Orcas Food Co-op Primed for Service!

Marta Nielsen, Lisa Byers, Ken Katz and Learner Limbach at the soon-to-open Orcas Food Co-op

“Thanks to our wonderful community vision, support and hard work”

— by Margie Doyle —

Orcas Food Co-op Director Lisa Byers says, “The fun is just beginning! The staff has gone through training and we’re at a real significant moment of transition! Ken’s had his hands on every corner, nook and cranny of this building, and now the board can step back and look at the bigger picture.”

Byers is referring to the pending opening of the new Orcas Food Co-op on Sunday, June 1, in the building formerly occupied by Homegrown Foods on North Beach Road in Eastsound.

Ken Katz is volunteer construction manager of the renovation. He says with satisfaction as the construction job is nearly completed, “The unique challenge has been bringing out the best in each volunteer.”

Lisa seconds that observation: “I walk in here and know that Ken will put me on a job I can do and do well.” Over 100 volunteers have worked long and hard and happily, and every one of them has come back more than once. While the last week can still use new carpenters and painters, the greatest help Orcas Islanders can give to the new food supplier is to become members of the co-op, shop at the store and give feedback to the founders and workers.

“We’re right on track,” Orcas Food Co-op General Manager Learner Limbach said, in a rare moment of relaxation this weekend. “We’re reaching our membership goals, funding targets and construction deadlines. Now we’re about to open and everyone is so appreciative and tight.”

It’s been an intense and relatively quick process, that began early in 2013, says Learner, in realizing how much a food co-op was needed. After many conversations and meetings and much research, the key players came together in a steering committee and board. That group has met weekly over the last year,

Learner credits Lisa Byers’ facilitation as President of the Board in its “group decision-making work to consensus in almost every situation, like product guidelines, or by-laws or budget.

“Working with a group that cares that much is pretty incredible. The team has been so passionate, so aligned in values like consistency and continuity — and that’s the only reason it’s been able to happen in such a tight time frame: I thought it would be reasonable to take several years — but the need was now, and we had to pull it together.

“It’s felt like we had to have the pedal to the metal for the entire year; feeling exhausted but to keep going. And the beauty was in the total immersion.”

Lisa Byers says, “We’ve made a retail outlet to foster much more local agricultural activity. Now we [on the Board of Directors] will be getting into the bigger conversation about local food and products.”

The founding board consists of Byers, John Dey, Libby Geddes, Katz, Learner Limbach,Marta Nielsen and Jonathan Wolfson; advisers are Jim Bredouw, William Limbach and George Orser. A new board will be elected by Food Co-op members this November.

To join the co-op (monthly payment plans are available), go to orcasfood.coop/membership.

Or you can just come to The Grand Opening be next Sunday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to see and shop at the new Orcas Food Co-op!

What is a Co-op?

A Co-op is an independent, democratic organization owned, operated, and financed by its members. Co-ops serve their members and benefit the communities in which they live by keeping more dollars in the local economy. With a Co-op profits are re-invested into the Co-op and its mission, going back to members in the form of patronage dividends, paying workers a living wage, buying from local farmers, providing honest information and education, and strengthening the economic underpinnings of our community.

Cooperatives around the world generally operate according to the same core principles and values, adopted by the International Co-operative Alliance in 1995. Cooperatives trace the roots of these principles to the first modern cooperative founded in Rochdale, England in 1844.

1. Voluntary and Open Membership
2. Democratic Member Control
3. Members’ Economic Participation
4. Autonomy and Independence
5. Education, Training and Information
6. Cooperation among Cooperatives
7. Concern for Community

(from the website www.orcasfoodcoop.com )