HOULTON, Maine — The County Co-op & Farm Store Café located at 53 Main St. will open its doors for a sneak preview during the Midnight Madness event July 3.
The café features local baked goods made with whole ingredients, as well as Carrabasset coffee and tea. Carrabasset is a roasting company from Kingfield and they feature a wide selection of coffees, as well as traditional, black, green, and herbal teas.
“Our bakers are Mrs. Speicher from Smyrna and the Williams family of Aurora Mills & Farm in Linneus, and they are using whole and natural ingredients in their scrumptious pastries, many of the ingredients being locally sourced,” said Meg Scott. “We have personally sampled all of their delightful treats and can promise you that you will not be disappointed. Although July 3rd is not our official opening date, we will be reopening in late July as The County Co-op Café.”
The Co-op will eventually be a retail store featuring mostly local food, goods, and products as well as products from distributors such as Associated Buyers, Pioneer and United Natural Foods.
“It will essentially look like a natural food store, with the added perk that area farms and producers will be celebrated and marketed heavily with their products comprising the bulk of the inventory,” Scott said. “It will also feature a certified kitchen to serve local producers as well as for educational purposes.”
The anticipated opening of the full store is late fall 2014.
In addition to being a retail store, the Co-op will offer much more to the community.
“By focusing on the local food movement and selling local products, area farmers will get a boost, which keeps dollars and resources within the community,” Scott said. “Another large piece of the Co-op’s mission is to educate the local population on how to cook and prepare local, seasonal, and healthy foods. By offering local and healthy foods, which help area farmers and educating the local people, the economic and social health of the area will improve.”
Another piece of the vision is to celebrate, cultivate, and enhance our own unique culture by hosting events featuring local chefs, artists, authors, artisans, craftsmen and entertainers.
“The Co-op vision also includes being environmentally aware and responsible,” she said. “When a hub such as this is created, and builds up the historic downtown, the hope is that tourists will be more attracted to the area, bringing in more money to the community.”
The Co-op is a member owned and controlled entity, with membership fees being the primary source of capital needed to open the store. A voluntary board of directors that represent the members makes all decisions. The Co-op has been gaining members over the past year, and the past couple of months have seen a steady increase in membership.
In order to hire a manager, purchase equipment and inventory, and pay all operating costs, more members will need to be acquired. Membership consists of buying a share in the business, and if the business makes a profit, members are eligible for a patronage dividend at the end of the fiscal year. Members also receive a monthly newsletter with free recipes and announcements of events, are eligible for free cooking classes, and once the store opens, they will receive specials, discounts, and perks. A full member share is a one time only payment (no annual fees) of $200. There are payment options as well so that the full amount does not have to be paid all at once. Membership applications are available on our website at www.thecountycoop.com and can be sent to P.O. Box 1164, Houlton.
