People's Food Co-op

Appreciate the location of this co op & their selections. I’ve always found what I need here. Employees could use more customer service classes and training—some not on par.

Good vibes and often have nice discounts: yogurt 2 for $7, organic eggs for $4, blueberries for $3. The jams are always good, too! But I have to complain: the fruits are not always fresh, especially I bought a bad plum and a bad peach who have been out there for a long time although I picked very carefully…

I think it has a good variety of food. The pricing is okay, sometimes you can find amazing deals!

Great store. Lots of healthy and natural options. They sell whole milk and you get $2 off your order if you return the glass bottle. I recommend.

I lived around Kerry town and this is always the placebo for nice grocery and equal traded coffee.

Good grocery store in Kerry Town Ann Arbor Michigan

Love the PFC! My husband swears the salad bar is the freshest and best in town. Our daughters beg for PFC chicken from the hot bar anytime we are anywhere near the Food Coop. They have hands down the largest selection of locally sourced produce, grocery items, and any other items of any grocery store in AA. I've worked at a number of them, including the PFC, and PFC has the biggest commitment to the community food network. Also, they have very high standards for what they will sell. The produce is always high quality, fresh, never withered and moldy (as I have found at some other local grocery stores). Also have great food on the grab and go deli, very good all allergen free chocolate cake, and great coffee. Our family just loves this store. There was a period where there seemed to be a lot of not so friendly cashiers and staff - but it seems to have gotten much better in the last year or two and the quality of customer service has gone back up. Wish it were bigger with better parking - would make it much easier to shop there with little kids. But we still make the effort to get there every week or two.

Organic Tea And Coffee. All reasonably priced. Have a cooler section with lots of organic cold drinks. Nice cupcakes ,

I'm always amazed that I can find everything on my grocery list for upcoming family dinners and still be shopping in a right-sized, people- friendly grocery store! Great to find local vendors being featured in the Grab N Go section. Best of all, this is a community-owned cooperative with sustainability as a core value.

SUCH AN AMAZING SPACE!!!! I am so grateful to have the choice to boycott big business like Whole Foods, Kroger, Target and others and have the opportunity to shop here instead. It's been on my list of things to do for a while and now I am proud to have finally come here. The vibe is comforting, just small enough and tastefully jam packed with many incredible options. The dry goods made me lose my mind, not only everything you need from nuts to grains and beans but a whole wall of an herbalists dream and a tea lovers necessity. Even cooking spices and some sacred saps to burn for spiritual cleansing and rituals. Phenomenal staff, everyone looks happy! Really really grateful to have this space open in down town.

Part grocery, part take out, part coffee shop, but a whole lot of awesome. There's a lot to like here. Bulk foods, organic and veg/vegan/eco friendly products and groceries, and tons of grab and go and hot bar options if you're not the cooking type (or don't have the time/energy to cook) so you can still have a healthy, pseudo-home cooked meal. The coffee shop in the front of the co-op is excellent. I've definitely set up here more than a few times with my laptop to get some work done while sipping a delicious latte and snacking on a tasty vegan baked good. Staff is so friendly and the wifi is solid. Parking in the area (since it's in Kerrytown) can get dicey but there are a few lots nearby and there's street parking which ebbs and flows depending on the day of the week and time of day. But if you can grab a street spot right near by you're in luck!

Great spot to get a quick lunch or coffee! They offer up so many vegetarian and vegan options from their salad bar, hot bar, soups and grab'n'go case. I recently tried one of their pre-made wraps: a vegan egg salad made with tofu, curry and vegetables. It was so delicious. They also have a ton of vegan desserts available, some even in their pastry case. I tried a vegan macaron and it was excellent. Their African peanut soup is a very popular item on their soup bar. Their hot bar will almost always have some kind of vegan option, grilled or bbq chicken and tons of greens and veggies. They also have some rotating indian items on their hot bar menu. Prices are a little more than you'd expect, but it's a co-op and it's fresh ingredients so I can feel good about what I'm eating!

Extremely overpriced! Maybe it's because it's Ann Arbor, but the prices were EXTREME!

I guess I just don't get the hype. The staff is overworked and cranky, the selection is not great, and every time I've shopped here, I have found the selection to be 80% or more generic, non-local products, and still very limited selection at that. For example, the vast majority of the produce, eggs, and meat do not appear to be local at all. I could probably get the same variety of local/organic ingredients at a Kroger these days. Also, in COVID, their hot food bar is closed (as it should be), but they are not enforcing aisle directions(?) resulting in crowding. Compare this to Argus Farm Stop, for example (where you don't need a membership, also) and it really pales in comparison. Argus has a huge freezer of all meat, egg, and fish varieties, as well as a decent produce section, that proudly display which local farm they come from. The coop's meat selection is tiny. Why does it seem that the coop is unable to source from these same local farms and businesses to the same extent? As a result, I'm driving to Argus to get tons of items I can't get at the coop (which is much closer). The coop can do better. Also, on my last visit the produce section was overwhelmed by bad produce that clearly isn't local (bananas, mangos...) and I couldn't find basics like spinach, or decent tomatoes. The produce I did pick out, the cashier at the counter told me he couldn't sell to me because it wasn't "good" (okay...) Anyway, although I live close I will probably spend my money at Argus, Sparrow, and the farmer's market. Pretty disappointing.

One of my favorite places in A2 to grab a coffee or a quick lunch. It's a bit expensive, but with the salad/soup bar, you can get as much or as little food as you want and it'll be decently priced. The salad bar always has great healthy options, and everything is fresh and tasty. Try the West African Peanut Soup if they have it or the peanut noodles (they're in the prepared food refrigerated case). The tempeh reuben is my favorite of all favorites though. They also make juice, smoothies, and have great pastries.

My plane landed in Detroit and I was hungry. What else is new? Mariah suggested we grab a quick bite to eat the People Food Co-op. We hit up the hot bar and there were a few options to choose from. While the soup was a bit tempting, I decided on a frittata and the home fries instead. I filled up a small container, while Mariah filled her container up with a rich (and delish) looking pasta. A few minutes and $5 (total!) later we were munching away. Not the best frittata and home fries I've ever had, but pretty good...and especially for that price.

I dread when circumstances lead me to shop here. Every time I've bought produce from this store, the cashier asks whether an item is local/organic/conventional, and no matter what the answer, I get rung up for whatever's most expensive. Seriously, why do they bother asking? Last night, I had to pick up a pint of half and half on the way to a friend's house and got stuck behind a long, unnecessary conversation between the cashier and a friend of his who was checking out fewer than 10 items. Even after the customer had finished bagging, he lingered to talk for a few minutes, and the cashier didn't even acknowledge that I was just standing there waiting to check out ONE STUPID ITEM so I could get on my way. I hate shopping here, and I hate giving any of my money to this place. You have no idea how elated I was to discover By the Pound (on South Main) sold spices in bulk (and for cheaper), so I would not have to get spices from the Co-op.

I love that People's Food Co-op has a great selection of cheeses! I come here mainly for this. I still have to go to the Kroger's on Plymouth to get my smoked peppercorn gouda & sesame entertainment crackers, but their other cheeses are great! I love love the cambozola that they carry. I also really like the fact that they sell the cheeses in smaller quantities so it doesn't get too expensive if you want to sample the variety of cheeses that they have or set up a romantic wine & cheese date for your significant other. In addition to the cambozola, the Bo and I have tried different types of brie, gouda, & cheddar. I have had their peanut noodles & caprese salad, and both were okay. $5-6 for a decent portion, but I wouldn't get it again. The vegan chocolate cakes and cookies are pretty good too. But if you like cheese, then you need to come here & try all them!

Happily hippie, organic grocery, socially responsible and a little disorganized --- but watch out for conventional produce shipped in from South America just two bins over from the local-organic stuff. I love the bulk selection, especially the peanut butter, coffee, and Dr. Bronner's soap. I certainly won't get the "Vanilla Energy Nuggets" again. The Bulk Tuesday sale is a nice bonus, but not serious enough to set my shopping schedule. I like that they offer free bananas to shoppers under 12. I enjoy their small but well-chosen beer selection. I'm happy to deal with the constant flow of slightly-lost hippie (or hipster) trainees at the checkout. The biggest downside for me is the confusion around their non-organic produce. I'm fine with them stocking conventional and far-away-imported produce --- but sometimes it's mixed too freely with the fancy stuff, and there doesn't seem to be a system for the cashier to know which cabbage is conventional and which is organic for a dollar more. Virtually every visit, I get asked "Is this organic?" Hm, shouldn't there be a sticker or label to tell you? I'm usually there for groceries; the attached cafe is pleasant but full of loud, slow-paced conversations; the hot-food buffet might grab me if I worked nearby but I don't. There's virtually always someone selling _Groundcover_ (Ann Arbor's version of The Big Issue) outside the front door --- they know the clientele. Bike parking is great in the summer (there's a car-sized bike rack taking up a parking space) and plenty for the smaller winter crew. Car parking is... poor. I've never driven to go shopping here, the streets and nearby lots are pretty heavily used.

Their social distancing is good. I've been coming for year bc of their bulk section. I also appreciate their sourcing of produce.

My new love: Their bulk bins. The chocolate covered expresso beans feature fresh, whole beans and dark chocolate. I've also picked up just the right amount of dried unsweetened coconut flakes, oats, and icing sugar for various recipes. Perfect to go with a no-waste lifestyle for this infrequent baker. I've also noticed they are very good about tare-ing the weight of things - so don't have any qualms about using their heavy, quality paper bag for your small bulk buys. Skip the plastic!

Let me just tell you all they have the BEST house salad dressing at their food bar! Naturally as with all food by the pound bars like Whole Foods or at Lucky's Market they're a splash overpriced especially if it's just for salad. But they can't help it really that's just the norm. So aside from that the market is great for certain items and the hot bar is my weekly go to for lunch. If you're in the area check it out!

GENERAL: The point of the co-op is to pool resources and promote community through local living. HIGH PRICES & BARGAINS SIDE-BY-SIDE: Just like any other store there will be those who say it's expensive and those who say there are bargains to be found. I say both are true. Could I go to Whole Foods and get most of this stuff? Yes, about 75-80% of what is sold there is sold in Whole Foods, but some things are not. When you shop by sales and use the coupons you get as a member, you can certainly find some Great bargains weekly. What I love best is that I'm shopping within my community, I can walk there, I can take a bus near there, I can bike there. Parking is pretty good, especially on weekends (and weekday nights) when both lots are open nearby. Park free after 6. CONS: They need to stock more Michigan and more local produce. They need to stock more local items period. The fuels used to transport all this food from Mexico, Cali, and other parts of the world defeats the purpose of the co-op. More local stuff. Also- whoever told them to start using plastic bags should be canned. No deposits back on bottles. (Just recycle them kids, sorry) KUDOS: Sales. When they have sales on certain items (and they do all the time) the sales are Good. You can get Annie's dressings on a "2-For" price, bags of chips for cheap, cereals, etc... Their dry goods section, while it could be expanded, is pretty sweet, and the prices are CHEAPER than Whole Foods, while dry items are often from Michigan. You can bring back your corn-based plastic containers from the dry goods to be composted. They sell fabric bags as most places do for shopping, and overall for a very small space, their place does good. Cheese selection is excellent for most of it being local. Sure, there are imports, but the local cheeses are extremely reasonably priced. WORDS OF ADVICE: If you expect to walk into this place and see something equal to Whole Foods, forget it. The sheer square footage does not allow for that. I like the Co-op better than Whole Foods. As far as price- you get what you pay for and you need to be a savvy shopper no matter where you shop, not just at the co-op. If you are really penny pinching, then go to the A2 Farmers Market on Sat. mornings or go to the dollar store in your area. What more can I say. Or, buy a block of cheap cheese at the co-op. I_heart_the_co-op.

I have to cop to something. I feel guilty each time I check out and I'm asked if I have a member number. I don't. I'm not a member. I have no logical idea why this makes me feel sheepish. Weird, huh? It's honestly not that the staff are judging me, it's really just some sort of latent passed-down child-of-an-ex-Catholic guilt or something! I am grateful, however, that anyone can shop here, member or not, because it's a solid food resource, within easy walking distance of my house. Though I can find plenty of items at Sparrow, Knight's and the Farmers Market, there are still plenty of goodies -- particularly certain juices, bulk foods, supplements and veggie-friendly items -- that are best found (at least within walking distance) at the Co-op. Overall, it's not cheap here, so it's probably not going to be your only stop for groceries. However, there is an extra a pretty decent hot food bar, which is a quick and (relatively) inexpensive way to sate your hunger without resorting to fast food or overly indulgent giant restaurant portions.

I don't even understand why this place only the 3.5 stars. It's a jewel of the Kerrytown community. I love shopping here because it's a few steps away from my house and they have everything I need. Are they a little pricey? Yes but they are ethical and pay their employees well and give them great benefits. That's what shopping at a place like this is all about. The customer service is superb and they have a prepared food section. Who need Whole Foods? There's grocery, beauty products, wines, etc. I love how they have so many products that are local and from Michigan. It's amazing buying things so close to the source. Also their Dr. Bronners and Giovanni products are cheaper than in other stores. They also have beauty samples from local vendors for you to sample and purchase. Try this place, you won't regret it.

The person who stated that the co-op "takes care of their workers" is unfortunately, woefully mistaken. Unless you are in upper management it is virtually impossible to get health insurance, raises for employees are very weak (a max of $0.30 per year), and avenues for workers to take issues up with management are lined with roadblocks galore. This is a members co-op NOT a worker's co-op, that is for sure. If you are a member or shop here frequently just bear the above in mind when you come into the store. The co-op talks a big game but doesn't really back it up, especially regarding the rights and livelihood of their own staff. Having said all of that it is a great little store & you should shop here. But if you do I encourage you to just say thanks to the workers once in a while and STRONGLY encourage you (ESPECIALLY YOU MEMBERS!) to email the board and the GM and ask them to take concrete steps to ensure that there are mechanisms and incentives offered (i.e.. fair market raises, health insurance for HOURLY employees as well) that encourage workers to make a long term commitment to the PFC.

I really, really want to like the food co-op. I want to like it for a lot of reasons. I live down the street, I don't drive, I don't eat industrially produced meats, I like supporting local businesses and many more modern hippie/yuppie reasons. You'll notice that despite the myriad pluses the co-op offers, I still scored it as a 1. Here's why, friends. The people who work at the co-op have to be the rudest, least enthusiastic people alive. It's not just the way they treat non-members either, they treat everyone like it's a bother to ring them up. Oh, I'm sorry, were you napping? Could I bother you to sell me some free-range eggs at an obscene mark-up? It's not just one person either, it appears to be the culture there. Like I said, I don't drive, so I actually shop there rather a lot and it's a bad experience every time. Secondly, as I previously eluded to, the mark-up at the co-op is outrageous. I'm not sure why it's necessary, but it's the case. So, if you're looking to satisfy all the yearnings of a modern-day hippie/yuppie/Ann Arborite try a combination of Sparrow Market (literally down the street from the co-op) and the Ann Arbor farmer's market. You'll save money and not leave with the feeling that you're somehow being scolded.

Oooooh, People's Food Coop. You're like the essence of Ann Arbor encapsulated in one store - overpriced, not that great and with really surly staff members. I do come here because they sell Gurnsey hormone-free milk for about 40 cents cheaper than the grocery stores in town, But for some reason their milk is always a few days older than the grocery stores'. The last time I bought a gallon here that shit smelled old and gross the day I bought it, and the expiration date was still a good week away. They did give us our money back, which was shocking considering just how unfriendly they are all the time.

It is impossible for me to be a one-stop shopper. No ONE place has everything I want or need. However, between the Co-op and Sparrow, I have 80% of my foodstuffs accounted for. I ADORE being able to stop here on my way home (on foot, thenk you) to pick up a few items for dinner or tomorrow's lunch. I can always find fresh local produce (in season). One of the main reasons I'm a regular. Well...that plus their late hours and proximity to my domicile. Their bulk section is prodigious, and a lot cheaper than Whole Paycheck. Of course, a lot of other items are not. That's the (ahem) price you pay for frequenting a locally owned cooperative as opposed to a corporate chain. Not a big fan of the hot bar. It's stocked with items that someone with memories of the first Hash Bash would find palatable. But, as a local market, I am a fan. Yay!

This place is handy, delightful, and a co-op open to all. Came here for bottled waters, ended up leaving with handmade soaps, a bag of chips, and Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars. So melty and so good. Also, oddly, but fascinatingly, they sell Diva Cups on the shelf. Kind of amazing, if you're in the know...

If you live in or around downtown Ann Arbor, the People's Food Co-op is an indispensable resource. You can find any grocery item that you need there, though it may be the ridiculously overpriced organic version that you don't really want. Like most food co-ops and health food stores, it isn't where you want to do all or even most of your shopping if you care at all about thrift. But for a co-op of it's size, it is remarkably well-stocked. Highlights include a vast bulk foods section (including dried herbs, spices, grains, beans, cereal, pasta, peanut butter, olive oil, vinegars and a fab selection of reasonably priced bulk olives), a large produce section with plenty of organic and conventional items, and - my favorite feature of all - little chunks of really amazing cheese, cut the perfect size for those who live alone. Seriously, when I lived alone I subsisted mainly upon frozen Pilar's tamales, Provencal olives and little hunks of cheese, all of which I purchased from the PFC. Lowlights include a tiny selection of meats (don't bother, just walk over to Sparrow's in the Kerrytown Markets) and a kind of uptight atmosphere. This is the heart of that moneyed "liberal" bubble known as Ann Arbor. Enter at your own risk, but if you have to be there, the PFC can serve your needs.

In all honesty the products are quite nice, but no moreso than Whole Foods or Plum Market, and the prices are similar or higher at this Co-op. I will say I liked the bulk vinegar, peanut butter, and oil section in back. That said, while I liked the product, the service was aloof to say the least - especially compared with the ever-present smiles at WF. While it is definitely nice to support local business, really, would it be that difficult to smile? Great selection - rude and uninterested service - we'll split the difference and go with 3 stars.

YUMMMM...Co-op is great!! You walk in and there are tons of groceries and amazing array of spices, grains, and etc. The other half that is not groceries has a hot/cold bar where they charge you by weight. The cashier area also has baked goods . A good amount of fresh produce, grocery items (raw and prewrapped shipped in), household supplies (not that many), coffee (fair traded), chocolates, grains, etc. Cafe verde: Coffee shop area where you can sit and eat your food, meet up with people, or drink ur office of course.

After securing our first apartment in Ann Arbor last summer, we spent some time wandering around downtown, where I literally leapt for joy at the sight of a co-op. Things in bulk! Shabbily dressed hippie staffers! Local produce! In my mind, I was fast-forwarding to many trips to the co-op after the farmers' market, to sustaining a local business with our exclusive grocery shopping, etc etc etc. Now that we've lived here almost a year, my wild fantasies of crunchy co-op life have been tamed a bit. I really like that you don't have to be a member to shop at the co-op, and I don't feel like I've ever received the rude non-member treatment that other reviewers have mentioned. I like that the co-op has a good selection of bulk dry goods, grains, pasta, cereal, and herbs, and that I can buy just one block of tofu or feta from the bulk cooler if I'd like. I appreciate that the produce is clearly labeled as local, organic, and/or conventional. Some items at the co-op are competitively priced (Guernsey dairy, tempeh), and occasionally they'll have good sale prices on packaged food. Most of the time, though, the prices are comparable with - if not more expensive than - any other supermarket in town, except with a smaller selection. As a former vegetarian, I appreciate the emphasis on vegetarian/vegan products, but as a FORMER vegetarian, I wish more (ethically produced, grass-fed humanely slaughtered, etc) meat were available. I feel strongly about keeping my money in the community as much as possible, and would like to support the co-op more than I do. It's just that when I do try to do my shopping there, I find I almost always have to make a second stop - and if that's the case, I might as well just go to Plum Market, which is more convenient for me and also Michigan-owned.

I wasn't really that impressed. Maybe I had built my hopes up too high before entering on what I thought a healthy, quality food market with unique/specialty items should be. Maybe that's my fault. I just didn't see much here that I couldn't get somewhere else nearby. If I want produce, why not just wait to get it at the farmers market on the weekend? Other than that, sparrow market and babo cover most of my other needs. Not a bad market at all, but with all the options around it that provide more, I just don't see myself coming back.

I couldn't be happier to live within walking distance of the Co-op! They have all of the basics reasonably priced, a great selection of bulk foods, spices and oils, and a very nice produce section. I love that they have a salad and hot bar as well as prepared meals to go. Have you checked out their website? http://www.peoplesfood.coop/ How great to see the Cafe Verde menu planned out for the month. With the Sparrow Market and Farmer's Market so close by, all of my grocery needs are fulfilled and in walking distance!

People who come here expecting to do all their grocery shopping are kind of missing the point. PFC is a great place to buy bulk items, specialty items, and organic produce. Not all the prices are the best, but some of them are fairly good, especially on bulk items. I come here for: 1. Bulk spices - they carry a good selection of Frontier organic and conventional spices, plus tea and medicinal herbs. 2. Other bulk stuff - the selection is better than Whole Foods. 3. Natural personal care products - again, the selection is very good. 4. Local products - a surprising number of products are sourced locally. I've gotten baked tofu, corn tortillas, and yogurt that have all been produced locally. If you want one stop shopping, go to Kroger. If you want high quality local, organic, or natural foods, come here.

I've rarely bought groceries here, because I was poor when I lived in Ann Arbor and the groceries are expensive. However, the salad bar and the hot bar are wonderful. I used to go here at least once a week and fill up a to go box from the hot bar for a cheap, easy, fast dinner that consisted of real, warm, healthy, delicious food. My favorite things from the hot bar are the kale, the black beans, and the brown rice. YUM!

Like most anything in Ann Arb, the co-op prices tend towards a tad higher than normal. It's fairly clean and well-organized. The staff here tends towards laid-back hippie types. Good luck getting help finding anything! Vague directions to an aisle at best. The cafe items and hot bar here are, well, not so hot. Nothing here particularly flavorful and most are mediocre. Spending grocery dollars at any co-op feels better than at some soulless corporate grocery chain. For those with cars and/or the time, the co-op in Ypsi is way cheaper. Right in front of People's is a hot panhandling spot. When a stranger says "hey", I like to respond by asking them for a dollar before they can ask me. Some look confused, some laugh.

people's food co-op gets 2 stars for being the only grocery store within a 1.5 mile walking radius of central campus with fresh fruit and veggies. (isn't that sad?) i tried everywhere: campus corner, blue front, VC, white's market, for a little fruit and veggie action. NOTHING! so then i did a little googleing and yelping and found the people's food co-op. i walked over in the 95 degree weather and was extremely disappointed. the selection both produce and other food wise was dismal (i mean cmon it's summer in michigan! at least some nectarines, tomatoes, healthy looking squash, but nope). i did end up with 3 apples and 4 bananas for nearly $5! i felt like i was at whole foods with a crappier salad bar and prepared food case. overall overpriced, small selection, and definitely disappointing after a 3 mile round trip walk on a hot day. the things i'll do for some fruit!

The PFC is something I am proud of. I love that Ann Arbor has it, I am happy to be a member, and I feel great walking around in there. I just don't buy very much from them. And since moving away from Kerrytown a few years ago, I've barely been back. Here's how it breaks down for me. They have a nice produce selection now, but it's expensive. They have a pretty extensive by-the-pound option, but it's largely stuff I don't eat. They have a sweet coffee shop next door, but it tends to be too crowded. So while I love this place, I tend to find myself heading out to Trader Joe's or Hiller's. Still, the PFC is doing good things. They have lots of prepared foods that seem healthy and are definitely tasty. They have nice little treats like small cuts of cheese that you can buy and eat with your lunch. I love that you can get by-the-pound spices, tea, honey, feta, and peanut butter here. I guess I just wish they were cheaper.

First of all, I am a regular customer. Every sunday, I go to the food co-op to buy pretty much the same range of items: fruit and veggies, milk and eggs, cheese, bread, coffee beans, plus something from their pre-packaged read food selection that looks good, mostly some chicken or pasta salad. This past Sunday was just the same, only that this time both me and my boyfriend got the WORST food poisoning ever from their chicken salad-- taco lime something chicken salad with mayo, vinegar etc. I am not exaggerating. It lasted the entire night, and we both could not go to work on Monday. I have had food poisoning before, this was by far the most terrible experience. We were so dehydrated that it caused some of the heaviest headaches ever, while even one sip of water was enough to make us nauseated. Here is the thing: I bought the salad on May 8; it was packed on May 4 but the package said it could be sold till the 8th. Yet, clearly, they should not be selling chicken w mayo for four days. I feel so disappointed. I like food co-op, and I will not stop shopping from here entirely, but they should be very careful with their ready-made food-- please do not sell anything w mayo after the second day!!!! We are two healthy adults, so we got through it, although only after lying in bed for 2 days straight without being able to hold anything in our stomach but some crackers and banana. However, someone with a health condition, someone weak, young, or old would have ended up in hospital (my mother has diabetes, for instance, I cannot even imagine how hard this experience would have been on her). Unlike some other reviewers, I never cared about whether their staff is friendly, or not. My day and happiness are not tied to my cashier smiling back at me, plus she/he does not have to anyway. But they have a responsibility to sell fresh product and take them off the shelves BEFORE they get old, not after!!!!!!!

I love the Co-op! It is nice and clean and I can always get help when I'm looking for something. I tend to stock up on prepared foods elsewhere (cans of soup, etc), but rely on The People's Food Co-op for produce, spices, and grains. The prices on those items are great. If you are looking for junk food or cheap processed food, you'll have to go elsewhere; but if you like to cook and know your veggies and grains, you'll be happy at the co-op. On a related note, can I just say how awful the spices at big chain grocery stores are? They are appallingly bland and so much more expensive. Seriously, buy a tablespoon of cinnamon next time you are at the People's Food Co-op (or Arbor Farms). You'll love it.

I love the co-op, the volunteer staff is friendly and helpful; what I )sometimes) have to deal with in cluelessness they make up for in willingness. The salad bar, produce, and selection of dry goods and supplements is wonderful. The only difficulty I ever have is how expensive it is to shop there - I'm not complaining about the prices, I know the co-op is a good cause and has an excellent impact on the community.

Salad bar. The Co-op's salad bar was a mainstay on my lunch circuit during high school at Community. They were welcoming of me and my half-bought half-from-home lunches that I'd bring in and eat either at their couple of tall tables or next door in Cafe Verde. This was wonderful and really did make me feel like a valid part of the community. Now as an adult, shopping at the Co-op is my first choice in Ann Arbor, as it's wonderfully right downtown. The bulk section is stupendous for a store their size, and though not every fruit or vegetable I could wish for is always there, that section is impressive as well. Ample, ample bike parking out front is clutch (and well-utilized!). Best of all, the connection with Cafe Verde makes grocery shopping an outing not a chore! The Co-op will always feel like home to me, even if I don't live in Ann Arbor anymore.

My good friend who lives in Ypsi recommended the co-op, and when I found myself in downtown Ann Arbor one morning with a parking space just right there, I knew I had to come in. I like co-ops, in principal and in practice, although I am not currently a member of one. This store is beautiful -organized, clean, and has a little funky (in a good way) cafe. It has Dr. Bronner's soap in bulk so you can refill your bottles instead of having to keep buying the plastic over and over (which I hate doing..) I found the prices a little high comparatively - may be attributed to the location of the store and I don't know exactly what kind of discounts that members may get here so I will reserve judgment. Anyway, it has all of the "stuff" one would look for in a store that sells healthier alternatives to supermarkets - the herbs, bulk spices and grains, (Dr. Bronners), hazelnut oil (I bought some avocado oil), natural remedies, etc. I would probably go back here if I needed something while in Ypsi or Ann Arbor - especially if I was needing to restock something. But I think it would get a little pricey (for our family) to go regularly.

I love the co-op because they have local organic milk. If you haven't had it (Calder Dairy in the glass bottles) you should. It's way better than the other organic options you usually see on the shelves in town. They sell local organic tofu in bulk, cheaper than Meijer. They sell delicious rennetless cheeses at reasonable prices. They carry our favorite taco filling, Fantastic Foods, which I have yet to find anywhere else in town. They sell local canned beans of various varieties, and they have a nice selection of ready-made hot and cold foods for the size of the store. For these reasons and more, I love the co-op. I agree that the produce is hit or miss, making it difficult to do all your shopping in one place. But they have a great selection of local foods, and you don't have to sell a kidney to shop there. PFC also treats their employees with respect, unlike some other businesses I know (I'm looking at you, Whole Foods).

Love the Co-op, even though I'm new to town. Even though the prices are a tad steep, you can always find great food at the salad/hot food bar. There's a warm community feel to the place and people are willing to help you out if you're looking for something in particular and can't find it. It feels a lot like Boulder except there's no chair massage or hourly yoga class (ha ha). My favorite part about the place is Cafe Verde, a coffee shop that's attached (and shares a cash register, too). You can camp out on your laptop and have a cup o' joe while snacking on expensive yet organic sandwiches or sweet treats.

The co-op specializes in food that is politically progressive: natural, organic, fair-trade and locally grown items. (Consequently, it's difficult to find a box of Tyson fried chicken in this store. Likewise for the half-gallon of Dryers butter-pecan ice cream.) If you happen to be looking for food that has not been produced in laboratory conditions, or in open-air sweatshops, keep in mind that you can get a lot of good, natural food at the farmer's market. But the co-op is good to have around, because they keep regular hours, have a wider selection and keep items in stock more consistently that I think the farmer's market can do. It's good to start at the farmers market and finish at the co-op, so you can get whatever you haven't found yet. There is also Whole Foods out on Washtenaw, if you don't mind buying food from a huge corporate monster.

I like co-ops, I like the type of food I find at co-ops, but this may be the best co-op I have ever been in. As I walked in the door, the smell of food goodness hit me, then in the produce department I found sunflower sprouts! i have not had sunflower sprouts since whole foods moved and gave up the good food and the smelly hippies in favor of congested parking and profits, but anyway... the PFC had sunflower sprouts and i was a very happy girl. The bulk bins were great, good prices on staples, plus education about which staples were better and why. Then on to Cafe Verde, i intended to split a huge bowl of soup with my husband, but they had brie and green apple panini (with apricot chutney) so i left a happy girl with a full belly and a relatively full wallet.

I live a block away and up until really recently, I didn't have a car, and my apartment fridge is super small (and breaks a lot). Consequently, I'm here almost every day, getting just enough food for dinner and breakfast. The coop is pretty much perfect for that, as virtually everything you need (veg, fruit, grain, protein) can be purchased by the pound. Between this and the farmer's market, I'm probably eating better than I ever have in my life. :P If you're like me (and I know I am) and can't focus enough to get work done at home, the cafe is pretty great. Coffee is $1.55 if you're staying in, and refills are only 75 cents. It can get noisy during peak lunch and dinner hours, but it has everything you need for a marathon writing/studying session.

Good place to get a bite to eat, for groceries I'm not so sure - more on that in a second. The baristas I've dealt with for the most part are friendly and make a mean hot drink. With due respect there's a bunch of hippies working there so efficiency is not what they're know for. If you want a sandwich in 1 minute go to McDonal's..... Groceries are expensive here - I usually buy only organic milk since that's what the kids get and it's actually cheaper at Kroger/Meijer. Anyway, anytime I'm in AA I try to go here and get a snack,food.... Parking is a pain - street parking and you pay... but then again if you support your local business you'll get to the local economy or so they say....

Highest quality local and organic food and great customer service. Prices are OK, not great but not exhorbitant either.

Love the laid back but bustling feel of the place. Pretty nice produce section. Wish it had more local. Helpful staff. Lovely coffee and smoothies next door at their cafe. Some of the foods items, like dairy were about to expire. But overall I enjoy shopping here and eating at the cafe.

I am SEVERELY disgusted at the discovery of ants in my recent purchase of bulk mixed nuts. I stored them in the brown paper bag provided from the store in my cupboard that approximately six feet above the ground and found a small colony crawling around my other food. I suspected the nuts because I have mostly canned goods in my cupboard and have never had problems with ants. This is a complete shock. I will never shop at the co-op again, which is quite sad considering it is a place a enjoyed a lot. I was unable to take a picture of what was inside the original bag because I was too grossed out by the situation. I'm very upset by this. Shame on you for not maintaining and cleaning your bulk food containers.

Maybe it was my fault to have late lunch. Shortly after 1pm the food did not appear to be fresh at all, the tofu felt in my mouth like chewing gum. Considering the price, I cannot rate this place with more than one star.

What I love the most is that they are REALLY good at labeling their produce for organicness. They have "organic" tags, "pesticide free," "conventional," and maybe a couple other different labelings. It really helps people like me who are very particular about this aspect of food to actually find what we are looking for. Of course, the price difference is also displayed pretty clearly, so you can very deliberately choose when to go organic or not.