Panel discussion to explore importance of a food co-op in Richmond

Richmond Food Co-op is planning to open a member-owned grocery store in Richmond.

March 6, 2015; 9:56 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

The Richmond Food Co-Op, a group planning to bring a member-owned grocery store to town, is hosting a panel discussion March 15th at the University of Richmond to explore what the store would mean for Richmond on the economic, accessibility, and sustainability fronts.

From the Richmond Food Co-Op:

On Sunday, March 15, 2015, the Richmond Food Co-op will host a panel discussion on the cooperative business model and the benefits of establishing a food cooperative in Richmond. Panelists will explore the economic and social impact of a member-owned grocery store and its potential to transform Richmond’s local and sustainable food accessibility. The panel will be held from 4:00pm – 5:00pm at Gather, 409 East Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219 and is open to the public; a reception will follow.

Dr. Julietta Singh, Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond, will moderate the discussion. Panelists include national, regional, and community stakeholders:

Stuart Reid, Executive Director of Food Co-op Initiative

Laura Toni-Holsinger, Board Chair, Friendly City Food Co-op, Harrisonburg, VA

Anne Darby, Richmond Regional Planning District Commission

Josiah Lockhart, Lockhart Family Farms and Slow Food RVA

The panel will conclude a weekend of capacity building and training from Stuart Reid, Executive Director of the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI). FCI is a national nonprofit, providing technical support and resources to start-up food co-ops. The Richmond Food Co-op was a recipient of its $10,000 seed grant, which also provided matching funds for a market study and financial analysis. The market study was completed in the summer of 2014, showing ample market size to support a food co-op grocery in the Scott’s Addition neighborhood of Richmond.

Learn more about the Richmond Food Co-op here.