A vegetarian, organic food cooperative, Glut, has existed since the 1960s and draws people from all over the area.
As of 2009, there were approximately 300 food cooperatives in operation.
Trying to explain how it works with analogies to rural food cooperatives or supermarkets was not enough.
Minnesota has the most food cooperatives per capita in America.
Money had to be raised, but traditional lenders balked, even after an Italian food cooperative put up $500,000 to support the project.
Consumer cooperatives often refer to food cooperatives where members buy a share in the store.
In some places, food cooperatives or "co-op" markets, owned by their own shoppers, have been popular.
As a food cooperative, one of its goals is to be a "buying agent to its members, not a selling agent to any industry."
With over 45,000 members, it is the largest consumer-owned food cooperative in the United States.
We used to belong to a food cooperative which ordered and distributed food among its members.