| Newton MA News and Politics BlogWant to help build a more sustainable, resilient and localized food economy? The Charles River Food Coop launched last week with an initial membership drive. A member-share is $200, paid once or in installments. But it’s not time to head on over to start shopping just yet. We’re at least a couple years away from a brick-and-mortar store and being able to buy food, so this is more an opportunity to be on a team that builds a food coop for the long term.

An impetus for this effort was the closing of beloved Russo’s in Watertown, which spurred friends in Watertown to initiate this. Meanwhile, a group of Newton residents had made concerted efforts to start a coop for several years, driven by a desire to get bulk foods without all the single use plastic packaging. The coop is intended to serve worker-owners in Watertown, Waltham, Newton, but is open to anyone. Learn more at https://charlesriverfood.coop/