Old Crow, Yukon's most northern town, welcomes Co-op store
'I think people are going to be very happy'
The shelves in Old Crow's new grocery store are stocked to perfection with brightly coloured cans and boxes. Shoppers at the new store are greeted by two thousand kilograms of fruit, vegetables and dairy products.
The Old Crow Co-op opens Tuesday. The store had been in the works since 2013, when the community began considering ways to replace its Northern store location, which closed six months ago.
But the new store isn't just about aesthetics. Brad Goranson with Co-op says it also gives back to the community.
"The profits can be returned to the members," Goranson says. "They have democratic control of their Co-op through election of their board of directors."
That's why Tracy Rispin, president of the the store's board of directors, decided to bring the Co-op to her community.
"I call this the Old Crow Superstore," she said. "This is the first time Old Crow has ever seen a store of this structure. It's a gift to us. I mean, just look around. It's awesome. I think people are going to be very happy."
Rispin said Nutrition North labelling on healthier items will better marked for shoppers, with discounts listed on the receipt. "The prices are all lower than what we've previously paid," she said.
Goranson said the board works with management to determine what foods will be sold.
"Every community is a little bit different but they all share the same concerns about food security, food supply and that sort of thing."
