ABOUT THE CO-OP Details

Membership: $25 fee. Entitles members to 2 percent discount on purchases and special member prices on certain items.
Background: What is now the Good Food Co-op began in 1975 by a group of Youngstown State University students, who started a weekly buying club called Good Karma Food Co-op based at Unitarian Church. In 1976 the co-op was incorporated as not-for-profit organization in Ohio. A board of directors was elected in 1977 and the co-op received two years of grant support from the Office of Economic Development administered through Youngstown Area Community Action Council. The grant allowed the co-op to acquire storefront space first on Belmont Avenue and then on Pyatt Street. There was small paid staff. In 1979 the grant support ended and changes had to be made. The co-op board decided to raise the markup, expand the product line and hire a full-time manager. In the 1980s, the co-op changed its named to Good Food Co-op.
Sales: Annual sales of $360,000. Co-op hit a high of $480,000 about four years ago.
Annual meeting: General membership meeting planned at 2 p.m. Oct. 30 in the community room of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 305 Wick Ave., Youngstown.
Source: Good Food Co-op