Campus & Community

Eat to Live Food Co-op Opens

Wednesday, October 16, 2013, By Keith Kobland

Here’s the transcription of our story:

Eat to Live Food Co-op video transcript

Interviewer: “With the snip of a ribbon, the newest grocery store on Syracuse’s Southside was officially open for business.”

Shirley Rowser, Board President: “It’s so exciting. It’s exciting, exhilarating, all of the above.”

Interviewer: “No small feat considering how few grocers there are in this part of town. For nearby residents, convenience is the key.

Shirley Rowser: “We’re within walking distance. We’re within the bus line and according to statistics, this area is mostly, the density consists of people without cars.”

Interviewer: “Shirley Rowser is the board president for the Eat to Live Food Co-op, a unique business that offers healthy food at competitive prices, with an emphasis on fresh. Fresh produce like peppers and broccoli and items that allow moms and dads to make good meals for their families.”

Joseph Bryant, Southside Community Coalition: “Most of you know we’ve been working on this project for over five years now and from three years ago from doing store-front days buying produce from the regional market selling it at retail across the street from Duncan Bright. To two years ago doing living room meetings sitting, discussing our ideas of doing the food cooperative with local residents, to now standing here having an opening for a community-owned store.”

Interviewer: “This is also a facility that has an orange flavor with the Southside Community Coalition and SU’s Southside Initiative Office playing a role.”

Shirley Rowser: “Not just the support, but the resources, the funding, everything. We really could not have done it without SU’s support.”

Interviewer: “Even the building is unique, constructed specifically to be a market where members can join and have voting rights as to the direction of the co-op, but a place where anyone can shop.”

Shirley Rowser: “The only disadvantage is that you don’t get all the discounts so we invite you to become a member, but you can shop here and we welcome everyone to come in. You can get your coffee here on the way to work. Our hours are going to be 8-6 Monday through Saturday and 10-6 on Sunday.”

Interview: “Keith Kobland, SU News.”