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Davis, California

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Davis Food Co-op hosts vegan food tour

How Davis’ local health food store showed support for the vegan community

 

By PIPER AWEEKA city@theaggie.org

 

On Sunday, Jan. 12, the Davis Food Co-op, a community-owned and operated grocery store known for its wide array of health foods, held a tour of its establishment to highlight vegan products. 

In a college town where the diaspora of inhabitants varies greatly, food preferences are inevitably just as diverse. Anna Lopez, an education and outreach specialist at the Co-op, explained the reasoning behind the event. 

At the Co-op, we support a diverse range of lifestyles and dietary preferences, recognizing that everyone’s journey with food is unique,” Lopez said. “The idea behind the vegan food tour was to highlight the wide range of vegan products and options available at the Co-op, making it easier for vegan shoppers, or those interested in plant-based eating, to discover new foods and feel confident navigating our store.”

By providing experiences like Sunday’s tour, the Co-op is able to reach the community that, in turn, operates the store. One of the main reasons the Co-op caters niche items to its shoppers is that the shoppers largely determine what products the store carries, according to Lopez.

“Many of our offerings, especially new items, come directly from customer suggestions, ensuring that our shelves reflect the needs and preferences of our community,” Lopez said.

For Lopez, the food tour was an event with meaning beyond a mere interest in plant-based diets.

“I have been vegan for about eight years now, so this is something I’m personally passionate about,” Lopez said. 

Though Davis is by no means recognized as the vegan epicenter of California, the store’s focus on providing ethically sustainable food choices is one that residents, beyond just vegans, are able to rally around. In a world where the impacts of climate change are increasing rapidly, having food options that are sustainably sourced is one method of improving the environment for those who have the financial means to consume them. 

“While we’re not exclusively a vegan store, we’re strong proponents of sustainability and ethical choices, which align closely with the values of a plant-based lifestyle,” Lopez said. “Our commitment is reflected in our extensive selection of plant-based products, partnerships with ethical producers and efforts to provide education and resources for those exploring or committed to plant-based living.”

Zoe Vejar, a trainee at the grocery store, remarked on the success of the event. 

“It seemed like it went really well,” Vejar said. “There were a good amount of people. People were buying the stuff that they were trying.”

Lopez touched on the event as an example of the store’s fifth cooperative principle: education, training and information.

“[The food tour] demonstrated how the Co-op is a place where everyone — regardless of dietary preferences — can shop, learn and contribute to building a stronger, more inclusive community,” Lopez said.

 

Written by: Piper Aweeka — city@theaggie.org

 

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