University Chronicle

Issue date: 10/22/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Nicole Bock The Good Earth Food Co-op is located on Veteran's Drive in St. Cloud. It provides a variety of organic and locally grown foods.

The Good Earth Food Co-op is a community-based business in St. Cloud that was established in 1971.

Its first home was in the Newman Center at SCSU, but it is now located at 2010 Eighth Street North, (Veteran's Drive), where it's been since 1994.

The Good Earth Co-op is a "full service natural foods store with a self-serve deli," where you can get a veggie-wrap, pasta salad or juice for just a couple bucks.

There are organic, fair trade coffees and teas, and there's a selection of baked goods, including pumpkin bars, carrot cake, poppy seed cookies and more.

Customers can buy healthy snacks from the extensive bulk bins.

There are also more than 100 fruits, nuts and granolas.

There is locally grown flax-seed; just add a scoop to oatmeal or to cookie recipes to benefit your brain and nerves and help prevent circulatory problems and cancer.

Locally grown barley can also be found.

Goods from the local bakery are courtesy of Diamond City Bread of Elk River. Breads include flavors like garlic cheddar, jalapeno cheddar, marble rye and sour dough.

"The Good Earth is a cooperative business, owned by its members, your friends and neighbors," according to its Web site.

A co-op is a business owned and controlled by the people who use its services.

In order to keep co-ops like The Good Earth in business, St. Cloud community members and resident students pay a membership fee, which provides benefits to members and helps keep prices low.

They will allow a gradual-payment plan for those on a budget.

They also provide a working member program, which allows people to volunteer hours in trade for product discounts.

The Good Earth invites everyone to shop with them, not strictly members.

In 1989, economics professor Andrew Larkin, along with the board, introduced a mission statement which has not changed since that time,

"To offer nutritious foods and products at the lowest feasible prices and to promote healthful lifestyles, cooperation among food producers and consumers and environmental quality."

Mathew Carroll is an expert on the produce available at The Good Earth, and he had no trouble pointing to the vibrant and fresh veggies produced by the local farmers "within a 50-mile radius."

Shoppers will find seasonal harvests, such as local apples, root vegetables and bright green spinach.

There is also an impressive selection of locally raised eggs, organic and free range.

The Good Earth is a business that maintains a consistent and meaningful interest in what is best for their customers, community, local growers, producers and ultimately, the environment.

For more information on The Good Earth Co-op, visit www.goodearthcoop.com, or stop in and grab the latest newsletter.

The newsletter includes a more in-depth discussion with professor Larkin and provides more insight into the history, development and purpose of local co-ops.

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