By Hope Loudon
Reno’s burgeoning food culture would not be complete without the Great Basin Community Food Co-op (GBCFC) where foodies and conscious consumers alike can support local farmers, get involved in the community and buy quality food. Contrary to popular myths, one does not have to be a member to shop there, and shopping is only part of what GBCFC has to offer.
GBCFC began in 2005 as a humble buying club through the Pneumatic Diner, and then went through several stages of evolution with the help of its members. Today, GBCFC has expanded to become a thriving community resource with more than 6,000 members. Through member funding, GBCFC was also able to move into its beautiful three-story building at 240 Court St.
GBCFC is much more than a grocery store. In addition to food from their kitchen, fresh produce, treats such as local honey, and a wide variety of beverages such as Sierra Kombucha on tap, they also offer plenty of do-it-yourself supplies (including starter kits for kombucha), environmentally conscious cosmetics and my personal favorite, a selection of unusual local seeds for the garden.
GBCFC also offers community through its volunteer opportunities, upstairs community space where one can join or host classes with permission, and many events such as member parties, tours of local farms in the summer, an annual local seedling sale, and educational lectures such as “How to Feed Your Kid More Veggies.” In the future, GBCFC even hopes to open a cafe above the store.
GBCFC makes a special effort to let customers know what is in their food and where it comes from. Through collaborating with the University of Nevada, Reno, GBCFC mapped the local food shed area within which all of their local products are grown. GBCFC makes shopping local, organic, and GMO-free easy thanks to special labels.
GBCFC also connects local farmers to local purchasers and restaurants such as Campo through its Distributors of Regional and Organic Produce and Products (DROPP) Program. The DROPP Program, initially funded by a Nevada Department of Agriculture grant, allows farmers to list their available products through a web-based system through which local purchasers can peruse and buy them. This program has helped build the local economy, increased access to local food and saved farmers and purchasers a lot of time and effort.
GBCFC members pay $20 annually (or $200 for a lifetime) to have ownership of the co-op. This gives them access to special discounts, and the opportunity to participate in decisions about the co-op by voting or running for the board. Members have the opportunity to volunteer through GBCFC’s Hands on Owner (HOO) Program which gives them the additional privilege of ordering at wholesale prices as HOO participants.
The cashier at GBCFC said, “Have a Great Basin day!” as I left. I chuckled and decided that this meant that every day should include a philosophy of community involvement, local culture, and conscious consumption.
To live your own “Great Basin Day” through participating in upcoming events, becoming a member or shopping at GBCFC, stop by the store or visit: http://www.greatbasinfood.coop/
