Create Positive Change
Each time you shop at the co-op, you have a chance to directly support local community partners by donating your 10-cent reusable bag credits and rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar. It may only be a few cents or spare change, but your generosity makes a huge impact — to the tune of over $11,000 each month for our Positive Change recipients!
BrightSide
July’s Positive Change recipient is BrightSide Produce, which is dedicated to reducing urban food insecurity by improving access to affordable fresh produce in the Twin Cities. BrightSide provides fresh produce to corner stores and provides home produce delivery with a “Pay What You Can” model. In April 2022, BrightSide expanded its corner store program to St. Paul and plans to serve 14 corner stores in St. Paul this year.
BrightSide’s corner store services dramatically increase the opportunity to access affordable fruits and vegetables by making them more available at small neighborhood shops. The stores included in the program are located in underserved areas with few large grocery retail options.
To ensure the healthy produce options remain affordable at corner stores, BrightSide takes a very small markup (10%) subsidized by funding from a fresh produce home delivery subscription service to households that pay a “food justice surcharge,” and from grants and donations like Mississippi Market’s Positive Change program.
Funds raised at co-op registers in July will help fill in gaps of fresh food access and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to corner stores in underserved areas of St. Paul.