Food Co-op to Host Food for Change Screening, Potluck

Sunday, October 25, 4 – 6 p.m., Odd Fellows Hall

— from Regina Zwilling, Orcas Food Co-op —

October is National Co-op Month and the Orcas Food Co-op is hosting a community showing of Food For Change, a new film that looks at the current resurgence of food cooperatives in America, and their unique historic place in America’s economic and political landscape.

The film is being screened free of charge and everyone is welcome to attend, though donations are welcome to help cover the screening fee and hall rental. Please join us at the Oddfellows Hall on Sunday, October 25. The film will be shown from 4 pm – 6 pm with a Community Fall Harvest Potluck to follow. Those planning to attend the potluck are encouraged to source as much local ingredients as possible in order to highlight and celebrate our local abundance. Please also bring your own dishware to reduce waste going into the landfill.

Food For Change tells the story of the co-op movement in the U.S. through a combination of interviews, rare archival footage, and commentary by co-op leaders and historians. No other film has examined the key role played by consumer-led food co-ops during the decades-long debate over profit-driven capitalism vs. locally-controlled economic enterprises.

Filmmaker Steve Alves describes his documentary as “one part food, to two parts politics, to three parts economics.” Alves tracks the co-op movement’s quest for whole and organic foods, and the dream of sustainable food systems. The film profiles several current food co-ops that have revived neighborhoods and entire communities — right in the shadow of corporate agribusiness and national supermarket chain stores.

“Today we’re experiencing a renaissance of American food co-ops,” says Sean Doyle, General Manager of the Seward Co-op. “These are not marginal enterprises—they are successful and dynamic businesses that are revitalizing communities across the United States. People are once again taking more control over the economic forces in their lives.”

Join the Orcas Food Co-op at Odd Fellows Hall on Sunday, October 25, 4 pm to 6 pm, to watch the movie, and be sure to stay for the potluck social 6 pm to 7 pm. Questions? E-mail info@orcasfood.coop.