Chester's Community Grocery Co-op

Chester's Co-op Engage Swarthmore College Students

2008-05-04T07:03:00.001-05:00

The Swarthmore College newspaper, "The Phoenix" ran this article

BY ARIEL MARTINO
In print May 1, 2008
A recent effort to get Swarthmore students involved with the Chester Co-op culminated on Saturday with the first shuttle run to the co-op. Professor of Religion Mark Wallace spearheaded the initiative to engage students in the developing business, working closely with members of his Environmental Studies Capstone Seminar this spring to generate interest in the community-based business model.
The Chester Co-op was started two years ago by Tina Johnson, a Chester resident, who saw the project as an opportunity to revitalize the city of Chester by providing resources – such as fresh, nutritious foods – that the community is sorely lacking. Wallace got the members of his seminar involved when they were studying permaculture, or sustainable, community-based agriculture.
“We decided the co-op was a strong permaculture case study of a neighborhood store that offers fresh, affordable produce to Chester residents and, possibly, Swatties as well,” Wallace said.
Students in Wallace’s seminar began their service to the Chester Co-op with projects aimed at optimizing the business’s Web site, identifying local food sources, writing grants and expanding the co-op’s membership. Midway through the semester, the class paid a visit to the co-op to develop a better understanding of the business and the context in which it operates.
Yusha Hu ’08 recalled weighing produce and conversing with co-op members. “Out of that visit came an idea that, because we enjoyed the experience of shopping and working at the co-op so much, other Swarthmore students would want to be involved too,” Hu said.
This past weekend, the Good Food Project sponsored a shuttle run to the co-op so that students could learn more about the opportunity for membership. Starting Fall 2008, there will be weekly shuttle runs from Parrish Circle to the co-op in downtown Chester, about a ten-minute drive away.
Student membership is $25 per semester and requires that the student commit to work 2.75 hours every four weeks. A membership is necessary to shop regularly at the co-op and will be available during both fall and spring semesters as well as in the summer. Faculty and staff are also encouraged to become members.
The co-op model is designed to be democratic, to promote joint ownership and to offer fair prices for food in Chester. Although nearly a third of the co-ops members are on welfare, most have invested in a $250 lifetime membership and have committed to the work requirement.
“Members join to become partial owners, get voting rights and become leaders in the co-op community – whether it’s to lead their work shift or run board meetings. The store becomes a gathering place for the community,” Hu said.
Andrew Quinton, another member of Wallace’s seminar added, “The member labor requirement reduces overhead costs, keeping prices down. In the past, affordable and high-quality food has not been available since there are no supermarkets in the city,” he said.
Quinton was also quick to point out the fact that the co-op is beginning to serve as a center for social networking, citing the fact that most of the members know each other. “The Chester Co-op ultimately wants to be a lynchpin that people can rally around as the city looks to revitalize itself,” Quinton said.
“I see the co-op as a good community partner with Swarthmore students. Tina and the other owner-members provide a positive and friendly environment in which students can shop and provide volunteer labor,” Wallace said.
The co-op owners hope to move to a more permanent location and expand the hours of operation, an effort that will require the recruitment of additional staff beyond the 200 volunteers already involved. Hu said, “Student membership directly helps them achieve that goal, and it also provides another connection between the borough of Swarthmore and the city of Chester.”
According to Quinton, the co-op is already developing deep roots in the community. “They’re working with a very experienced developer towards the goal of buying a larger, permanent home and have made strong connections with churches and other community organizations,” Quinton said.
While Swarthmore students may be content with the Swarthmore Co-op and Genaurdi’s, Hu cited several benefits available to patrons of the Chester Co-op.
Hu pointed out that the Chester Co-op “provides high-quality food, most of which is local and organic, at a fraction of the cost of the Swarthmore Co-op or Genaurdi’s.” “Beyond that, you’re participating in something that is more than just a good deal. The co-op is trying to build social capital in a place that is severely under-served, and it’s great to be a part of that,” she said.
Students may also see the work requirement as a downside, but Quinton said, “the work requirement is a commitment, but it’s also easy work in a friendly environment. It’s hard to beat getting quality food to people who need it and live just minutes away from you as a way to help out the world.”
The city of Chester has been the focus of many Swarthmore-based service projects, as it is an under-served and often ignored locus of poverty. Rather than allowing people, business and capital to leave Chester, the revitalization efforts focus on keeping resources in Chester and rebuilding the community.
The co-op has already established its place in the Chester community and has high hopes for shaping the city in the coming years.“Chester has a lot of problems, and nobody’s expecting miracles, but getting high-quality and affordable food to anybody in the city who wants it would be huge and is well within reach,” Quinton said.
Disclosure Note: Yusha Hu ‘08 is a columnist for The Phoenix but had no involvement in the production of this article.
© 1995-2008 The Phoenix. All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced without the permission of The Phoenix.

Chester's Co-op Membership Continues to Grow

2008-04-29T14:20:00.004-05:00

Sometime revisiting the past can be unpleasant and a reminder of what you have not accomplished although you had every intention on doing so. Perhaps that would be the case with looking back at the growth of the Co-op's membership if it were stagnant. Fortunately that is not a problem that we have.
The Co-op started with 13 households, people who thought that the idea was worth giving it a try. We are estatic about our growth. We have surpassed our 100 member household membership and look forward to our continued growth.
The growth of the Co-op is very diversified which is necessary to increase the success of the Co-op's future. Our sole purpose is to serve our membership and without them we would not need to be open.
The Co-op would like to thank each owner-member old and new for joining us in bringing access to quality food at affordable prices to anyone who wants to be a part of Chester's Co-op. We look forward to accepting new owner-member applications and continuing our great success

Chester's Co-op Board President Honored

2008-04-29T14:02:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Congregation Beth Israel
542 S. New Middletown Road
MEDIA, PA, 19063

April 2, 2008

Beth Israel Honors Pioneering Chester Coop Leader

Working for the Tibetan government in-exile while only 27 years old, Tina Johnson thought she could make a difference for those in poverty and hunger. Little did she know that her calling would bring her 7500 miles east to Chester, Pennsylvania—a short drive from where she grew up. And while the landscape has changed, the drive to train and inspire others to create their own sustainable community and defeat hunger is still her passion.

Congregation Beth Israel of Media today announced that Tina Johnson of Chester has won its 2008 “Friend of the Community Award.” She is being recognized for her vision, creativity and tireless efforts to bring healthy and affordable food to the residents of Chester.

The Friend of the Community Award is given each year by Congregation Beth Israel to celebrate the efforts of volunteers and activists who have made a vital difference in the quality of life in Delaware County. The recipients of the award can be of any faith, but all exemplify the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world” through charity, volunteerism and dedication to improving the lives of others.

Ms. Johnson has been engaged with launching Chester’s first cooperative grocery market. Chester has been underserved by the market industry since the town underwent wrenching job losses and social change after World War II. There has not been a supermarket in Chester for 15 years. Currently, the 37,000 residents of the city must shop at small corner groceries or face traveling long distances to neighboring towns for food and necessities at “big box” stores and shopping malls. A variety of public health issues in the community have been associated with this lack of abundant, fresh, affordable and healthy food choices.

The goal of Ms. Johnson’s Chester Community Grocery Coop is to establish a market that brings farm-fresh food and groceries to Chester residents while motivating citizens to personally invest their money, time and energy to running the business. Each member must put up a modest membership fee and pledge to work in the business for a few hours each month. Ms. Johnson believes that this community ownership and personal stake will help drive neighborhood commitment and success for the venture.

Ms. Johnson and her Coop leaders have reached out to the farming community to bring in high quality crops direct from the fields. At the same time, she and her team are conducting outreach sessions across the Chester neighborhoods, informing residents about the challenges, advantages and rewards of joining the new venture.

The Coop board is exploring a number of creative approaches to raising the resources to start the venture, including graduated memberships fees that allow families of modest means to join, all the way to an innovative “micro-loan” program for individual donors, and participation plans for corporate partners and foundations.

Ms. Johnson took a detour from her successful employment skills training business when she met Kate Smith of the Keystone Development Council. The need for leadership of the existing, embryonic cooperative aligned powerfully for Ms. Johnson, who came aboard in 2006 to lead the group. She has recently moved to Chester to bring a true grass-roots approach to her leadership.

Tina Johnson will be honored at a ceremony to be held at Congregation Beth Israel on Friday, May 16 at 6:30 PM. The public is warmly invited to attend. For further information, contact Congregation Beth Israel at (610) 566-4645.
***
Since 1998, the Social Action committee of Congregation Beth Israel has presented the “Friend of the Community Award” to individuals or groups whose work in Delaware County exemplifies the Jewish value of “Tikkun Olam,” or repairing the world. Members of Beth Israel participate in a range of community projects, such as serving home-cooked meals at the Life Shelter in Upper Darby, teaching reading to children, computer skills to shelter families in Chester and collecting donations for MAZON, the Jewish Response to Hunger.

Congregation Beth Israel is affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation and has served the Media community for more than 50 years. It is located at 542 South New Middletown Road. Its web address is http://www.bethisraelmedia.org/.
***
CONTACTS:
Congregation Beth Israel (610) 566-4645
John Greenstine, Beth Israel Public Relations (610) 891-0806
jgreenstine@yahoo.com

Second Owner-Member General Membership Meeting

2007-06-05T19:23:00.000-05:00

On May 21,2007 Chester's Community Grocery Co-op held its second general membership meeting. This meeting was held at the historic Armory on Sproul Street in Chester, PA.
General Membership Meetings are open to all members of the Co-op who are in good standing. These meetings are where we discuss the business of the co-op from the treasurer's report, to committee reports.
This particular General Membership Meeting we voted in our Board of Directors, read and accepted the By-laws and Articles of Incorporation, as well as held our Farm Fresh Market.
General Membership Meetings are important to the Co-op because this is the time that each member household adds his or her voice, ideas, opinions, and vote to the actions that are taking place and will take place in the operations of the Co-op.
If you were unable to attend the General Membership Meeting the minutes will be posted on the website for you to read or feel free to contact the Board of Directors if you have any questions boarddirectors@chestercoop.com.
We had a great turn out. A great vote of thanks to the General Membership Committee for setting the meeting up, and the Nominating Committee for the hard work to identify the nominees for the board. A great thank you to everyone who participated.

The next general membership meeting will be held in September. The more participation we have the stronger the voice in the Co-op will be and the better it will be as a business serving its owner-members.

Chester's Co-op Host First Wellness Fair With Phialdelphia Ealges #38 Thomas Tapeh

2007-04-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

Chester's Co-op will host it first Wellness Fair on April 14th at the Chester YWCA from 11-3 pm (7th and Sproul Streets). Come and meet Philadelphia Eagles Fullback #38 Thomas Tapeh.

Chester's Co-op is way more than a supermarket. Our mission is to provide access to quality affordable food, but we also are committed to improving the physical health of our community through wellness programs that encourage a holistic approach to living well. There will be something for everyone, yoga, martial arts, dance, acupuncture, chair massage, screenings (blood pressure, BMI), food, prizes, nutritional information and entertainment. This is open to everyone both adults and children.

Access to great food as well as physical exercise are powerful tools for a better healthier way to live.

Chester's Co-op Farm Fresh Market

2007-04-13T09:05:00.000-05:00

A year ago Chester's Co-op made a commitment to provide access to quality nutritional food at affordable prices. Although the building is not open we are open for business. Chester's Co-op Farm Fresh Market opened on Saturday March 31st. Our great prices and quality food made it a great success.

The Farm Fresh Market is open two days a week, Wednesday 2-6 and Saturday 10-2. Located at the West 7th Street Parking Lot. It is open to members and non-members. We'll see you there.

Press Release for Chester's Co-op Tasting Event

2007-03-16T03:50:00.000-05:00

Press Release

Contact: Jan Kirk or Lucille Gyant FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tel: (484)557-2530 or (610)874-4679
E-mail: kirk.3@comcast.net Friday March 16, 2007
www.chestercoop.com

Co-op Members Test Their Taste Buds

Chester, Pennsylvania –

As dramatic an event as the first Coke vs. Pepsi taste test, Chester’s Co-op, a community-owned grocery store in-the-making, held its first taste test of potential food items at the Chester YWCA this past Saturday, March 10.

Some forty people from the evolving member-owned & operated grocery store, the only full-service market for Chester’s 37,000 residents, turned out to sample everything from waffles to cereal, syrup to pickles. The Co-op involves members in every aspect of business from serving on the board of directors to stocking shelves, from input on food choices to services and wellness. Saturday’s tasting and evaluation event was just the beginning of exploring what items the members might want to find on the shelves. “Now I can go the market,” said Gerwayne McElaney, the Co-op’s Wellness Committee Chair, whose husband has done the family shopping for 12 years. “I feel comfortable; I believe that I am buying quality. I won’t go to the market 10 minutes away but I am now willing to drive 20 minutes now.”

The mood was festive, the energy positive, and the Co-op’s leadership from President Tina Johnson to Lucille Gyant and Bernice Sisson, co-chairs of the Product - Pricing Committee, were on hand to taste and rate the food. At each of the six tables, members filled out survey cards ranking items according to taste, appearance, texture, ease of use, and overall quality. Last but not least, Co-op leaders want to know: “would you buy this product?”

The products were culled by members of the committee from among the private labels of the White Rose Food Division. In the near future, the Co-op will open their “Farm Fresh Market,” where locally grown produce will be available to members, even before the store at 5th & Edgmont site is ready. Beginning at the end of March, signs of spring will greet Chester Co-op members in the form of fruits and vegetables nestled on tables under tents on Wednesdays from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Although the renovation to the building at 5th & Edgmont still requires more members to join the Co-op and some outside start up financing, the community can’t wait for the fresh clean produce it needs now, so with good weather coming soon, the Co-op is moving ahead with the outdoor market. Tents have been donated by George Whitfield of State Farm Insurance and neighboring food markets—320 Produce and the Swarthmore Co-op—have offered to share their knowledge of local fresh produce farmers and distributors. In the meantime, the Co-op continues to sign up new members and seek nonprofit status for its wellness, health, and educational initiatives.

The Chester Co-op is the brainchild of Tina Johnson a triple-major (Philosophy, Literature and Cultural Studies) graduate from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Since graduating she has traveled extensively throughout Central and South America, India, and Europe becoming fluent in Spanish. Upon returning to visit family and neighbors in the city of her birth, she found many Chester residents saying essentially the same thing: “We need a real full-service grocery store with a selection of quality produce that meets our community’s needs.”

For nearly sixteen years the City of Chester has not had a supermarket, but things look good for the Chester Co-op. The leaders and members are partnering with people inside and outside Chester. Tara Jones-Stephens, executive director of the Chester YWCA and a founding Co-op member, said that she is willing to give Tina Johnson and team “anything they need until the building is up. Tina and I are both happy to be part of the renaissance in Chester,” added Jones-Stephens, who has just secured a federal grant to make possible the reopening of the only indoor pool in Chester. “We work together and help each other out. It is an awesome partnership.”

Chester's Co-op First General Membership Business Meeting

2007-03-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

There are many keys to success regarding co-ops from providing the right product and services to its owner-members to making sure that the membership is diversified to encourage greater longevity and sustainablity. However, there is one key that is pertient to the thriving success of a co-op and that is the participation of own-members in the decision and implementation process of their business.
On February 3rd, 2006 Chester's Co-op held its first business meeting at Zion's Baptist Church in Chester, Pennsylvania. A business meeting is similar to a shareholders meeting. Each owner-member has a voice and vote, this is very important because the co-op exists to serve the needs of the membership. It is here that the financial health of the co-op, its strengths and weaknesses, and the strategic plan are disucssed.
The portion of the meeting that really exemplifies what cooperatives are about is the presentation of proposals by committees, owner-members, the board of directors and the discussion, debate, amending, motions, and voting take place. It is democracy at work and each person sees how their opinions and vote helps to establish the policies and goverance that they want to see at work.
The First General Membership Meeting yielded decisions on how to proceed with the building development, opening the Farm Fresh Market on March 31st, sponsoring a Family Wellness Fun Fair, creating a nominating committee, and owner-members hosting membership meetings in their homes, churches.
These decisions encourage the development of the Chester's Co-op, but more importantly they allow for owner-members to realize the impact that their participation has on the overall development and success of their business. Because without owner-members there is no need for the co-op and without their voices the co-op cannot thrive. So if you are an owner-member do not hesitate to get involved. Your voice and vote matter because it is your business.

Area Realtor Talks About the Co-op

2007-01-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

Rich Schiffer a realtor with Weicher's West Chester Pennsylvania office recently discussed the Co-op in his blog. To read the entry, click here.

Chester Children's Chorus helps Chester's Co-op

2006-12-21T11:10:00.000-05:00

Chester's Co-op and the Chester Children's Chorus joined together to raise funds for each other at the CCC Holiday Concert last Saturday night. An anonymous donor offered to match all money given at the concert and donate it to Chester's Co-op. "We were hoping for about $4,000," said Tina Johnson, Co-op President, "but so far gifts have exceeded $11,500! WOW! Thanks to all who gave so generously."

Our first Co-op newsletter

2006-12-18T23:19:00.000-05:00

In November, we published our very first Co-op Newsletter, full of information about the Co-op, our members, recipes, and more! Click here to take a look!

2006-12-18T23:18:00.002-05:00

Recently, Fox Channel 29 profiled our Co-op. Click here to watch this two-minute segment (posted courtesy of our friends at the Swarthmore Co-op.)

Our first Owner-Member meeting on Nov 30, 2006

2006-12-18T23:18:00.001-05:00

Our first Owner-Membership meeting was held on Thursday, November 30, 7:30pm at Community Hospital. Click here for a printable invitation.

Regional Housing Legal Services

2006-12-18T23:16:00.000-05:00

We're pleased to announced that in November, Regional Housing Legal Services, a non-profit legal services office located in Glenside, PA, agreed to be our limited legal counsel.

Membership orientation on Nov 20, 2006

2006-12-18T23:10:00.000-05:00

A Membership Orientation was held on Monday, November 20, 2006, 7:30pm at Widener University, University Center, Room A. Click here for a printable flier about this orientation.

Membership orientation on Nov 14, 2006

2006-12-18T23:06:00.002-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Tuesday, November 14, 2006, 7:30pm at Delores Freeman Art Gallery, 419 Edgmont Avenue in Chester. Click here for a printable flyer about the orientation.

Membership orientation on Nov 2, 2006

2006-12-18T23:06:00.001-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Thursday, November 2, 2006, 7:30pm at Chester Meeting, 24th and Chestnut (2 blocks west of Providence Road.)

Friends of Chester's Co-op Partnership Program

2006-12-18T23:05:00.002-05:00

In October, we formally introduced a new Friends of Chester's Community Grocery Co-op Partnership Program to allow interested individuals, corporations, and organizations to support the Co-op. For more information, go to the special Partnership area of our website.

Philly Tribune: "Fresh Thought in Mind"

2006-12-18T23:05:00.001-05:00

The Philadelphia Tribune profiles the Co-op in an article, "Fresh Thought in Mind: Residents-owned grocery would provide quality food." (August 29, 2006.)

Co-op in The Chester Spotlight

2006-12-18T23:04:00.002-05:00

Read the recent story in The Chester Spotlight written by Tina Johnson about the Co-op. It originally appeared in print on August 18, 2006.

Membership orientation on Oct 24, 2006

2006-12-18T23:04:00.001-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Tuesday, October 24, 2006, 7:30pm at Community Hospital, 2600 W. 9th Street in Chester, First Floor Southeast Conference Room.

Membership orientation on Oct 12, 2006

2006-12-18T23:03:00.000-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Thursday, October 12, 2006, 7:30pm at Delores Freeman Art Gallery, 419 Edgmont Avenue in Chester. Click here for a printable flyer about the orientation.

Co-op at Farm Aid 2006

2006-12-18T23:02:00.000-05:00

Farm Aid 2006, held on Saturday, September 30, 2006, featured the Co-op as an example of needed community efforts to connect local farms with needy urban centers. Tina Johnson, President of the Co-op Steering Committee, spoke at the press conference before the concert.

The Delaware County Daily Times covered the event in an article, "Chester Co-op Founder will Speak at Farm Aid." (October 1, 2006.)

Membership orientation on Sept 28, 2006

2006-12-18T23:01:00.001-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Thursday, September 28, 2006, 7:30pm at Delores Freeman Art Gallery, 419 Edgmont Avenue in Chester. Click here for a printable flyer about the orientation.

Membership orientation on Sept 14, 2006

2006-12-18T22:58:00.000-05:00

A Membership Orientation meeting was held on Thursday, September 14, 2006, 7:30pm at Community Hospital, 2600 West 9th St. in Chester. Click here for a printable flyer about the orientation.