Indy Food Co-op

NEW WEBSITE FOR POGUES RUN GROCER

2010-10-26T11:56:00.000-04:00

For updates and information, go to the new Pogues Run Grocer website at www.IndyFoodCoop.org. There you will find a new blog, details on opening date, progress of build-out, events, and can sign up for the newsletter.

Co-op Highlighted in Front Page IndyStar Article

2010-04-30T16:28:00.000-04:00

Check out the article and photos in today's Indianapolis Star on near eastside improvements, including the efforts of Pogue's Run Grocer! Front page, below the fold, or follow this link:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20100430/LOCAL1803/4300327/-1/ARCHIVE/NFL-helps-launch-Eastside-on-the-road-to-recovery

Check out all IFC has going on...

2010-04-26T21:27:00.001-04:00

Check out Indy Food Co-op in the latest issue of Indiana Living Green Magazine
Pick up the latest Urban Times and see a great photo of our mural volunteers
Join Indy Food Co-op for Chew on This -- One night. 15 locations, 300 mouths chewing on Indianapolis’ food issues today and in the future, May 4, 2010, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Eat, think and talk with neighbors, friends and new acquaintances at one of 15 different locally owned restaurants or community venues around the city. Over dinner, a facilitator will lead a conversation about “From local to global: How can we use Indiana’s strengths in agriculture and artisanal foods to position Indiana globally?” based on the book Caught in the Middle: America’s Heartland in the Age of Globalism by Richard Longworth. Each location will be limited to 20 people to encourage an intimate, yet fruitful conversation. Reserve your seat today. Indy Food Co-op will be participating in a pitch-in dinner and discussion at the John H. Boner Community Center - won't you join us?
Also, help Indy Food Co-op, Slow Food Indy and the Indianapolis Vegetarian Society celebrate asparagus season with Asparagus, The Movie on Friday, May 7; 6:00 p.m. asparagus-themed potluck; 7:00 p.m. movie showing; $5 donation requested but not required

New Video Tells the Indy Food Co-op Story

2010-04-25T22:39:00.002-04:00

Check out this fabulous new video put together by local videographer,
Steven Shattuck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6Lx8XhD1k

Mural Day Five: Artists Work Day

2010-04-18T22:45:00.004-04:00

The volunteer artist team spent another five hours at the co-op today to work towards the finishing touches on the mural. While there is still some work to day (talk about incredible dedication from these volunteers), as more and more detail is added, the more sweet smelling the flowers become; the more juicy looking the peppers look; and everything is starting to pop out of the wall. Even if you drove by last week, you'll want to cruise by again this week to see the difference.

And, the mural is generating a lot of excitement in the neighborhood. A near east side neighbor said that the mural and the grocery were all the talk during church this morning. A dozen kids stopped by to see what was happening and learned about some new vegetables. A group of neighbors stopped by anxious to volunteer. A Latino priest rode by on his bike and asked about ways he could get his parish involved with the co-op.

And, this week, our membership has grown to 264! That means that we have only 36 memberships to go to meet our store opening goal of 300. This community-owned grocery store is progressing, one member, one volunteer, one donation at a time.

Mural Day Four: Transforming 10th Street

2010-04-15T06:55:00.004-04:00

About 40 volunteers came out last Saturday, April 10, to create a work of art of the east wall of the Pogue's Run Grocer building at 2828 E. 10th Street. Among those volunteers were members of the co-op, neighborhood residents, and about a dozen Tech High School National Honor Society Seniors.

After three years of planning, tangible signs of a new grocery store along East 10th Street have arrived. The volunteers painted a mural that screams FOOD so that there will be no mistake about the cornucopia of healthy, fresh, local food housed inside those front doors. Other volunteers working indoors worked on scrapping, cleaning and prepping the area that will soon be the office of the co-op's general manager.

The all volunteer artistic team lead the mural effort and dedicated hours of time leading up to the work day. That team included local graphic designers and Irvington residents, Sara Lunsford and Jackie Norris, local photographer, Coleman Norris, and near east sider, Sarah Charles. The Indy Food Co-op is so appreciative of these local artists sharing their time, talent and creativity to make the mural such a tremendous success!

Also, local videographer/filmmaker, Steven Shattuck, volunteered his time to capture a portion of the day on film. Look for his edited video on the Indy Food Co-op website soon, and thanks to Steven for contributing this additional creative element to the co-op effort.

Thanks also to the members who provided food to our hard working volunteers. Katherine dropped by a yummy Japanese rice dish, and Bruce provided an incredible pan of brownies flavored with a hint of tangerine zest (we need this recipe for the co-op cook book)!

Critical to our on-going success has been the support of the media to help spread the word about the co-op. Thanks to Jim Poyser and Moriah from NUVO Newsweekly and Bill Brooks from Urban Times for covering the mural project as well as the on-going progress of the Indy Food Co-op and Pogue's Run Grocer.

As has been the case along each step of the co-op development, it is through the hard work, dedication and generosity of the community that our community grocery store will open later this spring. Thanks alone is not enough. But, soon all the work and effort will pay off in the opening of an affordable, convenient healthy food option for Indianapolis.

Mural SCREAMS FOOD

2010-04-09T11:11:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release:

April 9, 2010

Julie L. Rhodes, 317.631.2220

c: 317.371.2788

Volunteers Create Delectable Work of Art at Pogue’s Run Grocer

Mural screams “FOOD” along east 10^th Street

INDIANAPOLIS – As cars drive briskly along the East 10^th Street corridor, generally the only thing drivers see is pavement and buildings. But, this Saturday, April 10, all that will change, as dozens of volunteers will descend upon the future home of Pogue’s Run Grocer to begin a transformation.

“Indy’s only community-owned grocer will create a mural entirely by volunteers to make a noticeable difference at the store location near the 10^th and Rural streets intersection,” said Greg Monzel, Pogue’s Run Grocer’s General Manager.

The east wall of the building located at 2828 E. 10^th Street will scream ‘FOOD’ as people drive by a facility that has in recent years been a third generation electronics retailer and a daycare, but never before a grocer.

In fact, the 40,000 residents living on Indianapolis’ near eastside have few options for healthy, fresh food in the community since two major grocery chains moved out of the neighborhood in the past several years. Many, especially those without vehicles and seniors, are forced to shop for their daily food needs at nearby convenience stores, offering only low-nutrition, high-cost options.

The mural was developed by local graphic designer, Todd Decker, whose conceptual design was selected by Indy Food Cooperative, Inc., the non-profit organization opening Pogue’s Run Grocer later this spring.

“I designed the mural to grab attention of people driving down E. 10^th Street and make an obvious statement that fresh food can be found inside,” said Decker of his design. “The inspiration for the mural came from farmers markets, and the images are from photos that I took of locally-grown produce at markets around Indiana,” Decker continued.

In addition, a team of other local artists have helped bring Decker’s vision to life by overseeing the project, working several nights to transfer images to the wall in preparation of the volunteer workday. Those experienced mural artist volunteers include Sara Lunsford, Jacqueline and Coleman Norris and Sarah Charles. The wall will be created in a paint-by-number style to allow community participation, even from non-artists. Costs for the mural are covered by a Façade Grant awarded by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation through the East 10^th Street Civic Association.

In addition to the mural, interior painting will continue, as will the cleaning up of donated equipment from Cafe Patachou owner, Martha Hoover. This donation allows the co-op to open its doors with a delicatessen, initially considered cost-prohibitive without the donation.

“Patachou’s donation of coolers, deli cases and dishes saves the co-op at least $12,000, and allows us to provide sandwiches, soups and salads on day one,” said Monzel. “Donations and volunteers demonstrate the true collaborative spirit behind our community-owned grocer.”

For more information about the event or Pogue’s Run Grocer or Indy Food Co-op, visit www.indyfoodcoop.org , E.mail greg@poguesrungrocer.org, or call 317.677.2076.

- 30 -

About Pogue’s Run Grocer and Indy Food Cooperative, Inc.

In the summer of 2007, a group of individuals met for the first time to begin discussing how to bring the city’s only non-profit, community-owned storefront grocery cooperative to Indianapolis. Since that time, a group of dedicated volunteers have been working hard to secure a location, raise funds and build membership for a grocery cooperative near downtown. The goal of the store is to support the local economy, while making local, fresh, organic and affordable food and products available to urban neighborhoods that currently are not served by healthy grocery options. The store will be open to the general public, offering additional benefits to its members. In addition to operating a store, Indy Food Co-op is dedicated to educating the community on healthier eating through outreach programs, cooking classes and more. The organization has reached 257 members to date, and the store is expected to open its doors in late Spring 2010, seeking to reach the 300 member mark by that time. In addition to memberships, the co-op is being supported by many community partners offering grants, pro bono services and volunteer time. To learn more, visit www.IndyFoodCoop.org , www.IndyFoodCoop.blogspot.com

257 MEMBERS!!!!

2010-04-07T22:43:00.001-04:00

Only 43 more members needed to reach our 300 member goal by store opening

Have you become a member yet?

Join Now!

Community-Owned, Community-Supported!!!

2010-04-06T22:11:00.002-04:00

Late last week, the Indy Food Co-op learned of a grant opportunity through the City of Indianapolis - some leftover Community Development Block Grant dollars from 2009 that needed to be spent on worthwhile community efforts. So, the board and staff pulled together to complete the lengthy application. And, while that effort is greatly appreciated, there are lots more thanks to go around....

A HUGE thanks to Tammi Hughes at East 10th Street for again being our fiscal agent and working to pull information into the application;

A tremendous thank you also goes to the many people and groups who wrote letters of support for us with 24 hours at best and a few hours at worst notice. Please thank these amazing partners when you see them. Those groups include:

Englewood Community Development Corporation, Joe Bowling and David Price
Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center, Josh Bowling
Near East Side Community Organization, Chip Gibson
Super Bowl Legacy Committee and John H Boner Center, James Taylor
City-County Councillor Brian Mahern
Indy-east Asset Development, Katy Brett
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Sara Van Slambrook
Community Development Law Center, Shelia Jenkins and Kim Huizinger
CODO Design, Cody Fague
Architecture for Humanity, Teo Chun-Sheh
Cottage Home Neighborhood Association, Maribeth Bailey

Suffice it to say that the list contains the names of lots and lots of busy people who basically dropped everything to help us out, and we simply cannot thank them enough!

Now, cross your fingers and toes that we get this grant award!

Mural Day Four: Transferring and Reference Painting

2010-04-01T23:28:00.002-04:00

WOW - the Indy Food Co-op is so fortunate to have so many talented and dedicated volunteers helping make Pogue's Run Grocer a success. Tonight, our mural artistic team came together for the second time this week, to complete the transfer of the mural image on the east exterior wall of the store. Tonight they also started painting a few areas of the mural to provide some helpful reference to the volunteers who will be assisting in a "paint by numbers" style mural on Saturday, April 10.

We simply cannot thank enough these incredibly creative folks who have for two nights this week spent time making this incredible mural on the co-op building. You simply have to drive by and check it out and I think you will be as excited as we are. Sara Lunsford, Jacqueline and Coleman Norris, Sarah Charles, and, of course, Todd Decker, the mural design creator, have been fabulous to work with and a perfect team for our mural project.

We also have to thank Indy Food Co-op's General Manager, Greg Monzel, for working to get our store open all day and then being there to help us out all night (we worked from 6:30 - 11:00 p.m. tonight).

Many folks in the community stopped by to talk with us and find out what is going on! And, many are excited to see a grocery store coming to East 10th Street.

Please plan to help us on April 10. We will not only be painting the mural, but also working on other projects, including cleaning all the incredible equipment donation by Cafe Patachou!

Also, thanks to NUVO Newsweekly for stopping by to capture the fun on film!

Don't miss being a part of this important community asset! Indy's only community-owned grocery store is successful only because of all the support, enthusiasm, commitment and partnerships!

Thanks you Indianapolis for embracing the Indy Food Co-op!

Mural Day Three: Transferring the Image

2010-03-30T22:29:00.005-04:00

Tonight, our fabulous mural artistic team worked together to transfer our delicious mural image onto the wall.

Using a projector, wax pencils and lots of patience, the crew of Sara Lunsford, Jacquelyn and Coleman Norris, Sara Charles, and the mural designer, Todd Decker, worked diligently from 6 - 10 p.m.

Several neighbors stopped by to say hello, and several Indy Food Co-op board members came by to watch the progress, including Deb Sluss, Chris Barnett, Kyle Hendrix, Mary Bowling and Julie Rhodes.

A great time was had by all and we look forward to finalizing the transfer this week and moving towards the April 10 mural painting event. Please join us!

Mural Day Two: Priming the Wall

2010-03-30T22:10:00.004-04:00

Last Saturday, March 27, Indy Food Co-op hosted a volunteer workday and many volunteers came out to help! We primed the east exterior wall in preparation for our mural.

A big thanks to Dawn Charonneau for donating lots of supplies and snacks; to Denise Walker for an extension ladder; to George Rudbeck for shop-vaccing the paint chips; and to all the volunteer painters, Kelli Barker, Debbie Pigeon, Bruce Polson, Diane Clark, Kyle Hendrix, Mary Bowling and the Bowling kids (Ben, John and Rachael).

We now have a perfectly white canvas in which to create our mural. Thanks to all who helped make this day such a success!

Mural Day One: Pressure Washing the Wall

2010-03-25T21:23:00.002-04:00

Today, co-op member Bob Bronson shared his time and his pressure-washer with the co-op! Bob worked with general manager, Greg Monzel, to clean up the east exterior wall of the store building in preparation for our mural. This blank, white wall will soon be transformed into a beautiful and delicious-looking piece of art. Follow the progress here, or better yet, come out and help:

Priming party: Saturday, March 27, noon - 4 p.m.

Mural painting: Saturday, April 10, noon - 4 p.m.

Let us know if you can help out or have painting supplies, ladders or drop clothes to share - jrhodes4@indy.rr.com

Volunteers Needed THIS Saturday, March 27

2010-03-24T18:13:00.004-04:00

THE MURAL IS COMING, THE MURAL IS COMING - AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

We have two important volunteer workdays coming up and we hope you can help!

Please join us THIS Saturday, March 27, from noon - 4 p.m. for a Mural Priming Party! We will be priming the east exterior wall of the co-op building in preparation for our beautiful, new mural. Bring yourselves, your friends and if you have a ladder, drop cloth or paint rollers and pans to share, please bring those along. Please RSVP to jrhodes4@indy.rr.com if you can help out and tell me what supplies you can share!

Also, we will be actually painting the mural on Saturday, April 10, so plan to join us from noon - 4 p.m. that day as we transform this space into a work of art. It will be paint by numbers thanks to our incredible all volunteer artist team: Todd Decker (the mural designer), Sara Lunsford, Jackie Norris and Sara Charles!

Please join us for this very fun event to create something to help the transformation of Pogue's Run Grocer and East 10th Street.

What's Happening at Pogue's Run Grocer

2010-03-19T22:27:00.008-04:00

There is a lot of activity these days at 2828 E. 10th Street, and it's getting busier and busier every day.

Community Health Network produced a beautiful new "Coming Soon" banner recognizing all of our critical community partners - drive by the store and check it out!

Our seed sale with Nature's Crossroads is a huge success (order seeds through www.IndyFoodCoop.org and 25% of the sale comes to Pogue's Run Grocer).

We just received word that we will receive $5,000 from the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center for landscaping and will work with dozens of volunteers to beautify the space on April 10 and May 1! Join us!

Food Con was an amazing event where we met literally thousands of people! Thanks to those who stopped by the booth to say hello.

We have a fabulous group of artists helping plan for an upcoming mural. Mural painting begins April 10 - join us!

We are getting ready to roll out a great, grassroots marketing campaign. Our first friend-raising event was a big success and we are planning more (contact us if you are interested in hosting one)!

We currently have 251 members and are seeking 300 members by store opening this Spring! And, there's lots more good news to share very soon. Stay tuned!

Local firm gives Pogue's Run Grocer a boost

2010-03-10T09:55:00.003-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 11, 2010

Contact: Cody Fague

Cell phone: (317) 640 – 4817

Email: cody@cododesign.com

Local firm gives Pogue’s Run Grocer a boost

Design team CODO donates branding services to upcoming co-op

Local firm CODO Design mixed “urban utopia” with “freakin’ delicious” in their recent pro bono branding project for the Indy Food Co-op’s upcoming community-owned market, Pogue’s Run Grocer. The grocer, set to open late spring 2010, will offer fresh, local and organic foods, household products, and educational programs.

“This is an exciting step for Indianapolis; we wanted to lend our knowledge of branding, marketing and graphic design to help Pogue’s Run grow,” says CODO Design partner Cody Fague.

Pogue’s Run Grocer, soon to be located at 10th and Rural Streets, will be the only community-owned cooperative grocery in Indianapolis.

“The location at 10th and Rural does pose some interesting marketing challenges,” according to Fague. “Pogue’s Run needs to send the right message to people from many different backgrounds. The key is to get folks excited about the role that fresh, delicious food can play in revitalizing one of our city’s richly historic urban areas.”

CODO Design assembled large boards with inspirational image clippings side-by-side with Indy Food Co-op members. The boards that members found most appealing—the aptly named “urban utopia,” a visual homage to the quaint neighborhood markets of yore, and “freakin’ delicious,” a celebration of fresh, tantalizing foods, became the basis for the grocer’s brand identity.

CODO Design provided market research, logo development and art direction for the food co-op.

“CODO undertook our brand development by getting into the trenches, talking to people in the community, our members and our partners,” said Kyle Hendrix, president of Indy Food Cooperative, Inc. “The process they used was inclusive, and just what a community-owned project needs to lay the ground work for its future success.”

“The energy of the Indy Food Co-op is undeniable,” according to CODO Partner Isaac Arthur. “We worked with some formidable local talent on the project, including interior designers, architects and a logo designer. People are excited about what Pogue’s Run means for the community, and that shows through in the branding.”

“Every successful organization needs to connect with its customers and tell a compelling story,” Arthur adds. “That’s what branding is all about.”

“The CODO team was very enthusiastic about the co-op mission,” said Hendrix, “but we were most impressed with their expansive efforts to understand our diverse customer base and develop a brand that would resonate. As a start-up non-profit, we could never have been able to budget for such high-quality branding services, making the work of CODO invaluable to our community effort.”

For more info about joining Indy Food Co-op or Pogue’s Run Grocer, visit www.indyfoodcoop.org.

For more information about CODO Design, visit www.cododesign.com.

###

CODO Design is a branding and graphic design firm located in Indianapolis. Their recent projects include the rebranding of Indianapolis Early Music, the rebranding of the Indiana Humanities Council program Novel Conversations, and the design of the exhibition Dillinger! Forging a Hoosier Legend at the Indiana State Library.

Ready for Spring Planting - Order Seeds Today

2010-03-06T23:23:00.005-05:00

The warm, sunny days remind us that spring is just around the corner! Have you been dreaming about what you will plant in your garden this year? Now is the time to place an order for your seeds, and what better way to prepare than to order seeds from Nature's Crossroads through the Indy Food C0-op? By ordering your seeds through www.IndyFoodCoop.org, 25% of your purchase will come back to support the co-op. So, why not do your part to support healthy, local eating, by growing your own food this year -- and at the same time, you will be supporting a local company and a local non-profit by ordering through www.IndyFoodCoop.org. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and more. Check it the fabulous selection of seeds today!

P.S. In order for Indy Food Co-op to benefit, you must order through the www.IndyFoodCoop.org website. If you look now but purchase later, please remember to re-enter the website through the co-op website.

P.S.S. Please share this information with family, friends, neighbors and co-workers!

Don't Miss FOOD CON!

2010-03-02T23:12:00.002-05:00

Join Indy Food Co-op on March 5, for Food Con, an unconventional convention that features art exhibitions, poetry, films and lectures, hand-on activities, and, of course, food. Food Con will be a first-of-its-kind showcase and exploration of the art and culture of food in Indianapolis. Food Con is being touted as a food event for foodies in the same vein that GenCon is to gamers.

The free Food Con event will be held at the Harrison Center for the Arts from 6-10 p.m., during IDADA’s popular First Friday tour. In the gym, Indy Food Co-op and other representatives from local farmer's markets, urban gardens, neighborhood supper clubs will be on hand to answer questions, share recipes and discuss their passion for food. Artists exhibiting that night include Bruce Campbell, Kyle Ragsdale, Carolyn Springer, Penelope Dullaghan, Ben Valentine, Leah Gauthier and Kristin Hess.

Food Con is a joint project between the Harrison Center for the Arts and the Indiana Humanities Council’s Food for Thought program. Stop by and say hello at the Indy Food Co-op booth!

Join Us Saturday At the Indy Winter Farmers Market

2010-02-12T09:59:00.005-05:00

If you haven't yet had an opportunity to shop the Indy Winter Farmers Market, you are missing out on one of the most exciting things going on in our city today! Please join Indy Food C0-op on Saturday, February 13, from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the market.

Also, help contribute to the Indy Food C0-op efforts through the IWFM Power of One Challenge. Each week shoppers are invited (not expected or obligated) to put $1 or any spare change in the IWFM Power of One collection jar at the Market Information Table as you enter or leave the market. On Feb. 13, the co-op is the Power of One recipient charity!

This year's IWFM is being held each Saturday at the Chattam Center, 901 N. East Street. You'll find a wide variety of vendors selling fresh fruits and veggies (like apples and greens), fresh baked goods, meats, cheeses, dairy products and eggs, as well as prepared foods like salsas, pestos, savory pies, soups and tamales.

Stop by and see us this Saturday, February 13. You'll be glad you did!!!

Photo from HoosierGardner.com

Order Your Garden Seeds and Support Indy Food Co-op!

2010-01-22T23:18:00.003-05:00

It's definitely winter, but spring is just around the corner and many of you do plant starts in cold frames or indoors in the early months of the year. With the gardening boom last year, some seed companies ran out of seeds early in the season. Want to beat the rush and start thinking about spring plantings now while supporting an Indiana business and the co-op?

You can order local, organic and earth-friendly seeds and supplies and help support the Indy Food Co-op at the same time. Visit: www.IndyFoodCoop.org and click on the banner ad at the top for Nature's Crossroads and start shopping. For every order made through our website, 25% of the purchase price comes back to the co-op.

Check out seed packets, seed collections, and gardening kits for a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs! And, start growing your own fresh, local food!

P.S. Nature's Crossroads has no way of tracking purchases to the co-op if they are not made through the co-op website. So, if you browse now and purchase later, please be sure to enter back through www.IndyFoodCoop.org to make your purchases!

P.S.S. Share this info with friends and family you think might be interested!

Co-op Introduces New GM and other news

2010-01-15T11:34:00.008-05:00

A note from Pogue's Run Grocer's new General Manager who began employment on January 4:

Dear Co-op Members and Supporters:

Thank you for the opportunity to be your general manager for Pogue’s Run Grocer. I have long been passionate for fresh, healthful, consciously produced foods. I dug my first vegetable garden in my parents’ backyard as a youth, then began using food-based home remedies for health and wellness in my teens. My first job at age fourteen was stocking produce at O’Malia’s. Since the early days I have worked for sustainable, organic, and permaculture farms, farmers’markets, and natural foods stores, rising to management in both agriculture and retail. Additionally, I pursued training as a community herbalist and offer services and products related to whole foods nutrition and medicinal plants.

I have been intrigued by interesting happenings in Indianapolis in the area of urban agriculture and sustainable food networks. I grow much of my own food and gather more from wild plants. Naturally, when I learned that a food cooperative was forming I was eager to be a part of it; I decided then that I wanted to be the manager. Spreading knowledge and awareness about food and health choices is part of my personal mission, and Pogue’s Run Grocer offers me a great opportunity to do so. I look forward to offering you the best fresh, local, and organic food available in Indianapolis; I look forward to being a resource for the community as well.

Sincere thanks, Greg Monzel

Store Update

With over $200,000 in grants secured, the Indy Food Co-op is well on it's way to getting your community-owned grocery opened this year. Some electrical work has been completed on the building, a contractor has been selected to remove a portion of the flooring, equipment is under consideration, management staff is hired, and an interior design plan is nearly complete by probono partners Architecture for Humanity http://www.afh-indy.org/. We are still seeking funding for inventory and operating capital, and member loan commitments are being followed up this month. Anyone interested in considering a member loan to the co-op, please contact Greg at: 317.677.2076.

Membership Continues

Membership in the Indy Food Co-op continues to grow. Currently we have 231 members, growing at about two memberships each week. Please help us spread the word of membership benefits in Indy's only community-owned grocery store by sharing information with friends and family. Help friends understand the difference between the co-op and all these ads that say that the national chains are our "hometown grocer" or our "neighborhood grocer", while they send your grocery dollars out of state and don't support local farmers, local products or sustainable farming practices. Consider hosting a "friend-raising" event at your home where you invite friends over to learn more about the co-op with the help of the IFC board. A very special thanks to IFC members Mark and Sarah Hudson, who are hosting the first friend-raising event at their home on January 30.

Volunteers Sought

Indy Food Co-op is seeking volunteers with the following skills to give your community grocer:

Web developer to develop a Pogue's Run Grocer website that would compliment the Indy Food Co-op site
Volunteer coordinator to help us keep track of those interested in volunteering for the co-op and helping recruit volunteers for various activities.

Additional volunteer opportunities for volunteer workdays at the store will be released soon.

Upcoming Events

IFC will be staffing an exhibit booth at the following events:

February 6, 9 am - noon - Near East Side Community Organization (NESCO) Congress
April 25, 11 am - 4 pm - Earth Day Indiana Festival, downtown Indianapolis

Please stop by to say hello or let us know if you'd like to help staff the booth.

Yard Signs Available Soon

To help us spread the word about the Indy Food Co-op, one member suggested that we purchase yard signs for members to put in their yard to proudly and publicly display membership and encourage folks to learn more. Those interested in getting a sign for their yard, please send a note to me at jrhodes4@indy.rr.com and we will get one to you as soon as they are produced.

Supporting Local Farming Directly

Now is the time to sign up for a Community Supported Agriculture, or CSA, if interested in supporting a farmer to grow food for your family. Big City Farms, Balanced Harvest Farm, Blooming Gardens, Hoosier Organic Connection, Seldom Seen Farm, Valentine Hill Farm and Victory Acres are all seeking CSA shareholders now. Find a complete list and contact information at: http://www.goinglocal-info.com/my_weblog/community-sponsored-agriculture.html

Slow Food Indy Holds Annual Meeting

Join our partners in local foods, Slow Food Indy, for their annual meeting and pitch-in dinner on January 17 from 2 - 5 pm at Earth House (237 East Street, Indy). It will include a preserved and canned food swap, a brief business meeting, entertainment and more. For details, check out: http://www.slowfoodindy.com/events.html

Senate Bill Pushing Local Foods

Thanks to co-op member Margaret Banning for letting us know that Senate Bill 194 has been introduced in this legislative short session. It's a bill that establishes the local and organic food and farm task force to create a plan to expand and support a local and organic food system. On January 5, 2010, is received its first reading and was referred to Committee on Agriculture and Small Business. Learn more or follow legislation at: http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo?year=2010&request=getBill&docno=194

Indy Food Co-op Article in Today's Indy Star

2009-11-29T05:12:00.003-05:00

Check out today's Sunday Indianapolis Star Metro Section for an article on the Indy Food Co-op: http://www.indystar .com/article/20091129/LOCAL/911290359/Near-Eastside-food-co-op-is-a-tasty-idea

Press like this is helping us get the word out about our project and our progress, and helps build membership. Thanks to Star reporter, Francesca Jarosz, and co-op member, Bruce Polson, for their support.

Indy Food Co-op

www.IndyFoodCoop.org

www.IndyFoodCoop.blogspot.com

317.631.2220

__._,_.___

2009-11-20T22:43:00.002-05:00

Indy Food Co-op/Pogue’s Run Grocery Fundraiser

Now through November 30th

Wondering how you can help the co-op, help the planet and get your holiday shopping done?

Check out the Green Fundraising Indiana site at GREEN FUNDRAISING CATALOG

and share this fabulous catalog of green products with your friends and family, or start your

own holiday shopping early,

and help us raise some cash for the co-op.

All items in the catalog are made right here in Indiana by artisans who care about the planet, and best of all, every $15 order placed will put $5 directly into the coop startup fund!

Please contact Dawn Charbonneau at dmc333@yahoo.com, or call 612-372-3009, today for details and to place your orders before NOVEMBER 30th!!!

Thanks for your help and support!

2009-10-23T17:11:00.002-04:00

Co-op members, mark your calendars:

Indy Food Co-op

Member Meeting

Thursday, November 12

6 - 7:30 p.m.

John H Boner Center

2236 E 10th Street

Save the date for a very important MEMBER ONLY meeting on Thursday, November 12, 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the John H Boner Community Center, 2236 E 10th Street. The Indy Food Co-op Board has important information to share, a financial update, the unveiling of the new logo and mural concept, and much, much more! If you are a member-owner of our community-owned grocery, please plan to join us.

Deadlines Today for Lecture and Turkeys!!!

2009-09-28T10:12:00.005-04:00

Local Food lecturer, Lisa Heldke, TODAY at IUPUI - Free Event, Free Parking -RSVP This Morning!!!!

Farm Fresh Turkey Preorders Due TODAY!!!

www.IndyFoodCoop.org

Important Indy Food Co-op Deadlines Approach

2009-09-21T11:05:00.001-04:00

Local Foods Speaker Comes to IUPUI SEPT. 28 - Free Event, Free Parking - RSVP Today!
Lisa Heldke, Department of Philosophy, Gustavus Adophus College, Staying Home for Dinner: Ruminations on Local Foods in a Cosmopolitan Society. Brought to you by Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, and American Studies Program of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, and by the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Speakers Fund along with Indy Food Co-op, Indy Winter Farmers Market, Slow Food Indy and Indy Tilth/Urban Farming Forum. Reception: 6:00 PM; Lecture: 6:30 PM-8:00 PM, Lilly Auditorium (On lower level of IUPUI University Library), 755 W Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 (Parking is available at the North Street Garage, 819 W. North St. Bring your ticket to the event for a free validation stamp).

Reflecting on the decision to eat locally produced food suggests that ethical decisions cannot be cast as individual choices between two clear alternatives. When we seek morally unambiguous choices, we focus our ethical energies in the wrong place. The moral focus of our ethical decision-making should fall on building communities because the importance of any choice we make lies in the relationships that give our choices context. Food is an especially rich intersection of relations and so provides many opportunities to reflect, connect, and imagine more democratic communities. Recognizing these opportunities leads us to see ourselves not as food consumers but as food citizens who seek to enact and transform our relations not only through our purchasing and eating choices but also through our collective work in organizations that promote healthy, just, fair, safe, and delicious food systems for all people. For more information, visit: http://www.indyfoodcoop.org/calendar.html

Request for Member/Supporter Survey Input by Sept 24
CODO Design (www.CODODesign.com) is providing probono brand development services to Indy Food Co-op, and they would like to hear from you Please take a few moments to respond to the following questions and send your responses to cododesign@gmail.com by Thursday, September 24.

SURVEY
Personal Information (optional)

Age:
Neighborhood of Residence (Downtown, Mass Ave, Near East-side, etc.):
Profession:

Indy Food Co-op Questions

What got you interested in the Indy Food Co-op and Pogue's Run Grocer?
What do you think is the best way to support Pogue's Run Grocer?
Where do you usually shop for groceries?
Do you see any difference between a supermarket and a food co-op? If so, what is the difference?
What do you think of Pogue's Run Grocer's location on the near east-side?

Thank you for assisting us! Please send your responses by Thursday, September 24 to cododesign@gmail.com.

Order Thanksgiving Turkeys by September 25
Indy Food Co-op will place an order for local, pasture-raised, farm fresh Thanksgiving Turkeys on Friday, September 25, from Skillington Farms in Lebanon, Indiana. Turkey pick-up will be Wednesday, November 25 (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving) between noon and 7 p.m. from Pogue's Run Grocer, 2828 East 10th Street. Birds will be fresh so you will not need to thaw prior to the holiday. Complete and submit the Turkey Order Form and order yours at www.IndyFoodCoop.org. Thanksgiving Turkeys are $3.50/lb.Minimum weight deposit due upon ordering. Remainder due at pick-up.Choices: SMALL (10-15 lbs.) or LARGE (15-20 lbs.), with minimal options for extra small and extra large available.

Indy Food Co-op Member Loans Now Sought
Food co-ops across the country finance a portion of start-up costs through member loans to reduce the need to have to secure costly private sector loans. The Indy Food Co-op is seeking $165,000 in member loans this month to stay on track to open the store this fall. If interested, contact Mary Bowling, IFC Treasurer, at IndyFoodCoop@yahoo.com

Order Your Thanksgiving Turkey by Sept 25

2009-09-14T21:49:00.002-04:00

Indy Food Co-op will place an order for local, pasture-raised, farm fresh Thanksgiving Turkeys on Friday, September 25, from Skillington Farms in Lebanon, Indiana. Turkey pick-up will be Wednesday, November 25 (the Wednesday before Thanksgiving) between noon and 7 p.m. from Pogue's Run Grocer, 2828 East 10th Street. Birds will be fresh so you will not need to thaw prior to the holiday. Complete and submit the Turkey Order Form or order yours at www.IndyFoodCoop.org

Thanksgiving Turkeys are $3.50/lb.Minimum weight deposit due upon ordering. Remainder due at pick-up.Choices: SMALL (10-15 lbs.) or LARGE (15-20 lbs.), with minimal options for extra small and extra large available.

Indy Food Co-op Workday TODAY (9/13), 1 - 5 p.m.

2009-09-13T08:28:00.001-04:00

Join Indy Food Co-op for another volunteer workday TODAY, Sunday, September 13, from 1 - 5 p.m. We'll continue to work to pull up vinyl time that IUPUI students made great progress with on Friday, and get the place cleaned up.

Workday will be held at Pogue's Run Grocer location, 2828 E 10th Street.

Bring buckets, mops, brooms, dustpans, rags and cleaning supplies if you have them to share today. You might also bring a pair of work gloves (for tile work) or rubber gloves (for cleaning work).

See you at 1:00! Let us know you are coming if you can so we can adequately prepare.

Questions, 317.371.2788.

Sept 10 News from Indy Food Co-op

2009-09-10T22:03:00.002-04:00

It was a very productive August for Indy Food Co-op and September has been just as busy so far. We hope you are getting excited about your community owned grocery store opening this fall. Did you see the cover store in this month's URBAN TIMES? Check out the Isaacson/Evaniew family on the cover!

There is a lot going on with the co-op these days, so please stay up to date by checking our website and blog frequently to learn about our progress and upcoming events, including:

NEXT VOLUNTEER WORKDAY, THIS SUNDAY, 1 - 5 P.M.
Join Indy Food Co-op on Sunday, September 13, for our next volunteer workday at Pogue's Run Grocer. We'll have a group of 20 IUPU students in tomorrow tearing up vinyl tile and we need a team of our own members coming in on Sunday to clean the space up. Bring mops, buckets, rubber gloves, brooms and dustpans if you have them. We'll be sprucing the place up in preparation for Tuesday's member loan kick-off meeting!

MEMBER LOAN KICK OFF MEETING, TUES, SEPT 15, 6:30 P.M.
Like most co-ops across the country, Indy Food Co-op is hoping to finance a portion of its start-up costs through member loans. Already, members have committed $21,500 and our goal is $165,000 to reduce our need for private sector loan debt. Please plan to join us Tuesday, September 15, from 6:30 - 8:00 at Pogue's Run Grocer location (2828 E 10th Street) to learn more! Those members who expressed interest in learning more about member loans on their membership application received a packet of information in the mail in the past two weeks. If you are interested, but cannot attend the Sept 15 meeting, please contact us for more information.

MURAL CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS SOUGHT BY SEPT 18
Indy Food Co-op is seeking talented, creative artist to volunteer to create conceptual designs for our exterior mural. Designs will be narrowed by the IFC board with the final two designs coming to the IFC membership for a vote! Mural concepts should scream "food" as it is intended to be a major attention grabber for the store for those traveling briskly down 10th Street. The chosen designer will oversee the painting of the mural using volunteer assistance by willing co-op members. Conceptual designs must be submitted electronically in PDF not to exceed 8 MB by September 18, 2009, to jrhodes4@indy.rr.com

INDY SLOW FOODS VEGAN DINNER SEPT 20
Slow Food Indy is hosting a Farm to Table Dinner @ Beasley’s Orchard & Garden in Danville IN on Sunday, September 20, 5:30 – 9:00pm. This fabulous five-course meal and hayride kicks off the SFI 2010 Terre Madre fundraising to send Indianapolis area chefs, farms and food educators to Torino, Italy for Slow Food Internationals bi-annual international convention. Reservation Required by September 17. $50 Slow Food Members, $60 Non-Members - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/80389 or for more info, contact Laura Henderson, laura@indywinterfarmersmarket.org

LOCAL FOODS SPEAKER COMES TO IUPUI SEPT. 28
Lisa Heldke, Department of Philosophy, Gustavus Adophus College, Staying Home for Dinner: Ruminations on Local Foods in a Cosmopolitan Society. Brought to you by Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, and American Studies Program of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, and by the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Speakers Fund along with Indy Food Co-op, Indy Winter Farmers Market, Slow Food Indy and Indy Tilth/Urban Farming Forum.

INDY FOOD CO-OP TO TAKE TURKEY PRE-ORDERS FOR THANKSGIVING
Indy Food Co-op is teaming up with Skillington Farms, Lebanon, Indiana, to provide our members with fresh (not frozen) turkeys for this Thanksgiving season. Pre-order details coming soon, but turkeys will be available in two sizes: The choices are SMALL (10-15 lbs.) or LARGE (15-20 lbs.), will cost $3.50/lb, and must be ordered by September 30 with pre-payment. Distribution of the orders will occur on Tuesday, November 24!

CO-OP SEEKING GENERAL MANAGER CANDIDATES
Indy Food Co-op is seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced General Manager to be the key staff person for all store operations. If you are or know of people who might be interested, please review the complete job description at www.IndyFoodCoop.org . The co-op hopes to hire this critical leadership position in the next 30 days or so.

THANKS!!!!
Indy Food Co-op is soon to open thanks to the very hard work of so many! A big thank you to all those who have come out for volunteer workdays, helped staff a booth at a community event, helped spread the word among your friends, family and neighbors, have provided a member loan, and have provided food for volunteers! And, thank you for your membership in this community-owned grocery store! Keep spreading the word about this important community asset and help us reach 300 members by the time we open the store.

NEXT VOLUNTEER WORKDAY Sunday, Sept 13, 1 - 5 p.m.

2009-09-09T23:28:00.005-04:00

In response to requests for Sunday workdays for those unable to volunteer on Saturdays.....Please join Indy Food Co-op on Sunday, September 13, from 1 - 5 p.m. for the next volunteer workday. We'll have a group of IUPUI student volunteers in on Friday taking up the vinyl floor, and on Sunday, we'll be working to get adhesive off those areas and get the space ready for Tuesday's member loan kick-off meeting.

Please let me know if you can participate on Sunday, September 13.

______________________________________________

Did you see the cover story in this months URBAN TIMES? Pick one up and check out the Indy Food Co-op cover story.

Check out a few photos from the August 21 volunteer day!

RSVP for Sept 28 Event with Lisa Heldke!

2009-08-24T22:28:00.003-04:00

Join Indy Food Co-op for a special evening...

Lisa Heldke, Department of Philosophy, Gustavus Adolphus College
Monday 28 September 2009

STAYING HOME FOR DINNER: Ruminations on Local Foods in a Cosmopolitan Society

Reception: 6:00 PM; Lecture: 6:30 PM-8:00 PM

Lilly Auditorium (On lower level of IUPUI University Library), 755 W Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 (Parking is available at the North Street Garage, 819 W. North St. Bring your ticket to the event for a free validation stamp)

Reflecting on the decision to eat locally produced food suggests that ethical decisions cannot be cast as individual choices between two clear alternatives. When we seek morally unambiguous choices, we focus our ethical energies in the wrong place. The moral focus of our ethical decision-making should fall on building communities because the importance of any choice we make lies in the relationships that give our choices context. Food is an especially rich intersection of relations and so provides many opportunities to reflect, connect, and imagine more democratic communities. Recognizing these opportunities leads us to see ourselves not as food consumers but as food citizens who seek to enact and transform our relations not only through our purchasing and eating choices but also through our collective work in organizations that promote healthy, just, fair, safe, and delicious food systems for all people.

Space is limited for both events. Please R.S.V.P. to JRHODES4@INDY.RR.COM

Photos of the dedicated volunteers of Indy Food Co-op!

2009-08-24T22:14:00.006-04:00

Workdays on August 8, 22 and 24 are captured here!

Indy Food Co-op Needs Helpers TONIGHT!

2009-08-24T16:38:00.000-04:00

Last minute request to any Indy Food Co-op members/supporters who are available tonight! The co-op has received a GREAT DEAL on a lot of gently used shelving from CVS. The catch is that it has to be moved TONIGHT!

So, anyone who has some time tonight, please meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Pogues Run Grocer site, 2828 East 10th Street, to help unload shelving units.

Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated!!!!

Questions, call Josh Bowling at 496.2837.

Volunteers Sought for Sat, Aug 22 Painting Party

2009-08-21T07:47:00.002-04:00

Indy Food Co-op seeks about 15 volunteers to help prime the interior walls of the new store! Please come out and join us for this important work day. When everyone give a little time, we get a lot done! If you plan to participate, please RSVP to: jrhodes4@indy.rr.com

Indy Food Co-op Joins Groups to Educate on Antibiotic Resistance

2009-08-17T13:57:00.004-04:00

Hog Roast featuring Antibiotic Free Pork

Coalition supports federal legislation targeting misuse of antibiotics at industrial livestock operations

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – A coalition of businesses, environmental organizations, advocacy groups and public health representatives teamed up at an Indianapolis hog roast to support for federal legislation that targets antibiotic misuse at industrial livestock operations. Approximately 70% of all antibiotics sold in this country are used on livestock – poultry, cattle and pork, especially at industrial livestock operations where conditions can be unsanitary, crowded and stressful.

The Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA) (H.R. 1549/S.619) would phase out the non-therapeutic use of human medicines as growth promoters on livestock, unless manufacturers can prove no danger to public health. The bill was introduced by Representative Louise Slaughter and Senators Ted Kennedy and Olympia Snowe, and Indiana Representative Andre Carson (D-Indianapolis) is one of the co-sponsors of the House bill.

“The routine use of antibiotics on animals that are not sick makes our human medicines less effective. PAMTA will help ensure that life-saving antibiotics remain effective in the treatment of human diseases,” said Jerry King, executive director of the Indiana Public Health Association.

Dr. Stephen J. Jay, M.D. agrees “Disease organisms can become resistant to antibiotics when exposed to low doses over time. Antibiotic resistant organisms such as MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphlycoccus aureus) can be life-threatening and very expensive to treat.”

Allen Hutchison of Randolph County farms next to a large dairy and says “I’m worried that my animals or my family members will become infected with antibiotic resistant disease organisms that may be very difficult and expensive to treat. We need legislation to protect us.”

Chris Eley, owner of Goose-the-Market, says “Selective consumers are also worried. We have built our business on the knowledge that consumers are interested in more wholesome foods.”

Renee Sweany, board member for the Indy Food Cooperative says “People have a growing concern about where their food comes from and its impact on their health and the environment. I'm proud to be a member of the Indy Food Co-op because it provides products without antibiotics and other chemicals in a very under-served community.”

Benton County farmer Joe Hiscox says “The increased risks and costs are unnecessary. Farmers can achieve high levels of productivity by raising animals under less crowded and less stressful conditions.”

Indy Food Co-op on Inside Indiana Business

2009-08-16T23:42:00.002-04:00

IFC's board president, Kyle Hendrix, speaks with Inside Indiana Business' Garry Dick this week. Check out the interview HERE:

August 14 - News From Indy Food Co-op

2009-08-14T00:20:00.003-04:00

It has been an exciting couple of weeks for Indy Food Co-op and a great deal of progress is being made towards opening our doors in late October. As you know, a couple of weeks ago, we signed a lease at the location we presented to you at the first member meeting -- so, 2828 East 10th Street is our new home for Pogue's Run Grocer (a name you chose at our kick-off meeting). Then, last Saturday, after a few words to the press along with important supporters like East 10th Civic Association and the Super Bowl 2012 Legacy Committee, it was you, the members and supporters, that helped us take down the walls as we began transforming this 70-year old building into new hope for healthy, local food in Indianapolis. In fact about 35 of you helped with deconstruction and clean-up, and several more of you stopped by with food for the volunteers, as did a local favorite, YATS!

In other words, we couldn't have done all this without you! Our community-owned grocery store is becoming a reality because of YOU!

Over the coming weeks, we'll be calling on you again and again. Where you can help, it will make a difference.

Help us reach 300 Member households by store opening by spreading the word about Indy Food Co-op!
Commit to spend your first grocery dollar each week with the Indy Food Co-op!
Volunteer to staff a booth at an upcoming event!
Volunteer to paint, built, stock, clean and help us get this store open!!!!

And, now, more news you can use.....

CALL FOR CONCEPTUAL MURAL DESIGNS
Indy Food Co-op is seeking talented, creative artist to volunteer to create conceptual designs for our exterior mural. Designs will be narrowed by the IFC board with the final two designs coming to the IFC membership for a vote! Mural concepts should scream "food" as it is intended to be a major attention grabber for the store for those traveling briskly down 10th Street. The chosen designer will oversee the painting of the mural using volunteer assistance by willing co-op members. Conceptual designs must be submitted electronically in PDF not to exceed 8 MB by September 18, 2009, to jrhodes4@indy.rr.com

WELCOME TO THE IFC BOARD
Indy Food Co-op Board of Directors added Renee Sweany in June 2009. Many of you likely know Renee from the farmer's markets around town. Renee works on two projects right down the IFC alley: GreenPiece Indy e-newsletter (http://www.greenpieceindy.com) and Green Savings Indy coupon book (http://www.greensavingsindy.com). Renee has jumped right in and is serving on the Marketing and Operations Committees.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
August 15, 1:00 - 3:00, Indianapolis Vegetarian Society dinner at Chef's Academy, Savor the Summer Garden. For info, visit: http://www.indyvegsociety.org/

August 22 (morning) - Painting/Workday at Pogue's Run Grocer. More details soon!

September 15, 6;30 - 8:00 - Member Loan Kick-off at the Pogue's Run Grocer site. Details soon by e-mail and by mail.

September 28, two fascinating lectures by Lisa Heldke, Department of Philosophy, Gustavus Adophus College, brought to you by Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, and American Studies Program of the School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, and by the IUPUI 40th Anniversary Speakers Fund along with Indy Food Co-op, Indy Winter Farmers Market, Slow Food Indy and Indy Tilth/Urban Farming Forum

CULTIVATING COSMIC PATRIOTISM BY CULTIVATING COSMOS: URBAN GARDENING AND THE CREATION OF COMMUNITY -- Open discussion: 3:00 PM-4:15 PM, IUPUI, Campus Center (CE) 309, 420 University Boulevard, Indianapolis
STAYING HOME FOR DINNER: RUMINATIONS ON LOCAL FOODS IN A COSMOPOLITAN SOCIETY -- Local Food Reception: 6:00 PM; Lecture: 6:30 PM-8:00 PM, Lilly Auditorium, On lower level of IUPUI University Library, 755 W Michigan St., Indianapolis

- Free Parking available at the North Street Garage, 819 W. North St. with validation
- Space is limited for both events. Please R.S.V.P at jrhodes4@indy.rr.com
- For complete details, visit: http://www.indyfoodcoop.org/calendar.html

IFC OUTREACH:
Can you spare a few hours to help us staff a booth for a shift at one of these upcoming events? If so, please let us know!

August 29, Feast of Lanterns, a Near East Side Community Organization event, noon - dark, Spades Park
September 8, IUPUI Green Business Fair, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., IUPUI Campus
September 12, Mapleton-Fall Creek Neighborhood Block Party, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
October 17, Cottage Home Block Party, 5:00 - 11:00 p.m., Cottage Home Neighborhood

FOR OUTSTANDING SUPPORT, A SPECIAL THANKS TO:

East 10th Street Civic Association for all their financial and other support;
HAUS, The Architecture Studio (www.HAUS-ARCH.com) for so much incredible probono design work on our building;
Our new website volunteer, Renee Sweany;
Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) for their financial support;
All those who attended FOOD, INC. with Indy Food Co-op to better understand why we are working so hard to provide an alternative; and
All the members of Indy Food Co-op who are making this project happen!

Keep up on Indy Food Co-op progress by visiting www.indyfoodcoop.org and www.indyfoodcoop.blogspot.com

Volunteers Bring Down the Walls on Sat, Aug 8

2009-08-11T00:24:00.005-04:00

A tremendous volunteer turnout this past Saturday (August 8) resulted in the Indy Food Co-op's first major workday to get the store open. More than 25 volunteers (most shown here in photo) came out to clear out the interior walls to make way for Indy's first non-profit, community-owned grocery, Pogue's Run Grocer!

More details about the news conference to follow, but check out this week's great coverage by our local press......

Indianapolis Business Journal
Indy Star
Channel 13

And look for more member-volunteer workdays to follow!

Are You Ready to Get This Co-op Open?

2009-08-02T22:23:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, August 8, at 8:45 a.m., the Indy Food Co-op will begin the process of transforming our leased building into a community grocery store, and we need your help! We know that many of you have been anxiously awaiting this day, and now, finally, we are ready to take down walls and build up shelves, refrigerators and freezers of fresh, wholesome food for ourselves and our neighbors.

Please join us for an 8:45 a.m. news conference at 2828 East 10th Street, followed by a 9:00 a.m. tearing down of the interior walls. We'll work until 1:00 p.m. and then we are looking for volunteers who will bring dishes to feed the hard working volunteers.

So, if you are able to help with demolition, please e-mail Chris Barnett with the operations committee, to let him know what skills and tools you might be able to provide at barnett_dc@yahoo.com (provide e-mail and phone number). Up to 20 volunteers can be utilized for this important event!

If you want to bring a pitch-in item to help feed volunteers that day, please contact IndyFoodCoop@yahoo.com and tell us what you plan to bring.

We hope that you are as excited as we are about building up Indianapolis' first storefront cooperative grocery and that you are ready to help us get the doors of Pogue's Run Grocer* open!!!!!!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*p.s. Pogue's Run Grocer was the name chosen by our membership in November 2008! We are already hearing some great feedback about people's memories and the history of Pogue's Run and George Pogue in our near east side community. We hope you'll share your stories with us as well!

Indy Food Co-op to Open First Store as Pogue’s Run Grocer in October; Mission-driven grocer commits to near east side community

2009-07-31T22:57:00.002-04:00

July 31, 2009 - INDIANAPOLIS – In the past five years, two major grocery chains moved out of Indianapolis’ near eastside, and the 40,000 residents of the community fell prey to the high cost and low nutritional value of the dozen convenience stores that emerged since.

With a goal of providing affordable, healthy food options to the community, Indy Food Cooperative, Inc. announces its first non-profit, community-owned grocery store will open at 2828 East 10th Street in October 2009 as Pogue’s Run Grocer.

“Pogue’s Run Grocer seeks to improve the quality of life in Indianapolis by providing the community with access to good food, while supporting the local economy instead of national grocery chains,” said Kyle Hendrix, president of Indy Food Cooperative.

“Nearly 200 households representing residents all across Indianapolis have joined as members of the cooperative, but putting Indy’s only non-profit, storefront grocery store in an underserved area of the city meets an important mission of our group,” continued Hendrix,

This week, Indy Food Cooperative announces the signing of a lease for a building that has sat empty along a blighted section of East 10th Street for five years, the former Lane TV building. Volunteers of the cooperative will begin demolishing the interior walls on August 8 in preparation for the transformation of the space into a grocery store.

“Finding an adaptive reuse for this property will preserve and improve another building as well as provide jobs and a living wage -- a touchdown for the community and a great start to the 2012 Super Bowl Legacy project goal to revitalize the 10th Street Corridor during the next three years,” said Patrick Dooley, co-chair of the 2012 Super Bowl Legacy’s committee for economic development along the corridor.

Over the next three months, the 70 year old building near the intersection of 10th and Rural Streets will be renovated into a 3,000 square foot full-line grocery store. Shelves will be lined with fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, meats, poultry, personal care items and more. Members receive discounts on their purchases and other benefits, but the store will be open to the general public.

"Building a strong neighborhood relies upon people working together and the Indy Food Co-op's investment in this community demonstrates the positive impact neighbors can make. The Food Co-op will bring fresh food back into our neighborhood -- making it available to residents that do not have access to a grocery store," continued Dooley.

“The location offers a central location and is conveniently accessible by car, bike, bus or foot,” added Hendrix. “Pogue’s Run Grocer will be a true community marketplace to benefit those who care about health, and who believe that good food should be affordable and accessible to all.”

For more information about the event or the Indy Food Coop, visit www.indyfoodcoop.org , e.mail indyfoodcoop@yahoo.com, or call 317.631.2220.

- 30 -

About Indy Food Cooperative, Inc.
In the summer of 2007, a group of individuals met for the first time to begin discussing how to bring the city’s first non-profit, community-owned storefront grocery cooperative to Indianapolis. Since that time, a group of dedicated volunteers have been working hard to secure a location, raise funds and build membership for a grocery cooperative near downtown. The goal of the store is to support the local economy, while making local, fresh, organic and affordable food and products available to urban neighborhoods that currently are not served by healthy grocery options. In addition to operating a store, Indy Food Co-op is dedicated to educating the community on healthier eating through outreach programs, cooking classes and more. The organization kicked off its Founding 150 membership drive in November 2008 and reached the 150 member household milestone in early February 2009. Today, nearly 200 households have join the co-op, and the store is expected to open its doors in late October 2009. In the meantime, the Indy Food Co-op board of directors organizes gatherings and events that are forming a community of lifetime food cooperative supporters and customers. www.IndyFoodCoop.org , www.IndyFoodCoop.blogspot.com

FOOD, INC premiers Friday - Join Indy Food Co-op at 7:10 showing

2009-07-29T00:58:00.009-04:00

After several weeks of delays, the management at Keystone Arts Cinema assures me that THIS Friday, July 31, FOOD, INC will open for one week.

The run dates are Friday, July 31 through Thursday, August 6. Show times each day will be 1:45; 4:45; 7:10; and 9:40. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

About FOOD, INC:
In FOOD, INC., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield's Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms' Joel Salatin,
Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it's produced, who we have become as a nation and where we are going from here.

For more information, visit: www.foodincmovie.com/

Won't you join Indy Food Co-op at the 7:10 showing of the movie? We hope to see you there!

2009-07-21T13:12:00.003-04:00

During the first official meeting of the Indy Food Co-op members, over 1oo people came together to share a meal, discuss the status of the location search, and vote on board terms and bag preferences.

Members Only - First Indy Food Co-op Member-Owner Meeting Set for May 13

2009-04-25T09:13:00.001-04:00

Members of the Indy Food Co-op are invited to the Indy Food Co-op's inaugral owner-member meeting, to be held Wednesday, May 13, from 6 - 8 pm at the John H Boner Center, 2236 E 10th Street.

Please bring your favorite dish for a pitch-in social hour from 6 - 7 pm, followed by the first ever owner-member business meeting from 7 - 8 pm.

* Find out about the co-ops progress towards securing a building
* Learn about volunteer opportunities
* Give input on your preferences
* Meet other owner-members and the board
* Vote on board term limits
* Get questions answered!

1) BRING YOUR FAVORITE DISH
We'll be having a pitch-in dinner prior to the business meeting. Bring your favorite, healthy dish to share with your fellow member-owners.

2) BRING YOUR FAVORITE, HEALTHY RECIPE
Indy Food Co-op will be publishing a cookbook of our owner-members' favorite recipes! An old family favorite or something you've created -- we are looking for the best recipes to include in the Indy Food Co-op owner-member cookbook (complete the recipe on the form you will be e-mailed to ensure that all formats are consistent).

3) Please RSVP by Monday, May 11, so that we can adequately plan.

Parking: Parking for the Boner Center is located behind the building, in the parking lot just east of the building, on 10th Street, or in the Burger King parking lot. Enter the building from the back (north) side.

It's an exciting time to be a part of Indy's first member-owned, non-profit cooperative grocery store. Don't miss our very first official Indy Food Co-op member-owner meeting!

We hope to see you there!

Questions? E.mail: indyfoodcoop@yahoo.com , or call: 317.631.2220, or visit www.IndyFoodCoop.org

April 18 Update from the Indy Food Co-op!

2009-04-19T12:05:00.002-04:00

Plans for Indy's first non-profit, member-owned grocery store are moving forward as the board works to negotiate a location, secure grant funding, determine equipment needs and much, much more! We hope to have more details to announce very soon, so stay tuned! And, here is more information we hope you find helpful.....

SPRING MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Indy Food Co-op is pleased to announce that we now have secured 167 member households representing more than 300 co-op shoppers! This is a fabulous start, but we need 500 members to really make a new food co-op economically viable. So, we want to continue to build our membership in the community, and there is no better ambassador for our message that you -- the member-owners of the co-op! Here's the deal: From now through June 30, 2009, for every new member referred to the Indy Food Co-op by an existing member, the existing member will receive a $10 gift certificate for the co-op at the store grand opening! That's right....if you refer three new member households, then you receive $30 in food co-op products; five new member households, $50!
Conditions apply: Only existing members are eligible; Indy Food Co-op board members are not eligible; new member must state the name of the person who referred them on their membership application; promotion only good through April 15 - June 30, 2009.

MEMBER MEETING IN MAY
The Indy Food Co-op intends to conduct its first membership meeting in May 2009. As soon as we secure the meeting location, we'll let you know the details. One clue: gather your favorite, healthy recipe - you'll need it very soon!

FOOD SAFETY IN THE NEWS
With recent recalls of jalapenos, tomatoes, spinach, and most recently peanuts, more people are questioning the safety of our national food systems. This concern has sparked several pieces of legislation by Congress. Indy Food Co-op has received numerous e-mails from those concerned that should these food safety bills became law, it would over-burden small, local, organic farmers, processors and distributors. In response, the Indy Food Co-op met with Congressman Andre Carson's office (representing the seventh district, Indianapolis in the US House of Representative and a co-sponsor of one of the bills of greatest concern). Since Congress works on a two-year cycle, and all of the food safety bills floating around Congress will ultimately be merged into a single bill in committee, we have been urged to wait to provide feedback on a bill until a single bill exists that is most likely to move forward. At that time, the Indy Food Co-op would like to convene a public meeting with the Congressman's office to allow our members, suppliers, vendors and friends to provide constructive input on the bill to ensure that it provides for a safe national food systems without being overly burdensome to those growing and promoting local, fresh, organic food!

CO-OP BROCHURE AVAILABLE IN SPANISH
Thanks to co-op member Felipe Martinez, we now have our Indy Food Co-op information and membership brochure translated into Spanish. If you know of Spanish-speaking folks in the community who might have an interest in the co-op, please request a Spanish-version brochure to share with them!

THANKS TO VOLUNTEERS!
Quite a few Indy Food Co-op members are eager to help out in some way and are already volunteering to assist. A special thanks to Laura Salyer for assisting with the co-op website and helping lay out ads! That's a big help and allows us all to save money on this important task!

INDY FOOD CO-OP AROUND TOWN
Please join Indy Food Co-op at one of the upcoming events:

April 22: Indianapolis City Market Earth Day Event, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, free to the public
April 25: Earth Day Indiana Festival, 11 am - 4 pm, downtown Indianapolis, free to the public
April 25: Arts on the Green, Arsenal Technical High School campus
April 25: Herron-Morton Neighborhood Green Spring Up - presentation by Indy Food Co-op
June 13: INDIEana Handicraft Fair, 11 am - 10 pm, June 13, Harrison Center for the Arts, free to the public - Indy Food Co-op is the premier sponsor of this event; www.indieanahandicraftexchange.com

We hope to see you at one of these events over the coming weeks and welcome those who would like to help us staff a booth!

Thank you for your on-going support of the Indy Food Co-op and making Indianapolis healthier by supporting local, fresh, organic food!

Indy Food Co-op is NUVO Cover Story

2009-03-23T01:13:00.001-04:00

Be sure and check out this week's issue of NUVO Newsweekly, where the Indy Food Co-op is the cover story, along with other stories about local food and urban gardening projects.

Or, check out the story on-line at: NUVO (Cover) 3/18/09: Downtown farmers dig deep - http://tinyurl.com/crowyq

2009-01-30T00:05:00.001-05:00

Indy Food Coop is proud to bring to Indianapolis the award-winning Skydancer Productions documentary film "Heart & Soil" on Friday, February 27, 2009. The film will screen at the Harrison Center for the Arts, Gallerey 2, located at 1506 N. Delaware. A panel discussion on local food issues will follow the film.

Doors open at 5:30 pm; Event begins at 6:00 pm. Family-friendly event. Members FREE; $10 entrance for others 18 and over (which can be applied to a membership during the evening events). Light refreshments.

About the film: HEART & SOIL, a 45 minute family documentary, offers hope for our planet. This uplifting movie clips along with the pace of barefoot children and frolicking livestock,taking us on a journey into the rich landscape and lives of small scale farming, the bustling energy of farmers’ markets and farm to school programs. HEART & SOIL has been called “a love song for farmers,” those stalwart keepers of the earth who speak with passion on diverse topics including animal husbandry, soil science and climate change. HEART & SOIL also touches on the darker side of agriculture: the corporate extractive system that produces—not only most of the food we eat—but global warming. For more information, visit: www.HeartAndSoilFilm.com

Indy Food Coop Nears 150 Founding Members - Mark Calendar for Feb 27 Film!

2009-01-24T22:37:00.003-05:00

Indy Food Coop is still seeking 150 Founding Member households, but time is running out! To date, over 135 households have joined. While you can always join the coop (there is no limit to the number of members the coop can have - the more the better), time is drawing near for Founding Memberships! Join today: www.indyfoodcoop.org

Indy Food Coop is proud to bring to Indianapolis the award-winning Skydancer Productions documentary film "Heart & Soil" on Friday, February 27, 2009. The film will screen at the Harrison Center for the Arts, Gallerey 2, located at 1506 N. Delaware. A panel discussion on local food issues will follow the film. Family-friendly event. Members attend at no charge; $10 entrance for others 18 and over (which can be applied to a membership during the evening events). Details coming soon.

About the film: HEART & SOIL, a 45 minute family documentary, offers hope for our planet. This uplifting movie clips along with the pace of barefoot children and frolicking livestock,taking us on a journey into the rich landscape and lives of small scale farming, the bustling energy of farmers’ markets and farm to school programs. HEART & SOIL has been called “a love song for farmers,” those stalwart keepers of the earth who speak with

passion on diverse topics including animal husbandry, soil science and climate change. HEART & SOIL also touches on the darker side of agriculture: the corporate extractive system that produces—not only most of the food we eat—but global warming. For more information, visit: www.HeartAndSoilFilm.com

2009-01-11T23:44:00.002-05:00

Check out the new Indy Food Coop website at:

www.indyfoodcoop.org

2008-11-12T07:59:00.002-05:00

Indy Food Cooperative Founding 150

Membership Kick-off Event Big Success!
We had a fantastic turnout at the November 8 Founding 150 Kick-off at Earth House Coffeehouse. With people lined up out the door at 10 minutes to 6 and Sarah Grain's music to set the tone, things were buzzing. Over 200 attended and 30 new members sign up at the event with dozens more pledging to send their check as soon as they got home. For the board, it was very gratifying and validating to see so many people excited about the possibility of opening a non-profit storefront food co-op on the east side of downtown.

If you know that this food co-op is something that you would like to see happen, that you would like to have this store available to shop at, then please invest NOW. The faster we get people signed onto this, the sooner we will have a local store selling food we can trust. Plus you'll get your name on that cool Founding members plaque!

Food Co-op Q & A

Why the cooperative model for a grocery store?
A cooperative is based on a group of people coming together to meet a need. In this case, a group of us (who started out as interested parties and now make up the board) have come together with the goal of filling a grocery need in our community. As a non-profit grocer, we believe that we can meet the need for fresh, local, organic and affordable produce and products in a way that for-profit supermarkets are not. Collectively, we are working together to get a storefront grocery to fill this gap.

When will the store be open?
We expect to open our store "First Harvest" 2009 (mid-summerish).

What is a Founding Member (Founding 150)?
We are currently seeking 150 people to make an equity investment of $150 in the co-op. This special group of members will be our "Founding Members." For each $150, you receive:
One (1) membership with up to three (3) shopper’s cards
One (1) vote in all general membership elections

Member benefits include:

Discounts on selected products throughout the store
Bulk and case order discounts
Discount on co-op classes and events
Co-op newsletter
Ability to run for elected office on board of directors seat
Founding member gift
Name on a plaque at the front of the store

This is a lifetime membership, and only a small, annual administration fee will be required (expected to be around $5 - $10).

These Founding Memberships will be available until December 31, 2008, at which time our standard membership scenario will kick in (see below for more information).

Why become a Founding Member?
The basis of a cooperative is a common goal -- in this case, access to healthy food -- and to be successful as a food cooperative, we require the commitment of many people in our community to support it’s efforts by becoming members and shopping at the store for daily food needs. Becoming a founding member is critical in our necessity to determine that there is a broad base of community support for our effort – nothing says commitment like investment! In addition, as a non-profit storefront food cooperative, we will have access to start-up assistance dollars and grants. Funders need to see that an organization that they fund has the support of the community. Founding membership opportunities are common among other cooperatives across the U.S., and is an important first step for Indy Food Co-op. The membership fee is only a small, but important part of an organization’s overall revenue.

What will a standard membership after the Founding Member period cost?
While all the details are yet to be finalized, it is anticipated that after the Founding Member period, the membership will look something like this:

1 time equity-investment per membership (Amount to be determined)
1 application fee per shoppers card (Most likely $25 per card)
Minimal yearly maintenance fee (approximately $5 - 10) to facilitate keeping our membership files up to date. This fee applies to Founding Members too.
The benefits of the standard membership will be similar to the founding members with only a few exceptions.

Do I have to volunteer time to be a member?
No, there is no requirement of volunteering for the cooperative with a membership. We do hope to offer opportunities to volunteer and participate in aspects of the store, but basic operations will be undertaken by paid staff.

Do I have to join to shop at the store?
No, anyone will be able to shop at the store. However, only members will be able to take advantage of discounts, voting rights and eligibility for a board position.

What is the name of the store?
The board is considering three different possible names for the store. At the membership kick-off meeting, we enlisted feedback from attendees on the name which will help us determine the final name. We will announce that name in the near future.

What is the location of the store?
The location of the store will be just east of downtown Indianapolis. We seek a location that will provide a neighborhood feel, but is also accessible by interstate, bus, bike and foot. We are currently working to negotiate a facility at 10th and Hamilton Streets. It provides the necessary 6,000 s.f. of space, adequate parking, and the opportunity for expansion in the future.

What products will the store carry?
The focus of the store is to support local, fresh, organic and affordable products. These products include produce, dairy products, meat and poultry, fresh and frozen items, bulk goods, baked goods, personal care products and more. A few convention and/or name brand products may also be available. Over time, we will seek value-added opportunities, such as a deli, a coffee shop or a bakery. All the products are intended to support a healthier way of life for those who live in and around Indianapolis.

I have more questions about benefits?
To follow is some additional information about each benefit offered by the cooperative:
In addition to having 1 vote per membership on general membership matters the other benefits of joining are:

Member-owners only discounts on select items throughout the store;

Although Co-ops have in the past largely offered a flat discount on all member purchases time has shown this to be an unsustainable policy. Co-ops that have used this set up have continued to struggle economically for decades despite strong community support because they are "refunding" profit before they're even positive they have one. We have chosen to offer only selected discounts. How we see this working is if periodically we get one of our standard items in at a savings over typical costs (which happens quite often in produce and grocery wholesale) we'll pass this savings on to our member-owners only. Or a seasonally appropriate item (like Turkeys at Thanksgiving) may be offered at a discount for our member-owners. We may also offer coupons or have a discount day where member-owners can get a 10% discount on their entire order.

Discounts on bulk and case orders;

When members special order a case from one of our suppliers we will offer it at a very slight % above wholesale

Discounts on co-op classes and events;

We're planning a very extensive educational component to be a cornerstone of our co-op concept. Cooking, baking, gardening, menu-planning, etc... all of these will be offered either at a discount or free to our member-owners.

Ability to hold elected office on our Board of Directors;

Our Co-op is essentially a representative Democracy. You choose the Members of the Board and they decide most issues. All Board meetings are open to members and record of the meetings will be made available. And there are methods of redress should a member-owner feel that an issue needs to be considered by the entire membership. (We'll be posting our bylaws soon.)

Co-op Newsletter;

Again an education aspect will be a major part of our business. Newsletters will include articles on various food issues, recipes, community highlights, gardening tips... . A formal outlet for our membership to share their various knowledge with one another.

A membership gift;

A sturdy canvas tote/shopping bag with our logo is what we're thinking.
There are a handful of other benefits still being considered by the board. We have been striving toward consensus and although there is overwhelming support for these benefits, some concerns of various board members have yet to be adequately addressed and thus they have not yet been included.

Note: There will be NO mandatory work requirements or purchase minimums. These are not in keeping with our mission and vision.

Who is on the Indy Food Cooperative Board?
Kyle Hendrix, President
Joshua Bowling, Vice President
Dani Cunningham-Dawson, Secretary
Mary Bowling, Treasurer
Katherine Ogawa, Recording Secretary
Chris Barnett
Mark Saetre
Deborah Sluss
Darren Allumier
Laura Henderson
Julie L. Rhodes

Founding Member Drive - Kickoff Event

2008-10-09T08:38:00.000-04:00

Indy Food Co-op Targets 150
Founding Members for Kick-off of Non-Profit Grocer

After a year of behind the scenes efforts by advocates for a non-profit grocer to serve Indianapolis’s downtown and near eastside residents, the all-volunteer board of the Indy Food Co-op are ready to unveil plans. On Saturday, November 8, those interested in bringing a natural food grocery cooperative to the city’s near eastside are invited to join members of the board and others for a founding membership kick-off meeting. The event will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Earth House Coffeehouse, located within the Lockerbie United Methodist Church at 237 North East Street.

“More than ever, residents downtown, on the near eastside and around town are seeking opportunities to buy healthy, local, natural, affordable food,” said Kyle Hendrix, chairperson of the Indy Co-op Board. “The food cooperative intends to fill this current void and meet the grocery needs for thousands of families in Central Indiana.”

Over the past months, the Indy Food Co-op has incorporated, formed a board of directors, raised funds, hired a consultant, and determined a likely location just east of downtown Indianapolis. The kick-off meeting offers the first opportunity for those who support the member-owner food cooperative concept to get involved and invest in the important community project, Members of the cooperative will enjoy product discounts and other special offers, however, the grocery will be open to the general public to meet a wide variety of customer food, grocery, personal care and other product needs.

“We know that many supporters have been standing by waiting for the day to help make a dream of a food co-op a reality and to become a founding member,” Hendrix continued. “The kick-off event is just that chance.”

According to the Indiana Cooperative Development Center (ICDC), there are approximately 300 such food co-ops across the country -- seven of which are in Indiana. Each food co-op is a little different based upon the individual needs of the community and the co-op members. Most food co-ops are voluntary, consumer-owned organizations, owned and controlled by members to provide affordable, healthy food to members and non-members. The ICDC provides technical support and resources to Indiana groups interested in starting up cooperatives and is assisting the Indy Food Co-op in its planning.

“We invite the community to join us for this fun and informative event to learn more about Indy Food Co-op as a resource for our families, our neighborhoods, and our community at large; and, if they are inspired as we have been, attendees can also help us reach our goal of 150 founding members to leverage support from local funding entities across Indianapolis as well as create of base of shoppers to support our local co-op,” Hendrix concluded.

Attendees also will have the opportunity to provide input on co-op product offerings, as well as give feedback on proposed market names. The event will include music by local singer-songwriter Sarah Grain, and snacks will be provided by local restaurants and organizations. Admission is free, open to the public and children are welcome.

For inquiries, e-mail indyfoodcoop@yahoo.com; or contact Kyle Hendrix at 317.631.2220.

Indy Food Co-op

NEW WEBSITE FOR POGUES RUN GROCER

Co-op Highlighted in Front Page IndyStar Article

Check out all IFC has going on...

New Video Tells the Indy Food Co-op Story

Check out this fabulous new video put together by local videographer, Steven Shattuck:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6Lx8XhD1k

Mural Day Five: Artists Work Day

Mural Day Four: Transforming 10th Street

Mural SCREAMS FOOD

257 MEMBERS!!!!

Only 43 more members needed to reach our 300 member goal by store opening

Have you become a member yet?

Join Now!

Community-Owned, Community-Supported!!!

Mural Day Four: Transferring and Reference Painting

Mural Day Three: Transferring the Image

Mural Day Two: Priming the Wall

Mural Day One: Pressure Washing the Wall

Volunteers Needed THIS Saturday, March 27

What's Happening at Pogue's Run Grocer

Local firm gives Pogue's Run Grocer a boost

Ready for Spring Planting - Order Seeds Today

Don't Miss FOOD CON!

Join Us Saturday At the Indy Winter Farmers Market

Order Your Garden Seeds and Support Indy Food Co-op!

Co-op Introduces New GM and other news

Indy Food Co-op Article in Today's Indy Star

Deadlines Today for Lecture and Turkeys!!!

Important Indy Food Co-op Deadlines Approach

Order Your Thanksgiving Turkey by Sept 25

Indy Food Co-op Workday TODAY (9/13), 1 - 5 p.m.

Sept 10 News from Indy Food Co-op

NEXT VOLUNTEER WORKDAY Sunday, Sept 13, 1 - 5 p.m.

RSVP for Sept 28 Event with Lisa Heldke!

Photos of the dedicated volunteers of Indy Food Co-op!

Indy Food Co-op Needs Helpers TONIGHT!

Volunteers Sought for Sat, Aug 22 Painting Party

Indy Food Co-op Joins Groups to Educate on Antibiotic Resistance

Indy Food Co-op on Inside Indiana Business

August 14 - News From Indy Food Co-op

Volunteers Bring Down the Walls on Sat, Aug 8

Are You Ready to Get This Co-op Open?

Indy Food Co-op to Open First Store as Pogue’s Run Grocer in October; Mission-driven grocer commits to near east side community

FOOD, INC premiers Friday - Join Indy Food Co-op at 7:10 showing

Members Only - First Indy Food Co-op Member-Owner Meeting Set for May 13

April 18 Update from the Indy Food Co-op!

Indy Food Co-op is NUVO Cover Story

Indy Food Coop Nears 150 Founding Members - Mark Calendar for Feb 27 Film!

Founding Member Drive - Kickoff Event

Check out this fabulous new video put together by local videographer,
Steven Shattuck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi6Lx8XhD1k