Monadnock Region residents turn out in force to support the Monadnock Community Market Food Co-op

Over 250 people turned out in force to support the Monadnock Community Market Co-op and celebrate local music, local food and local fun at the Co-op’s Marketfest Event on November 6, 2010 at Mole Hill Theatre in Alstead.  Thanks to five regional bands who entertained the crowd, brewers who shared their locally crafted beers and plates of fantastic dishes featuring locally grown produce prepared by Co-op volunteers, the Co-op raised more than $2,000 and recruited 25 member-owners that night.

“The turnout and support was more than we could have hoped for,” said Jen Risley, Board Member of the Monadnock Community Market Co-op.  “The Marketfest’s success brings us one step closer to opening a cooperatively owned food store in downtown Keene.”

The Monadnock Community Market Co-op currently has 315 member-owners, reaching its goal of 300 members by the Fall of 2010.  The Co-op’s next challenge is to double its member-owners before the end of the year, keeping it on track to opening in 2012 at the Railroad Square Site in Keene.

“We are well on our way to having 600 member-owners by the end of December,” shared Bonnie Hudspeth, Project Manager.  “This event demonstrated the growing support for our Co-op all over the region, and we anticipate that the number of member-owners will continue to grow steadily.”

Five regional bands–The Cold River Ranters, Rise! Bluegrass Fusion, GirlandPiano, Bare Bones and Pat’s Famous Chili–came out to support the food Co-op.  Ten area businesses and organizations supported the Co-op through donations of food, drink, space, and volunteer efforts: Brewbakers, First Course, Fritz: The Place to Eat, Microbe Brewers Supply, Mole Hill Theatre, Orchard Hill Breadworks, Prime Roast, New Hampshire Honey Bee, Walpole Creamery, and Whole Terrain.

Did you attend this event? Tell us about it below.

Have a photo to share? Email it to monadnockcommunitymarket@gmail.com.

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Fundraiser Brings in over $2,000 for the Co-op

A huge THANKS to everyone who volunteered at/came to the Marketfest fundraiser on Saturday. More than 250 people came, over $2000 was raised to help open our Co-op, and 25 new member-owners joined in one night. What an amazing region we live in, and Go Co-op! We are well on our way to 600 members by the end of December.

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Co-op Members Host Co-op Potlucks to Boost Membership

Marcia and Jim Duffy of Keene hosted the first of many Co-op Potlucks to celebrate the abundance of local food in our region and invite friends and neighbors to learn more about/join the Monadnock Community Market Co-op.

Interested in hosting a Co-op Potluck?  Contact Monadnock Community Market Co-op.

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Learn More About the Co-op

In case you missed the July 2010 Information Session, here is the presentation shared at this event.  Enjoy!

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Survey Says: The Community Supports Monadnock Community Market’s Vision

Since 2007, community members have expressed support for a local food and co-op in downtown Keene.  Below is a summary of those surveys.  Thank you to everyone who help carried out, compiled and filled out these surveys!

• In 2007, a survey of over 900 community members that was conducted Friends of Center City Keene, an organization headed by Jay Pettapiece, identifying a food cooperative in downtown Keene as one of the top priorities of citizens.

• In the spring of 2008, over 1,200 members of the greater Keene community gathered together to develop a community vision that will be incorporated in the City of Keene Master Plan (due summer 2010).  Some of the top priorities included:
  • Have a strong network of farms, a permanent farmers’ market, food co-op, and public gardens that promote sustainable practices, provide value-added economic opportunities, and supply our community with a high quality, healthy, and affordable food.
  • Have a downtown that is the social hub of our community, where citizens can walk, bicycle, and ride public transportation to various services, amenities, and activities for all ages, including our youth and elders.
  • Have a strong, local food-based sector of our economy that connects local farms to businesses and the community in various ways, such as through a food co-op and farmers market.

• On November 18, 2008 the City of Keene Cosponsored a Keene Local Food Downtown Forum with the Cheshire County Conservation District, the Co-op Committee, and the Keene Farmers’ Market and over 70 community members attended the event to express interest and support.

• On April 25, 2009, 72 community members filled out Co-op surveys at the Monadnock Earth Festival, with 100% of survey respondents indicating that they are interested (15%) or very interested (85%) in more year round access to locally grown/produced food.  Also, 100% of respondents reported that if they are currently members of a Community Supported Agriculture Farm and/or shop at the Keene Farmer’s Market, they would still continue to support them if a food co-op existed in Keene.

• On June 17, 2009 in an online follow up to the April Earth Festival Survey, 100% of 30 online survey respondents said they would be “interested in more year round access to locally grown/produced food.”

• On August 30, 2009, of 80 food co-op surveys collected from four Keene Community Visioning Sessions and from a survey box at Stonewall Farm, 100% of respondents expressed they were
  interested (24%) or very interested (76%) in more year round access to locally grown/produced food.

• On January 20, 2010, 29 employees from the Markem Imaje Corporation in Keene responded to a co-op survey, with 100% of respondents reporting they are interested or very interested in more year-round access to locally grown/produced food.

• On February 13, 2010, 44 attendants at The Sustainability Project’s Seed Celebration responded to a Co-op Survey.  All (100%) of the survey respondents expressed interest in more year-round access to locally grown/produced food, and 40 out of 44 respondents indicated they would purchase locally grown food even if it cost more.

• On February 24, 2010, 1,103 students from Keene State College (almost one third of the total 4,866 students enrolled) responded to an online food co-op survey.  Of 1,086 responses, 88% of respondents indicated they would purchase locally grown food if the price was competitive.  Additionally, 74% of 1,088 respondents indicated they would rather purchase locally grown food products at a community-owned market as opposed to a chain supermarket, and 74% of 1,084 respondents indicated that it is important to develop an environmentally sustainable (local) food supply chain.

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Shared Community Vision for a Local Food Co-op

The Monadnock Community Market Co-op welcomes neighbors, connects community, and contributes economically to build a healthy & sustainable food system and community.

We envision a local Food Co-op adding to downtown Keene by:

• Making healthy, local food accessible to our community members all year round
• Helping to create a walkable community by providing a community-owned food market in the downtown
• Creating more local jobs and keeping money in the community–our co-op will be locally owned forever
• Supporting the region’s farmers and helping to preserve the rural landscape
• Offering education and training (cooking, nutrition, and food preparation and preservation classes, etc.) to employees, the general public and community leaders
• Working with other businesses on sustainable development in the downtown
• Serving as a community center with workshops and community service programs
• Helping to promote a strong local economy: every dollar spent at the co-op and other local businesses has roughly three times as much local economic impact as a dollar spent at a non-locally owned business

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