New Pioneer Co-op has been providing the Iowa City corridor with fresh, organic, and locally grown food since 1971. For decades, they have paved the way for other Iowa markets interested in providing their own communities with local, organic food. Today, New Pi has expanded to be more than just a grocery store. The market has grown, and New Pi plans to open a new store in Cedar Rapids early next year. The University of Iowa Press asked Jenifer Angerer, the marketing manager, some questions about the expansion, what New Pi offers its members, and the future of buying local and organic.
New Piooner has expanded to more than just a market. It also
encompasses a newsletter, blog, classes, membership, and more. What are some of
the most unusual additions to New Pi? What inspired this expansion?
New Pioneer Food Co-op believes that, beyond providing local and
organic groceries, supporting the local economy and enhancing our
member-owners’ community is one of our primary roles. We accomplish this
through our many outreach programs, including, as you noted, cooking classes, gardening classes, and
our Soilmates education program, which provides free K-12 education about
gardening, composting, and feeding the soil.
New Pi also hosts a community garden for our member-owners called
Earth Source Gardens, which is open to the public for educational garden
parties each summer. Not only do member-owners get an opportunity to plant
their own garden, but they can learn more about gardening and soil management
and also have the opportunity to give back to the community by donating their
extra produce to the Crisis Center Food Bank.
New Pioneer has been incorporated as a cooperative business since
1971, which means we operate differently than a regular profit-driven business.
As a cooperative grocery, we’re owned democratically by our member-owners (who
each purchase a lifetime share in the company for $60), and are driven by the Seven
Cooperative Principles:
1.
Voluntary and Open Membership:
Cooperatives are voluntary organizations, open
to all people able to use its services and willing to accept the
responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or
religious discrimination.
2.
Democratic Member Control
: Cooperatives are democratic organizations
controlled by their members—those who buy the goods or use the services of the
cooperative—who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions.
3.
Members' Economic Participation:
Members contribute equally to, and
democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. This benefits members
in proportion to the business they conduct with the cooperative rather than on
the capital invested.
4.
Autonomy and Independence:
Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help
organizations controlled by their members. If the co-op enters into agreements
with other organizations or raises capital from external sources, it is done so
based on terms that ensure democratic control by the members and maintains the
cooperative’s autonomy.
5.
Education, Training, and Information:
Cooperatives provide education and training for
members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so they can contribute
effectively to the development of their cooperative. Members also inform the
general public about the nature and benefits of cooperatives.
6.
Cooperation among Cooperatives:
Cooperatives serve their members most
effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through
local, national, regional, and international structures.
7.
Concern for Community:
While focusing on member needs, cooperatives
work for the sustainable development of communities through policies and
programs accepted by the members.
After many years exclusively in the Iowa City
area, you have announced that you will be opening a location in Cedar Rapids.
When does the new store plan to be open? How will this new store be different
from the Iowa City and Coralville locations? Do you hope to expand beyond the corridor in
the future?
We’re
very excited to fulfill our member-owners’ long-time request for a Cedar Rapids
store. We have submitted our site plan for the Cedar Rapids store to the City
of Cedar Rapids and are awaiting its approval (a process that can take over a month), which governs the schedule of the rest of the work that follows. Once the
site plan is formally approved, then we will be in a position to finalize the
project schedule and announce an opening date. Our Board of Directors bases any
decision to relocate or expand to new locations on what is most economically
prudent for the Co-op.
