Wild Root Market - Keep Racine Unique!

Do you or your friends ever drive to Woodman’s, Trader Joe’s, The Outpost, Milwaukee Public Market, or Whole Foods for the kind of food you wish was available locally?  Or think, That is the grocery store  I would choose if it were more  accessible? Then you are exactly the person I am excited to tell about The Wild Root Market.

Over the years Racine has been dismissed by specialty grocery chains as a not ready for prime time market; not enough profit potential; not the right demographic.  That doesn’t mean Racine’s citizens don’t desire or deserve a source for high quality, local, organic, sustainably, and humanely produced foods. 

But it does mean that we will have to make this happen as a community and not depend on a chain to plug a store into our city. So the idea of a food co-op (the fastest growing sector of the grocery industry in the United states) was adopted as the necessary business model. Besides, we can do it better because WE will be  most sensitive to the needs of our local food economy.  

While much of the due diligence has been accomplished, as far as market studies and the vetting of potential sites etc. The time has come for people who believe this project is  important to Racine to step forward and become owners.  A critical mass of owners is required to turn all that planning into a grocery store.  Now is the time to emphasize the CO-OPeration in the Wild Root Market plan. 

We know that Racine is ready to CO-Operate.  While perhaps not fully satisfied with existing grocery shopping options, citizens in Caledonia and Mt. Pleasant and now the Elmwood Park neighborhood have expressed notable opposition when the WalMart Corporation moved to develop both Supercenters and its newer Neighborhood Market concept in their communities.  

If you have wished for a store where your opinion matters, become an owner today.  Co-ops are democratically operated, one share = one vote.  No one individual can ever have control.

If you have wished  for more local businesses employing Racinians with living wage jobs and benefits, while supporting local farmers and other providers of goods and services, become and owner today.  Approximately 70% of dollars spent at a locally owned store benefit the local economy by staying in the community and generating other economic activity.  That number is an anemic 30% for money spent at a chain store.  This increases the financial resiliency  of our city and the co-ops empolyees.

If you have wished for a store where healthy food decisions are easy, become an owner today.  I promise the ingredients list on the products sold will not require advanced training to comprehend.

If you think it is silly for your food to have come from half way around the world and that local, seasonal food makes more sense, is fresher, and has a smaller environmental impact, become an owner today.

If you would like to be part of a food community, become and owner today.  Not only will the Wild Root Market be a full service grocery store, it will be a gathering place.  Whether socializing or networking at the cafe or attending one of the educational seminars on all things food, it will be your co-op, a place you helped bring to Racine.

It is plain to see from the above list that the Wild Root Market  has a big tent philosophy. Some reasons may be more important to some than others, but good food matters to all as does  a healthier local economy.  If you said to yourself ,while reading any part of this letter, YES, that makes sense, BECOME AN OWNER TODAY.  

Now, scoot on over to our web site, www.WildRootMarket.com, there is a lot more information there than I could ever share in this letter.  Get your owner form and become part of one of the most exciting and beneficial developments going on in Racine today! 

Thank you for your support,

Brian Ray, DVM

Director,  Wild Root Market

Owner/veterinarian,  Belle City Veterinary Hospital