F

ood co-ops are an easy way to regularly cast our votes for our inalienable right to know what we are eating, while directly contributing to the local economy. We have the right to know what’s in our food baskets, and where and how it is produced. Co-op facilitators should be able to give their customers details about their farmers’ practices and exactly where their food is raised.

    Many co-ops have solid relationships with local farmers, regularly discussing what’s important to customers, trending sustainability concerns, and keeping a finger on the pulse of local supply and demand to minimize waste.

    Co-operative principles include, among other things, voluntary and open membership; autonomy and independence; education, training and information; and concern for communities. Sourced from many small distributors and directly from local farms and producers, co-ops make independent decisions daily that impact food inventory and the economics of the community.

Diana Pereira owns Pereira Produce & Health, based in Navarre. Serving communities from Pensacola to Fort Walton, Pereira Produce & Health offers a flexible co-op buying program without a weekly commitment, plus recipes and tips for customers. For more information, contact Diana Pereira at 850-499-3670, via Facebook at Pereira Produce & Health, or via email at dianapereira@live.com. To reserve a share, visit PereiraProduceAndHealth.weebly.com.