When question-asker Kate Phillips moved to Vermont, she was surprised to find three different food co-ops within driving range of her place. She then received a notice from her new electric company – yet another co-op. So, she started to wonder: What is the history of co-ops in Vermont? Why are they so successful here?

VPR reporter (and former co-op manager) Howard Weiss-Tisman visits the oldest food co-op in the country and digs into the Vermont Historical Society archives to get to the bottom of Vermont's co-op boom.

Check photos from our reporting here.

Mentioned in the episode:

“Everyone Welcome? Personal Narratives about Race and Food Co-ops” (from Columinate)
The Rochdale Pioneers (from the International Cooperative Alliance)
The Co-op Movement, 1919 (from the Vermont Historical Society)
“Turning on the Lights: Electricity Comes to Rural Vermont, 1943” (from the Vermont Historical Society)

This episode was reported by Howard Weiss-Tisman and produced by Josh Crane. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane. Editing and digital production by Angela Evancie and Myra Flynn. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to Alex Burns, Regina Thompson and Elise Graeves and Kate Phillips.

As always, our journalism is better when you’re a part of it:

Ask a question about Vermont
Vote on which question we should answer next
Sign up for the BLS newsletter
Say hi on Twitter, Instagram and reddit @bravestatevt
Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org
Make a gift to support people-powered journalism
Tell your friends about the show!

Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public Radio.

bravelittlestate.org

Why are Vermont co-ops so successful?