Walk into Astoria Co-op these days and you’ll notice something right away: the produce department pops. That’s thanks to a recent upgrade to their wet rack shelving and the addition of LED lighting – a project that got a big boost from OGC’s Mission Fund.
The installation got some extra hands-on support from OGC’s Brendon O’Shea, Senior Sales Account Representative, and Jeff Fairchild, Sourcing and Purchasing Lead, who helped get everything in place and did a little department reset while they were at it.
Matt Stanley, Astoria Co-op’s General Manager, said the improvements did more than just make the produce look good. “Our produce is right at the front of the store—it’s the first thing people see when they walk in. Now it really draws you in. I almost don’t want to talk about it because I don’t want other stores around here to copy it,” he joked.
After the installation, the team noticed a bump in customer survey scores related to the produce department. Produce sales have continued to grow, and shoppers often mention the quality and beauty of the produce in reviews.
Matt says that, in general, they’ve noticed more people looking for local, community-focused businesses. “We want to help folks understand that when they shop here, they’re supporting something bigger – local economic resilience, sustainability and a healthier community.”
As a shopper-owned co-op, Astoria Co-op is open to everyone, but member-owners get extra perks. The store’s roots go back to a group of locals who started a buying club in someone’s garage, taking turns driving to Portland or Eugene to stock up on organic goods. Now, they’re serving a much wider community – but still holding on to that same grassroots spirit.
The geographic location is unique – Astoria neighbors the coast, and their trade region stretches north and south along the shoreline. Farming is tough out there too; they don’t have as long of a growing season, and there aren’t as many local farmers.
“We’re really grateful for the support from OGC on this project,” Matt said. “It made a real difference in our store, and we see OGC as a great partner all around.”