According to the dictionary, the word sustenance means “a supplying or being supplied with the necessaries of life.” At Prairie Food Co-op Community Grocery, in Lombard, sustenance is also a mindset. “The nice thing about food co-ops is that feeding the community can have a deeper meaning,” says Gabriel Smith, the co-op’s CEO and general manager.
As DuPage County’s first community-owned grocery store, Prairie Food Co-op carries hundreds of local products ranging from fresh produce to pasture-raised dairy, eggs and meats, handcrafted incense and vegan personal care products. Everything on the shelves is free of artificial dyes, flavors, preservatives, hydrogenated oils or GMOs. “Our major distributors are also cooperative or employee owned and share our commitment to creating a better food system rooted in sustainability and putting people and our planet first,” says marketing manager Cece Stronach, who adds, “We operate with high quality, transparency and community at the core of everything we do.”
A strong alliance with Down at the Farms and Cooperative Partners Warehouse enables the co-op to offer the region’s freshest bounty according to seasonal rhythms: sweet strawberries and tender purple asparagus in spring, colorful heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers and eggplants during summer and varieties of apples, pears and squash in fall. The co-op also contributes to Lombard’s food security by partnering with Outreach House, a nonprofit resource for individuals and families in need of community support.
Prairie Food Co-op is owned by more than 2,600 customers and community members that have invested in the business, and the store is governed by a democratically elected board of directors and operated by paid staff. One does not need to be a member to shop at the store, and “every dollar spent fuels local economy,” says Stronach, who has been delighted to see many cooperative grocery stores popping up in the Chicagoland area over the past few decades. She muses, “I’m very excited to be part of the larger movement building a healthier and stronger local food system here in DuPage County.”
The store keeps an extensive stock of Frontier Co-op herbs and other bulk items from trusted brands like Bob’s Red Mill, Lotus Foods and Lundberg Family Farms. Stronach notes, “My personal favorite bulk items are cardamom pods for making coffee syrup, hibiscus and dandelion root for summer herbal iced teas, and mung beans for sprouting or cooking in stews and curries.”
Smith, despite being partial to their scrumptious chocolate-covered pretzels, also favors their full spectrum of herbs and spices. “It allows for a lot of creativity and exploration since you can buy as much or as little as you need if you want to try a new recipe or explore a new cuisine,” he says. He references Prairie Food Co-op’s variety of dried beans and lentils that offer more cost-effective, flavorful nutrition, adding, “Buying in bulk also saves money so you can add something fun to dinner like a bottle of wine or some dessert.”
Prairie Food Co-op’s weekly and bimonthly deals offer reduced prices on produce and more than 300 grocery items like dairy, snacks and other pantry staples. Although membership is not required, becoming an owner with a one-time investment of $200 provides multiple benefits, including participation in board elections, the opportunity to serve on the board of directors and special discounts on select items each month.
As marketing manager, Stronach’s passion is creating a community hub for workshops, classes and gatherings “that give our community the opportunity for exchanging ideas, learning new skills and overall building connections with each other.” Over the past year, their inspiring events have included an Indigenous Oaxacan culinary experience, a beginner glass fusion workshop, free craft activities for kids and mahjong classes.
Tending to the nourishment of others—body and spirit—has its challenging days, but the collective team at Prairie Food Co-op retains unwavering enthusiasm, thanks to an invaluable sense of community. For Stronach, her fulfillment begins and ends with wonder, and her approach to life is reflected in her inspiring words: “Show up every day with curiosity. Practicing curiosity brings so many opportunities for expansion in our understanding and sense of connectedness.”
Prairie Food Co-op Community Grocery is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and is located at 837 S. Westmore-Meyers Rd., in Lombard. For more information, call 630-339-2818 or visit PrairieFood.Coop.
Marlaina Donato is an author, visionary painter and composer. Connect at WildflowersAndWoodSmoke.com.
