Canberra Food Co-op Celebrates 50 years of “Food for People”
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The Canberra Food Co-op is Australia’s longest running food co-operative – and that’s no mean feat.
For 50 years, this humble space has been stocked with lentils, pulses, people power and hope. What began in 1976 as a group of university students wanting access to affordable, package-free health foods has evolved into a bulk food and goods shop, a café, an event space, and a vital community third space for students, foodies, activists, artists and city-dwellers alike.
To celebrate, the Co-op has put together a book – part local history, part cookbook – which celebrates the thousands of people who have kept the doors of the Co-op open for 50 years.
The beautiful end result of this volunteer-led project includes 60+ vegetarian recipes celebrating the food and the people of the Co-op, and the story of how, against all odds, this progressive, anti-capitalist food store has persisted through the decades.
Food Co-op Board Member Josh Viljoen has been part of the volunteer team who have brought this book project to life.
“In true Food Co-op style, this has been a team effort. From the history team who scoured the archives and interviewed past members, to everyone who contributed a recipe, and the group who put it all together,” he said.
“The result is a truly collaborative book which is reflective of our dedicated and diverse community, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
To launch the book, the Food Co-op is running a market in collaboration with Sly Fox on October 24. This community event will take place on the bike highway between Macarthur Avenue and David Street – just up the road from the co-op.
“We wanted the book launch to be an opportunity to reach out to the broader Canberra community. The markets are going to be a really fun day out in the sunshine,” said Josh.
“Besides being the first moment folks will see the cookbook in person, the markets will also feature live music, brilliant local food and crafts, and secondhand stalls lining the bike path. SeeChange will keep us waste-free thanks to their waste-less team of volunteers, and kids will stay entertained with garden games galore.
“There’ll be something for everyone as we celebrate this huge milestone!”
The Food Co-op will also host a members-only gala dinner on Saturday 31 October.
“Reaching our 50th anniversary is such a huge achievement. We want to celebrate with our members – who have made it all possible – but we also want to use this opportunity to showcase the Food Co-op to Canberra and beyond. This is a really important community institution, and there are so many ways to get involved,” said Josh.
“Opening this book might rekindle some old memories for someone who used to volunteer in their university days, or it might be the first time someone has heard of us. We’re hoping to see lots of old and new faces coming through the door: the Food Co-op is for everyone!”
To learn more about the Canberra Food Co-op, and to pre-order your copy of Food For People, visit their website, or follow The Canberra Food Co-op on Facebook or Instagram.
The Gala Dinner (for members only) will be held on 31 October, 5 – 8 pm. Tickets via Humanitix Link
