Stay Local and Shop at the Co-op

The first Whole Foods to grace Montana soil finally opened last week right here in Bozeman. But the crowd of people who lined up early that morning just to get inside are overhyping a corporate behemoth when they can buy the same type of goods from more local sources at a shop that’s existed for decades: the Bozeman Co-op.

Some Bozemanites were filled with excitement and anticipation for the new grocery store - so much excitement, in fact, that some lined up as early as 2 a.m. to be the first inside

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History in the making is what some are calling this new arrival to Montana. Whole Foods is the largest chain of supermarkets that specializes in organic food options in America, and with the population of Bozeman growing exponentially, the new addition of grocery stores is an expected development. However, redirecting the thrill and intrigue some are collectively feeling toward the Co-op, a pillar in our community, is the best thing we can do for the prosperity of our town.

The Bozeman Co-op has been in operation since 1979 and prides itself on being a local, independent grocery unique to Bozeman. With democratic control over food supply and the food being locally sourced, the Co-op offers an experience that no other grocery store or organic food supplier in Bozeman can. I spoke with Kelly Wiseman, the general manager of the Co-op, about the facets of the community food store that make it an irreplaceable asset to our community.

“Shopping locally helps keep our land in farms and ranches rather than in subdivisions,” Kelly said. “During COVID our meats were not affected because all of our meats come from within 50 miles of our grocery store.” The guarantee of safe meat and produce is one of the most important values that the Co-op prides themselves on providing to our community.

When discussing what the Co-op offers that larger corporations cannot, Wiseman described the care that goes into making sure its customers are heard and their needs and wants are met. That starts with offering customers direct access to the people who make the decisions in the organization. Co-op customers can walk right up to the front desk and ask to speak with Wiseman, who has direct power to create significant change in the store. Members of the Co-op vote for the leaders of the store, and have the power to influence what the market sells.

“You can't walk into Whole Foods and ask for something to change,” Wiseman said. “It’s much more complicated than that and you would have to jump through so many hoops to even speak to someone who can directly impact the change you want to see at a bigger corporation.”

The simplicity and customer care is a guarantee at the Co-op. The down to earth environment the team has cultivated over the last 43 years sets them apart from other competing grocery stores. No government handouts and guaranteed service reminds us of the joy of living in a smaller community that is geared toward helping everyone from every walk of life.

“Co-ops are one of the best hopes of capitalism. We don't send our money out of state, the money comes right back to us rather than the larger picture.” Wiseman said. “Co-ops everywhere attract the widest range of people who can shop here on the island of misfit toys. I’ve spent 34 years here at the Bozeman Co-op, I've stuck around because it's an interesting party of humanities. Everyone has a chance to contribute rather than having no voice in a larger corporation.”

The inclusivity and opportunities are accessible for everyone. Seeing Wiseman’s passion and love for the morality of what the Co-op stands for is something I could never find at any other grocery store.

Shining a light on the Co-op will hopefully draw people to this long-standing establishment, where everything they do comes full circle and benefits the environment and every person in our community. The quality and care that goes into every decision – and every product – is a rare sight in the 21st century.

Next time you need to restock your fridge, head over to the Bozeman Co-op for a warm and welcoming shopping experience where you will find clean, organic and locally sourced products from everywhere across Montana. You will not only be helping the economy and minimizing your own carbon footprint, but you will have peace of mind knowing you're helping keep the farmers and ranchers around so they can continue to provide the highest quality food Montana has to offer. The Co-op is an irreplaceable asset to our community, and we should celebrate all that it has to offer.