FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOOD FOR CHANGE MOVIE SCREENING & FOOD COOPERATIVE EXPERT PANEL

Please join us for an informative evening consisting of the local premier screening of the new movie “Food For Change” along with a question and answer session consisting of local food cooperative experts. The event will be held at the McHenry County College Luecht Conference Center located at 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL on Tuesday March 18th, 2014 6:30 pm – 9pm and is open and free to the public.

Food For Change, a feature-length (84 min.) documentary from Home Planet Pictures, tells the story of the co-op movement in the U.S. through a combination of interviews, rare archival footage, and commentary by co-op leaders and historians.

No other film has examined the key role played by consumer-led food co-ops during the decades-long debate over profit-driven capitalism vs. locally-controlled economic enterprises. Born in the heartland, cooperatives were seen as the middle path between Wall Street and Socialism.

Filmmaker Steve Alves describes his documentary as “one part food, to two parts politics, to three parts economics.” Alves tracks the co-op movement’s quest for whole and organic foods, and the dream of sustainable food systems. The film profiles several current food co-ops that have revived neighborhoods and entire communities---right in the shadow of corporate agribusiness and national supermarket chain stores.  

“Today we’re experiencing a renaissance of American food co-ops,” says Sean Doyle, General Manager of the Seward Co-op. “These are not marginal enterprises—they are successful and dynamic businesses that are revitalizing communities across the United States. People are once again taking more control over the economic forces in their lives.”

More info about the movie can be found at www.foodforchange.coop

The McHenry County Food Cooperative’s vision is to launch a member-owned and run grocery store (food cooperative) promoting a healthy, ethical and resilient community with a full product line. We intend to strengthen local and regional food relationships by sourcing locally when feasible. Our emphasis will be on providing fairly priced natural food and products. In addition, we expect a wide range of organic choices will be available and determined by the members.

Please visit our website to sign up at various interest levels at www.mchenrycountyfoodcoop.com or email us at [email protected]com. Please also visit our Facebook page and “like” us by searching for “McHenry County Food Cooperative”.

This event is also cosponsored by the McHenry County Environmental Defenders, The Land Conservancy, Small Waters Education, McHenry County Transition Towns, and McHenry County Backyard Chickens. The event is hosted by the MCC Sustainability Center and Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute.