We really
had to push
the visual for
Heidi: First and the people to
foremost, it was get them to
understand
getting people
to believe in us. what it really
was. Then
We would talk
about this vision the financial
piece; pushing
of a food comembership,
op and people
letting people
were used to
know we
this other kind
needed
of model that
member owners
was in the late
70’s where you to invest further
if they had
would have
the means for
to volunteer
the member
X amount of
loans. There
time to get
were grumpy
your discounts
neighbors who
and it was a
bunch of people don’t want to
splitting bags of share parking
even though
oats. It was a
misconception. we have a
shared parking
So we had to
agreement.
paint a picture
We had to go
for people. We
through a city
used a lot of
imagery on the commision
process to
website, on
show them we
facebook, to
have a variance
show people
and he had
it’s different,
to honor that.
it’s new. You
I think you’re
do not need to
volunteer to get always going
to have those
your discount.
naysayers and
But you also
those people
don’t need to
that think it
be a member
can’t be done
to shop here.
because maybe
Everyone is
they’ve tried
welcome. So
it before or it
education
hasn’t worked
is always
in the past.
an ongoing
challenge.
But we were relentless.
We never gave up.
NJ: Talk about
the setbacks
There were such an
awesome group that stepped
forward and said, “I’ve done
website development. I can
do that.”
Bismarck local Sam Spryncynatyk ordered
juice mix of fresh beets, oranges and lemons.
“This is delicious and good for you!”
“I’ve developed brochures, I
can do that”
“I’ve done public speaking.I
can go talk at Kiwanis next
week.”
Me: A Collective
Community?
Heidi: YES! It really was
a community effort. That’s
what's so beautiful about
this. We’ve captured that!
You feel that essence when
you walk into the co-op that
it’s here. It was here even
before we had this building.
Pictured above and below: All natural bath and beauty products
There was definitely
challenges throughout the
whole process. We have
a core group of people
dedicated to something and
decided early on “We can
figure things out. We find a
way to figure things out.”
NJ: Everything is
figureoutable.
CSA model worked well but
they were looking to get into
retail and restaurants, and
Heidi: Yes! Marie Forleo!
so not only do you have this
I love her! And it’s true. It
consumer pull but you have
really is! Where there’s a will this producer push that’s
there’s a way. We were just “Where can I get my stuff on
determined.
the shelves?”
NJ: Going back, personally,
is there something inside
of you that just wanted to
implant this idea into the
community?
Heidi: It started out very
selfishly, like, “Wow,
Bismarck is great but
where’s the food co-op?”
I want to shop somewhere
people know my name, I can
get local produce, where I
have a connection to the
farmer. It was really just me
as a mom wanting access
to those types of foods and
I found it at the farmer's
market but if I was going
to the lake that weekend
I missed out on awesome
eggs and honey and things
I couldn't buy unless I was
there on Saturday at 8 am.
The co-op really served
as that physical hub to
connect consumers and
producers. The more we
talked to people there was
such a need for it.
Really, food is the common
denominator. When we talk
about health, everybody
needs to eat and have
access to those fresh,
healthy, local foods. People
weren’t finding that here in
Bismarck/Mandan. There
really wasn’t a place that
was convenient open year
round.
NJ: What does the future
hold for the Co-op??
Heidi: It’s about people. It’s
about the environment. We
are a hub for consumers and
producers to meet. We want
to go into the community and
get people to understand
what fresh tastes like!
There was another need
I found out about. On the
other side, the producers
said they need
shelf space,
we would love
to get our eggs
somewhere
but Dan’s won’t Food Co-Op Info
711 E Sweet Ave, Bismarck
take them
for whatever
Hours
reason.
Mon-Fri:
7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Whether it
Sat-Sun:
was supply
9:00 am - 6:00 pm
or whatever.
They had all
http://bismanfoodcoop.com/
this beautiful
produce and the