All about Prairie Food Co-Op
We've said for a while now that one of the best things you can do for the environment - and the community - is shop local. Shopping local keeps more dollars in your community, supports the local economy, and local shops often carry fresher or bespoke products you can't find anywhere else. So we were OVERJOYED this week to shop a brand new, truly local grocery store - Prairie Food Co-op! This store has been 13 years in the making and truly defines "community." "Lettuce" tell you why this store can't be "beet" - and all about our first shopping trip!
LEARN
Prairie Food Co-op ("PFC") had their soft opening this week at 837 S Westmore-Meyers Rd in nearby Lombard. They are open 8a-8p every day! You might want to know, what makes a co-op different than a regular grocery store? According to PFC's website, here's what makes them different:
In a typical grocery store, profits go to private owners or shareholders. But at Prairie Food Co-op, the store is owned by its community—people like YOU! Anyone can shop at the store, but Owners get special perks and discounts. As a cooperative, they:
Put people over profits – Our goal is to serve our community, not maximize profits for a corporation.
Support local farms & businesses – We prioritize fresh, local, and sustainable food.
Provide transparency – Clear labeling and sourcing, so you know where your food comes from.
Keep money in our community – Your dollars stay local, benefiting farmers, producers, and workers.
Give Owners a voice – Every Owner gets a say in how the store is run.
Prairie Food Co-op is a full service grocery store, offering both organic products and affordable staples. I shopped there on opening day, and was delighted to find some beautiful heirloom tomatoes, organic veggies, Poppi sodas, organic tri-color couscous, Harvest Pea snack crisps, mochi ice cream and more!
They are also committed to sourcing local, and prioritize local growers and food producers within a 200 mile radius of Lombard and all of Illinois. I purchased a locally baked sourdough from Central Illinois Bakehouse and the most DELICIOUS brie-style goat cheese from Prairie Fruits Farm, which made for an incredible lunchtime panini! Locally sourced food travels less miles to get here which mean less emissions and even better, fresher food.
PFC also had an eye-popping bulk section with over 70 different items including grains, baking staples, spices, coffee, and even gummy bears! You are encouraged to bring your own containers to fill, but they have extras in case you forget.
We asked PFC Board President Leslee Keri how opening day went! She told us, "The soft opening of Prairie Food Co-op on July 9 was an inspiring success, and we are overwhelmed by the strong support from our community. To see so many community members walk through our doors for the first time was truly rewarding. This milestone reflects years of dedication and grassroots effort to build something truly unique for Lombard and all of Dupage county. With General Manager Gabriel Smith at the helm, we are more committed than ever to our mission of nourishing our community, and supporting our local farmers, with local, sustainably produced food. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring this vision to life, and cannot wait to see you in aisles!"
I myself had such a wonderful time shopping at Prairie Food Co-op and enjoyed seeing both old favorite products and discovering new ones. It also felt so good to know that every product on the shelf had been vetted by the PFC team, so I could feel good about what I was putting in my cart!
Give them a visit and maybe we will see you there!
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By prioritizing sustainably produced produce and responsibly made products, PFC is helping to make a positive impact on our community and our planet. You can support their efforts just by shopping at the store! They are open 8 am - 8 pm every day.
Anyone can shop there, but you can also become an owner by paying a one-time fee of $200 which gets you perks and voting rights for a say in how the store is run. Learn more about becoming an owner.