Access to organic and health food. Learning more about local agriculture. A place to gather as a community. These are all reasons why a group of islanders have been working for months to form the Orcas Food Co-op located in the former Homegrown market.

“We basically want it to be a smaller version of the Skagit Valley Co-op,” said Lisa Byers, the co-op board president and the executive director of OPAL. “We want it to be full service, have bulk purchasing and be customer oriented.”

The member-owned co-op will provide local and organic, non-gmo food as well as other goods and services.

“The Orcas food co-op will improve islanders lives by establishing a strong local agricultural distribution network and securing a non-gmo and organic food source for our community while providing jobs and educational resources,” said Kyle Ater, owner of the Homegrown Market.

The co-op has already reached 250 founding members in the first three weeks of the membership drive.

Now that the co-op has a base of members, their next goals are to raise pledge donations and sign the building lease. The board wants to raise at least $200,000 in pledges from individuals for a loan before they sign the lease, which is projected to occur on Nov. 15. After those two pieces are completed they will begin renovations. They hope to be opening in the spring.

“Our shared vision is that the co-op will be part of the food culture on the island – not just a facility,” said Ken Katz, vice president of the board.

“It’s a community gathering place where people want to support local agriculture,” added Byers.

The co-op board plans to renovate the space and make changes to the layout before opening its doors. The space will be reconfigured, and there will be new equipment and a new deli location.

Another aspect of the co-op will be education, providing a meeting space and a link to the community to local foods and the people that create those goods.

Co-op general manager Learner Limbach said that working directly with farmers will be an important aspect of the co-op.

“We want to be partnering with farmers and other organizations county wide,” he added.

There are several ways to get involved. To become a member or volunteer, email info@orcasfoodcoop.com.  Memberships are available for purchase online at www.orcasfoodcoop.com.