The Sugar Beet Food Co-op has been welcoming shoppers through the doors at 812 Madison St. in Oak Park for 10 years. In these food security uncertain times, the store is doubling down on a commitment to filling grocery bags.
“When our neighbors are hurting, we want to help them,” Johnny Mathias, vice president of the board, said. “In this moment the federal government is failing our communities and leaving those in most need to fend for themselves.”
For years, Sugar Beet has offered a 10% discount to shoppers who self-identify as needing assistance buying food. Now, the store is doubling that discount to 20% on all regularly priced items.
“It’s a larger issue beyond recent SNAP issues, but that was the breaking point,” said Katie Fountain, the store’s general manager. “We’re living our mission to build community through food and directly responding to what our neighbors need right now.”
To receive the discount, shoppers do not have to give any proof of eligibility. They just need to say they want help. For clarity, Sugar Beet specifically invites people who participate in programs such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, school breakfast or lunch programs, as well as veterans, those living with a disability, or who are experiencing temporary furloughs or job loss to sign up for the program.
If customers have a Link card, they can also get a voucher for an additional $10 of fresh produce per day. Vouchers like these are usually offered at farmers markets, but since the store stocks locally grown produce, they can offer the vouchers as well.
“That can really extend people’s buying power in the store,” Fountain said.
“The Sugar Beet is not just a business. It’s owned by over 3,000 folks in the community,” Mathias said of the co-op structure. “The [federal] government is attacking our communities and attacking the values of people who live in Oak Park. If you visit the store, we are here for the community for what they need beyond just, soup and bread, things on the shelves.”
Anyone can shop at The Sugar Beet, not just owners.
“Oak Park has a lot of wealthy people, but we’re also a very diverse community,” Fountain said. “It’s important that anyone feels like they could just come in here.”
In November customers can round up to the next dollar at the register with funds donated to Beyond Hunger. Dedication to more than what is available for purchase is why Fountain believes the business has thrived.
“The Sugar Beet has been nimble enough and changed to be able to survive the marketplace,” Fountain said. “It’s a totally different animal than it was 10 years ago. A lot more competition in the area now and we’re still doing well. We’re still able to be profitable.”
Their smaller size allows local and smaller producers to get their products in front of buyers.
“Get sauce from someone in Berwyn or a chili crisp from one of your neighbors,” Mathias said. “One of the things I love is you can buy local cleaning products from a Chicago brand that are like safe and sustainable cleaning products.”
But new challenges are afoot as Pete’s Fresh Market puts the finishing touches on its new store, one block away on Madison Street.
“There’s going to be a lot of visibility coming in the Madison corridor,” Fountain said. “But I think we’ll have enough different options and a different vibe and our commitment to community.”
(Editor’s note: Rise Sanders-Weir is among the more than 3,000 local people who own a share of Sugar Beet.)
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Website: sugarbeet.coop
Address: 812 Madison St., Oak Park
Hours: Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.