NYT reports on Food Co-ops in Gentrifying Areas

“Food is the best, the clearest manifestation of ‘a tale of two cities,’ ” said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, contrasting brownstone Brooklyn, thick with farm-to-table restaurants and of-the-moment cafes, with the borough’s eastern and central areas, where many can barely afford to eat.

Co-ops could help bridge the gap, advocates maintain. Since they are owned and run by members, a co-op’s labor costs and prices are usually lower than at supermarkets or convenience stores.

It is not easy, however, to persuade people who may not have heard of co-ops — or who regard them with outright hostility — to shop in one.

Read the full article on the New York Times website.