Our Vision

We envision the Port Jervis Food Co-op as a full-service grocery store owned by its member-owners in Port Jervis and neighboring communities. The Co-op will offer a full selection of fresh, healthy, locally and ethically sourced foods at fair prices and will serve as a hub for collaboration and connection in downtown Port Jervis. We will be open to the public, and membership will not be required in order to shop.

Have feedback about the vision? Send us an e-mail.

Our Values

Food is an integral part of the common good, an essential element of community, culture, and of life itself. Good food strengthens communities, powers local economies, protects the environment, and helps people to thrive. We will be a local business that keeps profits in the community and values the well-being of our community, our food producers, and our planet more highly than profit.

Have feedback about the values? Send us an e-mail.

Where We Are In The Process

The Port Jervis Food Co-op is in the exciting, early phases of community development. 

This is a time of reaching-out and listening to the community. This is a time for grass-roots involvement from our future member-owners. 

This means we all have an opportunity to participate in the process of creating the grocery store we’d like to see in Port Jervis. Want to get involved in making this a reality? Join our Steering Committee or become a volunteer! 

Food Co-op Development 

Co-operative grocery stores typically develop in several phases, including organizing, assessing feasibility, and implementation. 

Right now we are in the organizing-phase of our development. This means we’re focused on:

  • Reaching out and listening to community, 

  • Building a strong group of future member-owners,

  • Building volunteer talent, 

  • Creating a shared, responsive vision. 

We are also in the early phases of evaluating the feasibility of opening a full-scale co-operative in Port Jervis. This phase will focus on:

  • Surveying and studying community shopping preferences,

  • Study of real-estate and financing options, 

  • Dialogue with potential vendors, farmers and producers, 

  • Engagement of an outside agency to process information and assess feasibility. 

To read more about how food co-ops develop and grow, check-out resources from the Food Co-op Initiative.

Who We Are

Jeremy Shannon works as a sustainable design architect, and enjoys volunteering on sustainability and resiliency projects in Port Jervis and surrounding areas. He is excited to take part in the development of a new grocery store and community hub that centers around healthy local food which supports the local ecology and economy. Jeremy was a member of the NYC Park Slope Food Co-op for many years which introduced him to the co-operative grocery model.

Almaz Zelleke is a professor of political science at NYU's global university. She has an interest in food systems, sustainability, and policies that help families and individuals meet their basic needs. Born and raised in New York City, she loves the Port Jervis area for its access to mountains, hiking trails, the Delaware River, and the produce of its local farms and foragers. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Frost Valley YMCA in the Catskills.

Alex Ginella has worked for Capstone Logistics at various food distribution sites around the country for the past ten years. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Port Jervis Transportation History Center, as well as the Tri-States Railway Preservation Society. Alex created the Visit Port Jervis and SupportJervis websites. He was a member of the Boise Co-op and is interested in bringing locally produced food to Port Jervis and creating a new community hub.

Arina Soler has always been passionate about public health. She has spent 15+ years employed as a Paramedic, holds a B.A in Sociology, and a Master’s degree in Public Health. Arina has resided in Otisville for over a decade, and believes that the crux of community exists within the foundation of knowledge, empowerment, and trust. The cultivation of these values is deeply connected to what we consume, and a food co-op is an extremely valuable way to connect communities with one another.

Janet Cusack is a consultant for Healthcare Management Solutions and was until recently the President of the Hudson Valley Healthcare Financial Management Association. She is currently the Assistant Treasurer of the Grace Episcopal Church in Middletown after having served as Treasurer for 20 years. Through Grace Church’s support of the Guild of St. Margaret, Janet has witnessed the ability of community- based organizations to help promote food stability. Janet has lived in the area since moving here in her childhood and she is excited to participate in the food co-op’s development.