For some more up-to-date info on forming a Bushwick Food Co-op, please see the thread in the forum. The co-op described below was never formed.
So I went to the meeting for setting up a Bushwick food coop on Sunday. I had never been to Asterisk, which seems like a great place for the parties they have there on occasion…except it seemed a little weird that part of the space was actually living quarters. C’est la vie bohème.
Was kind of uncomfortable crashing the hipster BBQ that the meeting was piggybacking on to, since I was alone and likely stuck out sorely in my comfortably-fitting (as opposed to sterility-inducing) jeans and collared polo shirt. Bob of McClure’s pickles probably sensed this and as I was standing right next to him, struck up a conversation. I tried one of the pickles from the jar he brought, and realized that I had tried them once before at Brooklyn Kitchen. That’s how good they are.
Anyway, when the meeting was to start they called us inside, and it ended up only being about 10 of us. Long story short, they have quite a way to go. Yes, they have been consulting with the Park Slope Food Coop, but they’re just in the first lap of what seems like a years-long race to open an actual location. I’m not sure how many Morgantowners plan on living in their lofts for more than a couple years — the community strikes me as pretty transient. They have intentions of being inclusive of Bushwick proper, but I just don’t see them garnering the local, sustained support needed to put this together.
It seems to me the best course in the short term would be an organic market to compete with Brooklyn’s Natural (about which everyone was complaining, and rightfully so). It would be cheaper and easier and faster to set up, and could still be non-profit if they wanted.
Join the Bushwick Food Coop Yahoo group to stay in the loop.
jenblossom May 29th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I was wondering about this; my husband and I had intended to be there, but we had a bunch of errands to run in Manhattan and didn’t get back to Bushwick until close to 4 p.m. Please do keep us posted, though.
Jimmy Legs May 29th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
what’s with Brooklyn Natural? i don’t go there often as it’s not on my train line.
Mr. Kraayon May 29th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Brooklyn Natural is overpriced. I tend to go Khim’s on Bushwick Ave.
Jeremy May 29th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I went to Millennium Market or whatever it is on Bushwick after the meeting to get a watermelon for my cousin’s BBQ — THIRTY DOLLARS. We need more competition up in here.
Mr. Kraayon May 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
For one watermelon? I admit it’s not cheap at Khim’s, but it is cheaper than Brooklyn Natural. We go to the Associated on Humboldt if we’re budgeting, but the cashiers are incredibly mean so we try to give them as little of our business as possible. At Khim’s they are always very nice.
Jeremy May 29th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
Yes sir, one watermelon. I was really sweet and seedless, but I would expect to pay $15 for one the size I got. I would have gone to an Associated or something for it but I had to grab it and go, I was already late for the BBQ in Park Slope.
Mr. Kraayon May 29th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I think the people that were the original inhabitants of Morgantown (those who have been there since the early 2000′s) are going to be the most stationary. Hipsters will come and realize they don’t have what it takes to live in Bushwick, and move to Williamsburg,Greenpoint, or LIC when they get the chance. There are those of us who are seeing the start of something potentially awesome, and want to work towards making Bushwick great without it turing into Williamsburg.
armstrong May 29th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
“..There are those of us who are seeing the start of something potentially awesome, and want to work towards making Bushwick great without it turing into Williamsburg.”
–WORD!
–30, I mean thirty, bucks for a fuckin watermelon? did I fall asleep for 29 years and wake up in 2037 or something? was it hand tendered and prayed over by albino psychics and fertilized with piss from the queen of england or something? did they charge you the “gringo” price or what?
either that or I have been shopping far too much at Trader Joes and have lost touch with reality.
Jeremy May 29th, 2007 at 11:13 pm
No no you’re right! For a second I thought it was the gringo price but it said $1.29/lb right there on the damn shelf. It’s insane. I actually thought it would be the cheaper option instead of beer, and more fun since beer is ubiquitous at BBQs. It was twice as much as the TWO six packs of Negra Modelo I would have gotten AND someone already brought a fuckin watermelon! *sulk*
Mary May 30th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Closer to broadway I would think there would be good eating places, but not really.
I wish there was a good bookstore in the area also.
david June 4th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Mary, you should check out The Vortex off the Montrose stop. Good selection of used books all for $2 each. I always find good stuff there. The buyer is really good. Not a book store per se I know but a cool little shop.
james looking 4aspot August 21st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
hi my name is james and im a local chef with over 20 years in biz im starting an organic salad biz called sarah james organic they are available at some local bodagas now and starting tomorrow ill be selling them at the morgan stop in morning and at dinner to try to get product out to you .please try me out and im sure ill see you again thanks 2 every1 ,jwp
jenblossom August 21st, 2007 at 1:57 pm
I’ve had James’ salads and I can vouch for the fact that they are excellent.