As the food we eat is our body's vital link with the soil and the biological processes of the Earth, so these bonds are extended through the complex food distribution and marketing systems that link producer and consumer, countryside and city. These intimate bonds have been severed in recent years by the industrialization of agriculture and the UTI ON centralization of marketing by vast corporate empires. The majority of consumers have no control over the source or the quality of the food they eat, while small farmers are increasingly squeezed out of local markets. One of the key elements in the movement to regain control over our ID MARKETING of resources, and a directory of markets in Washington state. Farmers' Market Packet, 1976, large SASE from: Evanston Chamber of Commerce 807 Davis St. Evanston, IL 60201 A group of consumers in Evanston decided they wanted the opportunity to purchase directly from farmers and then convinced the City Council to close off a downtown street for a weekly public market. They will be happy to send you a packet of information on their experience in exchange for a stamped, self-addressed, business-sized envelope. Greenmarket 24 W. 40th St. New York, NY 10018 Yes, and even in New York City. Write these people for info on their organizing success story. Reader Service Organic Gardening & Farming Emmaus, PA 18049 Farmers' markets, with their potential for increasing the viability of smallscale agriculture, are an important part of the organic movement. OGF is a leader in this movement. It's an activist magazine, eager to help people out, and their Reader Service has basic "how to" information available on starting farmers' markets (plus a wide variety of other topics) and can assist in putting you in touch with other resources in your local areas. Please enclose a selfaddressed, stamped envelope with any information request. FOOD CO-OPS People form food co-ops for many reasons. For some it's simply a way of getting cheaper food - for others it's a way ofgetting foods that are unavailable through commercial supermarkets-foods that are organically grown, preferably from local sources, and without extensive processing or packaging. There are now an estimated 5,000 food co-ops of various types in the country, serving over half a million people, with nearly $100 million in annual retail sales. Food co-ops are becoming a major economic force, and many people feel that they have the potential of laying the foundation for a new economic system based on cooperation rather than profit and exploitation. Food Co-ops for Small Groups, Tony Villela, 1975, $2.95 from: Workman Publishing Company 231 E. 51st St. New York, NY 10022 This is a very useful, step-by-step introduction to organizing a food co-op, with systems for distributing food and handling money clearly drawn out in diagram form. It includes lots of practical information on such things as how to buy produce and how to understand food industry jargon, as well as providing basic financial information. It is a good primer for getting a co-op buying club or store off the ground, but once it's started, you'll need more detailed information such as is in The Food Co-op Handbook. January1977 RAIN Page13 own lives is the emergence of new food distribution and marketing systems which are laying the foundation for a revival of small-scale agriculture, decentralization and regional self-reliance. In this section we will cover Farmers' Markets, Co-ops, and the growth of Regional Networks which are emerging as elements of the new food chain. The Food Co-op Handbook, The Handbook Collective, 1975, $4.95 from: Houghton-Mifflin Co. 1 Beacon St. Boston, MA 02107 This is the most in-depth book available on the food co-op movement. It provides an analysis of the "whys" of food co-ops and shows how they can provide a true alternative to agribusiness as usual. It also includes a brief history of co-ops, from their beginning in 1844 to the wide variety that exists today. The Handbook is a valuable tool both for people starting buying clubs or more complex storefront operations, including chapters on finances and inventory control. The book also includes extensive bibliographies and a 40-page national food co-op directory. Written by people involved in the movement, the Handbook draws on the experiences of co-ops throughout the country and provides national perspective on the various styles and directions taken by food co-ops in different regions. The Food Co-op Handbook is also available at bulk rates ($3.35 each) from The Book Distribution Collective, 45 Mason Terrace, No. 5, Brookline, MA 02146. "Who Shops Co-op, and Why," by Philip Kreitner in The New Harbinger, Vol. 3, No. 2, $8/yr. for 4 issues, $2 single copy from: The New Harbinger North American Student Co-Op Org. Box 1301 Ann Arbor, MI 48106 Excellent doctoral dissertation which
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