New ways to get your food: food co-ops on the rise in Philadelphia

Shoppers in Philadelphia are finding there are more ways to purchase their food other than the supermarket.

Philly.com reports the number of food co-ops in the city are on the rise, with a new building in West Philadelphia set to open at the beginning of next year.

According to Philly.com, the $2.6 million structure features a demonstration kitchen on the roof and even cisterns for harvesting rainwater in the basement.  Although some of the features in the city’s latest co-op are new, the idea of food co-ops in the city is becoming more familiar.

Plans are in the works for four additional ones in other areas in and out of the city, according to the report.

Philly.com says the numbers may be rising because of the interest in eating food that is locally grown.  The report sites 300 co-ops in the different stages of starting nationally, with 325 already in existence.