This GROCERY Contributes ~$10MM to LOCAL FARMERS & FOODMAKERS...That's Why We Joined - Ep. 054

[@hj8607]

I shopped The Cleveland Co-Op mid 70's on Euclid Ave. and later Coventry locations for many years. (closed its doors for good(bad) in 2011)

[@kairon156]

This is a really cool setup. I'm not into veggies but I do like the idea of grocery stores using the local area to boost the economy of people living around them. It's also nice that they can talk to long term farmers and be very flexible.

[@Erki750]

This is the most unique and valuable content on this platform right now. What you guys are doing is so important❤️

[@tamihegwood]

For some reason this made me tear up like 3 times. Flock Fingers channel is my refuge.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

we're so thrilled to hear the stories touch you. Thanks for writing in and taking the time to watch.

[@sandylee1717]

I’d love to shop there

[@2prettyfunnythings736]

Another great video. Continued success Flock. ✌🏻😎

[@RanDom-bk8tt]

wow...this is such an eye opener. i wish we had something like this in my area. thank you for sharing.

[@shellywilks883]

Well done everyone🤗❤❤❤

[@sheilagavin8281]

Long time Greenstar member here!

[@LunovaLabs]

I wish there was more of these around me!

[@jeanneamato8278]

Bravo! I wish we had this in our area. We have a local market but they don’t carry as much local as I wish they would. Also their prices are high for what they sell.

[@_JanetLouise]

excellent!

[@anastasiawak894]

You guys teach me so much. Well done! I need me a Flock tshirt to spread the love.

[@valtaoimatsukase6072]

Palagi Kita sinusubaybayan.mag iingat kayong tatlo palagi.

[@ingeleonora-denouden6222]

This video was suggested by youtube (probably because of other videos I watched). It's interesting, but after watching a part of it I think I know enough. This Greenstar co-operative is like here (in the Netherlands) there's Odin. That's a co-operative structure too. They have several stores spread out over the country, like small supermarkets (very small, to USA standards) selling organic (mostly bio-dynamic) foods. In regions without a store they have an order-and-delivery system. They started in the early 1980s.

[@ramthianthomson601]

Good. !.

[@4dahdah]

I’ve been following your personal channel for several years now and recently subscribed to Flock Finger Lakes. It seems I can’t get enough of seeing and learning about plants, plus, I graduated from a high school located near Cayuga Lake. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to hear you mentioned the Karen refugees in this video. Just wanted to comment on that because my family also came to the US as refugees. It’s nice to see my Karen people getting a good report from their employer because they have good work ethic and they truly are awesome people to work with.

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Hi Mudah, nice to meet you and so nice to know that you grew up in the area. I was also pleasantly surprised to know that Emmy's employed so many Karen people (and to know of the Karen population in the region!) I think the story showing that Samantha was supported by GreenStar and through her growth, she continues to support the community and offering a nice work environment for employees, just shows how community helps community helps community...It's a positive feedback loop.

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

Looks great! Looking to start a permaculture orchard soon...

[@laurenervin1404]

YES! Thanks for highlighting this! I truly hope this inspires many others to get involved in and start co-ops in their area🙏🙏

[@keithpritchard1029]

You guys need to take a trip to Sauders in Seneca Falls, NY just north of Ithaca. It’s another amazing local specialty grocery store. Lots of bulk grains and preserves and produce. I can’t wait to check out Green Star and the Moosewood Restaurant next time I’m in Ithaca.

[@jpallen719]

This is similar to the business model of a co-op in Port Townsend, Washington. Wonderful! Such a quality place and shopping experience …

[@summerrayneoakes]

Glad to hear you have one in your neighborhood too!

[@johnpatterson9219]

OMG, their new store is huge and their prices look good!

[@luisamedda2273]

Very very interesting 😊

[@hallac8592]

Inspiring!

[@vonlurker1567]

So interesting video. Thank you Summer !

[@summerrayneoakes]

you're most welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@taramceown2919]

I am new to your channel. Thank you for your videos!

[@FlockFingerLakes]

Welcome and thanks for enjoying the human stories behind all the videos :)

[@johannedufort5900]

Hope 😇

[@michaelatiller7570]

All of these videos are making me want to move to Ithaca!

[@summerrayneoakes]

It's part of the reason why I wanted to come back to the region and did my fair bit of convincing my partners, but in the end, didn't have to do that much convincing. It's such a neat region. And Ithaca is only a little piece of what makes it unique.

[@michaelatiller7570]

It certainly seems like a region filled with the richness of people, community and a mutual love for the Earth! I am in North Georgia and would love to see these type of things come to flourish in our area 💖

[@ithacacomments4811]

It is very expensive and challenging for the mid to low income individual to live in Ithaca, NY. I love all that Ithaca has to offer! The area is accommodating to the Colleges and University. Students and Professors can afford most anything. The rest of us enjoy the simple life.... and pray we can keep a roof over our heads. Born and raised in Ithaca...71 years now.

[@mimib6955]

Sweet!! I will definitely check them out! We are about an hour away from Ithaca, and only go to the area for Doctor appointments. Thank you for sharing this information!!

[@summerrayneoakes]

That would be lovely if you stop by when you're next in town. (You can get a treat after your doctor appointments) ;)

[@mdascoota4293]

We have the Odin cooperation here in the Netherlands but it is pretty expensive to buy good, healthy food without pesticides etc. For a family with kids it is hardly affordable unless you have a very good income.

[@tesha199]

If you can't afford healthy food (nonsense), you either grow your own or eat crap food.

[@THEROOTMATTERS]

You take orders collect cash, buy just enough, bag it up, have the buyers come pick it up. Simpler!

[@THEROOTMATTERS]

Buy in bulk for less. Knowing how much to purchase based on orders. No overhead. Pick up place can be a church, etc.

[@jsaysyay]

wish i had somewhere that big close to me, but at the same time i live literally behind a farm that stocks lots of local stuff, as well as being near a bunch of farms. looked into it just now and found some places of interest a few towns away though

[@tesha199]

Just beware, local farm doesn't equal healthy food.

[@MegaStrumpfhose]

I love the idea, wish we had stores like that here in Germany! Thanks for the informative videos, I'm really happy everytime I see that there's a new one ;)

[@summerrayneoakes]

there are definitely some really good cooperative models in Europe.

[@jensonkcharlotte7991]

there is also Coop Denmark

[@michaelspano4067]

i dream of the day when we have something like this in our area. we are very fortunate to have one small organic produce farm in our county that sells a few items at the summer farmers market. we are on the waiting list to join and be able to get a guaranteed allotment every week but so far their ability to expand has not been able to keep up with the demand.

[@summerrayneoakes]

It often just starts off with finding enough folks that have the interest and motivation to get it off the ground. I hope you do get one in your area and that you move off the waitlist too!

[@melissapetrosino1642]

I love Green Star! I’m always so excited to go when I’m in Ithaca.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Very nice to hear you have experience with it.

[@l...]

Plant all types of garlic 🧄 & taste it Next all tomatoes 🍅 + arugula ( Rocca ) Next all Onion 🧅 + parsley 🌿 All zucchini

[@swatch12345]

Thanks for sharing Summer! Does the "other entity" portion of the business still exist? I'm curious of how it's doing.

[@summerrayneoakes]

Do you mean the Real Food Coop, which was the preorder system? If so, that doesn't exist any longer, (which probably says something about that model in modern times).

[@summerrayneoakes]

Do you mean the Real Food Coop, which was the preorder system? If so, that doesn't exist any longer, (which probably says something about that model in modern times).

[@riawhetstone3725]

*researches local co-ops*

[@onekerri1]

Are farm animals and personal protection (2A) allowed?

[@onekerri1]

Ya'll have been infiltrated. Shame.

[@springchild74]

This sounds a like a Greenstar propaganda piece. Zero critical insights into its increasingly corporate model. Some call this "co-op" a "mini-Wegmans."

[@FlockFingerLakes]

We aren't a news organization, so we do not claim to be unbiased or hyper-critical of the topics, people and places we choose to do stories on. Instead, we are just residents in this region who are very happy to have a cooperative that we're proud to be a part of, to shop at, and support. We understand that others may not feel the same way as us, but this is our perspective and thus sharing it here. And we shop at Wegmans too (no qualms there. I even worked there as a young woman), but for us to get the great local fare that we love-and the great bulk section, and knowing that more of the money stays in the community, there's GreenStar. At the very least, we think that this summarizes the challenges that not only GreenStar has faced as an organization, but also what other cooperatives may currently be facing, and opens up the opportunity for more ideas and work. Given that you have potentially constructive ideas, it may actually be a wonderful opportunity for you to be a shareholder (if you're not already one), and provide some insights, ideas and avenues for different models.

[@springchild74]

​@@FlockFingerLakes Oh please. You are too easy to impress. I'm a shareholder and I regret that I made the investment from very little I have. They have not done anything to keep shareholders involved. I paid once, as the co-op said they are in a pinch, and that is it - I have hardly heard anything from them, except to hear once a year every year we don't have any dividends and that the co-op is struggling financially (why do they continue operating two extra branch stores, especially one in collegetown, when they can't afford it?). I would not have felt so bitter about my investment if they kept their members involved. "We are not a news organization" but you have some responsibility as a media content creator to present more balanced information to the public. To praise a co-op that has lost its vision of member-ownership as if this IS the vision of the co-op movement, is nothing but a shoddy work. Please at least learn about other co-ops that has kept its newsletter, regular bimonthly membership meetings, kept themselves financially viable, and all of those things during the pandemic. I think my investment to Greenstar is a lost investment. They lost their soul and took the corporate model, and it's sinking big time and still not doing anything to change the course. They just fired some 17 workers. SMH. The only way for the co-op to redeem itself is to return to its roots and to actually become a co-op, not mini-Wegmans.