The Wedge
The Wedge in Minneapolis thrives in a marketplace full of competition for local, natural and organic food.
Their commitment to deepening the bond between sustainable local producers and the co-op community has led the co-op to launch innovative new businesses. Two such examples are Co-op Partners Warehouse (CPW) and Gardens of Eagan (GOE).
Co-op Partners Warehouse
Competitive pressures on prices for the best quality organic produce led The Wedge to initiate a direct produce buying program in 1995. The program set the co-op apart from the competition and ultimately led to the formation of Co-op Partners Warehouse (CPW) in 1999.
CPW served initially as a wholesaler of organic produce that sold exclusively to Twin Cities natural food co-ops and restaurants. Through successive expansions, it has come to offer a wide variety of perishable products (including some national brands) and extends its reach to a five-state area that includes co-ops, restaurants and buying clubs.
Consumers continue to enjoy the benefits of CPW's success. Local producers can be assured that they have a fair market buyer for their products. Through CPW's distribution system, their products can reach far beyond the local markets that they themselves have access to. This helps to ensure the long-term viability of natural and organic local producers. And what's good for these local producers benefits consumers by ensuring the availability of a wide variety of high-quality, locally produced, sustainable food.
Gardens of Eagan
In early 2006, Martin and Atina Diffley, owners of Gardens of Eagan, a celebrated certified organic farm just south of the Twin Cities, were ready to retire after 35 years of farming. When The Wedge shared its concern about protecting the farm from development or a return to conventional farming practices, the Diffleys suggested that the Wedge purchase the farm.
On January 1, 2008, the Wedge signed a five-year lease, during which time it will exercise its option to buy Gardens of Eagan. Gardens of Eagan will continue to provide its popular sweet corn, tomatoes, melons and a variety of other crops to regional co-ops and restaurants. Plans are under way to use the farm to expand community outreach and education.
Lindy Bannister, general manager of The Wedge, comments, "Owning an organic farm, particularly one so close to the city, will allow us to broaden our outreach through organic farming internships, tours and other learning opportunities that help people better understand organic farming."
Learn more about The Wedge at www.wedge.coop.