Going Local Under One Roof

Karen Tancrede of Doylestown Township has high expectations that someday soon, she’ll be able to take her grocery shopping list to a place nearby that will carry fresh fruits, vegetables and products all produced by farmers and small business owners in the local community.

Now, especially, since she and husband Serge hope to open a “fast-casual” restaurant in the borough.

They want to make it a gathering place for families – have a pool table, electronic and board games and provide good, healthy food with a Caribbean flair reminiscent of the cooking from Serge’s native country of Haiti.

The couple are members of the Doylestown Food Co-op, a group that is trying to found a member-purchased, cooperatively-owned store in the Doylestown area.

Co-op board members estimate start-up costs for the acquisition of space to be about $250,000.

Originally begun in 2009 as the Doylestown Food Club, the group’s aim was to provide an organized pick-up and distribution of locally raised and produced foods to its member families. While popular, time constraints and volunteer limitations caused it to be disbanded, with the idea that a brick-and-mortar space would be an ideal alternative.

The group currently has about 70 members. About 800 members would be needed to fulfill the financial requirements, board officials say. Membership is a one-time full equity payment of $360 or $100 per year over four years. Not wanting to exclude anyone, those with financial hardships should contact membership officials. The group also hopes to get corporate sponsors as well as possible grant money.

Other future incentives being reviewed are member rebates when the store turns a profit and discounts from other local stores.

“There’s definitely a need in the community and we’re hoping that will propel membership in the co-op,” said Kelly Scotti, membership chairwoman. “It would be kind of like having the Doylestown Farmer’s Market every day.”

Currently, local farmer’s markets tend to be seasonal, and the group is not trying to compete with them, assured Scotti. They’re just trying to provide a central location where farmers and food producers can come year-round to sell their meats, produce, jams, soaps and baked goods.

Ideally, the space would include a commercial kitchen for hands-on food preparation classes, board officials say. Barring that, they would still hold educational sessions about food awareness, the local farming community and basics on health, food and wellbeing.

As restaurateur hopefuls, joining the co-op was a “win-win-win” situation all around, said Karen Tancrede.

“It’s about wholesome, home-cooked food, good ingredients and supporting the community.”

A six-year stay in Europe and frequenting local food markets were catalysts for Lisa White to look for better options when it comes to what she puts on her dinner table now.

“I became enamored with really high quality local fresh food that I knew where it came from,” said White, who now lives in Doylestown Township and is president of the Doylestown Food Co-op.

“It was better, healthier, very clean and from very local food sources. You knew what you were eating.” The move to rural Bucks County shed a light on just what a rich supply of local food sources are available.

Membership in the co-op, she said, is open to those with all types of eating philosophies.

“We have complete omnivores, vegetarians, vegans … and we have people who eat conventionally and just want to do local.”

The Doylestown Food Co-op has been holding “house parties” to familiarize people with the concept. More are planned in the future, and visitors to Doylestown’s First Fridays can make a stop in the downstairs conference room of Saxby’s on Main Street to chat with members and learn more about the group.

Doylestown Food Co-op, in conjunction with Heritage Conservancy and another group that promotes sustainable food practices – Bucks County Foodshed Alliance – is the 2009 documentary by Ana Sofia Joanes that looks at the farmers, activists and business people across America who are reinventing the food system by looking at sustainable, healthy alternatives for the future.

The joint sponsorship of the movie is a natural fit, according to BCFA president Cookie Biggs, especially since BCFA plans to establish a Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter in Bucks County – which will serve both producers and consumers.

“The Doylestown Food Co-op has emphasized making locally produced, fresh, healthy food more readily available to more people in a central location. And the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance wants to expand local farmers’ and producers’ market for their fresh, healthy food,” said Biggs.

The showing of “FRESH” will be held at 7 tonight at , 85 Old Dublin Pike, Doylestown. Doors open at 6:30 and tickets are $10 until sold out.