"A cooperative is a cooperative not because it has a collective management structure, not because it carries a certain product line, and not even because of any particular social agenda it may have. A cooperative is a cooperative because it is owned by the people who use it." [1]
The West End Food Co-op will be the first new food co-op in Toronto in about twelve years [2]. But we haven’t just dusted off an old model-- we’ve revised it according to a new need. We have formed a multi-stakeholder co-operative in recognition of an increasingly centralized and undemocratic food system. Farmers, workers, consumers and community organizations, those typically left out of decision-making around food, are our key stakeholders.
What began as a good idea has slowly gathered allies, and with the Launch of our Bond Campaign, we have hit the ground running. WEFC is currently in its fundraising and community mobilizing stage: and we need YOU!