Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Kennett Community Grocer is making it happen
The Kennett Community Grocer (KCG) is on its way and Edie Burkey, President of the Board for a second term, is leading the vision of a store location in Kennett Square Borough with quality local food accessible to the community,
Since its incorporation in 2018, Kennett Community Grocer member-owned food co-op has been a labor of love. Today, there are two-thirds member-owners of the 500 recommended, and over 40 volunteers on four working teams. Edie says, “I am so pleased with the expertise and investment the working teams are putting into the project. With teams focused on membership recruitment; communications; monthly promotional events; store and property search and management, we are becoming a force to accomplish our dream.
In a recent interview, Edie said, “Many in the community may ask why we are advocating for a local grocer in town.” For one, the recent borough survey showed that many of the respondents wanted a grocery store in town. Another reason is that 60% of the current member-owners are from the borough. She then went on to share some key benefits of a Co-op Grocer in town.
“Existing grocery stores are extractive industries in the sense that all profits beyond their local business taxes go to corporate owners or shareholders. A food co-op’s profits go back to the community in the form of grants to local non-profits or profit sharing for the member-owners. Where these stores sometimes come and go, food coops stay and benefit their community.”
“Co-op grocery stores have been engines of Main Street inclusion for over 100 years. There are many examples in how this is done from food to artwork to constant media marketing of the concepts of inclusion, diversity, and equity. We have the opportunity as member-owners of this store to drive diversification and inclusion. We will pay business tax while doing so and drive an inclusive population to other things in the community.”
Edie Burkey was a Pediatric Physician’s Assistant for forty years with her specialty being children with cancer. She experienced firsthand the need for good nutrition to promote healing. Edie goes on to explain that small children under two years of age, need food they can move around in their mouth to develop their taste buds—fruits and vegetables are what is needed for this natural developmental stage. She pointed out that Cheerios, a processed food, melts in the mouth, so does not give time to develop the tastebuds. She has become a strong advocate of promoting fruits and vegetables and non-processed foods at this age. Her point is that this sets the stage to develop the taste for these favored foods versus processed snack foods for the rest of their lives.
In May, KCG will be sponsoring an educational food program at the Kennett Library. They will be using the book by the local Author, Chris Mahoney entitled: “The Amazing Journey of Clarence Carrot: A New Educational Program to Promote Taste Development and Healthy Food Habits.”
One of the recommendations that is given for healthy eating is to shop the perimeters of the store, where the fresh produce, fruits, dairy and meats can be found. Research is showing the havoc that processed food is having on the increase incidence of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The Kennett Community Grocer promises to stock the whole store with healthy foods and keep its pulse on good nutrition. They will be offering educational and cooking classes in the store as well as encourage local businesses to sell their local products in the store.
KCG is inviting new member-owners. It is a one-time investment of $300 for a household membership. With this membership, one is a voting member; may bring suggestions of desired local products to stock in the store; be a recipient of profits from sales ongoingly and engage in the spirit of community that is being expressed through this effort. Another idea—some residents have purchased a membership as a gift to another person in the community. Check out the website: www.kennettcommunitygrocer. coop
By the end of the year, the KCG has plans to have located a rental site in Kennett borough that is 4,000 square feet. They also will be engaging finance venues such as embarking on a capital campaign and securing grants and a loan. A consultant, as well as other successful co-op grocers in the area are helping the board with these steps.
In November 2017 at a Bridging the Community meeting, Britton Mendenhall Elwood and Meggie Schaeffer brought the idea of a community grocer to the town of Kennett. They invited attendees to a public meeting at The Garage in December to learn more and to become advocates. Here we are, six years later with the seed taking hold, with a ground established and the promise of fruition in the near future. This is the benefit of seed planters and then of course we also need the worker bees, the KCG volunteers, including Edie Burkey, who are helping to make it all happen!
The Story of Kennett — Shaping the future one child at a time” Joan Holliday and Bob George’s book on Kennett may be purchased on Amazon and at the Mushroom Cap. You may contact Joan at: dochollisv@aol.com