CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Community Co-op (LCCC) will receive the benefit of a feasibility study and software analysis thanks to a USDA grant award to the California Center for Cooperative Development (CCCD), located in Davis.

Beginning immediately, the CCCD will begin the task of assessing Lake County’s economic market and resource information that will enable the LCCC to make an informed decision on developing a retail food co-op.

In the event that a retail storefront is not feasible at this time, the CCCD will help the Co-op strengthen its ability to provide more locally produced food items to its growing membership base.

The project, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Cooperative Development Grant, will incorporate the expertise of project manager Luis Sierra and CCCD consultant Andrew McLeod, and will include an inquiry into path that the Quincy Natural Food Co-op proceeded on during it’s inception.

The co-op seeks to learn from an established food co-op in another rural California county.

The co-op, started almost two years ago, offers a weekly CSA box that is focused on providing produce from local organic farms, such as Barber’s Country Farm, Bio Farm, Leonardis Organics and Full Moon Farm, as well as fresh baked organic breads from the Main Street Bakery in Kelseyville.

The group also provides bulk and natural food items online through Azure Standards, sponsors the Friday Night Farmers’ Market, the Educational series, “Lake County Community Co-op Presents …” on local TV8, and partners on community garden projects.

For more information about the co-op and the progress of the feasibility study, follow the links from www.lakeco-op.org or call 707-993-4270.