Medford Market gathers members

 

The organic food co-op has an eye on the city’s planned Middleford Commons downtown

 

By JOHN DALING

for the Mail Tribune

 

Medford Market, the city’s planned organic food Mecca has surpassed 100 paid memberships, set up its board of director’s election for Nov. 1, is poised for a huge capital-raising campaign and is narrowing its sights on leasing a building in or near the downtown.

 

“We haven’t had that ‘this is it’ moment yet about finding our home.  We’re still looking,” said steering committee member Paige West.

 

Appealing spots for Medford Market at this point include areas north of downtown, Highway 99 all the way through town and the proposed Middleford Commons, whose developers have expressed interest, said Medford Market members.

 

The market aims to open sometime next year, but needs to raise around $250,000 to demonstrate equity and commitment in order to get bank loans for the needed $2 million operating capital, said West.

 

That initial money will be raised by “subscriber loan” – low interest loans raised from Medford Market members and the community.

 

Such member number more that 100 now, and once the board is elected Nov. 1, it will spearhead a campaign to increase membership to 1,000.  Members pay $100 to join.

 

“The loans can be looked at as a legacy that fosters a progressive community,” said West.

 

The major obstacles to locating in the city’s increasingly crowded downtown is adequate on-site parking with good access, and finding adequate square footage, said steering committee member Lori Hopkinson. 

 

Building from scratch is an option, Hopkinson added, and if there is a “new build” or extensive remodel, it could delay opening till next fall or winter.

 

“We’ve been going full steam ahead and it feels great,” said Hopkinson, noting that Medford Market will be the only full service market outside Ashland dedicated to local and organic food.

 

The new board’s main task, she said, will be to focus on getting loans form Medford Market and community members, “people who recognize that it’s not just for the benefit of the individual, but who want to support a community-oriented project.”

 

The market’s commercial real estate broker, Larry Levens of John L. agency in Medford says he’s surveyed a range of other food co-ops  to find out what’s needed.  There are “good leads” on downtown spaces, but likely not in Middleford Commons, as that leans to office space and parkways.  Buildable land downtown is rare, he added.

 

West said she doubts Middleford would be ready in time to locate the market, which is on track to open before 2008.  However, the co-op could locate elsewhere in Medford and open a satellite store in Middleford, she added.

 

“My opinion,” said West, “is that it’ll be on the outskirts of downtown, with a satellite in downtown.  We’re not going to stop looking in downtown.  But it’s becoming more difficult and our square footage needs are narrowing the field.”

 

The co-op is holding a film fundraiser at 7 tonight showing “The Real Dirt on Farmer John” at the Medford Library.  Admission is $5, with $2 of each ticket going to the Market.  It will have a booth in the Sept.23rd celebration of Bear Creek Greenway at Blue Heron Park in Phoenix.