DFW residents (especially Arlington): cooperative grocery?

[castiron]

My biz partner and I are discussing putting together an organic food co-op in Arlington with a storefront (we already run one withOUT a store). Please comment on whether or not you would become a member of a real, live cooperative grocery in DFW. Please tell me where you live and how many times you might shop there if it satisfied all your shopping needs like, say, Whole Foods does. Tell me anything at all about DFW organics, food, desire for local economy in which to purchase food, etc. Thanks for any input. Although this is a non-profit endeavor, the development plan calls for as much market knowledge as possible. Thanks!!!!!!

[Vincardog]

1. I can deliver range fed Lamb and Sheep

They would be organic except I do worm them.

[castiron]

3. We could use that.

We currently work with Turning Point, Fran's, Burgundy Beef, Good Earth Farm. Our ethic will be in not just organics, but local. Where are you?

[Vincardog]

8. SAnger, In the NW corner of Denton County

You going to want them live or butchered?

[castiron]

11. Butchered. We'd prob start

by visiting your place and then if you are amenable, putting your available cuts up on our website for pre-orders?

[Vincardog]

12. When do you want to start?

[ret5hd]

2. the farmers market in fw is a TRUE farmers market...

all selling there must be the farm owners and must be from within a 150 mile radius.

maybe you could contact some of them and see if they would give you good enough prices on stuff.

i don't know if this was the kind of info you were looking for, but there it is.

[castiron]

4. Thanks, yes, we've made a few

contacts there. Got a few guys who will be planting crops specifically for us next spring, too. It is coming together. I get the same story everywhere around the Metroplex: demand for local organics outstrips supply every time. Time to turn up the dirt ourselves!

[castiron]

5. but i was thinking more of your reaction to a co-op in

Arlington: would you become a member? Do you think the area needs one?

[ret5hd]

6. i'm sure the area needs one, but 40+ miles for groceries to us is...

probably not going to happen. we live in central fw, a very few miles from the farmers market, are vegetarian (so farmers market supplies most of our needs), etc. hey, move it to central fw and we'll be one of your first members.

[castiron]

9. That's sweet! Hey, I wish I LIVED in Fort Worth!

But being in SW Arlington is good enuf to get me there on a weekly basis. Didn't FW have a co-op? I see a defunct storefront up there (cultural district?).

[crispini]

7. I live in central Dallas

less than five miles from the Greenville Avenue Whole Foods, so, no, I probably wouldn't drive to Arlington for groceries. I am single and my shopping is mostly small trips to the grocery, more often, rather than large trips less often. If I ate more I might order from these guys, since their pickup is in North Dallas and I work in that part of town.

http://www.loving-foods.com/

[castiron]

10. Yeah, they seem good. We've got produce pick-up sites in

Red Oak and Irving, and hope to get a central Dallas site before the end of the year. www.thecompleteyou.net is our site if'n you're interested. It's not a Christian organization, much as parts of the website make it feel that way.

[tammywammy]

13. I live in Arlington

Around the I-30/Collins area. I'd be willing to shop there. I'm single so I really only shop once a week or a couple of small trips.

[castiron]

14. thanks for the response

to this tentacle of marketing inquiry!!!
Much appreciated.