Long before sustainable farming, eating local and organics were the buzzwords of the food world, "natural" was code for wholesome foods. That was way back in 1971, with the hippie back-to-Earth movement in gear, the same year Petoskey's
Grain Train Natural Foods Market co-op was born.
At the time, you might have wandered into any of the food co-ops that were starting up in Michigan and founds lots of open burlap sacks brimming with strange grains you'd never heard of, people wearing dreadlocks and tie-dyed shirts espousing the goodness of a macrobiotic diet. For mainstream folks who grew up on Wonder Bread and Cheez-Whiz, food co-ops were rarely understood.
But they persevered and flourished. Today, thanks to those same people who stuck with it and grew with the times – okay, maybe they still wear tie-dyes and dreadlocks -- the Grain Train has expanded and is a sparkling, modern supermarket stocked with gorgeous organic produce, fine organic wines, a fresh bakery, a deli with delicious wraps, sandwiches and salads, a dairy, frozen foods, health and beauty items and many local products that support the community's farmers.
A co-op is owned by its members, and a membership drive is on now at the Grain Train. Join up so that you can take advantage of the 10 percent discount on everything on August 18, which is Owner Appreciation Day.
Another option: Owners who give just four hours per month will receive a 10 percent discount at the register for 30 days.
Writer: Patty LaNoue Stearns
Source: Grain Train
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