Everything Co-op With Vernon Oakes

Stuart Reid, Executive Director of Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), appears on Everything Co-op. Vernon and Stuart discuss how FCI works with communities to establish food Cooperatives in diverse neighborhoods, and other programs and initiative spearheaded by FCI. Stuart Reid has been working in the grocery business for more than 40 years, and has been part of FCI since its earliest years. He began his career in grocery as a carry-out and stock clerk for the Windom, Minnesota Hy-Vee store back in 1972. Since then he has volunteered, co-managed, managed and served on the boards of many food co-ops, worked for the co-op-owned DANCe warehouse, and helped open the Just Food Co-op in Northfield as their first general manager. FCI aims to increase the number, success, and sustainability of new food cooperatives delivering access to healthy food in diverse communities across this country. It provides information, training, and technical assistance, as well as seed capital, and engages in research, to blaze, maintain a