COMPARE AND CONTRAST STUDYBETWEEN

CONVENTIONAL SUPERSTORES

MOST FOOD CARRIED THERE TRAVELS LONG DISTANCES BEFORE REACHING CONSUMERS

TRANSPORTATION ADDS TO: POLLUTION

FINAL COST

MORE GARBAGE DUE TO PACKAGING NEEDED FOR TRANSPORTATION

LOCAL FARMER MARKETS

FOOD CARRIED THERE IS LOCALLY

GROWN

TRANSPORTATION HAS:

LITTLE IMPACT ON POLLUTION

VERY MINOR IMPACT ON FINAL COST

NO GARBAGE ADDED

METHODS USED IN FOOD PRODUCTION

CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE USES

UNSUSTAINABLE METHODS THAT

POLLUTE:

WATER

SOIL

AIR

ORGANIC AND MINIMALLY TREATED

CROPS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY:

NO SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS

NO PETROLEUM BASED PESTICIDES

NO IMPACT ON WATER, SOIL OR AIR

HOW THE MONEY GENERATED IN BOTH MARKETS IS SPENT?

CONVENTIONAL SUPERMARKETS

MOST JOBS AVAILABLE ARE PER HOUR WITH LOW RATES

FINANCIAL GAINS ARE ADDED TO CORPORATE PROFITS.

INVESTMENTS TARGET MAINLY NEW COMMUNITIES BUT NOT THE ONES WHERE PROFITS WERE GENERATED

BUT: FOOD PREFERENCES ARE SHAPED BY PRICES

LOCAL FARMER MARKETS

A HIGHER INPUT IS MATCHED WITH HIGHER EARNING

MONEY GENERATED IS BEING CIRCULATED LOCALLY

COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATING OR EXPANDING EXISTING MARKETS

BONUS: CUSTOMER HAS DIRECT INTERACTION WITH FOOD PRODUCER: PREFERENCES ARE NOT LINKED TO PRICES

PARK SLOPE FOOD COOP MODELAPPLIED TO:

ENVIRONMENT

COOP CARRIES ONLY ORGANIC, MINIMALLY TREATED AND LOCALLY GROWN CROPS

RECYCLES CARDBOARDS

RETURNS CRATES TO FARMERS

EDUCATES MEMBERS ABOUT BRINGING REUSABLE BAGS

USES RECYCLED PAPER FOR OFFICE USE

ECONOMY

MEMBERS MANDATORY MONTHLY WORKING SLOTS HELP REDUCE COOP’S EXPENSES

BIG CHUNK OF PROFIT IS INVESTED IN OFFERING LARGE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICES

MEMBERS HAVE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING

COOP BENEFITS FROM SPECIAL TARIFFS FROM FARMERS, CARRIERS AND RECYCLING COMPANIES

COMMUNITIES

WEEKLY FOOD DONATIONS TO

SOUP KITCHEN

COOP OFFERS MEMBERS SLOTS

AND ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE

SEEKING THE CREATION OF

SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS