information from Delridge Grocery Co-op

The Delridge Grocery Cooperative will launch a ten-week summer farmstand this Thursday, July 16th. The farmstand will feature local, sustainably-grown fruits and vegetables in a festive setting from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursdays for the rest of the summer. This year (its second), the farmstand will have a new location in the parking lot of the Super 24 Food Store, at 5455 Delridge Way SW, thanks to the generosity of the Singh brothers who own the Super 24. The Little Red Hen Project has partnered with the Delridge Grocery to co-sponsor the farmstand.

Along with produce, shoppers will enjoy music from local musicians including Squirrel Butter, WB Reid & Bonnie Zahnow, Tim Wetmiller + friends, and Thaddeus Spae. The farmstand will also offer cooking demonstrations, kids’ activities, community organization tables, and possibly prepared food (organizers are still looking for a food truck to vend at the farmstand, food trucks should feel welcome to get in contact if interested!).

“Delridge Grocery will be opening soon, but, in the meantime, we're bringing back fresh and affordable food to our Delridge community at our Summer Farmstand,” said Delridge Grocery President Andrea Wilmot. “So come shop, bring a friend, and sign up to volunteer.”

The farmstand is seeking a few more volunteers to assist with running the stand. Volunteers receive on-the-job training and free produce. A sign-up form is online here. Musicians and community organizations who would like to table are also welcome to sign up online. Volunteers can also help with outreach following our public meeting this Wednesday, July 15th, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at SW Youth and Family Services, 4555 Delridge Way SW. RSVP for the meeting on Facebook.

The Delridge Grocery Cooperative has always prioritized making healthy local food affordable to all Delridge residents. The mixed-demographic neighborhood is designated by the USDA as a food desert because of its lack of grocery stores, and many residents lack access to healthy food. Support from the City of Seattle has helped enable the co-op to keep farmstand prices low. This summer, clients of the West Seattle Food Bank will be able to spend their Market Bucks on produce at the farmstand. Farmstand organizers also hope to be able to accept EBT (electronic benefit transfer; the modern version of food stamps), although it seems unlikely this will be available by the first day. Until the farmstand is able to accept EBT, EBT users will receive a 10% discount on produce at the farmstand. Leftover produce will be donated to the West Seattle Food Bank and to Cottage Grove Commons, and donations for the food bank will be accepted at the farmstand: bring non-perishable food, or buy extra food at the farmstand to donate.

Potential vendors and others with questions can contact farmstand manager and Delridge Grocery board member Ariana Taylor-Stanley at taylorstanley@gmail.com or 206.660.8958.

The full-scale co-op is projected to open within six months. Permitting for construction of the store interior will begin once our bank loan application is approved. Meanwhile, more members are needed. New members can join on the co-op’s website.

The Delridge Grocery Co-op’s mission is to grow community by providing local, sustainably grown whole foods, at affordable prices, to the residents of the Delridge area in Seattle.