethics, sustainability, and community and offering local food. “Most of our shoppers and owners live nearby. Our cooperative business model actively strengthens the community we serve by building a local food economy, providing good jobs and strengthening our local foodshed.”
“Local food is important for so many reasons!” says Willy Street Co-op General Manager Anya Firszt. “Local food travels less, so it tends to be fresher, uses less packaging and requires less fuel to get to the store. Buying locally produced food keeps more money circulating in our community.”
As part of their Eat Local Month celebration this September, Willy Street Co-op, People’s Food Co-op and Viroqua Food Co+op each invited a chef from their region to share a fall recipe centered on local foods available at their local co-op. Each chef was given the same core ingredients—Hidden Springs Creamery Feta, Gentle Breeze honey, Tortilleria Zepeda tortillas—and asked to pair them with local proteins and seasonal produce.
Visit your local co-op to get the ingredients to try these seasonal recipes and explore the variety of local foods these stores offer!
Willy Street Co-op
Three stores in north Madison, east Madison and Middleton
“Local” is defined as anywhere in Wisconsin or within 150 miles of the State Capitol building
People's Food Co-op
Two stores in La Crosse, WI and Rochester, MN
“Local” is defined as 200 miles from both stores
Viroqua Food Co+op
One store in Viroqua
“Local” is defined as 100 miles from the store
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