It would be
hard to describe briefly what got us here. It is a story of
common issues -- a small Appalachian community with poor outlets
for its own diverse agriculture, a community not large or
well-connected enough to attract outside business -- but with
uncommon people that make possible creative, local solutions to
meet its needs. Our journey has been a wonderful and challenging
exploration of that opportunity, as we've sought to connect
producers and consumers in both old and new ways.
Last
November, our IGA grocery store closed its doors after serving
customers for many years. This may not have made a ripple beyond
our immediate area, but it utterly transforms people's patterns
and food access here, and perhaps most profoundly, our sense of
the future. The timing seemed right for our Food Hub to step up
and expand our own, small co-op grocer into a full-fledged
grocery store. In doing so, we feel we will be empowering
consumers and producers -- truly our whole community -- to
nourish itself well into the future.
The Alderson
Green Grocer will be run as a social enterprise. It will be
structured to sustain itself long-term, offering a wide variety
of local and non-local goods as well as some prepared foods, and
will accept a range of benefits and payment methods, as we
already do at our seasonal market and existing co-op grocer. We
welcome area residents and visitors alike, and would love to
tell you what else our little Food Hub -- one of only a few in
the state -- is up to when you come by. We might even convince
you to get involved in one of our programs.
For those
unfamiliar, the centerpiece of Alderson is our historic,
100-year old memorial bridge, spanning the beautiful and
sometimes turbulent Greenbrier River. The water nourishes our
hills, our crops and our animals, and our hearts; the bridge
connects us to each other, as well as to our past and future. I
can't help but look at it and see the promise of a fruitful
future. Together, I am certain it will be.
Thank you so
much for your support.
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