FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You ask, we answer!

THE BASICS

Q: I’m brand new. How do I shop with Central City Co-op?
A: Welcome! You can jump right in and buy local, sustainable, and nationally-certified organic produce with us two ways:

• Shop our Open Market at 2515 Waugh (inside Grace Lutheran) from 9am to 6pm on Wednesdays.
• Or, for better value and variety, you can buy a share in advance for pickup on Wednesday before 6:30pm.

Or both!

First Timers: your first time is free! No membership or day pass required. If ordering online choose “Current member”, and enter checkout code “FIRSTTIME” in the membership number field. For more about membership, see “Membership” below.

Q: What’s a Co-op?
A: A cooperative is an association of people united to meet their common needs. Ours is a lot like a buyers’ club.  Imagine that three friends each pitch in some money, go buy a whole crate of organic produce from a farmer’s market, and then share it. That’s a co-op. That’s what we do, except we buy in bulk from multiple growers and distributors every week, and we share it among a couple hundred of our friends instead of just three.

Q: What does Central City Co-op do?
A: We support local farms and sustainable agriculture by giving our members an easy way to buy a variety of local and organic produce each week at a great price.  Even in today’s chain supermarkets, it still takes a lot of careful shopping and label-reading to buy 100% local and/or sustainable produce.  We do all that homework for you.  Everything on our shelves and in our shares is either nationally-certified USDA organic or locally grown with sustainable farming practices by farmers we know.  There’s a lot more we do behind the scenes, from education and outreach to fostering a sense of community among our members.  The best way to discover everything we do is to jump right in! How? Shop our Open Market, or buy a share!

SHARES

Q: What’s a share?
A: A share is your portion of our produce purchase. Every week, Central City Co-op buys local and organic produce on behalf of all of our members who have pre-ordered a share for that week.  Those members pick up their share(s) at our Wednesday market.

Q: What types of shares are there? What do they include?
A: There are three types of shares:

• Fruit-only share. An assortment of 4-6 kinds of local or nationally-certified organic fruit. $14.00.
• Local-only share. An assortment of seasonal produce, locally and sustainably grown by Gundermann Farms in Wharton, Texas. $22.00.
• Mixed share. A mix of fruit and vegetables from both local and nationally-certified organic growers. Each mixed share contains at least one kind of potato, at least two green leafys, 3-6 assorted vegetables, and a mix of 2-4 kinds of fruit. Mixed shares come in three sizes: small ($16), medium ($21), and large ($36).

Q: How will I know what’s in next week’s fruit or mixed shares?
A: Most of our regular customers have come to trust us to assemble a great assortment of items that meets the guidelines for each type of share (above) and your typical weekly meal-planning needs. Members who prefer a more definite idea of what will be in Wednesday’s shares can check our produce page each Friday or Saturday to see an updated list of what our buyers and growers expect to provide in the following Wednesday’s shares.  Please keep in mind: our buys aren’t final until Tuesday, so share contents can sometimes change at the last minute due to weather, failed crops, or other natural factors.

Q: How will I know what’s in next week’s Gundermann (all-local) shares?
A: A Gundermann share is like a birthday present: a surprise! Each share is packed on the Gundermann’s farm with whatever is freshest in the fields that day. Since the share contents are not determined until Tuesday when they are picked, it is not possible for us to publish the share contents in advance. We usually have one or two extra shares on Wednesday mornings, so you can peek inside to get an idea of the type of crops that are coming in at that time of the season. Gundermann shares are a great way to stay in tune with the land - you always get what's growing right now.

Q: How do I buy a share (and what’s the deadline)?
A: You can order a share two ways. You can place your order at our Wednesday market, or you can order a share online anytime until 6pm Sunday for pickup the following Wednesday. (Ready to order? Click here!)

Q: I just bought a share. How do I pick it up?
A: Just come to our market on Wednesday between 9am and 6:30pm, bring a bag to gather up your items, and check in with our cashier. This video will show you more about what to expect.

Q: What if I don’t like something in my share?
A: Try it again! Really. Part of the fun of shopping at Central City Co-op is discovering new things – or new ways to prepare old things.  But, if (for example) you can’t stand kale and we can’t talk you into trying kale chips then you may be able to exchange that item for another item of equal value from the Open Market area. Exchanges may be limited, so please see a Co-op volunteer for assistance.

Q: Can I custom-order a share with only the things I like?
A: We don’t currently offer that sort of flexibility within the shares, but we do offer the Open Market as an alternative for those members who prefer to only purchase certain items and not others.

OPEN MARKET

Q: What is the Open Market?
A: It’s a farmers’ market without the farmers – and with a lot more than just produce. Every week, Central City Co-op buys produce from local and nationally-certified suppliers to fulfill our share pre-orders. When we do, we also buy extra. That extra produce goes into our Open Market area and is available for purchase by the general public. Open Market stock is often limited, so get here early for the best selection.
 
Q: What else do you stock in the Open Market?
A: In addition to fruits and veggies, we also stock organic dry goods like beans and pasta, our own signature blend of locally-roasted coffee, local honey, free-range eggs and goat cheese (pre-order only), and even grass-fed beef, lamb and chicken. On holidays, we also often feature handcrafted items like pottery or organic soaps from local artisans.

OUR MISSION

Q: What is Central City Co-op’s mission?
A: Our mission is to support sustainable agriculture by providing local, sustainable, and nationally-certified organic produce to the Houston community at an affordable price.

Q: Why should I buy organic?
A: Two reasons. First: your own health. It’s generally accepted that eating foods without chemicals (fertilizer or pesticides) or hormones is a smarter, healthier choice. Second: the environment. Many of today’s industrial farming methods are very destructive to the planet, and buying organic is a great way to support farmers who raise their products sustainably – without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, or other unnatural processes that have harmful or unproven long-term effects.

Q: You call some things “sustainable,” and other things “organic.” What’s the difference?
A: “Organic” means certified, usually by the USDA. “Sustainable” is very similar, just without the official government seal of approval. It takes a lot of time, money, and paperwork for a farmer to get certified, and it’s often prohibitive for smaller farms. Since major supermarkets won’t recognize that these uncertified farms still raise their crops using the same earth-friendly, sustainable methods as certified ones, smaller farms are often unable to take their otherwise organic products to market. We support (and thank) these smaller, local farmers by providing them with a market for their sustainably-raised crops without being burdened with the hassle or expense of certification.

Q: How local is “local?”
A: Usually within 200 miles of our co-op home.  Most of our current local providers are even closer – within a one-hour drive of the Houston metro area.

Q: Why should I buy local?
A: First: small farms need our help. Raising crops sustainably is harder and more expensive than conventional farming methods. Local farmers who raise their crops sustainably (but who are too small, or otherwise can’t afford to get certified by the USDA) need our support if they are to continue doing the right thing. Second: food is vital to survival, so it should always be close at hand.  Many people believe that our current scheme of food distribution (national supermarket chains with cross-country or international shipping) is dangerous, and should not be the only distribution scheme in existence. Unfortunately, the larger and cheaper the national food distribution systems get, the more they thwart the survival of smaller, alternative suppliers. If food is going to stay close at hand, it is up to us to support those who keep it there.

MEMBERSHIP

Q: Do I have to be a member to buy a share? How much is membership?
A: Technically yes, since the “shares” part of our operation is primarily for the benefit of our members. But we offer several options:

• Your first time is free. If you’ve never bought a share or shopped our Open Market before, just tell us and we’ll waive the membership fees.
• If you aren’t an annual member but still want to buy a share or shop the Open Market, we request a $2 “day pass.” This helps us cover our weekly behind-the-scenes costs.
• Please consider becoming an annual member! Membership starts as low as $48 for a calendar year, and members may order unlimited shares or shop the Open Market without paying the $2 “day pass” fee. If you think you may order as few as 24 shares in a calendar year, a membership pays for itself.
• Volunteers can earn membership! 18 hours of “sweat equity” (at times other than Wednesday markets) will cover one annual membership.

Membership also helps Central City Co-op grow, and we encourage our members to explore the additional benefits that higher levels of membership offer. Learn more about membership here.

VOLUNTEERING

Q: Can I volunteer with Central City Co-op?
A: Please do!! We have many volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are always needed on Wednesday market days to help set up in the mornings, give tours and keep the market tidy during the day, and to break down in the evenings. Wednesday volunteers who work a two-hour shift may earn $10 in open market discount. We also have many other volunteer opportunities during the week, such as marketing/outreach, pickup from local farms, or other office/clerical tasks. Volunteers who help with these tasks may earn “sweat equity” credit towards membership. (18 hours equals one basic annual membership, a $48 value.)

For more information, visit our Volunteer Headquarters.

MISCELLANEOUS

Q: How do I start my own farmers market?
A: Learn more about what it takes start a farmer's market in the city of Houston. This is not a simple thing to do, and it can be EXTREMELY expensive to start up.

RESOURCE LINKS HERE?

Become a Partner Click here
to learn more about our Partnership program

Meet the Board. Click here if you'd like to meet our 2009 Board Members

Want to Volunteer? We'd love to have your help! There are many opportunities available.

Have more questions?
We have answers!
Email info@centralcityco-op.com