A hundred years ago, Main St. Catskill had more than a dozen grocers and butchers.

Today, downtown has no grocery store, and not a single establishment sells fresh produce. Though many new businesses are moving to capitalize on the revitalization of Upstate New York, few are addressing the striking realities of generational de-industrialization, gentrification, economic struggle and lack of food access.

Co-operative Food Stores, or “Food Co-ops” offer an alternative model to the conventional grocery store standard. Empowering workers and consumers with the power to vote, co-ops emphasize a collaborative process directed by worker-owners and consumers, who have the option to own a share of the company.

In upstate New York, where organic farms surround small towns, it is somehow nearly impossible to find markets which actually sell local groceries to local consumers. Prioritizing New York City's demand for organic produce, the communities in between these large agricultural spaces are often neglected. Today, Catskill's grocers are Price Chopper, Walmart or the local Stewart’s gas station -– none of which prioritize fresh or local foods.

EAT Co-op is an attempt to address these local (and global) issues, by participating in a replicable model for providing food security. A co-operatively owned community grocer, kitchen & cafe, eat will prioritize the needs of farmers, workers & consumers while giving back to local regenerative agricultural projects.

But we need your help ~

Mission & Vision :
EAT is a small scale co-operative & communally owned grocery store, providing fresh, local or organic foods to main street, while also highlighting and giving back to regional regenerative farm projects, by offering commercial kitchen rentals and cafe access to farmers and makers.

We will also offer a variety of CSA and sliding scale payment models, that prioritize local farmers & consumers alike. We will process any unsold produce for value added products, like jams or canned goods-- offering a menu of soups, smoothies, and nourishing snacks to highlight local and seasonal foods, while securing a year round farmer's market for local growers to sell their produce directly to the community. Our Community Kitchen, will extend commercial kitchen status to farmers who would like to host farm dinners or pop - up dining experiences, while also allowing local caterers, farmers or chefs to scale their professional food production. Finally, we will prioritize equitable pay for all of our employees, and commit profits to funding local regenerative land projects, with a focus on BIPOC Farm & Nature access.

Our goal is to raise $22,222 to ensure our first year is a success :
Security Deposit = 3 * Rent : $7,000
Liability Insurance : $1,000 - 2,000
Equipment Insurance : $1,000 - 2,000
Website & Marketing Costs : $1000
Commercial Freeze Dryer : $6,000
Municipal Administrative Fees : $500
Sign Production : $500 - 1000
Fair Compensation for Labor : $3000
Advertising & Outreach : $500

We hope after our first year that EAT will be sustained by farmers, workers, users & community members !

Values

Provide nutritious, naturally grown local food to the Catskill community.
Provide an outlet for farmers, growers & makers to sell their wares directly.
Provide education on sustainability, social justice and workers’ rights within the food system.
Create a nourishing space for building community, wellness and healing.
Fair compensation for labor
Environmental sustainability
Racial & Social Justice
Keep it local
Inclusivity for all
FUN !

Committee :

1. Claudia Nagy  (Co-Founder & Executive Director)

2. Gabriel Kristal (Co-Founder & Accountant)

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