Why I Shop at the Co-op #4

October 11, 2021

Anna Griffin appreciates the great produce and bulk bin selection at the Co-op and urges everyone to check it out.

Anna finds new products in the Co+op Deals flyer.  

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I have been a resident of the City of Fredericksburg for over 25 years. Having lived in rural North Carolina as a child, I wanted my young children to have the experience of a family-oriented town, their own backyard to play in with plenty of trees and grass. Let’s not forget the bonus of a shorter commute to work at the Quantico Marine Base. Growing up in North Carolina with my grandmother, we always had a huge garden and many fruit trees. I retired after 31 years of service with the Federal Government. My husband Stephen and I are active members of Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) in Fredericksburg. We have been married over 14 years and have three adult children and 1 grandchild.

When did you first hear about the Co-op?

My husband and I became interested in learning more about the Co-op in late 2019. We got on the mailing list and had the pleasure on several occasions to speak with various Co-op members, especially at the Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market. In July 2020, we decided it was a wonderful opportunity to become Co-op owners.

What are your favorite products at the Co-op?

My two favorite areas at the store are the produce section and the bulk items in the bins. As soon as you walk in, the beautiful array of fresh fruit and vegetables catch your eye. We like being able to get just the amount of grains and nuts that we need from the bins. I also enjoy trying new products advertised in the Co+op Deals sales flyer. 

What do you love most about the Co-op?

We enjoy being a part of a community-owned grocery store that not only provides shoppers with healthy food choices from local growers, but also promotes continuous learning about ways to protect our environment. 

Have you ever made a suggestion to the Co-op and what was it?

I have not made a suggestion about a product, but I am a part of our recently formed Community Outreach Committee. We aim to ensure the entire community knows we are here, that everyone is welcome to shop here and how the Co-op is active in the community. During the summer we hosted a cooking demonstration at the Mayfield Community Center and the Co-op also set up a table at the Mayfield Juneteenth Celebration to share about the new grocery store and our new Snap Match program.

What advice would you have for someone thinking about checking out the Co-op?

For anyone who has not shopped in or even stopped by to take look inside the store, I highly recommend you come on in and check us out. The Fredericksburg Food Cooperative is open to all!