The last time we checked in with the South Philly Food Co-op, they were just getting off the ground with a neighborhood community forum and surveys. Now they’re incorporated and are hosting various events throughout South Philly to raise awareness and raise funds for the initiative, and trying to get enough members to join in order to select a brick and mortar location. Alison Fritz, President and member of the Operations and Outreach committees, notes, “While some start-up co-ops have gone the route of rallying members around a location, many others have been hurt by that when their original location fell through. We are hoping to rally people around the concept of a co-op and then determine location in a business-savvy way.”

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About 70 people showed up last night for the South Philly Food Co-op community forum to learn about the soon-to-be member-controlled co-op for local and organic groceries (for those who don’t want to visit Lancaster County every time they need more bread).

The co-op will be a place where anyone can shop, although to make this idea a reality, members are needed; lifetime membership is a refundable $200 and to get this off the ground, the committee estimates needing about 500-1000 members before the co-op can officially open. Right now there is no location set, but after 87 percent of the 900 surveys taken of the Graduate Hospital, Point Breeze, Passyunk Square, East Passyunk Crossing and Pennsport neighborhoods came back in favor of this South Philly co-op, we don’t think a specific location will deter very many people.

A planned second survey and continued fundraising will help the committees hone their plan, secure financing and ensure…