Why assume the continued dependence on the WalMart/Wegman's centralized procurement/distribution system model?
There are a number of cities in Pennsylvania that have since colonial times operated publicly-owned central markets where individual stalls are leased to small-time local producers of food and and fiber. The City-owned Central Market in Lancaster has been incredibly successful in staving off the chain supermarkets in that city, while providing residents a variety of produce, baked goods, meats and seafood at competitive prices from over 100 vendors who lease stalls in the building. Because of its presence downtown just about every office has a full-size refridgerator and downtown office workers extend their Tuesday and Friday lunch hours to do their food shopping. The Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia serves the same purpose. Another possible model for local procurement would be the Co-op Supermarket in Greenbelt, Maryland. Established in the late 1930s as part of the overall Roosevelt New Deal to create a new model for cities in the Uited States, the Co-op continues to be a full-service, independent, cooperative owned supermarket in downtown Greenbelt. We have to look at revamping the entire system, top-down, in a manner that ensures quality affordable food for all incomes, and an equitable return on labor and investment for our farmers. That includes viable alternatives to Wegmans and WalMart. George Frantz the _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org _______________________________________________ For more information about sustainability in the Tompkins County area, please visit: http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
