Food co-ops were at the helm of the organic food revolution. They've been leaders in local and sustainable sourcing, transparent labeling and bringing healthful food to the fore. And yet, some people still don't understand what a co-op really is, or why they're increasingly relevant in an age when grocery stores are in an ever-evolving state of change.
So we took the plunge and consulted with a cooperative veteran, General Manager Pam Mehnert of Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative, to chat co-ops: what they are, why they're relevant ... and, most importantly, why they're cool.
Listen in!
Dig deeper
- More about Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative
- San Francisco Gate: The rise of the modern food cooperative
- Civil Eats: Can Food Co-ops Survive the New Retail Reality?
- Civil Eats: This Cooperative Grocery Store Wants to Break the Diversity Mold
- Making a difference: The Co-op Economy report 2018
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Got an idea for a topic we should consider for FoodCrush? Want to offer feedback on our latest episode? Email me at lori@staff.onmilwaukee.com. You can also give @FoodCrushMKE a follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
