4th Street Food Co-op

Food Co-ops Are Mixing Community With Stringent Safety Measures | Eater

"A member-owned, community-driven grocery that began as a buying club in 1973, operating out of a space the size of a studio apartment with two narrow aisles and bulk bins stocked with dried goods, loose teas, oils, and vinegars. Built on principles of organic, fair-trade sourcing and reuse (many members bring their own containers), the co-op has had to adapt COVID-era safety measures that reflect its cooperative governance: mandatory face coverings, a requirement to wash hands in the back bathroom on entry, biodegradable gloves provided by the store, a four-person occupancy limit, and a plexiglass barrier at the register. Because decisions are made by people who work in the shop, members actively monitor social distancing, speed up overly leisurely shopping, enforce one-shopper-per-household rules, and even give handwashing tutorials — a role that has produced everything from appreciative compliance to eye rolls, protests, and some extreme individual precautions (like customers insisting on ringing up or weighing their own items). These policies underscore a tension between communal responsibility and individual convenience, and illustrate how a small, values-driven co-op navigates safety, behavior enforcement, and member expectations during the pandemic." - Cassandra Brooklyn