NJ : I love what you said about “ What does it look like , what does it smell like ?” I am a firm believer in speaking things into existence , writing things into existence .
Heidi : It was so funny because everybody had a different idea . For me , it was about the smell . There ’ s nothing else in the world that smells like a food coop . The fresh herbs , or the bulk . Like today , we have fresh local grass fed beef cooking for our burgers . It ’ s just awesome . Other people it was the visual things . There ’ s a community space . Is it bright ? Is it vibrant ? Or is it earthy colors ?
And we put all of that together and came up with the three or four ideas that we want to be : Community friendly , that everyone is welcome . We connect with our producers and source as much locally as possible . We are educating the consumers and our member owners . Because it ’ s one thing to say you eat healthy but if people don ’ t know how there ’ s that barrier . That ’ s why the community space was so important
Pictured : Bismarck local Andrea Ficek buys items . To the right and above : Shelves stocked with organic sweets . Bottom : Chicken wrap with fresh cut veggies and a beet , orange and lemon juice .
because we want to teach people how to cook fresh and use produce . If people don ’ t know , how they probably won ’ t eat organic . It becomes the quick grab and go items , convenience foods . We want to get back to basics because we really felt like feeding yourself and cooking was a lost art .
NJ : I love that ! So , talk a little more about the community space .
Heidi : It ’ s above the fresh meat and seafood department . It ’ s our mezzanine . We ’ ve got the employee space and break room . Then the corner room whichyou get to through the elevator , where we will hold our cooking classes . That ’ s going to be kind of the gem of the co-op . We really felt like we needed a space , not only where we ’ re sitting , but where people can come and talk and meet their friends .
That ’ s where the beauty really happens becaue they can come and cook .
We have done other classes in the community prior to opening , like “ A taste of India ” or “ Fresh Tex-Mex ”. We really want to use the expertise in the community from people who know how to cook these foods and invite them in to teach our members and other people . One of the most fun classes we ever led was a kids cooking class where
they could be a chef for a day . Having kids of my own , they can do a PB & J and that ’ s about it . But I need to teach my kids how to feed themselves , right ? Because someday they ’ ll go off to college or live on their own and they ’ re going to need those basic skills . Like , “ How do I chop an onion ?” And of course safety is an issue depending on the age of the child but , we did healthy after school snacks so we give the kids some recipes to take home then they can go home and wow their parents .