Peticioni i drejtohet: New Hartford Residents

Our beloved local grocery, Brigido's (formerly Marandino's), has closed down - an unsettling reality that many of us in New Hartford find deeply personal. A feeling of shared investment in our community resources is an invaluable part of any town, just as important is retaining our wealth within the local economy and not having it leach into ubiquitous national grocery market chains. With Brigido's door shutting, we stand to lose more than just a place to buy our groceries— we risk losing an integral part of our community fabric.

Therefore, we are proposing an alternative solution: establishing a community-based food cooperative right here in New Hartford. A cooperative would allow residents to own and manage our own grocery store, where the money spent stays within the community, boosting our local economy.

Data shows that food co-ops can be a significant economic force. According to the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, food co-ops in the US generate around $2 billion in annual sales, providing tens of thousands of jobs. Additionally, food co-ops prioritize local sourcing much more than conventional grocers— an average of 20% of sales in a co-op comes from local sources compared to only 2% in conventional stores.

We envision a food co-op that not only fill the void left by Marandino's but also creates a vibrant, economically sustainable, and community-owned and managed grocery store contributing to the local economy and keeping the control in our hands. Make a difference by getting behind this initiative. Sign the petition, let's establish a Food Cooperative in New Hartford for us, by us.