Celebrate Earth Day the co-op way

Many food co-ops in New England and New York were formed in the 1970s as communities began looking for ways to shop in a way that nurtured both people and planet. [photo courtesy Lexington Co-op]Your local food co-op is a great place to make a difference this Earth Day and every day, Erbin Crowell writes in a new opinion piece for Green Energy Times, Crowell is a member of NCBA's Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, a federation of food co-ops across New England and New York State that are building a thriving cooperative economy rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable food system.

"When you shop at your local food co-op, you are helping build a sustainable, inclusive and locally rooted economy," Crowell writes, noting that 30% of goods sold at the region's 60+ food co-ops are sourced from local farmers and producers.

Twenty of those food co-ops trace their formation back to the 1970s, riding the era's wave of ecological awareness-the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. These co-ops were among the grocery industry pioneers in local sourcing, organic produce and other innovations that were later adopted by mainstream retailers, Crowell writes.

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