compiled by Pat Ellis
1984
March: New Products are introduced at the store: coffee (including fresh roasted beans from the Daily Grind), masa for tortilla making, skimmed milk, Brown Cow coffee yogurt, herbed Havarti, and grated parmesan.
April: The manager’s salary is increased to $6.00 per hour.
May: Jane Govola is the winner of the T-shirt Logo contest. The price for each shirt is $3.24 for members and $4.02 for non-members.
June: Bulk and packaged raw honey from a local apiary become available.
1985
September: An article on investments notes that Money Market Rates dropped from 10% in January to 7% in August.
December: Christmas Idea - gift certificate for a year's subscription to the Scoop on sale for $4.00/yr.
1986
January: “Notes from the Board” announces that, until further investigation, children under 14 are no longer allowed to work at the store.
May: Coop Scoop publishes its 100th issue!
June: Stoned Wheat Thins member price is 1.09/box.
Birell Non-alcoholic beer is member-priced at $2.22 a six-pack.
The Board assumes a more active role in ensuring Co-op principles are given priority even during times of rapid sales growth:
Support local small-scale farming
Emphasize bulk foods and avoid over-packaging
Consideration of environmental and social-consciousness concerns
July: Feature article is titled “Protection from Aftereffects of Chernobyl”
November: Scoop announces that Locally Grown Organic Produce is coming to the Albany area: the beginning of CSA in our area.
The Co-op’s first Contra dance is planned for November at St. Patrick’s Parish Center.
Le Chevner goat milk yogurt is introduced as a new product in the coolers.
The results of a membership survey report that “overwhelmingly, prices, quality and selection of food, and the social atmosphere at the store” are the top reasons for shopping at the Co-op.
December: Another Co-op mystery: the articles summarizing the Board meetings of July 21 and August 4 disappear.
HW celebrates the addition of shopping carts, baskets, and a bike rack.
1987
January: Co-op sales are expected to exceed $330,000 by end of the year.
The “Kosher Pizza & Falafel” restaurant dinner of Eggplant Parmesan and salad ($3.65!) is given rave reviews.
June: Members vote 50 to 13 in favor of allowing representatives to search for a new home for the Co-op to allow for future growth.
October: Looks like the first Contra dance Party went well because a second is scheduled for October 24th.
Members show up on Labor Day to help prepare for the expected Health Department re-inspection.
1988
January: Co-op adopts a formal year-round budgeting process; the first Co-op Budget Hearing is scheduled for the 18th.
March: Popcorn advice: add a little water before starting to cook the popcorn (and before heating the oil or pan). The added moisture should help the popping.
The 1988 budget includes a 65% increase in payroll due to the hiring of a third Co-Manager and pay raises for all Co-Managers.
High Peaks Base Camp advertises a special of $15.00 per person for bunk room lodging, a homemade “stick-to-your-ribs” country breakfast, and cross-country skiing and ice skating on 189 acres in the Adirondacks.
September: Bulk organic whole wheat rigatoni and linguini are introduced along with brown sweet rice and roasted buckwheat.
1989
March: 1988 Annual Report highlights that gross annual sales increased by 36.6% and payroll by 61.3% due to added staff and raises.
Member sales as a percentage of total sales is approximately 53%.
June: Members vote to adopt a new member investment policy where members are requested to purchase one share valued at $100.
The Co-op conducts its first-ever inventory by department. The overall figures indicate roughly 11-12 inventory turns/year.
September: A member labor crisis forces HW to close the store early in the afternoons for which an insufficient number show up to invest hours.