One old store + 500 members = The Willa-Mette Co-op

CYNTHIA ANDERSON
Originally published in the February 25, 1970
EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD.

"Dan's wife" makes the bagels; Mrs. Neusihin makes the pickles. Granola - "a cereal that really stays crisp" - is 60 cents a pound packaged; if you bring your own container it's 55 cents and you can buy as much or as little as you need.

Willamette People's Cooperative, the corner grocery store which sells these items, is a booming business. Two months old, the grocery at 22nd and Emerald has over 500 members (at $5 a share) and is grossing $700 to $800 a day. Already there is talk about starting another co-op to handle a volume which surprises even the organizers.

The place was started by a group of University of Oregon students and their friends who wanted to sell groceries at lower prices and to sell an idea - that a sense of community can be created through common cause and need.

Transportation problems have blighted that community spirit somewhat but volunteer sales help (20 to 30 clerks who work without pay) continues strong behind the counter.

The co-op buys a lot of its stock in Portland and from farmers, slaughterhouses and wholesalers around the country. People have given cars (some of which won't run) to the store for pickup runs by volunteer drivers. But occasionally you won't find the Tillamook cheddar which sells at 81 cents a pound or fresh eggs for 66 cents a dozen.

You usually can find a good supply of fresh mushrooms at 62 cents a pound; olives at 75 cents a pint; brown rice, soy flour, wheat flour, and three varieties of beans - all sold at bulk prices. Whole milk is 88 cents a gallon (used to be 83 cents but inflation hits co-ops, too).