Grow local with Tri-Cities Food Co-op
I’m Jessica Jean, your friendly local co-op manager, here with an exciting message! Did you know that the only food co-op in the entire region has opened right here in the Tri-Cities? Tri-Cities Food Co-op is a community-driven grocery store focused on local and organic options at prices fair to growers and consumers. I’d like to share the story of our humble store and how small changes can lead to BIG community impact.
The Tri-Cities has a rich and abundant local farmers market culture from April to October. We flock to parking lots and market canopies in Richland on the Parkway, in Pasco at Peanuts Park, and in Downtown Walla Walla. We travel east to Prosser, stop off at Keene Road on Sundays at 3 Eyed Fish, and visit a host of other local pop-up markets around the area. We gather in the sun, wind, and occasional rain to get our favorite local asparagus, corn cobs, gourmet mushrooms, fresh breads, meats, fish, and more. We love farmers markets!
However, due to our climate, markets only run for a limited time. Come the end of October, people find themselves struggling to find good produce after the close of farmers market season. Local dedicated farmers market fans begrudgingly head back to the cold shelves of Wally World and other big-box grocers, surviving winter on the blueberries they froze, anxiously waiting for April to roll back around.
Those days are in the past! This is a public plea to everyone who values local, organic food — and those who support the development of accessible food systems — to answer our call: Come support your local organic food co-op!
So what is a food co-op, and why does buying local matter?
You hear about local support all the time, but what does that really mean? It means knowing your dollars are staying in your community, that your food is fresher and doesn’t have to travel as far, and that you know who produces your food and makes the items you use in your daily life. Getting to know farmers, ranchers, cultivators, food processors, and local makers connects us to space and place. We have some of the BEST local and organic produce in the region, and it’s grown just a few miles outside our city limits. Previously, this abundance was being shipped to markets in Spokane and Seattle.
Tri-Cities Co-op carries more than just produce. For example, we all know the benefits of honey for medicinal purposes. Grandma always told you to have a spoonful of honey in your tea when you get a pesky cold. Grandma was right! There is significant scientific research showing that honey has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. The Co-op carries Bishop's Bees products, grown in West Richland — a truly local source to mutually support your family’s wellness and the wellbeing of your local community.
Why should we be eating seasonal produce?
Eating food that is connected to the time of the year is another way to support your community while also supporting your own health. Seasonal eating is easy, and you really can taste the difference. As I am typing this message to you, it is strawberry season. Robin Wall Kimmerer fans rejoice each time the world spins into spring and the sun shines just right to transform the delicate white blooms into budding fruit, waiting to drip red stains down children’s chins. And there is no sweeter or better-tasting strawberry than one that is picked fresh at peak season! This is the case for all food. Knowing when to harvest is half the battle. (Ask any home gardener who picked their watermelon too early and was disappointed to find a pale white interior looking back rather than the deep red that signals perfect ripeness.)
Due to the structure of our society and industrial food production practices, we have an extreme disconnect with the food we eat, especially when it comes to food accessibility. Many people cannot tell you when fresh corn is available, for example. This is not something to be ashamed about! It's just a gap in knowledge and understanding that we are here to fill. We love to meet people where they are at and educate them so everyone can enjoy the flavor that comes with knowing what is in season. For example, local tomatoes taste better because they are grown to full ripeness in July, compared with winter tomatoes we get year-round, shipped in from a warm-weather country in December.
Remember, eating can (and should) be a fun and pleasurable experience. Food is about flavor, culture, care, and creating strong community connections. If you appreciate knowing where your food comes from, Tri-Cities Food Co-Op is a place to get that food, to connect, and to cook up your next culinary adventure!
Opening hours: Every day, 7am – 7pm
Location: 1420 Jadwin Ave, Richland WA (directly across from the Uptown Shopping Center)
LOCAL, HEALTHY FOOD SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL! We hope to see you soon!
Jessica Jean is an artist educator and food co-op manager who loves local and cultivating community connections!
Instagram: @tricitiesfoodcoop Website: tcfcoop.org
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