Cooperative Living July 2021 - 10

SpotLight | by Gregg MacDonald, Staff Writer
Cooperative Cuisine
Fredericksburg Food Co-op cultivates community spirit
O
n April 1, sustainably producedduced
grocery items from all overer
Virginia got together for thehe
first time in Fredericksburg.
There was steroid-free pork from
Orange, grass-fed beef from Goldvein,in,
organic lettuce from Culpeper and
vintage wines from Purcellville.
Enticing ice cream sandwiches fromom
Richmond showed up and succulent
strawberries from Hanover even made
a brief appearance. This was no April
Fool's joke, it really happened - at thehe
grand opening of the Fredericksburg
Food Co-op.
The new co-op food market, located
at 320 Jefferson Davis Highway, opened
its doors that early spring morning,
realizing a dream nearly six years in
the making.
MODEST BEGINNINGS
Cooperative Hall of Fame member
Rich Larochelle, who retired as senior
vice president at the National Rural
Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp.
after a 40-year career in the electric
ce
after
Corp.
after a 40-year career in the electric
40-year career in the electric
co-op world, is a founding member
and sits on the Fredericksburg Food
Co-op's board.
" The co-op model takes a little
time to establish, " Larochelle says.
" We have around 2,200 members
now, but it all started with only five
back in September 2015 when we
incorporated. "
Larochelle says that he and a small
group of like-minded vegetarians
originally wanted to support local
agriculture and bring healthier food
options to the Fredericksburg area.
" We started recruiting people at
the farmers market in Hurkamp Park
and others, and began offering cooking
classes and educational meetings, "
he says.
According to Food Co-op manager
Chris Roland, Larochelle was able to
work financial miracles, including
having the co-op become the first of
its kind in in the U.S. to qualify for
a Small Business Administration
guarantee on a $1.4 million bank loan.
In all, the co-op was able to raise
$4.3 million, mostly through member
loans and buy-ins, in order to make
the brick-and-mortar market a reality.
" What Rich has accomplished
is nothing short of miraculous, "
Roland says.
" Chris is no slouch himself, "
Larochelle counters. " We were lucky to
get someone of his caliber, with 20 years'
experience in the food co-op business. "
CO-OP PRINCIPLES
Adhering to the co-op model, the
Fredericksburg Food Co-op is owned
by its members, who purchase lifetime
memberships for $200 and receive
discounted prices and financial
dividends based on profitability.
Point your camera
phone to this QR code
and go in-depth with
the Food Co-op.
Because the store adheres to the Seven
Cooperative Principles, its profits are
primarily utilized to help bolster
the development of the local economy,
and to address community needs.
" We want to embed ourselves into
Fredericksburg and become a new
community resource for the area, "
says Roland.
" At the same time, we want to close
the loop on food waste, and support
local growers so that the dollars stay
here. We are trying to accomplish this
by offering the best selection of local
and organic produce in town. "
Ann Lewis, director of member
services and community relations
at Rappahannock Electric Cooperative,
and her husband, Taylor, are both
members and avid customers of the
Fredericksburg Food Co-op.
They say the market brings a wide
variety of " fresh, clean foods " to the
Fredericksburg area. " I have a love for
cheese, " Ann Lewis says, " and I enjoy
the variety of cheeses available there
that I have not seen anywhere else.
The cheeses pair nicely with the local
organic produce that greets you as
you enter the store. "
According to Larochelle, the Lewises
were instrumental in the co-op's
development.
" They both participated in our
co-op owner loan program, " he says.
" They made a loan to the co-op along
with 250-300 other co-op members.
Co-op owner loans were the primary
way that we raised funds for opening. "
Larochelle says now that the
Fredericksburg Food Co-op is a reality,
he encourages everyone to shop there.
" You don't have to be a member to
shop here, " he says, " but you certainly
are welcome to become a member;
and we certainly would like
to see electric co-op members
shop here. I assure you, it's worth
the trip. " 
8 | Cooperative Living | July 2021
co-opliving.com
PHOTOS BY GREGG MACDONALD
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Cooperative Living July 2021

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