- If you value organic food and supporting your local community, a co-op is a great thing. When you want to get produce, dairy or meat that was produced locally and organically or pesticide-free, our little co-op here in Espanola is the place to go.
- I feel if we want to change our community for the better we need to get personally involved. By volunteering and shopping at our Co-op we are providing something valuable to our community and the chance to work cooperatively and support our local farmers and natural food producers.
- In addition, you will probably make some new friends and meet new people. It’s not easy to meet people in Espanola since there are very few public venues for socializing. Also, you might end up meeting the person who grew the vegetables or meat you are purchasing. When’s the last time you got to meet the farmer who labored to bring you your produce in a large grocery store?
- “Buying local farm products at your co-op isn’t just good for the agricultural economy in your area – it’s also good for the environment. Locally grown and sold food, which the USDA defines as farm products grown and sold within a 400-mile radius, requires less energy for shipping and storage over its life-cycle.” ~Moneycrashers
These are just a few of the reasons I want to continue supporting ECM. If you feel the same way, try to make a habit of stopping by our store when you can. Even if you don’t do the majority of your shopping here, you can certainly find those items that we always carry that you can buy locally at the co-op. If everyone makes a conscious effort to support ECM in whatever way they can, we will be assured a future for our store in the Espanola Valley.