This Sunday, August 25, 2024, be sure to follow the creek behind East 1st Street businesses and make your way toward the community garden. You may hear the sound of music and laughter as you approach, as well as the aroma of delicious homemade food, for the Mountain People’s Co-Op will be celebrating its 45th anniversary.

As one of Nederland’s oldest businesses still in operation, the Co-Op has continuously provided the town with a community market that celebrates and sells locally-sourced natural foods, and caters to all diets and lifestyles.

“I want us to be here for another 45 years,” Co-Op General Manager Lisa Reinhart told The Mountain-Ear. Reinhart has been working for the Co-Op for 11 years, having started as kitchen staff and working her way up to kitchen manager and then assistant manager, before becoming general manager last year.

“It’s an honor. It feels like a legacy, and it’s really important to me,” Reinhart said, speaking of the importance of the Co-Op’s mission, which is to provide healthy and affordable food to the community. She noted her efforts and the Co-Op’s in joining the Independent Natural Food Retailers Association (INFRA).

“They’re basically the co-op of co-ops. They help us to keep providing healthy, affordable food. Larger grocery stores can buy things in mass and get these bigger discounts that we can’t get, so INFRA supports smaller grocery stores in being able to get some of these discounts so we’re able to bring in some of these fresh brands that are more affordable.”

The spirit of the Co-Op fits in perfectly with the spirit of Nederland, as it operates in a sustainable and cyclical business model that invites its customers to be owners, holding shares and having a say in the success of the market.

“Anyone who is a member can come to a meeting and actually participate in how the employee manual is put together, or the general daily operations,” Reinhart explained. “And all the money we make, all the contributions, goes back into the community.

“I think it’s ideal, especially because we’re providing natural and healthy foods and that’s really important.”

Since 1979, the Co-Op has been an important fixture in Nederland, a positive boon to the neighborhood that is locally minded, while also presenting local culture to tourists with a picture-perfect, Norman Rockwell-esque storefront.

“Our regular customers feel like part of our family, but we really appreciate visitors as well,” Reinhard said, before giving props to her team at the Co-Op who all help to create and nurture that special, home-away-from-home atmosphere.

“We have a really good staff, I just want to shout out every single one of them. Everybody’s a moving part of a whole and I couldn’t do this job without them.”

The anniversary celebration, taking place behind the Co-Op from 3 to 6 p.m., will feature a traditional bluegrass pick and a potluck dinner, with the Co-Op offering varieties of their classic Sloppy-Joes, including a Vegan-Joe.

“Knotted Root is donating beer and Melt is donating cold brew,” Reinhart said.

“We’re encouraging all members to bring an instrument and play along. Definitely bring a blanket or a camp chair, and everybody bring a dish to share, come and have a good time at our party!”

The Mountain People’s Co-Op is located at 30 East 1st Street. For more information, including on how to become a member, visit: https://www.mountainpeoplescoopned.org/home or call 303-258-7500.