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We had the opportunity to speak with Kenna Eaton, the Co-op’s General Manager, and learned how a small retailer in the middle of the Palouse – the rolling hills and prairie grass of southeast Washington and northern Idaho – is successful. 
Natural and health food stores come in all sizes; from mega chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and mini-chain cooperatives like PCC Natural Markets to small, independent groceries with annual sales from $2 to $20 million. The independence – and, yes, the political and philosophical leanings – of these small retail stores make each one different and contributes to the diversity of the business landscape. 
Like Goldilocks in search of “just right,” local food markets struggle with size. On the “Too Small” end, we are seeing markets in small rural communities disappear. On the “Too Big” end, we see “supernaturals” like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s descending en masse on large urban areas. For communities with populations of 25,00 to 50,000 people, markets like Skagit Food Co-op find the size “Just Right!” |
 Video: Gene Yale grows 170+ apple trees in a city lot. By growing tiny little trees – grafted and managed like Bonsai – Gene has 3-foot apple treas that bear full size fruit.
Pig Mania
Crown S Ranch, Winthrop WA
(Click the image for a larger version.) |
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