A Peek Inside The Co-op
Dorchester Food Co-op (DFC) is a community and worker owned grocery store in Boston, dedicated to making healthy food accessible and fostering economic opportunity through neighborhood engagement. With the unwavering support of our vibrant community, we're gearing up to open our doors in the coming weeks!
At Dorchester Food Co-op, we are not tied to a strict distribution chain. Our goal is to curate a diverse range of products that align with our values. We will default to local, organic, and sustainable product options, whenever possible. Ethical business practices are always a key priority. In our effort to serve the community, we hope all of our neighbors feel represented and heard as you shop at your Dorchester Food Co-op.
Here are some special features you will find inside DFC, besides the normal grocery items you would expect.
Healthy, Ready-to-Eat Options
If you need a quick and wholesome snack, we’re excited to serve ready-to-eat options. “Grab ‘n Go” will include things like rotisserie chicken, (traditional and Halal,) wraps, salads, and more. Hot and cold selections will let you choose a bite now or an easy, take-home meal for later.
The cafe and juice bar will offer healthy, ready-to-eat food options in our store. The cafe area will be a true neighborhood space, with a small seating area and bookshelves for a "leave a book, take a book" initiative. A community bulletin board will keep the neighborhood connected. It will serve freshly brewed coffee, tea drinks, pastries, baked goods, hot breakfast, lunch and refreshing juices made on-site. All of these ready-to-eat options help move us towards DFC’s mission to make healthy food options accessible to the neighborhood.
An Impressive Bulk Section
One of the most unique and exciting offerings is our bulk food and cleaning supplies. This will allow you to buy whatever quantities you want from a variety of items like grains, beans, spices, and more. Only need a small amount of rice and don’t have much storage space? Buy a small portion at a time and still take advantage of our bulk pricing so you’re not paying more for buying less.
You can use a container of your choice for the bulk bath and cleaning supplies. Reusing containers saves tons of waste while you enjoy high-quality liquids that you can customize to your preferred scent, or leave unscented. You’ll find the bulk liquids behind the counter where an employee will help you pour so you get exactly how much you want every time.
Vegan Pathway
We are proud of our vegan selection! It will be situated in a section of the store that you can access without having to travel through the meat department or non-vegan items, if you prefer not to. Upon entering the store, you’ll be in the produce department where you can grab fresh fruits and veggies. Then, you can head directly to the vegan fridges behind them, and enter the bulk section on your way to the checkout counter.
Outdoor Patio
You will have the opportunity to eat, drink, or just catch up with friends on the outdoor patio area. This space will be equipped with seating, and will also be home to a vertical, container garden on wheels. This vertical garden will be a free, community “attraction”~ growing herbs or small vegetables. It will be wheeled out during the day, where you and members of the community can come pick and sample from it. Need only a few pieces of parsley for your dinner tonight? Just pinch a few twigs on your way by!
Shop Outside!
Another component of our outdoor area will be a grocery display along the front of the store. Think big-city corner bodega! When you are in a hurry or want to visit for a quick shopping experience, our outdoor shelves are designed to be a quick stop to pick up essential items or a fresh bouquet. A cashier will be outside, making it easy to grab what you need on your way.
Look for small pop up shops in this area throughout the year. We’ll provide space for emerging brands to offer their wares on a temporary basis.
