Organic food group wants store front

By GINA KINSLOW

GLASGOW — Kimberly Page wants to be able to purchase natural and organic foods locally, and so do other families in the Barren County area.

That’s why they are interested in starting a member-owned food cooperative.

“Right now, we are a buying club with over 30 families,” she said. “We are wanting to expand to a food cooperative to where we will have a storefront.”

Families who are members of the buying club purchase natural and organic foods in bulk quantities from United Natural Foods of Greenwood, Ind.

“We are actually on a four-week rotation,” Page said.

A truck from United Natural Foods makes deliveries once a month. The families who pay $10 per month to be members of the club unload the truck themselves and disperse the orders.

Some of the items they order include whole grains, bread and milk.

“Organic grains are hard to find. You can even get ice cream, but it’s all natural and organic,” she said. “That’s a key thing for us. It’s almost like Sam’s Club coming to you because we are able to buy in large quantities and then split it up. We had four 25 pounds of organic cane sugar on this last truck. It’s more economical to do it that way. The more you spend, the greater your discount gets.”

Page and her husband have been trying to eat healthier for several years.

“We wanted products that were free of coloring, free of additives, free of preservatives and any kind of chemicals,” she said. “We truly believe that Jordan Ruben — he wrote the book called ‘The Maker’s Diet’ — and that’s more or less how we eat. A lot of our members eat that way.”

Before the food buying club was launched, Page and her family drove to Cincinnati, where her parents live, to shop at Whole Foods Market.

“It’s a long way to go grocery shopping,” she said.

That’s why she and the other families are interested in starting a food cooperative that would actually become a local store where natural and organic food items can be purchased. Having a storefront would eliminate the need to have a food buying club and offer more convenience.

“I think a food cooperative is a fantastic idea,” said Dr. Derek Oldenkamp, a Glasgow chiropractor, who is a member of the food buying club.

The food cooperative would not only be a local business run by local people, he said, but it would be something that would support area farmers and provide the community with quality food.

Sharon Billingsley, of Glasgow, also supports the idea.

“I think we need to get back to eating more natural and moral foods,” she said. “It would be so much more convenient to have a storefront.”

Some local stores carry natural and organic items, but Page said they don’t have much.

“Wal-Mart has a little bit and Kroger in Bowling Green does, and then there’s the two small (stores), but they don’t have as much food,” she said. “They have a lot of supplements, but there aren’t as many food items.”

The group is circulating a petition to find out if more people would be interested in starting a food cooperative.

“There are about 500 to 600 out in the community right now,” Page said. “The survey will determine if we are going to maintain the status of the buying club or actually move to the food cooperative.”

Food cooperatives are not a new concept.

“They have been in business for well over 30 years,” she said.

The businesses have a community focus and, Page said, the local group wants to do the same thing.

“We want to buy local products, especially produce. There are local organic growers in this area from Scottsville, Edmonton, Burkesville and Park City. I think there are some in Bowling Green, too,” she said.

One local dairy farmer they purchase cheese from is Ken Mattingly of Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese.

The group is working with state officials to develop a business plan and filing corporation papers. They are also trying to establish a steering committee and are looking into applying for grants to help fund their project.

They welcome anyone who would like to become a supplier for the cooperative, or who would like to become a member.

For more information, call Page at (270) 404-5423, or e-mail her at handcraftedwood@hotmail.com.

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