FOOD FOR PEOPLE NOT for PROFIT

New Wave Coops …. An Overview First known consumer coop in Rochdale England 1844 First coops in US around 1900 Wave of coop markets emerge in 1930’s w Rebates “New Wave” coops emerge in late 1960’s ‘Direct Savings’ replace rebates Emphasis on member participation Work not shares

New Wave Coop Models Pre Orders Storefronts Warehouses Federations

“Food coops represent workable alternative to the profit-making food industry…. We would define food coops as non-profit, democratically controlled groups pf consumers that distribute high quality food, try to educate themselves and seek to influence food production and distribution.” The Food Coop Handbook 1975 The Idea

Coop Principles as defined in 1966 at the Congress of the International Cooperative Alliance Membership of a cooperative society should be voluntary and available without artificial restriction or any social, political, racial or religious discrimination, to all persons who can make use of its services and are willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. Cooperative societies are democratic organizations. Share capital should only receive a strictly limited rate of interest. The economic results of operations belong to the members Make provisions for the education of members All cooperative organizations should actively cooperate in every practical way with other cooperatives at local, national, and international levels.

Organization Pre Order Coops Small buying clubs usually not incorporated. You couldn’t call yourself a UU Church if you didn’t have a pre-order coop Volunteer driven, few if any paid staff Limited types of fresh foods Typical Pre Order

Oil = Inflation = Coops Out of the student ghettos

Scaling… A System Emerges Coop Stores and Federations Coop stores organized as corporations Had to be a member to shop and participate Elected Boards Managed by paid staff Laboratories of Direct Democracy Coop Federations

A Network Emerges NEFCO and the NE Cooperative Network

The Boston and NE Experience Is there better food? Article in BU student magazine – 1969 SDS activists control BU Student Gov and vote funding to start a BU student food coop Boston Food Coop opens in 1970 (store) 1975 The BFC moves to a larger location in Brighton Allston 1975 Founding of the NE Coop Federation Publication of the Food Coop Handbook 1975

Inventory of larger coops in MA circa 1978 A very partial list from national directory of coops lists 150 in Mass. But many more existed Examples: Allston Brighton, Arlington, Amherst (4 listed), Auburn, Bedford, Boston (Mission Hill), Boston (Dorchester), Cambridge ( 8 listed), Chelmsford, East Hampton, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Gloucester, Groton, Holyoke, Littleton, Ludlow, Malden, Medford, Newburyport, Newton ( 7 listed), North Adams, Northampton, Orange, Plymouth, Provincetown, Randolph, and many more

The Great Convergence The Intellectual Roots of the Co- Op Movement

Plus………

The “Expert” v “Red” Debate Democracy vs Efficiency and Growth……Are we Creating a new society or selling healthy food?

Capitalism Redux Well this is part of the story

Capitalisms Big New Belly Ache From Occupy to???????????????

Sharing in Zuccotti

Claims of a New Economic Paragdigm “The Occupy Wall Street Movement is a model for a new economic paradigm, in which value is first created by communities………. In Zuccotti Park protesters created an “ethical economy” based on the groups shared values.”

Commons “In considering the essential problem of how to produce and distribute material wealth, virtually all of the great economists in Western history have ignored the significance of the commons — the shared resources of nature and society that people inherit, create and utilize.” James Quilligan, commons thinker and activist, in “Beyond State Capitalism: The Commons Economy in our Lifetimes“Beyond State Capitalism: The Commons Economy in our Lifetimes

The New Political Economy of the Commons Commons and Occupy – different starting points, same direction The Commons’ first step towards constituting itself as a global political and socio-economic movement was the 1st International Commons Conference in Berlin, Oct See the Conference Summary by David Bollier. Commons and Occupy are coming from different starting point, but there’s much in common in where they seem to be heading, and in their values and principles. How can they build on each other’s strengths and compensate for each other’s weaknesses?1st International Commons ConferenceConference Summary

Commons – Traditional and Emerging Traditional Seas Rivers Land Forests Atmosphere Indigenous communities Emerging

Commons Values Commons arises from the gifts of nature Commons arises from the capacities and cultures of past generations Commons arises from the capacities of people today

Occupy …. Commons…. Coops?? A new synthethis??

A New New Wave Coop?