The cooperative's membership is up to about 12 members so far, Ms. LaPenta said, and more than 50 people have expressed an interest.
"So we're having this event to get them to learn about the co-op and what it has to offer," she explained. Our goal is 100 members 2within the next two weeks."
Once they reach their financial goals, the group can sign a lease with the current landlord. "We'll hold those fees in an escrow account until we sign the lease, and then we'll have operating capital and be ready to go," she said. "We're practically halfway there already, which is awesome. There's phenomenal community support and the landlord is really happy to have the co-op in here."
Since she made the decision to join the cooperative store with a group of other residents, Ms. LaPenta has spent her time at the Route 202 business, selling her own inventory for half price, while she and other members plan for the reopening.
The way customers buy health food and organic products at Amazing Grains will not change, Ms. LaPenta explained. "The co-op is a buying co-op, so it will operate like a retail store, just like normal," she said. "So if you want to stop by for something, it'll just be a regular store. But if you're a member, you get a discount. The members actually own the store, and every member has an equal share. That's the difference."
In their invitation to the community to the March 29 event, planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the community is invited to meet "CSAs", markets and growers. They can learn about the benefits of belonging to a cooperative store, including being able to purchase competitively priced natural, organic and local foods, being able to place catalogue orders for United Natural Foods, and receiving 10 percent off everything on the store's shelves.
The CSA angle, which stands for Community Supported Agriculture, is particularly exciting for Ms. LaPenta, who strongly believes in buying and growing local food. She is an organic chef and plans to use some of her now-free time expanding her own catering business, Healthy Meals to Go.
"In this area there are so many local farmers," she said. "There are organic and non-organic, some who do CSA and sell to others. There are so many kinds of local growers in the area. It's different now at the store because it supports the owners, but also the community. So the point will be that it's most important to support the local farmers. The first thing we'll do is provide a list of all the CSAs in the area, and if you want apples, you'll know where to go. You'll know where all the dairy farms are, and where the local farmers markets are. That way, more people will have access to these growers and farmers."
Some of the CSA people will be at Amazing Grains Saturday. "The CSA can be found at the farm, and what the farmers do is sell shares of their harvest before the season starts, so if you buy a share from a farm, you'd get whatever it is in season at the time. Whatever they're producing that week, you bring that home. It could be a lot of tomatoes one week, for example," Ms. LaPenta said. "The CSAs try to create a long season with great variety."
More and more people are tuning into the CSA idea, she said. "It's valuable to the farmers, because they have a guaranteed clientele. And even though it seems like shares are expensive, the farmer still barely make a living sometimes, but what the consumers get is the best, freshest food, and most of the farmers here are organic, so you get the best pricing, too."
Customers who buy from local farmers also meet the people who are growing their food. "You get to see where your food is grown," Ms. LaPenta said. "It's fundamentally important. So even though CSAs have nothing to do with the store, it's a wonderful thing to do to support the community."
"You have a lot of choices," she added. "Everyone should do it, every community. It helps the farmers stay here. It's not enough to always make a livelihood, but it's a positive step in the right direction when the farmers stay, the land stays; so it has so many benefits in so many different ways."
The Amazing Grains Community Food Cooperative will offer refreshments and children's activities during the open house as well. "So far we have face painting, beading, and we'll have some little planting activities," Ms. LaPenta said. "We might come up with other things too. And there's little bit left, from the store's inventory. There will be great deals, if there's anything left by Saturday."
Food co-op memberships are $225 in full, or $50 a year for five years. Dues are $2 a year. The food cooperative's board members include Ms. LaPenta, Rich Grinvalski, Jean Ilsley Gabrielle Davis, Lisa Holmes and Jessica Falwell. To reach Amazing Grains call 860-567-4435.
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