We have this theory here at the South Philly Food Co-op that every single member (we're talking to all 533 of you lovely people) knows at least one other person who ought to join. We like to call these folks "not-yet members," and we need your help to realize their potential!

If you're a member of the Co-op and you're ready to help grow our membership by recruiting those neighbors, family members, block captains and businesspeople we need on board to help open our doors, consider hosting an Eat & Greet!

Here's how it works: These house parties are fun, informal gatherings — pot-luck suppers, dinner parties, wine-and-cheese events, brunches — hosted by current Co-op members. In between bites or hors d'oeuvres and sips of wine, a Co-op representative will share information about the Co-op, speak about the importance of joining, and answer any questions your guests may have. All you have to do is open up your home to your favorite folks and let the Co-op rep do the talking!

Three ways to help:

1) Most importantly, we need hosts! If you're willing to invite some friends into your home to share food and talk about the Co-op, let us know! 

2) If everyone in your circle's already a member but you love throwing parties, become a venue volunteer and we'll do the recruitment work for you!

3) We're also looking for co-hosts — those who know a bunch of not-yet members but don't have the space to host. We'll match you up with a venue volunteer and together you can do great things. 

Benefits for our Hosts: In addition to sharing some good food and hospitality with your friends and neighbors, hosts of Eat and Greets will receive the following perks:

• 8 hours of volunteering credit
• A Co-op coffee mug or $5 off a Co-op t-shirt (coming soon!)
• 1 raffle ticket for every member who joins are your Eat and Greet - raffle of gift certificates to take place at our 599 and You victory party on April 28th at Boot and Saddle
• And don't forget, some our Shop South Philly partners may offer the perfect items for your party:

• 5% off your purchase at Mariposa Food Co-op
• 10% off at Kermit's Bake Shop
• $1 off growlers on Mondays and Tuesdays at The Bottle Shop
• 10% off gifts and home goods at Occaisionette

Interested in hosting or co-hosting an Eat & Greet? Please fill out this simple form or contact Membership Committee member Mary Kay at [email protected] or 215-839-8213.

And don't forget: If you already know someone who's ready to join, send them to our website!

The South Philly Food Co-op will hold its annual election for the Board of Directors at the Spring General Membership Meeting in May. Date and time of the meeting will be announced shortly. The Co-op is now seeking nominees to run for the six director positions that will be up in this election.

Eligibility requirements and a complete job description for director the director position can be found by clicking this link.

The Board of Directors Nomination Form can be downloaded with this link (PDF).

Nomination forms are due by 11:59pm on March 1, 2014. 

Our Programs and Events Committee is organizing an event for February to help answer questions from member-owners who are considering seeking nomination and to help them get the 15 signatures of member-owners. (Check back here or on Facebook or Twitter for details.)

Member-owners who serve on the Board of Directors for the two-year term beginning July 1, 2014 will be part of a group that will take the Co-op through one of the most critical points in its history. By July 1 we hope to have surpassed the 600-member mark. Our Real Estate Committee continues to work to find a suitable location for the Co-op and we also hope to have that picked out shortly after we reach the 600-member mark. Having accomplished both of those goals will make us ready for the next phase of the Co-op's development - Pre-Construction. The Pre-Construction Phase includes a push to recruit new members based on the site location, finalizing external funding and launch a member loan campaign, and finalize plans for site design and renovations.

The Board of Directors will oversee this crucial work with the help of our various standing and ad-hoc committees. The Co-op is seeking member-owners who want to play a key role in this critical time and be instrumental in taking us to the "ribbon cutting."

While the Co-op could use candidates with experience in board leadership, community organizing, grocery/retail management, legal services, real estate and financial planning, the most important thing we need are people with time and energy to complete the Board's work. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Co-op's by-laws and stated on the nomination form, you can be a part of this.

Any organization is strengthened by having contested elections for its governing body. Out of the dozens of member-owners who have attended at least one General Membership Meeting and one committee meeting, we know there are plenty of folks who would bring a lot of great new energy to the board to complement the board members who have for the most part been serving since the inaugural board was chosen on June 29, 2011. If you meet the requirements and want to play a role in the phase of the Co-op's development, please consider submitting yourself as a nominee for the election!

Questions and completed nomination forms should be directed to Aubrey Jones at [email protected].

2013 was a great year for the South Philly Food Co-op. You can help us close it out with a tax-deductible contribution that we will use to continue spreading the word about the Co-op to people throughout South Philly and fund our many other pre-start-up planning costs. Give now to have your donation count toward your 2013 charitable giving.

This year, we increased our membership to 530, organized yet another successful garden tour, drew even more support from other local businesses by increasing our Shop South Philly business supporters to 30 (!) and welcomed hundreds of Co-op members and not-yet members to 20+ great events. Most importantly, our Real Estate Committee has been hard at work since we passed the 400-member mark in the spring, evaluating several different locations as we continue the search for the Co-op's home! 

All of these accomplishments should make everyone who is involved with the Co-op — as member-owners, volunteers or supporters — feel proud. But some of the stories we've heard from members make this effort most rewarding. One member recently told us about the time he was tabling at the Dickinson Square Farmers Market with a volunteer named Matt, who mentioned that he and his wife had recently bought a new house just west of Broad in Newbold. Matt said that they had been looking all around the city for a place to buy and considered a bunch of other neighborhoods. Among the factors that went into their decision-making was this effort to open a food co-op that they had just heard about. This was enough to help seal the deal for Matt and his wife. 

Knowing that the Co-op — before it has even served one customer — is already having that kind of positive impact on attracting people to settle here and become part of an area of the city where thousands of other families have lived for generations is a great testament to what we're trying to build. The Co-op is about more than just a food store. It's about helping to keep an already-vital community strong and bringing together long-time residents with families who are looking for their own place to put down their roots. We are most proud to count among our member-owners people from all over South Philly: folks who have lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and for 30 days, young families, older couples, households of friends sharing a house together, renters, owners... 

We're looking forward to an even better 2014, and we’re asking you to help make that possible by including the Co-op in your end-of-year charitable-giving plans. Your donation of $10, $25 or $50 will help us reach our goal of $2000. And thanks to our fiscal sponsor Fair Food Philly, your donations are tax-deductible. 

Donate TODAY through Paypal and not only will you help the Co-op grow, but you’ll be able to deduct this from your taxes. 

Thanks again for everything you do for the Co-op. Have a Happy and Healthy New Year!

Hey there, #ShopSouthPhilly social snappers. The moment you've all been waiting for is here:

It's time to vote for the grand prize winner in the South Philly Food Co-op's #ShopSouthPhilly Photo Contest.

We've posted the weekly winners below. Now it's up to you to take our survey to determine which photographer will win dinner for two at Fond. 

Voting will take place from now through midnight January 5th. 

The photo finalists and the link to our survey are after the jump!

In case you missed it, Saturday's Green Street Coffee Roasters/Kermit's Bake Shoppe Tasting was a blast! The weather held out long enough for us to have a great turnout of both Co-op members and "not yet" members. 

Here's a recap of the event from Martin Brown of the co-op's programs and events committee:

It's so easy to forget about yourself during the holidays — you've gotta stay on top of Santa's wish list, squeeze a giant tree into your tiny rowhome (and subsequently pick up one thousand pine needles per day), stop the cats from destroying all the ornaments, tip your servicepeople appropriately, and be mindful of your relatives' various and sundry picky eating habits (looking at you, uncle who only likes LeSeur peas). For me, it's not till December 26 that I feel like singing "Joy to the World."

So I'm making a new year's resolution to treat myself to a little holiday pampering, and I think you should, too. Shop South Philly business partner Fringe Salon will do just the trick: Offering haircuts, color treatments, blowouts, updos, deep-conditioning treatments and waxing, this neighborhood salon located on East Passyunk between Moore and Morris streets has everything you need to keep your spirits (and your hair) bright and shiny.

And let's not forget that the salon doubles as a gallery, hosting visual artists and First Friday receptions. Oh, and according to their website's Services section, each customer gets free cat therapy, courtesy of Salon resident Uli. 

As a bonus to South Philly Food Co-op members, Fringe Salon offers a one-time $5 discount for men's haircuts and $10 off for women's. (Read more about this and other partner businesses on our website.) All you have to do is show your South Philly Food Co-op membership card to take advantage of this great member discount. And don't forget to share a photo on your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter account to be eligible for our #ShopSouthPhilly Photo Contest.

Not a member of the Co-op yet? Treat yourself!

Attention all lovers of delicious coffee and fresh morning pastries (aka everyone): 

There are just a few spots left for our Green Street Coffee Roasters and Kermit's Bake Shoppe Special Tour and Tasting!

On December 14 at 10 a.m., attendees will meet at Green Street Coffee's roasting facility (1919 Alter St.) for a tour, explanation of the roasting process and a tasting of their finest selections of coffees. Kermit's Bake Shoppe will also be providing a selection of freshly baked goodies, baked on premises just two blocks away. Both local suppliers will be ready and eager to sell you their wares to make as fine holiday gifts and party treats — including discounted beans from Green Street, going for just $10 per 12-ounce bag instead of the usual $14 retail price; and $25 Kermit's gift certificates on sale for $20. Admission to the tour and tasting is free, so all you need to bring is your appetite!

It's a great way to meet your neighbors and enjoy some off-the-beaten path insider knowledge about how our local fare gets produced.

Sign up by clicking here!

WHEN: December 14, 2013, 10am - 1pm 

WHERE: Green Street Coffee Roasting Facility
1919 Alter St.
Philadelphia, PA 19146
United States
Google map and directions

(Image courtesy of Philadelphia Inquirer)

Check out the framing ninjas at our Shop South Philly partner Frame Fatale, located at 1813 East Passyunk Ave. South Philly Food Co-op members get a 10% discount on excellent custom framing.  That's right, Frame Fatale just won the 2013 Philly Hot list for Best Custom Framing!  They do a beautiful job framing everything from photos to tiles to athletic jerseys.  If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind gift, they can create amazing shadowboxes to display your special memories.  The store also has these adorable new hand-cut maps of East Passyunk.

They also give back to the community.  The current art show, Marker Magic, is a fundraiser exhibition for the Andrew Jackson Elementary School.  The drawings are by Philadelphia artist Kate Kern Mundie. The Crayola marker drawings focus on the dramatic light and vibrant color in the landscape and many of the drawings depict scenes from Passyunk Square.  These pretty and affordable pieces are available through December 7th and a third of sales benefit the school. 

So many reasons to love Frame Fatale!  Purchase artwork there or bring in your own for a holiday gift.  Check the sidebar on their site for the handy “Still framing for Christmas” logo.  So stop by for that special gift and don't forget to thank them for supporting the South Philly Food Co-op!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of my first appointment with Dr. David Martin of Bella Vista Family Chiropractic, located at 826 Christian Street. The office is conveniently located on Christian Street, just 1/2 a block from the Italian Market, and the entrance is on the side of the building. Look for the skeleton, JawKnee Depp, lazily lounging outside, then pick up some cheese, charcuterie or a hoagie on your way home.

When you set up your appointment, they'll ask for your email address so that you can complete the new patient paperwork online before you even show up - how cool is that? Once you arrive for your appointment,  the Office Manager, Shavon, greets you and gets your paperwork and payment in order. The best part? First-time visits are just $25 for South Philly Food Co-op Members and are donated to a local non-profit! You can choose between The Bethesda Project and The Food Trust, and you can read about each organization and general chiropractic terms while you wait.

Dr. Martin takes the time to explain everything he's evaluating and will let you know if x-rays or further tests are needed. He's extremely kind and knowledgeable and - judging by the army of little ones coming and going - very patient! (note: they have a play area and free coloring pages, too)

In addition, I noticed on their website and in the office that the office would be closed during Thanksgiving week. Not for the holiday, as perhaps you would expect, but because Dr. Martin and his wife, Karen, are heading to Peru for their annual service trip. There's lots more great information about Dr. Martin, the practice, chiropractic care and general wellness on their blog, so definitely check that out. They even participate in community events, like Teacher Appreciation Days.

If you have pain or other issues, or are just looking to maintain your general health and well-being, consider paying a visit to Bella Vista Family Chiropractic, you won't be disappointed! Of course, don't forget to show your South Philly Food Co-op membership card to take advantage of your Member Discount and snap a photo for our #ShopSouthPhilly Photo Contest!

-Jen Honovic Herczeg

To celebrate the businesses who are part of the Co-op's Shop South Philly discount program and thank them for their great support over the last couple years, we want to encourage our members to take advantage of these discounts and specials by shopping or dining at the Shop South Philly businesses. We also want to give everyone a chance to have a little fun and win great prizes while doing so!

Starting November 18 and running through December 29, we invite you to take a picture that represents you shopping at, eating at or using one of these businesses. The rules are very loose on what has to be in the picture.

Get your cell phone or camera and (for example)...

• Take a picture of yourself and/or others in front of or in a business or attraction like Bartram's Garden, the Bottle Shop, Living Waters Massage, or Occasionette...
• Or a picture of something that represents the business or service - a Bennett Compost bucket, a car from Enterprise CarShare or Zipcar or Uber, a Wash Cycle bike whizzing by (or a picture of yourself with one of the riders), or your dog being walked by Monster Minders...
• Or, of course, take a picture of a great meal or snack from Breezy's Cafe, Black n Brew, Grindcore House, or Lucky Old Souls (we all take pictures of our food anyway, right?)...

Share the picture on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook (and here's the important part) with the hashtag #shopsouthphilly. That way, we'll be able to search for all the pictures easily. You also should also include the name of the business. If you know the Facebook name, Twitter handle or Instagram name of the business link to that. Two of our Co-op volunteers were out last Sunday at Breezy's Cafe and snapped this picture of their great brunch on Instagram:

The Prizes

Each week we'll pick one picture to win a great bunch of prizes that includes... wait for it... a South Philly Food Co-op coffee mug, all packaged in a cool little canvas South Philly Food Co-op bag from Occasionette.

On Monday, December 30th, we'll post all six weekly winners plus a few of our other favorites on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and let everyone vote with their Likes, Hearts, Retweets, Stars, Comments and whatever else constitutes some kind of engagement with the picture. The highest vote getter by midnight on Sunday, January 5th will get our Grand Prize... which has yet to be determined but will be awesome.

This holiday season, whether you're out shopping for gifts, taking some time to go out and have some fun, or looking to use services from car sharing to composting, dog walking to baby birthing, please consider on of the businesses that have been supporting the South Philly Food Co-op. And if you're not a member-owner of the Co-op yet, consider joining to take advantage of these great offers.

On November 18th... let the #SHOPSOUTHPHILLY picture taking BEGIN!

Connect with us:

Instagram: @southphillyfoodcoop

Facebook: South Philly Food Co-op

Twitter: @spfoodcoop