In Our Store

Buying in Bulk | Locally Produced Foods | Organically Produced Foods

Willy Street Co-op is Madison's largest consumer-owned natural foods store, offering the finest organic and locally-produced foods since 1974, including:

• Produce - the finest and freshest in the Madison area, over 150 organic items daily
• Dairy - milk, yogurt, and cheese, including organics
• Frozen foods - juice, vegetables, pizza, convenience meals
• Baked goods - fresh bread and other goods delivered daily
• Juices - full selection and fresh juice at the Juice Bar
• Deli - fresh homemade soups, salads and sandwiches, dips and dinners

Buying in Bulk

We stock over 600 items in bulk, including:

• Herbs and spices
• Complete line of baking supplies
• Grains, beans
• Pasta
• Granolas and trail mixes
• Coffee and tea
• Natural personal care products (e.g., shampoo, soap, lotion)
• Vitamins, supplements and homeopathic remedies
• Cleaning supplies
• Natural pet foods, snacks, and supplies

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Locally Produced Foods

The Co-op's buyers are committed to supporting local growers and producers. We believe that a sustainable local economy is vital to the health and well-being of all eaters in the community.

We buy produce in season from over 20 local growers, 18 of which are certified organic. The historic roots of sustainable and organic farming are in rural family farms and small town life. Family farms are an important part of a strong local economy and have been an integral part of the cooperative movement for generations.

Buying Locally

For years we’ve used purple LOCAL tags in the grocery aisles to identify products that were made within 150 miles of the Capitol building (in Madison) or anywhere in Wisconsin. These tags didn’t differentiate between products that were grown locally (like Tipi Produce carrots) and products that were prepared locally (like Nature’s Bakery granola).

Now, to fulfill a request from Owners, we will be using these three tags in most of the store. (Produce will still keep its purple sleeve inserts that list the specific farm and location of its local products.)

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Organically Produced Foods

In 2006, Willy Street Coop was once again voted the best place to buy organic foods in Madison by the Isthmus (a Madison weekly newspaper) readers. Sales of organic foods have been growing across the country as people realize the importance of a clean, healthy diet and as more farmers switch to sustainable and organic methods.

Organic and Sustainable Farming

Wisconsin Organic farmers rely on farming practices that have been used for thousands of years. Rather than seeking to control the natural environment, organic farming practices seek to work with the environment. Natural composts, for example, rejuvenate the soil, just as in nature: plant and animal materials replace the nutrients and microorganisms taken by the growing plants. Organic means of pest control mirror nature in practice and when, occasionally, organic crops are sprayed against insects and disease, these organic sprays are biologically based and they break down quickly.

Organic foods are not treated with preserving chemicals after harvesting; transporting, packaging, processing and storage of organic foods are all done without the use of chemicals, artificial additives, preservatives and without food irradiation.

Is organic produce safer?
Absolutely! Many pesticides used by conventional farmers have been shown to be carcinogens. Chemical farming continues to threaten our water systems, depletes our soil of valuable nutrients, and poisons all living things. We cannot expect our government agencies alone to clean up the environment or to set safer regulations. The public will ultimately set the standards for food safety in relation to the demand for clean food.

Does organic produce taste better?

Many restaurant chefs across the country are using organic produce because they think it tastes better. Organic growers often select varieties to grow for their flavor, not only their appearance.

Is organic produce more nutritious?

There is no conclusive evidence at this time to suggest that organically-produced foods are more nutritious. However, well-balanced soils grow strong healthy plants which many believe taste better and contain more nutrients. Fruits and vegetables commercially grown and produced are harvested early, may be irradiated, stored for long periods of time, or waxed to prevent dehydration and display an artificial shine. Organic fruits and vegetables that stay on the vine longer and ripen naturally absorb more sunlight and provide greater nutrition and flavor.

The shelf life of organic fruits and vegetables can be shorter than chemically-sprayed conventional produce and is brought from the field to the Co-op more quickly, providing members with a fresher product.

Why does organic produce tend to be more expensive?
Organic foods are not always more expensive; in peak local season, many organic items will have the same or lower price than their conventional counterpart! There are many reasons contributing to the higher prices asked for organic foods:

1. Organic farmers do not have the government subsidies conventional farmers enjoy for the cost of their herbicide and pesticide chemicals, nor for the extensive research and marketing assistance available to conventional growers.
2. Organic growing techniques are labor intensive (e.g., hand hoeing instead of applying chemical herbicides--weed and grass killers) and are therefore more expensive.
3. There is a substantial financial cost for a farmer to become certified as an organic grocer. This discourages many small farmers from being certified and thus receiving the appropriate price for their produce and efforts.
4. The demand for organic foods is greater than the supply. This will keep the price higher until more organic foods are grown.
5. Organic products are of higher quality than conventional products (fresher, no synthetic chemicals) and command a higher price.

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