Coop Wars: documentary on natural food co-op scene Minneapolis/St. Paul
Viewing of a new documentary The Co-op Wars, hosted by CASC at Congress 2022. THE Co-op Wars tells the story of the idealistic youth who tried to build an alternative to corporate capitalism, the violent struggle that almost tore them apart, and their eventual success in ways they never foresaw. This film will be of interest to a wide number of associations interested in economic alternatives. The film tells the story of the origins of the Minneapolis/St. Paul natural food co-op scene, the largest in North America, and conflict that broke out in the mid-1970s over issues of politics, race, product selection and governance. Aided by over 20 interviews with participants and the amazing archive of co-op materials at the Minnesota Historical Society, the producer creates a compelling narrative of these events and links them to ongoing issues in the movement around inclusion and the social mission of co-ops.
