Willow Glen Resident

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Residents give Willow Glen co-op idea green thumbs up

By Alicia Upano

A survey conducted by food co-op enthusiasts in Willow Glen showed a high level of support: 93 percent of the more than 300 polled wanted to see a natural, organic market in the neighborhood.

The results came as a surprise, but were good news for the more than 30 residents who are weighing the options of creating such a venture. The idea was first discussed in May.

The residents decided to pass out a survey at the June 17 Dancin' on the Avenue event.

"That gives us a lot of confidence in moving forward," co-op supporter Dan Scott said. "We wanted to make sure there was sufficient community interest."

Another co-op advocate, Desirree Madison-Biggs, said the survey responders also expressed a high level of interest in supporting sustainable practices and local farmers.

A food co-op is a business that would be operated for and governed by the people who shop there. Typically, a cooperative provides quality food and household items at reasonable prices to the community it serves. If the Willow Glen co-op becomes a reality, it will be the sole consumer-owned co-op in the Bay Area. Other co-ops in the San Francisco area are owned by the workers, not the shoppers, Stacy Scott said.

The organizers met with the interested community members on July 13 to elect an interim board of directors, schedule tours of food cooperatives in the Sacramento and Davis areas and approve a statement of vision and purpose.

Organizers envision creating a food cooperative that provides local and natural foods and is convenient and affordable. They hope a Willow Glen co-op will help San Jose residents look at food in a new way, with attention to how it was raised, and how far it traveled from farm to grocer. The organizers also hope--given the democratic model of a cooperative--that goods will be affordable for students, seniors and low-income residents who want to buy farm-fresh food regularly.

In early June, co-op supporters considered beginning the business as a buying club, where goods are bulk-ordered at wholesale prices and divided among the members with substantial savings. However, the survey respondents voted for a retail presence.

This interest could be met if a grocer such as Zanotto's moved into the neighborhood. The family-owned business has expressed interest in bringing a grocery to Willow Glen. In particular, the store is eyeing the retail space that will soon be vacated by Albertsons on Bird Avenue. Zanotto's markets carry fresh produce, wine, cheese and artisan breads. They also have a deli, sushi and salad bar.

If Zanotto's does move into that location, Dan Scott agrees it could compete with a Willow Glen cooperative. However, he and wife Stacy support having a choice of where to shop. Stacy Scott said co-op shoppers make conscious decisions about where they shop.

"It's a very special community, which is one of the reasons why we think a co-op would work here," Stacy Scott said. "It's not that we're against a Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or Zanotto's or any other family grocer. We're pro the idea of consumers working together to create the environment, the store, the products and the overall experience."

In addition to Willow Glen residents, organizers have received positive feedback from downtown San Jose, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara residents.

For more information, visit www. wgcoop.org.