Lost River Co-Op

Today we visited Andy Mahler, one of the founders of the Lost River Co-Op in Paoli, IN. While many people might imagine that rural areas loaded with family farms have an abundance of produce to share, the reality is quite opposite actually. With so much space between neighbors, farmers spending much of their time on their land and so few actual residents per square mile, there are hardly the outlets for them to share the fruits (and veggies) of their labor.

That's where Andy and a group of local produce-loving enthusiasts intervened. They began Orange County Homegrown and got the first farmer's market set up. After the success of this, they saw that there could be a consistently available supply and began the Lost River Co-Op. A Co-Op works in two ways: It serves as a neighborhood grocery store to anyone who wishes to shop there and also has a membership option in which members can get reduced pricing. At some Co-Ops, members even get a share of the cut at the end of the year. It makes perfect sense that if you are going to shop somewhere, put $90 or so dollars in and become a part owner. You get your money back very quickly in the lofty discounts.

Lost River not only provides a place for all things local to be sold - apples, pears, beef, pork, eggs, you name it - all from around the community, but has the shelves stocked with earth conscious options as well. To me, the best part of the store is the amazing deli in the back offering a very delicious, nutritious, local and organic lunch every day. They have fresh soups and sandwiches and the price is actually less that what you would be charged at other local haunts. This is a great way to feed the area healthy food but Andy notes that as word gets around about the amazing offerings in the deli, it entices new customers who might have thought Lost River was some type of hippie, granola grocery store and previously passed it by, to give it a chance. They might come for the lunch but end up picking up some groceries too.

The environment is friendly, clean and helpful. It's no wonder Lost Rive Co-Op is such a success. Just having celebrated their one year anniversary, we wish them loads of luck into the future, though we think there's no where but up for this much needed grocery store in a place with so much farmland and produce and so few outlets to find it.