One of the things I love about living in the Twin Cities is that on the whole, its an incredibly health-conscience community. Minneapolis [and St. Paul] are quick to adapt to forward-thinking initiatives and implement them with much thought and consideration. There are so many people here who are widely educated on topics that really run the gamut from natural food to natural healthcare - I've learned so much just from speaking with the passionate people who work in my local co-ops and whole foods markets where I have started to buy everything from produce to face lotion.
Co-op's stand for some pretty cool ideas:
- providing, using, and promoting earth friendly sustainable products
- activism on sustainability, health and nutrition-related issues
- building community within the neighborhoods they support
Beyond that, I know that every item I pick up is as locally sourced as possible [yay! for supporting local businesses], organic, free-range [meat/dairy] and gmo-free. I also can feel good about giving back to the community by shopping there.
Based on my experiences, I feel lucky to have a few nearby and wonder if other cities are jumping on the co-op train too?
So, tell me - do you shop at a co-op or have one in your community?
If you are in the Twin Cities and interested in giving one a try, here are 3 local co-op's in the South Minneapolis area:
Seward Co-Op // 2823 East Franklin Avenue - Minneapolis
Linden Hills Co-Op // 3815 Sunnyside Avenue - Minneapolis
The Wedge // 2105 Lyndale Avenue South - Minneapolis
