In this chapter the author describes the history of co-ops from 1761 in Scotland to the revival of community-owned grocery stores in the 1980s. The structure and types of co-ops, their community-building mission and values, as well as their resilience and the way they empower consumers are described.
Jon Steinman is the producer and host of Deconstructing Dinner, the internationally syndicated radio show and podcast (2006-2010) and streaming television series. Jon coordinates and curates the annual Deconstructing Dinner Film Festival and was an elected director from 2006-2016 of the Kootenay Co-op, Canada’s largest independent retail consumer food co-op, serving as Board President from 2014-2016. He lives in Nelson, BC.
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This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada. Ce projet est financé en partie par le gouvernement du Canada.