Park Slope Food Coop
Categories: Specialty Food, Grocery, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Park Slope782 Union Street
(between 5th Ave & 6th Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718) 622-0560
- Nearest Transit:
Grand Army Plaza (2, 3)
7th Ave (Q, B)
Union St (M, R)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Wi-Fi: None
37 Reviews for Park Slope Food Coop
I love to hate this place, but really I just love it. The lines are getting insane, feels kinda like waiting outside Virgin Records to meet Micheal Jackson. I like feeling that way. The food tastes better when you're starving and enraged. I'm not kidding. I'm always breaking rules without knowing that they exist at the coop but they carry unpasteurized goat cheese and wheatgrass and four types of kale. I imagine that people are impressed with my food selections when they look in my cart; sometimes cashiers comment on my evident healthiness and this massages my tattered ego. Then I sneak over to Ctown and buy spam. Not really, but almost.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
I am a Food Coop member. But I am not a cult member. I know the deal. The long timers are completely batshit crazy. The food is good. The prices are fantastic. The work requirement sucks. But I suck it up and make it more interesting in order to stay awake during my shift.
The most annoying thing about the Coop? The self righteous coop members who claim to be liberal...then form a diversity committee and write patently offensive stories about perceived racism from the point of view of know if all white folks in the "Linewaiters Gazette" (the weekly newspaper printed on dead trees).
I think I would start a riot there if I showed up to my next shift in a Sarah Palin for President T shirt. ( I am for Obama, but wouldn't it be fun to freak out the other Coop-ers?)
The other entertaining thing about the coop is how the long timers have really easy work shifts, like putting together the paper, doing a public access show called Inside the Park Slope Food Coop, getting credit for getting people to talk on the Disciplinary committee.
The truth is: the staff at the Coop HATES the members, once you get that knowledge in your head, it is easy to play the game and get your nice food.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (2)
Cool (2)
A word on the cult thing:
Long-term members seemed scary to me. Newer members (2-3 years) seemed more practical - they wanted to do their work in order to get their food and go.
I used to be a member, but these things made me quit:
- I couldn't keep up with the work. I had a spat of work-related travel, and that put me in the hole of penalty shifts. That have a program for people like me, who travel, where you can work ahead of time to take off future shifts. But, seriously, whose life is organized enough for that?
- Produce is not stored at optimal conditions. They just don't have the facilities to do it. My produce wasn't lasting a week. It does from Fairway and Whole Foods, and I know it turns over at the coop. So, it's got to be the storage. What's 30% cheaper if it means 30% more food waste?
- The lines are too long. The coop is too crowded. Shopping is a crazed experience. I would do things to avoid going to the coop.
- Don't trust the staff. If you work out something where you get a promise that you won't get a penalty shift, only a makeup shift, don't believe them. They'll screw you. Not maliciously, they just don't care. (Why should they with the number of members they have?)
- The Vitamin section is out of control. You know the membership is weird because they want to take concentrated royal jelly. You know, the stuff that social insects feed to their progeny that are to become males and queens (instead of drones). Made me wonder if there were bug coopers walking around in human suits.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Make no mistake this place is a yuppie liberal cult. It's filled with self-righteous, passive aggressive jerks who clog the aisles with their baskets and holier than thou attitudes.
Is the selection great? Not really, but it's cheap and the food is generally really fresh. The cheese selection is awesome and the abundance of natural goods is the only reason that keeps me coming back.
This place is not for everyone. God forbid you ever have to bring a friend... They'll have them finger printed, photographed, and grilled before they even walk through the door.
Shop here only if you are entertained by yuppie hippie liberal cult nonsense... I sure as heck am.
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
Unfriendly staff. Better-than-thou, self-righteous, yuppie clientele.
Maybe you'll feel welcome here. (Or, maybe you don't care if you feel welcome at a place where you're [1.] paying to be a member and [2.] being required to work alongside this staff and other clientele.) I felt anything but welcome.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
okay the food co-op has earned its fifth star for dissuading would-be member JOHN B. from joining the coop.
i feel anyone and everyone deserves an opportunity to see the coop and, if interested, become a member. sure you have to put up with a guided tour. sure you have to go to orientation. sure you have to listen to a bit more political talk than you would at your other grocer down the street. but c'mon, are those things really worth posting a complaint about and comparing our park slope food coop to a gym? i mean really. a "better than thou attitude"?
maybe in small-town iowa (yes I know you said iowa "city") everyone greets each other with open arms and friendly bale of welcome to iowa hay but around here, it is what you make of it. and if you don't make anything of it, it's going to pass you by quicker than you can say, "how's the crop dusting this year, hal?"
so thank you, john, for not bringing your i-can't-handle-this-so-i' m-going-to-compla in-about-everything attitude to the co-op. and the co-op thanks you too for helping it get its fifth star from me.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
09/04/2008
4 out of 5. i'm really sandbagging here because it's worthy of 5 but i don't want to attract… Read more »
this place improves my mood every time i go.
i am revising my previous review because the coop has become a big part of my life in nyc. i know that might seem psycho, but i'll preface this by saying that i didn't even want to move to nyc, i missed europe like hell when i arrived and i am not a vegetarian or a vegan or a communist or a socialist or a marxist or any sort of extreme person. so i joined the coop and found myself feeling very at home every time i went.
it's what you make of it. if you want it to be simply a grocery store, fine. if you want to make it a religion, fine. if you want to be chatty. fine. if you want to be silent and wear an ipod, fine.
on the other hand, it's sure that if you want you can have at least one pleasant conversation there with someone. most people are very polite and pleasant. if not anecdotes and recipes, then at least "excuse me," "sorry about this", "oops"....
it's a beautiful world.
my boyfriend works in finance, and he loves it too. stockbrokers and artists, bankers and yoga teachers, ceos, and writers, students and teachers... the more the merrier.
oh and good cheeses from all over the world, less than 4 dollars average.
i think they should start a wine cellar.
one thing: PARENTS.... please take your kids to childcare if it's crowded. that's why they have a childcare facility. (this is the downside to all things located in park slope, the hordes of inconsiderate parents: NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO TRIP OVER YOUR KIDS!!!!!!!)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/24/2007
i like it - i'm not going to give it 5 stars because i might be misconstrued as a one-dimensional,… Read more »
I was a member of a food Co-op in Chicago so I thought I would check out this one and maybe save some money. Talk about unwelcoming! I totally understand how people could say these folks seem like a cult. My guide when I inquired about joining: I felt like I was being grilled on my politics and social views by the liberal, hippie wannabe version of former Attorney General Gonzales' lackey Monica Goodling. And I consider myself pretty liberal on social issues and the environment. I couldn't even walk around the store on my own. What was I going to do - steal an apple? Maybe that's what it feels like to have a minder in North Korea - a place that comes to mind based on my experience here. I love the folks that shop here and think they are saving the environment but are escorted by some volunteer to a massive gas guzzling SUV parked around the corner. Classic Park Slope yuppie liberal hypocrisy. It's a shame that their little club has to be this way. Having a nice food co-op alternative would be great -- but this place is something besides a co-op. Join if you will but be wary.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (2)
Just in case you were wondering why everyone hates Park Slope: yuppies pretending to be hippies.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (6)
Cool (2)
You must have a sense of humor about the Food Coop. Don't take it so seriously, people. It's just a place to buy food, oh and to work 3 hours a month. There are some whacky people in there but there are whacky people in every shop. They might just not be standing as close to you in other shops. The quality of the food and the prices make all the bullshit worth it for me.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
The produce and vegetarian options keep me a slave to this place. But the work requirements suck- with so many members, the shifts should not need to be as frequent or as long. Also, a lot of the paid staff are just plain rude. There is a staff person named Edite (sp?) who is the worst. person. ever.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
TO make this review shorter than my usual reviews, I'll just start by saying what I like about the coop:
1. I am not a member of it but I have thought of being one for a long time. What I like about it is that everyone SAYS they have great fresh food and at lower prices.
2. Location : well the location is not too bad but it is most accessible by walking , bus or train and not usually by car (Yes. I know is says PARK SLOPE coop).
3. I like the fact that some of the community has come together to make shopping easier and nicer for the other community members.
4. They seem to have an awesome connection bulletin board with messages --now that is community.
What I do not like about it:
1. I have been reading reviews about it and they all or most of them say that the place seems "cultish"? Is that cultish or 'cliquish" lol --not a word , but you know what I mean.
MY FAVORITE part of the coop is probably not related to the coop but almost every year at Christmas time, some guy comes all the way from Vermont to put his beautiful live Christmas trees in front of there to sell to the community. They are really beautiful trees and I think they deliver also.
Love the fact that they have organic and natural food. That seems quite interesting. One has to go all the way to Trader Jack's to get that and he has pretty high prices.
I have gone through the coop in the past --just to check it out . Someone showed me around.
As for wheelchair access-- though some reviewers here voted yes, I thought the aisles were kind of small or narrow for that. Perhaps only some parts of the coop are accessible to wheelchairs.
Even the front door is not unusually wide, unless they have changed that since I last saw it.
THough most stores have to have wheelchair access, lots of stores still have the narrow aisles and once shoppers with carts and baby carriages are in there, there is no way that a person in a wheelchair can easily get around there.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Fruits and vegetables or fresh spices are totally absent in New York. Even when you pay an arm and a leg, the quality is crap.
The Food Co-op is a great alternative. I originally took notice of the food co-op from all of the "OMG you are so hawt! I saw you in the bulk nuts aisle" missed connection postings on Craigslist. But, I went and took a tour of the offerings and was sufficiently impressed.
Of course, last week my boyfriend comes home from shopping and says, "You wouldn't believe how many girls smiled at me at the co-op"
Uhh...Nice!?!?
My desperate need for cheap quality organic foods has forced me to overcome my insecurity issues.
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (6)
Cool (7)
Let me start this off by saying I am quitting the coop. I missed 2 shifts = 4 makeup shifts (11 hours). no way. i thought i could do it, and 2.75 hours a month doesn't sound like a lot, but it is.
Yet I am still giving the coop 4 stars because of the high quality food it offers. I am a huge foodie, so I love browsing through the aisles, looking at all the interesting items they have. they have dried goji berries, carob covered raisins, algae pills, organic beauty products, indian spices- you name it, they've got it.
I disagree with others who say the coop is cultish- the people are just normal folks trying to get their shifts done so they can get organic produce- no one WANTS to be there. and the people are interesting, not weird.
But here's the breaking point for me: it's NOT that cheap. i just spent $140 on three bags of groceries. a couple weeks ago i spent $70. the blackberries cost more than those sold at union market- yes, they are organic, but really? $4.50 for a small carton? some of the products are more expensive at the coop than at Trader Joes (SO ice cream, Kashi cereal, maple syrup)! and it's often hard to find what you need- and there aren't really employees to ask.
If you love produce, and have a lot of time on your hands, this is the place for you. Otherwise, shop at Trader Joe's for comparable prices, and pay a few bucks more for your produce at Union Market, the Green market, or Whole Foods.
The concept is great, but it seriously needs a member shake-up. Joining the Coop is like joining Scientology...a complete cult. The peeps are so weird and unless you're a veteran of 20+ years or how ever long they've been around, you're a complete outsider. Some of these volunteers take themselves way too seriously and reminds me why I write checks vs actually doing volunteer work. Relax people, it's just a non-profit health food store and that's it. Work your three hours, go home and forget about it until the next month. There's so many more things to worry about in life.
And what's with the dorky chaperons who escort folks around the slope with their grocery carts? ...can we say shortbus?
People thought this was:
Funny (1)
I live for this place.
There is no way I would be able to afford the quality of food they have it weren't for the coop. The produce is to die for, it changes regularly, they label where everything comes from, and they have a variety of organic, local, minimally treated, and (some) conventional produce.
The animal products come from very reliable sources, and they have a great variety of alternative meats, such as poulet rouge, rabbit, and bison.
There is no advertising, no weird chemical smell, and you can find all kinds of things besides food, like extension cords, socks, and juicers.
The community of the coop is a great one to be a part of. So many people who all care about getting good food at decent prices.
Tips:
If you are in a rush,don't come shop during prime times. Figure out the slow times and go then, or make sure you have enough time to wait in line.
Find a shift/job you like on a good day for you. I tried a few things til I found what worked best for me. It's great when you actually look forward to doing your shift!
Guys, it's really, really not hard to do a 2.75 hour shift once a month.
P.S.
A cult??? Uh... nope. Just because it's member only does not make it a cult! It's called working a few hours a month to cut down the costs of your food so you don't have to pay the middleman. There are thousands of members, some who shop every day, and some once a month when they do their shift.
I did enjoy the 15 varieties of pluots for a couple weeks...
but alas, this place is just not for me. and I'm an organic-food loving Vermonter.
The co-op is perfect for you if:
- you don't have a job or go to school, or you're blessed with a flexible schedule
- you're masochistic
- you like games, like find the fresh produce, which is usually hidden all the way in the back behind the rotting tomatoes or brown bananas
- you can shop at non-rush hours, like 9:30 pm, or 7:30 am
- you like cults
- you like to extend basic shopping errands into elaborate, volunteer-staffed free-for-alls with multiple checkpoints and guilt-laden finger wagging
- you cherish spending your spare time with the uniquely self-righteous, garlic-toting co-op folks
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (5)
Cool (3)
If you are a vegetarian foodie this is the only place to shop. After moving back to San Francisco, I thought I could forget about the fresh scallions, mint, watercress, sprouts and pea shoots. Forget about the incredibly cheap cheese section and uniquely prepared bulk items. No luck! Their combo of fresh organics and sub-market prices make shopping at Whole Foods and Rainbow a painful experience.
The co-op needs to adapt to modern times. The work shifts are a pain schedule-wise even though I don't mind the actual work. Some people are mean co-op nazis while others will explain the difference between vitamins. (Yup, no skilled staffers to teach you these things). The long double lines that don't take credit cards and lack of street parking can sink 2 hours alone.
This place is perfect if you are a freelancer or stay-at-home mom that can shop mid-day on Wednesdays for the family and still afford to live in Park Slope.
***update: The cashiers now take debit cards!!!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
Let me start with the downside: 3 hours a month sucks. It's not that the shift itself is that onerous, it's the inflexibility of the system surrounding it.
On the upside: (1) open as late as, or later than, any of the other good grocery stores in the neighborhood. (2) the freshness of the food. Sure, the prices are 30-40% cheaper than anywhere else, but they're cheap at Trader Joe's too. The thing about the Coop is you can get gourmet brands stamped with expiration dates months later than any other supermarket in the city.
But the prices are great too. I just got a massive slice of Humboldt Fog for under $13/lb!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
As others have said, it's not for everyone. And it does have its cult-like tendencies, but you can leave whenever you want AND you get your investment back. I always think it's amusing and kinda cute when people get all bent out of shape about the Coop.
Knowing that I've been a member for years despite never living in/affording Park Slope, I'll do the negatives first:
Extremely crowded at the most popular shopping times. Then again, so is Fairway. The thing to do is choose a less popular time. Now, I don't live in the neighborhood, so it's a little more complicated. I've had delusions of getting up at 5:45 on a Saturday to be there at 6:02 and shop. It doesn't happen. However, I have been able to get there later in the day and it's very do-able. Just avoid anything after 9 AM on the weekends.
People can be weird and rude. Uh, yeah. It's Brooklyn! Brooklyn is in NYC! Of course people are weird and rude. I think a lot of people expect that because it's a Coop, everyone will be smiling and friendly. Silly people! Most of the recent additions don't join to be part of a Coop; they join to get cheap food. They sign at the dotted line without reading what the Coop policies are. This then annoys THEM when they are called on it, and it also annoys real converts because they still expect everyone to be a Coop Believer. This equals lots of annoyance. Then you also throw in "I'm in a hurry and talking on my cell and move out of my way because I'm so much more important than you are." Similar to any Whole Foods/Fairway or even Key Food that I've been to in NYC.
Work Shifts: It's a negative because you have to do it. 'Nuff said.
Positives:
You DO save money. The organic stuff is more expensive than the non-organic stuff. Duh. But everything is a lot cheaper than the general grocery stores, and definitely the health food stores. The mark-up is around 22% compared to over 50% at other stores. (Don't jump on me if I'm off by a bit. I'll change it if you prove I'm totally wrong!)
The produce and bulk selection ROCKS. And if you can't find something, you can ask on the intercom or in person.
Some people are excellent. While I've had some bizarre and aggravating interactions, I've also had really positive, NYC affirming interactions.
There's other stuff, but I would just be repeating what others have said. Check it out and decide for yourself.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
You're standing between the oyster mushrooms and the wheat grass when you hear an announcement ... "does anyone know if we have any more dried goat's milk?"
I love this place. Almost every person you see is volunteering (you have to work 2.5 hours every 4 weeks) so your moral sack doesn't get heavy from taking advantage of minimum wage workers. It feels fun to be involved in your neighborhood. Yes, people can be rude. Yes, it's a pain to stand in two different lines to pay. Yes, it can be a pain to get assigned "makeups" when you miss your work shift. But it's TOTALLY worth it!
The turnover is much faster than at a regular supermarket so the produce and food is fresher. The wacko-organic cat food I buy is so much cheaper here! So are delicious Kettle Chips.
People shop here from all over, even NJ, even The Bronx.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (4)
Cool (1)
it's like Trader Joe's "special" cousin.
special = as in "special ed" or "mentally disabled"
i used to come here with my roommate. she had to work there every month in exchange of organic foods and produce privileges. yippie!? who in their right mind can stand the madness in here? people push and shove- no apologies. the employees (who all share shifts there once a month!) can't give you any kind of information whatsoever. the prices are lovely, but waiting in line is pure insanity.
selections are decent- especially the copious amounts of breads! canned food is great, too. expiration dates are slightly longer than most other gourmet groceries around.
Trader Joe's may have huge lines snaking out to to the Great Wall of China... but at least it MOVES every 15-30 seconds.
HERE?! i tried timing it, but my watch died of old age. =P
their credit machines are bonkers, 80% of the people who share a shift to work is a blithering idiot, sometimes i think they're zombies (which means the customers= staff), and-------- why the hell am i STILL in line?!?!?!
$*&@*(#!!!!!!
People thought this was:
Useful (7)
Funny (10)
Cool (7)
Aaaahhh, the PSCo-op! Oh how I miss the Park Slope CoOp! First things first. Produce. They carry LOCAL, FARM RAISED produce, unlike many/most other groceries who have theirs shipped from God knows where in the world. China, maybe?
The best produce in Brooklyn, hands down!
Lots of great variety and from the people I met when living in this area of NYC, they're nice people and all of them are as helpful as they can possibly be.
Pros:
*PRODUCE, PRODUCE, PRODUCE
*GREAT variety
*Nice meat selection
*FANTASTIC PRICES for the members!!
Cons:
*Having to work your 2.5 hours, is it...a month to keep your membership there. Yes, I know...it seems easy, but we all get lazy and especially so when the parking is what it is in Park Slope. You could walk instead of drive, but then there is always the winters and the rain in NY, depending on your distance!
*The isles are VERY small and crowded. It's best to go first thing in the morning or in the early afternoon before the "afterwork" crowd gets there to do their shopping.
If I were ever to move to Brooklyn, this would be the reason why!
I have a friend who lives in Park Slope and is a member and he has occasionally snuck me in. (shhh, don't tell anyone...it's not allowed!). I am like a kid in a candy store there.
Beautiful produce, great cheeses at ever greater prices, healthy local grass-fed meats, and all the usual Whole Foods organic stuff at much lower than Whole Foods prices.
You Brooklyn folks are lucky, lucky, lucky!!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (4)
This place epitomizes Park Slope. Even I worked at (and therefore shopped at) the Food Co-op when I lived in the Slope. I will be sad when a Whole Foods eventually moves in down the street and puts them out of business.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
I work a normal, 9-6 job, and somehow I manage to make time for a shift once a month, on a Thursday evening, so that even if I'm running late from work, I can still make it. And I never have a problem finding someone to swap with if I can't make it. I honestly don't see what the big gripe is.
And to me, its worth it. The produce is amazing and half the cost of the produce that I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole at my local supermarket, 2 blocks away instead of 1.5 miles, so for me, its worth the hike. And they have a great variety, so I can feel like I support local farmers, but still have tomatoes in the winter, unlike at a farmer's market. Sure, if I was closer to Fairway, I might shop there instead, but that's even more of a hike, so that's not going to happen on a regular basis.
So for the mean time, I am willing to do my 2.75 hrs a month and wait on long lines on Saturday afternoon because its still the best thing around. And now that they take debit cards, I'm even more willing to make the schlep.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (2)
No offense, but I feel like the coop is sorta like a cult. I went in there once, not knowing what the deal was and was turned away. The whole thing just seems really weird and I'd rather just go to Fairway and pay a little extra for my groceries.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Eh. When I moved to Park Slope, the single thing I was told most often was, "Now you can join the Food Coop!" Took the tour, and was left unimpressed -- some of the prices are nifty, sure, but you can often find the same items at Whole Foods for the same prices and skip the mandatory work and the hefty fees to join -- there's a $25 joining fee and a $100 "investment" for newbies. While I'll give an extra star for longevity and enthusiasm, I'm going to pass.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (3)
central california produce snob's dream
the first reeeally good nectarines i found in NY
prices are incredible
the insanely long lines are insanely long and that part completely sucks
but they don't lose any stars for that
i don't even mind the working 3 hours a month part.
hauling boxes around and stocking gorgeous organic and/or minimally treated local-ish produce once a month is a nice change of pace.
when i joined the coop i realized that i don't actually live in brooklyn - i live in berkeley.
then i went across the street to the tea lounge and i knew for sure.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Here's the deal everyone: This ain't for everyone.
1. This is an organic market. That means no coke or pepsi. Kombucha baby. Cheerios are marked with a "Genetically Modified Ingredients" sign. Photo-shoot ready organic produce and fresh herbs all the time (for $0.99 I might add), not to mention cereals with names like "Best Friends" awwwww. For people who care what goes into their bodies.
2. This is an envirnonmentally conscious place. Reduce, reuse, recycle. Yes, they encourage you to bag your own groceries in your own bags. You won't die from it.
3. The selection is incredible. A foodie's dream!! I'm talking Umeboshi. Lemongrass. Quinoa. Agave nectar. Plugra butter. Rapunzel Hazelnut/Chocolate Spread. Goats milk yogurt. Smoked scallops...oh, I could go on....
4. The prices are insane. One of the jobs is packing herbs/nuts/cheeses (see #7 below) and the savings of doing the bulk work ourselves is astronomical. Ever pay $0.33 for a bag of "Herbs de Provence?" Because there is little overhead with our "members have to work" policy, food is marked up only 20-25% compared to supermarkets 80-100% (or whole foods' bazillion%)
5. This is a community. Co-op stands for cooperation people! Notice my use of "we" throughout. Call it commie hippie bullshit, what have you, but here, people talk to each other, help each other, ask each other q's (How do you cook fiddlehead ferns?) (How do you pronounce poussin?) and say please and thank you. OF COURSE, not all the time, not all of us. We are human. But it's a hell of a lot more human here than other markets. Promise.
6. There is child care. I don't need it, and many of you other yelpers won't, but really - does Key Food have child care??
7. You have to work to be a member. 2-ish hours every 4 weeks. It's not so bad. I have a great squad, with fun people I enjoy seeing once a month. You can have an office job or help bag bulk items like Tamari Roasted almonds or slice Drunken Goat Cheese into perfect little triangles (*this shift may or may not include sampling). Often people get to shop on their shift. You get to meet people (or not) and learn to distinguish between regular and Lacinato Kale. (Hint: If you have to miss your shift, call during it, and your squad leader will only penalize you ONE shift).
8. It does get very crowded. I mean, it's the best food, local food, healthy food, non-pesticide food, organic food, cheaper than anywhere and has a huge vitamin section (usually $$$). People dig it. There are times that are less crowded. If you are going to get impatient, you will have to learn these times. That's something to deal with. In a perfect world...
9. People are always there to help you get home with your groceries via accompanied shopping cart service. Sometimes, these people are interested in talking to you. Now, let's remember our last shopping experience at Duane Reade...
10. I LOVE the co-op. Flaws and all. We donate food to a food kitchen and compile a stack of rotting veggies for compost. We reuse boxes. If you are a positive person, with a mind for environmentalism, you will love it. Al Gore would love it.
11. There is a smell to the co-op. It's a fragrant mingling of cumin and dried nuts, cinnamon and strawberries, quinoa and coffee. This may foster a Pavlovian sensation eliciting a desiere for awesome food. Did I even mention the cheeses???
12. If you are going to have an attitude about it, don't join. We have 10,000 members. Do us all a favor and take your attitude to Fairway.
People thought this was:
Useful (6)
Funny (4)
Cool (4)
Foodie's dream. Vegan's heart-throb. Gourmet's delight. Seriously... joining up for $25 bucks and investing $100 is NOTHING (esp since you get it back, if you decide the co-op's not for you). And that 3 hours of service you put in per month? Totally worth it. With just a 21% mark-up straight accross the board on ALL goods --- it's no wonder there's over 15,000 members and growing!!!
Don't waste your time. So not worth the hassle! I was a co-op member for 2 years before I woke up and realized this.
Hey people, know the line time=money? Well, it's true. Unless you don't mind making it a 2 hour ordeal to buy groceries (and this is not even including the required 2 hours of work each month), save yourself the trouble. When I left, there were like 10,000 members and yet they still insisted on everyone working these 2+ hours shifts each month. Yeah, I know, you think "what's 2 hours each month to get great produce and organic food?"
Well, the discount's not even that terrific. You have to stand in line forever, bag your own groceries, and deal with a bunch of holier-than-thou assholes. It was particularly annoying when someone decided to mark all the prepared foods containing preservatives with big yellow signs. I mean, get over it!
And I'm not even going into the whole hassle of god-forbid missing a shift.
Listen. Take it from me. There's that Union Market down the road. There's Fresh Direct. And yes, C-Town is not all that bad. At least they don't make you bag your own groceries.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (3)
Cool (3)
I was a member for over a year. At first I loved the good food for good prices. I didn't mind the time commitment of working, but I hated working with some of the people. True, a lot of holier-than-though types, and people who boss you around that aren't your boss! Like they have no where else to take out their problems. The worst part was definitely the hassle of shopping, and that's why I left. Waiting on line to check in, tell you you're on work alert, dodge grocery carts, stand in line to get the groceries, bag them yourself, stand in line to pay THEN stand in line for a fourth time to "check out". big waste of time. Union Market is so worth it!
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (2)
I've been a member for at least 4 years. Living in Brooklyn there really are very limited grocery options, Pathmark and C-town just don't cut it. Yes, the work requirement is a drag, the politics of a collective bureaucracy are extreeemely tedious (try to pass on ever going to a General Meeting!) and the Co-op is chock full of ummm... eccentric characters.
But ultimately the Co-op has the largest selection of organic produce at the best prices. I don't think Whole Foods (too expensive and the long lines at Union Square are unreal) or Trader Joe's (where's the produce?) really offer the same quality, amount or prices.
For those concerned with how far your produce travels to your plate the coop labels where the produce comes from as well as labels all the processed food containing GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Alternately if you just want locally grown produce there's the Fort Greene or Grand Army Plaza Green Markets or better yet join a CSA:
http://www.justfood.or...
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (1)
The concept is great, but I think it works better for people with careers than punk college kids (of which I am one). When you're busy with papers and deadlines the last thing you want to be reminded of is that you're late for your shift.
If you happen to miss a shift, they make you work 2 before your next one, which is pretty crappy. They have more members than they need, and certainly enough to make members work less.
The produce is unbelievable, as well as the cheeses and teas. But milk and meat are just as expensive, if not more expensive, than that at Key Foods. If you go, bring a car and a lot of pocket money. They dont accept credit/debit. Also, if you want to join (which requires $125 bucks and monthly work dates) make sure you'll be in Brooklyn for a while.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
The Park Slope Food Coop is the reason that I will never be able to leave Brooklyn. If you're at all into quasi-natural foods, you'll save a ridiculous amount of money by shopping there. They also have a great selection of organic produce and natural products.
BUT you have to join to shop there. Joining costs some money (check out http://foodcoop.com/ for details), but you get all but $25 back when you leave. You have to work two and three quarters hours every four weeks.
Shopping can be a frustrating, time-consuming adventure. Avoid weekends and after-work rush hour like the plague. Savvy shoppers run in for the deserted aisles at 9:30 PM, right before it closes at 10.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (3)
Yep, this place is great if you don't have a 9 to 5 in the city. I do (well, more like an 8-7 sometimes). These time constraints and competition for the better shifts forced me to work an 8:30-11 pm shift on Thursdays. The last thing I want to be doing at 11 pm on a weeknight is mopping up floors when I have to get up at 6am the next day. Also, stuff comes up. You can try to swap shifts but on one occasion I could find no one to swap with and was automatically stuck with two makeup shifts even though I tried my hardest to get a replacement. And to top it all off I live with my boyfriend which, under Coop rules, means we both have to work a shift. He couldn't care less about eating organic. If it were up to him we'd have take out every night, so it was a constant struggle to get him to work his shift too. As if it weren't enough of a pain to motivate myself. In the end we just gave up.
And yes, the lines do get really long, and don't expect to get any help finding anything specific. I've walked in to get something, gotten in line, realized 20 minutes later I'd made no progress, remembered I had to be somewhere in an hour, and left without the stuff I'd picked up. Oh, and they don't stock some basic things. Or at least I never found them. They have three kinds of cracked spelt flour, but no self rising flour, e.g. Also, even though prices are generally awesome, meat prices are very high, if only because they carry only organic, free-range, etc meat with no regular options. So yes, the prices are good, but my boyfriend and I were saving maybe $50 a month over what would have been our grocery bill elsewhere. And that was if we made sure to buy every single thing there, which in itself is kind of restrictive in a place with so many amazing specialty shops. And $50/month is not worth 6 hours of our time.
All that said, the produce is amazing. I have yet to find something like it anywhere, let alone in the neighborhood. It's the closest thing to one-stop shopping around. Also, I never really found it to be "cultish." No one once preached to me about anything I was buying or whatever. To me the decision not to be there now is based on a pretty simple question: Is 3 hours of my time worth $25 in savings? At this point for me the answer is no. I may go back if I find myself spending more time than this trying to hunt down the produce I want.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)