Feature

"What's up?" you ask

Everywhere we go people are asking, "What's up with the co-op?".  We love and appreciate the level of interest! So, lest you think we've been twiddling our thumbs, here's an update. As you'll see, we've been doing anything but.

For the last several months, our steering committee has been diligently at work preparing for the next phase in Wild Root Market's development.

Here is but a sampling of activities with which we have been consumed:

• We attended the 5th Annual Wisconsin Food Summit where we met a number of other groups throughout the state who are on similar paths within their own communities.
• We attended a national co-op development conference in Indiana where we learned we are right on track in our development phase (and are the envy of other co-op start-up initiatives for the size of our "interested friends" subscriber list).
• We met with the General Manager (and Board President of the National Cooperative Grocers Association) & her brand development colleague at the Outpost Natural Foods to learn from their experiences opening new stores.
• We've further refined our community education/ outreach presentation. if you're aware of a presentation opportunity (your book club, your place of worship, your workplace, etc.), please let us know!
• We conducted a steering committee retreat where we developed our Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws which are in the process of being filed.
• We conducted a community-wide site search. Twenty potential sites were identified, vetted and narrowed to three for market/feasibility purposes.
• Speaking of, we submitted several grants to fund the market/feasibility study: Department of Agriculture Buy Local Program; the Department of Commerce Forward Innovation program; and, with the help of the Downtown Racine Corporation, a private foundation. While it was our hope to have grant funding to cover the cost of our first major expenditure -- the market/feasibility study -- we've yet to find the right fit at the right time. 
• We have, however, received a lead gift of $2,000 from the Downtown Business Improvement District Board! Thank you!
• Our marketing and communications team has been working to update our website and prepare ownership campaign materials.

So stay tuned!  Things have started to heat up (much like the weather) and are moving ahead.  We'll be in touch very soon with some exciting news...

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Where to Get Your Fresh Food Now:

Saturdays

Racine Downtown Farmers Market, 700 State St. (corner of State St. and Erie), from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Open May through October. For information contact Luane Gall, 262.886.6197.

Racine County Indoor/Outdoor Farmers Market from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located at 1614 South Street just west of Douglas Ave. Open year-round. For information contact Matt Behrs at 262.914.0560.

Kenosha Harbor Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open 50 weeks out of the year. Located (during the summer) at 2nd Avenue between 54th and 56th Street. Contact Ray Forgianni at 262.914.1252.

Sundays

Racine County Indoor/Outdoor Farmers Market, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 1614 South Street just west of Douglas Ave. Open year-round. Contact Matt Behrs at 262.914.0560.

Mondays

Sturtevant Farmers Market, open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located outside Fountain Banquet Hall at 8505 Durand Ave. Open May 23 through October 31, weather permitting. For information contact Roxanne South, 262.260.8224.

Tuesdays

Racine County Indoor/Outdoor Farmers Market, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 1614 South Street just west of Douglas Ave. Open year-round. Contact Matt Behrs at 262.914.0560.

Elmwood Plaza Farmers Market at Durand Ave. and Lathrop Ave., from 8 a.m. till 12 p.m., May through October. Contact Luane Gall at 262.886.6197.

Wednesdays

West Racine Farmers Market, corner of Washington Ave. and West Boulevard, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., May through October. Contact Luane Gall at 262.886.6197.

Thursdays

St. Andrews Farmers Market, in the parking lot of St. Andrews Lutheran Church at 1015 4 Mile Rd., from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Open June through September. For information contact Mark Trinklein at 414.217.3043.

Fridays

West Racine Farmers Market, corner of Washington Ave. and West Boulevard, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., May through October. Contact Luane Gall at 262.886.6197.

Racine County Indoor/Outdoor Farmers Market, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Located at 1614 South Street just west of Douglas Ave. Open year-round.  Contact Matt Behrs at 262.914.0560.

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