Indie Grocery Stores Have the Recipe for a Better Food System
Nearly half of the $1 trillion U.S. food economy is spent at grocery stores. That gives grocers an important role in shaping not only what food people can access and afford, but also how food dollars support farmers, businesses, and local economies.
Fair Food Network’s white paper, “Indie Grocery Stores Have the Recipe for a Better Food System,” explores innovative grocery models from across the country that are finding new ways to make healthy food accessible and affordable, connect with local farmers, create good jobs, and strengthen communities.
At a time when families are facing high food prices and communities are looking for practical solutions, these independent grocers offer ideas for building a stronger, more resilient local food economy.
Explore the models
There’s no single recipe for a better grocery store. Our Indie Grocery Models Matrix maps grocers across different ownership structures and missions, from affordability and food access to supporting local farmers and creating good jobs. The matrix spotlights a few example stores, and there are many more that we hope to call attention to in future work.
Affordability
Access
Local Farmers
Good Jobs and Local Wealth
Nonprofit
Food Clubs (MI)
Rolling Grocer (NY)
Daily Table (MA)
Rolling Roots (HI) and other mobile markets
Market on the Green (OH)
The Common Good (OK)
DMG Foods (MD)
Fare and Square (PA)
Spoon Flower Grocer (TX)
The Station in (CO)
Sweet Beet Market (NH)
Roots & Harvest Market (MO)
—
Cooperative
Weaver’s Way Co-op (PA)
River Valley Co-op (MA)
Weaver Street Market (NC)
Littleton Food Coop (NH)
Park Slope Food Coop (NY)
Detroit People’s Food Co-op (MI)
Post 60 Market (NE)
Uproot Market (MI)
Dorchester Food Coop (MA)
Medford Cooperative (WI)
Walsh Community Grocery (CO)
The Wedge (MN) and Coop Warehouse Partners Network
Local Roots Wooster (OH)
Burnt Cove Market (ME)
Rainbow Grocery (CA)
—
Public
Defense Commissary Agency
Soulard Market (MO)
N.Y.C. Groceries (NY)
St. Paul Supermarket (KS)
Azalea Fresh Market (GA)St. Paul Supermarket (KS)
Azalea Fresh Market (GA)
Flint Farmers Market (MI) and other public markets
—
For-Profit
Farm Store 99 By Agric Organics (MA)
Forty Acres Fresh Market (IL)
Wright’s Market (AL)
Buche Foods (SD)
Main Street Market (MN)
Whittier Bodega (MI)
Oasis Fresh Market (OK)
Brown’s Super Stores (PA)
Argus Farm Stop (MI) and other farm stops
Chimicum Corner Farmstand (WA) and other farmstand-turned-grocery
HmongTown Market and Hmong Village (MN)
Balls Food Stores (MO)
Woodman’s Markets (WI)
Hy-vee (IA)
Harps (AR)
and other employee-owned storesBurnt Cove Market (ME)
Rainbow Grocery (CA)
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