Food co-ops are more than grocery stores. They are the result of more than a century of people coming together to build fairer and more resilient food systems. On Saturday, January 31, from 2 to 3 PM, the Fredericksburg Food Co-op invites the community to explore that story in a special event featuring author and co op advocate Jon Steinman.

In his talk titled A Century of Grocery Retail and Food Cooperation in America, Steinman will take attendees on a journey through the evolution of grocery retail and the cooperative movement. From early community driven stores to today’s modern food co ops, the presentation highlights how cooperation has shaped access to food, strengthened local economies, and empowered everyday people to create alternatives to conventional retail models.

Jon Steinman is known for bringing history to life through engaging storytelling and thoughtful research. His work focuses on the people behind the movement, including neighbors, farmers, workers, and shoppers who believed food systems could be built around shared values instead of profit alone. Whether you are a longtime co-op member or new to cooperative ideas, this event offers valuable insight into why food co ops continue to matter today.

This event is part of the Fredericksburg Food Co-op’s ongoing commitment to education, community connection, and cooperative values. Understanding where we come from helps us better imagine where we are going and how we can continue building a food system rooted in fairness, sustainability, and shared ownership.

Event Details

What: A Century of Grocery Retail and Food Cooperation in America
Who: Jon Steinman, author and co op advocate
When: Saturday, January 31, from 2 to 3 PM
Where: Fredericksburg Food Co-op

We hope you will join us for this inspiring conversation and help celebrate the long, powerful history of people powered food systems.