Paso Robles Food Co-op celebrates Central Coast food

The Paso Robles Food Cooperative, founded by Montgomery Norton, seeks to become a hybrid of well-studied models of similar establishments around the country and, after being awarded a Seed Grant from the Food Co-op Initiative, the local co-op is well on its way to becoming a reality.

Seasoned in both culinary arts and community organizing, Norton received his master’s degree in Urban Planning from UC Irvine, spent years working and studying at the esteemed Esalen Institute in Big Sur, lived and traveled around Europe and completed a two year stint in Napa Valley. He’s able to localize his worldview and sees the North County as a perfect place for a food cooperative.

“When I first moved here, I was already aware of the incredible abundance and diversity of food grown and produced on the Central Coast and the rich agricultural history,” Norton said. “Living in working downtown (Paso Robles), it was immediately apparent the difficulty in acquiring access to local food.”  

The current model of the corporate natural foods industry, according to Norton, has driven prices up and made it prohibitive for many families to afford healthy, organic, sustainably-grown and raised products.  

“A food cooperative, which is a locally-owned business, provides a stable market for local farmers and food producers,” Norton said, “and its goal is to create a community space focused on improving the local food system through access and affordability.”

Now, with the Paso Food Co-op being awarded a highly competitive Seed Grant from the Food Co-op Initiative (FCI), its members are even more committed to seeing their vision come to fruition. The local co-op was allotted $10,000 in matching funds from the FCI to further develop its member-owned grocery store and community center. One of only 10 co-ops chosen from 38 applicants, Paso Robles was the only one chosen from the West Coast and was among the youngest cooperative organizations to have ever been awarded a seed grant. 

A food cooperative is, essentially, a space where members of the community have the opportunity to own a share in a store, through a yearly membership, and all interested parties may sell their foods and goods. Open to non-members as well, it serves as a nucleus for those without an outlet to sell items they otherwise could not. 

Following months of research, a public event to introduce the community to the concept of a food co-op in Paso Robles to the community took place. As a result, a volunteer Steering Committee was formed.

“We are now in the first phase of development, where we are creating the organizational foundation for the project,” Norton said. “From there, we will move into feasibility analysis and business planning followed by implementation, construction, and opening of the store. We are also developing a fundraising campaign through crowd-funding and local, community events.  This money will go to pay for administrative costs, beginning marketing materials, hosting further events, hiring a project manager, our feasibility/market study, and business plan.”

As plans for the co-op continue to develop, the end goal of a proper brick and mortar facility is slated to be a hub not only those looking to purchase food, but also as a space to strengthen the community. 

“In addition to access and affordability, the Paso Food Co-op seeks to benefit the community through strengthening local agriculture and the food system by providing a stable market for farmers and food producers to bring their products to the consumer,” Norton said. “Our vision is to help put Central Coast food on the map and make this area a destination for the local food experience as much as it is known for being a quality wine region.”

The co-op members have the intention to provide a variety of education-based community services – agriculture, cooking, gardening, health, food preservation/storage. In addition, the center will offer services in regards to school lunch programs, food system awareness, community resilience and sustainability, senior food and healthy-eating services as well as business and marketing services, community events, workshops and fundraisers.

“Basically, it’s a community center focused on food and interaction for a healthy lifestyle and community,” Norton said.

To get in on the ground floor of the Paso Robles Food Cooperative, email pasofoodcooperative@gmail.com.

Brandi Stansbury - local writer and photographer