GROCERY DEMOCRACY: Rise of the “Citizen-Consumer”
As democracy claims center stage in national discourse—especially where economic interests and public institutions intersect—cooperatives are uniquely positioned to respond. In fact, they were built for moments like this.
In this inspiring talk, author Jon Steinman will explore how food co-ops serve as living laboratories of democratic engagement and as models for economic participation rooted in values, not just transactions.
Drawing from over 20 years of experience, Steinman will demystify what co-op membership truly means and why it matters today more than any time in recent history.
The talk will remind us how in stark contrast to growing consolidation in food supply chains, individual consumers are not consolidated and largely unorganized. As Equal Exchange co-founder Rink Dickinson says; “As long as consumers stay unorganized, their power is questionable, but this group is the sleeping giant.”
Steinman will call attention to the consolidated citizen-consumers found at food cooperatives, examining democratic challenges and misses at food co-ops, and the untapped opportunities that remain to awaken this ‘sleeping giant’.
JON STEINMAN is the author of Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants (New Society Publishers). Before narrowing his focus on grocery, Jon was the producer and host of the internationally-syndicated radio show and podcast Deconstructing Dinner, once ranked as the most-listened-to food podcast in Canada, and was writer and host of Deconstructing Dinner: Reconstructing our Food System – a television and web series. He lives in Nelson, British Columbia.
We will serve light refreshments beginning at 5:30pm.
This event is free to attend, but space is limited so please let us know you are coming.