ABOUT

What does the Food Co-op do?

We are a student run store on campus selling organic food and produce to students and the wider community. We are open during uni semester from 9am-5pm weekdays during semester teaching weeks.
We are a not-for-profit co-operative, which means that if you become a member you receive a discount on products. Learn how to become a member. 

We are always looking for volunteers, if you would like to know more about volunteering click here.

What is a Cooperative? 

The cooperative business model aims to provide a service without the main objective being profits. The official definition is an ‘autonomous association of people who come together voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspiration through a jointly-owned and democratically controlled enterprise’. It relies on members/volunteers participating in the running of the organisation, that is, having a say – making sure criticism is constructive and helping resolve any problems that arise. Co-ops also use capital or funds for mutually rather than individual benefit. While its activities may be commercial, a co-op exists primarily to serve the needs of its members and community, rather than investing capital or making money. In other words, a co-op is its members. Co-ops are also based values including things like honesty, openness, social responsibility, and caring for others.

Sydney University Food Co-operative is a non-profit, volunteer run organisation whose aim is to provide affordable, organic, vegan, local food in bulk, and fresh fruit and vegetables for students and staff on campus.  Our co-op prefers ethically and environmentally sound products and checks with suppliers about the conditions and methods under which the goods are grown and processed. It provides an opportunity to access our groceries, snacks and treats without having to support big supermarkets. 

As much as possible we promote the use of:
-       Low-cost ethically-produced and packed wholefoods
-       Cruelty free foods
-       Vegan foods
-       Organic foods
-       Genetically modified free foods

Why Join the Co-op? 

Cooperative enterprises are distinctive types of firms that operate within but also offer an alternative to the capitalist market based economy. In that production and consumption is not singularly driven by the profit motive or the accumulation of wealth, rather cooperatives focus on the well-being of the community via ethical consumption and production. The business and operating model emphasises collaboration and democracy and therefore, provides an alternative to the traditional hierarchical structure of a capitalist enterprise. The cooperative model has the effect of redefining work and reward, by moving the emphasis away from monetary gain, ownership and control, thereby, changing the social and economic relationships that underpin the capitalist system.

Cooperatives also encourage people to have a biological and geographical understanding of food and food choices. The distance and number of people food travels between to get to our tables, the vested interest capitalist businesses have in maintaining consumer ignorance around food production and the global nature of the food system, inevitably means that the biographies of the food we eat are rather opaque to us. However, our coop is concerned about where food comes from, who is impacted by the production of food, and what goes into the food we eat. We prioritize principles of transparency, social accountability and consumer sovereignty.  Additionally, the underlying principles of organics, veganism and locally sourced food stipulate what kind of products we stock, these categories each on their own question and make visible networks of food.

oRDER YOUR FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

PRODUCTS TO ADD TO YOUR WEDNESDAY PICKUP:

Items available in store

This is a sample list of items that were stocked on 10/08/17 to give you an idea of what we stock. Please note that this does not guarantee current availability.

Addiction Foods

• Vegan Choc Fudge Brownies

• Date & Coconut Rolls

Bulk liquids (BYO jar!)

• Leeton's Olive Oil - Organic, Extra Virgin, Australian Grown

• Carwari's Organic Tahini

• Carwari's Organic Tamari

Drinks

• Herbs of Life Kombucha - Ginger & Tumeric, Hibiscus and Peach & Apricot

• Juice Boxes - Apple and Orange

Milks

• Organic Rice Milk

• Organic Activated Almond Milk - Unsweetened

• Organic Soy Milk

Bulk Spices

• Organic Cinnamon

• Organic Tumeric

• Organic Cumin Powder

• Organic Raw Cacao Powder

Canned goods

• Organic Four Bean Mix

• Organic Black Beans

• Organic Chickpeas

• Organic Coconut Milk

• Organic Lentils

• Organic Red Kidney Beans

• Organic Diced Tomatoes

Bulk Dried Fruit

• Dried Pitted Dates - preservative-free, raw

• Organic Dried Banana

• Bio dynamic Sultanas

• Orgnaic Dried Apricots

• Organic Dark Choc Ginger

• Organic Dried Pineapple Rings

• Organic Dried Apple Rings

Tea

• Organic Black Loose Leaf Tea - Bulk

• Green Tea (Ceylon Sencha) - Bulk

• Organic Earl Grey Tea - Bulk

• Organic Rooibos Tea - Bulk

• Planet Organic Tea Varieties

• Qi Tea Varieties

• Pukka Tea Varieties

Hygiene and Life

• Juju Menstrual Cups

• Hurraw Lip Balm

• Organic Pads

• Organic Panty Liners

• Bamboo Pens

• Environmental Toothbrushes - Bamboo - Soft & Medium

• Stainless Steel Straws & Straw Cleaners

• Reusable Bamboo Cutlery Kits

Nuts & seeds 

• Organic Almonds Raw - Australian

• Tamari Almonds - Roasted, Gluten free, Insecticide Free

• Organic cashews

• Dark Chocolate Almonds - Dark chocolate (rapadura whole cane sugar,cocoa mass, cocoa butter, soya lecithin, vanilla bean powder), almonds

• Organic Pepitas - Raw

Bulk Staple Foods

• Organic Black Chia Seeds

• Nutritional Yeast Flakes - Toasted

• Organic Penne Pasta - 100% Durum Wheat

• Organic White Rice - Australian, Medium grain

• Organic Brown Rice - Long Grain

• Biodynamic Rain Fed Rice - Short Grain

• Organic Wholemeal Cake Flour

• Organic Rapadura Sugar - Unrefined sugar, unique caramel flavour, fine grain and gorgeous golden colour. Produced by simply evaporating the water from organic sugar cane juice.

• Organic Red Split Lentils

• Organic Rolled Oats

• Muesli - 40% Fruit/Nuts/Seeds

• Himalayan Rock Salt

• Organic Peppercorns

• Organic Arrowroot Powder

• Bicarb Soda

• Organic Cacao Nibs

• Organic Coconut Flakes

Snacks

• Organic Rice Cakes

• COBS Organic Sea Salt Popcorn 80g

• COBS Organic Sweet Salty Popcorn 40g

Packaged Goods

• Honest to Goodness Coconut Oil 500ml and 1litre

• Organic Maple Syrup

• Organic Tomato Paste

• Organic Brown Rice Syrup

• Sacred Grounds Coffee 250g

• Organic Extra Virgin Sesame Oil

• Teriyaki Tofu

• Tofu-Tempeh Burger

• Tempeh Burger

MEMBER

As a co-operative we rely on membership to keep running and in return members get everything discounted and can contribute ideas and requests to the co op. To become a member come in and sign up and you will receive your membership card which gives you 10% off everything in store!! Then if you wish to renew your membership at the start of each year follow the instructions below. This membership also provides you with reciprocal membership to Alfalfa House and UNSW's food co-op, Thoughtful Foods.

Come and check us out, if you like what you see you can join as a member on the spot! 

Please note if you are a student at the University of Sydney you need to have a USU Membership to join the CoOp. The USU membership is FREE and you can sign up via this link CLICK HERE

Membership Renewal

Fill out the renewal form and add your membership to your cart. Once you have checked out you will be a member again!

VOLUNTEER

Would you like to be involved in the Food Co-op?

Our volunteers spend two hours a week managing the store. This involves serving customers, cleaning, organising stock and having fun! 

Volunteers receive discounts and come along to sponsored dinners and events through the semester. 

It's a great way to meet people outside your degree on Campus and make friends!

If you would like to volunteer, fill in your details including when you are available to volunteer and we'll be in touch to organise a shift! 

LOCATION

We are located on Level 4 of the Wentworth Building, on the corner of City Rd and Butlin Ave, Camperdown. 

The easiest way to find us is to enter from City Road near the footbridge, climb the stairs up to Level 3, and walk up the stairs next to the Commonwealth Bank. 

When the market is on at Eastern Avenue fortnightly on Wednesdays, you can also find our stall there!