The first time a new customer walked in and said this to us, we didn't think too much of it. None of us had seen the movie yet, but we'd seen many others about the state of food in our country. So, while we wanted to see Food, Inc., we weren't in a rush. The next day, another customer walked purposefully in the door of the co-op and up to our register.

"I've just seen Food, Inc. and I want to buy safe food. How do I become an owner of the co-op?"

Many more people walked into the co-op over the next few weeks, said they had seen this movie, bought their equity share in Common Ground, and started doing their weekly shopping at the co-op. I was picking up my son from preschool during this time when one of the teachers there rushed up to me. She said, "I just saw Food, Inc. last night, and I called my husband and my mom as soon as I got out of that movie and said, 'That's it, we have to change the way we eat!' And then I thought to myself, 'I've got to talk to Eli's mom, I've got to go over to that store she works at and start buying local food!'" Coworkers and co-op owners started sharing story after story with me about the relative who'd always scoffed at the way they ate who, after seeing this movie, started talking about how our food system needs to change and began seeking out local food.

The register staff and I started feeling like we were secretly in a testimonial ad for Food, Inc. as customers streamed in singing its praises. This movie was clearly doing a powerful job of communicating to people what is at stake if we continue to rely on a near-unregulated big ag food system. We had never had so many people new to sustainable food pouring in our doors, wanting to learn all at once about what we do and where their food comes from. And then we got an idea.

What if Common Ground sponsored a showing of Food, Inc. at the fabulous, locally-owned Art Theater in downtown Champaign? If this movie is really that good at moving folks to take action to change our food system, let's make sure as many Champaign-Urbanaites see it as possible! I asked owners what they thought of the idea and asked for feedback about it on our Facebook page. The response was a very enthusiastic thumbs up, that yes, this is something the co-op's owners would like to do for the community. I also asked our local farmers what they thought of the idea. They not only loved it, but many asked if they could attend the event and talk to the moviegoers about what they do.  And so, a plan was formed. 

Thursday, July 22nd, your co-op will be hosting a viewing of Food, Inc. in the beautiful C-U Art Theater from 6:30-8 pm. A live discussion will follow with our heroes, the local farmers who provide so much of the excellent food at our farmers' markets and at Common Ground. We'll be pre-selling tickets for the showing at Common Ground and at B. Lime, or you can get them at the theater the night of the showing. All proceeds from the event will go to Common Ground's brand new Sustainable Food Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded for the first time in 2011 to one amazing Champaign County high school student who will use his or her college experience to learn how to guide our world towards a sustainable way of eating. The cost of your ticket to the co-op's screening event is a donation of any amount to the scholarship fund.

This is going to be so much more than just a showing of Food, Inc. This movie brings the truth of industrial agriculture right to the viewer and invites them to draw their own conclusions. In choosing to trust in the intelligence and concern of their viewers, the makers of Food, Inc. have created a movie that is a real force in turning food production in America away from its destructive path. Please help us spread the word about this terrific event, and I look forward to seeing you at the C-U Art on the 22nd!

In Cooperation,

Jacqueline