Archives for category: Co-op

Full disclosure: I went to the greenmarket in Union Square on my lunch break yesterday in search of more ramps. The season is fleeting and my appetite persistent. By 2 pm, however, they were gone. I’m glad others will get to enjoy them.

I stumbled upon some over-wintered spinach that looked bright and green and threw it into my sack for $4. I thought about the green garlic but, looking a little wilted, it will have to wait for another time. Added some brown eggs and multi-grain bread and called it a day.

I like the sound of over-wintered spinach, or broccoli rabe. Because it sums up how I feel: over winter, indeed.

When I woke up this morning I wanted something savory and hearty, not my usual yogurt-fruit-cereal breakfast. I heated a little olive oil in a skillet and threw in the spinach, to wilt, for about one minute, adding salt and promptly removing the spinach from the skillet. Meanwhile I toasted slices of the Bread Alone loaf, slathering on avocado*, kosher salt and pepper. In the same skillet I had warmed the spinach I added an egg, covered the pan with a lid, and let the egg cook for about 2 or 3 minutes, then turned off the heat. On top of the avocado toasts I added the wilted spinach and egg and got to work.

*The avocado came from the Park Slope food co-op. I am proud to announce I have officially rejoined! Although this FTOP thing looks tricky – I could barely find one, let alone two, shifts during May so I’m told I will be on “alert” until I can complete my first shift in June. I came home with overflowing bags of green lentils, rice shakes, dried apricots and mango, bananas, broccoli, and spices. It’s good to be back.

Five years ago this month I became a member of the Park Slope Food Co-op. I was in food heaven. I lived around the corner on 5th Avenue, had a great work crew – Thursday Week C cash register 8:30 to 10:30 pm – and couldn’t believe I could try five different cheeses for $5 total. The produce tasted fresh, and it cost the same for organic as it did conventional at regular grocery stores.

But then a year later I moved up north to Williamsburg. Probably only 4 miles away as the crow flies, but if you know Brooklyn, you know how hard it is to travel north-south, and in particular between the Slope and the Burg. With a heavy heart, I put my membership on hold – meaning I didn’t have to work, but also couldn’t shop. They promised I could rejoin whenever I wanted.

I decided today was the day to sign back up. While I love the speciality stores in my hood, plus Fresh Direct and Fairway, I missed the Co-op. I dusted off my membership card and headed south. I walked in and inhaled deeply. Ahhhh. That smell. Either you know or you don’t. If you’ve spent any time in any natural food stores you know it: a little musty, a little like grains in bulk bins mixed with lavender soap. It felt like coming home.

My bubble burst when the membership office told me I needed to come back with a piece of mail or a bill showing proof of address. I offered the New Yorker and New York magazines in my bag, both containing my current address, but the friendly membership officer wasn’t budging.

Ok, co-op, I haven’t given up. I’ll be back. On Saturday. Con Ed bill in one hand, my calendar in the other. I’ll be signing up for those “Ftop” shifts, even if they are at 5:30 am unloading trucks. Oh how I’ve missed you.