Our Members Speak
added 01/03/12
Each week, the Co-op puts out its Question of the Week for Members. To date, over 500 Co-op members have responded at least once, and many have answered as many as thirteen questions.
While not all questions address issues that need action, member input on the following three questions has influenced our thinking about how to proceed with bags at checkout and our approach to activism on food issues. For results on all of our weekly questions, check it out here.
Should the Co-op charge customers for each bag they use, rather than giving back five cents for each bag not used?
184 responses: Yes 65.8% | No 21.2% | Not Sure 13%
The arguments made by those who opposed the idea or weren’t sure gave us plenty of food for thought.
“My initial reaction is that we should definitely charge, but what if charging for bags has the unintended consequence of driving away non-members?”
“I would think it would reduce repeat business. I rarely remember my reuseable bags and am not all that ‘green.’ It is a misconception to presume that your customers are all on the green bandwagon; so many people aren’t. I shop at the co-op because I like the selection and price of hard to find international foods and ease of buying local. If I were charged for bags that are free at other stores, being a frugal Vermonter, I would switch to shopping at other stores.”
“No. While I support the idea, I think it would discourage lower income members from joining and shopping at the Co-op.”
Outcome: The Co-op does not have plans to charge for bags at this time.
Would you support having the five cent bag credit automatically go into the Green Energy Fund, rather than being refunded to the shopper?
126 responses: Yes 62.7% | No 32.5% | Need More Information 4.8%
While the majority said they were willing to give up the five cents, one out of three members said no. In addition, some who were willing to give up their credits expressed concern that others would stop providing their own bags without an incentive.
Outcome: As one member pointed out, the average shopper who brings bags regularly earns approximately $13 per year in nickels. This year, we have decided to offer our faithful bag recyclers the opportunity to win a much more substantial reward through our Bring Back the Sack raffle. See page 11 for details.
Should the Co-op be more proactive about supporting food-based movements, such as groups that protest genetically modified crops, federal subsidies that favor agribusiness over small farms, or the abuse of terms like “natural” in the labeling of cereal?
59 responses: Yes 64.4% | No 23.7% | With Reservations 11.9%
As always, our members had plenty to offer beyond a simple Yes/No answer, and the diversity of their responses illustrates why this question was asked in the first place. With 28,000 member households, the Co-op is owned by people with a wide variety of outlooks and opinions:
“Yes, to the extent of providing members educational and resource materials concerning these issues and how they might individually support them. However, I’m reluctant to see the Co-op overall promoting positions that would be potentially divisive to its members. That level of proactive involvement might be more appropriate at a Co-op committee or study group level, with the statement that this may not represent the views of all Co-op members.”
“Absolutely. Our food coop can play a crucial role in protesting GMOs and federal subsidies that favor agribusiness over small farms. Part of that role should be providing basic information to co-op members, non-member co-op shoppers, and the community at large about genetically engineered foods and federal subsidies that favor national and transnational agribusiness and food processors.”
“Please stick to education, not activism, when it comes to food-based movements. When I shop at the Co-op, I’m looking for food choices, not ideology. Unless the Co-op intends to provide ‘equal time’ to both sides of a food-based movement, please remain officially neutral in the discussion.”
“Yes! Especially with regard to the term ‘natural’ and supporting groups that protest GMOs.”
“I think the Coop’s most appropriate role is to educate members and the general public about these issues but not lead the charge.”
“Yes, I think Co-op should be more proactive. The more information provided the better, and making it easy for people to sign petitions, etc. is good.”
“Not all of your customers are going to be concerned about or supportive of fighting GMO foods, GMO research, big agribusinesses, etc. And where will you draw the line as far as the issues you will integrate into your mission? Will you fight use of GMOs but not the killing of animals? Support vegetarians but not vegans? I support the co-op seeking greater information for consumers, more so than any other goal.”
“Being proactive as a group, using the clout of members in a democratic way can certainly help to encourage responsibility and accountability in government and industry. They know there is an awareness of their actions, profit should not be the bottom line.”
“I don’t think the Co-op should involve itself politically in these causes (can of worms because there would be so many different opinions among the membership), but I think it would be GREAT if it took steps to educate its members about organizations that do champion these causes and thereby provide the opportunity for members to get involved individually.”
“Supporting (resistance to) misuse of funds and abuse of the term natural makes sense; however I’m not so sure that GMOs merit the same concern.”
“Yes. Protest GMOs like they did in Europe.”
“No! No political protests. PLEASE just stick to offering high quality food.”
“Yes, absolutely! The coop needs to be right in the thicket of food politics, arguing for clean and sustainable agriculture.”
“Yes!! Especially abuse in labeling.”
“No. While most food based movements are a good thing, many such groups are fronts for agendas that do not show in their names. And if the Co-op supports one group it then should support all groups and then gets bogged down in matters that it doesn’t have to. But, if the Co-op feels it should offer more support, start small. How about a bulletin board in the vestibule dedicated to food groups stating the group’s name and area of concern.”
Outcome: “The Cooperative Consumer” (see page 9) is our newest vehicle for meeting member and shopper interest in learning more about food issues. We offer updates on what’s going on in the world of food, with plenty of links to sites where interested folks can learn more and become as involved as they wish to be.
For results on all of our weekly questions, check it out here.
