Alfalfa House

Alfalfa House Community Food Cooperative Ltd is a not-for-profit food cooperative based in Enmore, Sydney, Australia. Now in its 24th year as a registered cooperative, Alfalfa House began in the front room of a terraced house in Erskineville in 1981.^[1]

According to its introductory material for new members, the main aim of the cooperative is to provide minimally-packaged and minimally-processed organic food and low-impact common household products, processed in ways that minimise harm to both people and the environment.^[2]

Policy

Alfalfa House is managed by a board of directors, known as the Members' Council, elected at the cooperative's Annual General Meeting. The council oversees the financial management and general ongoing policy-making of the co-op. According to its Rules of Incorporation, any financial surpluses are to be re-invested in the co-op to improve services to the membership.

Objectives

According to its Rules of Incorporation, Alfalfa House aims to

• provide a retail source of wholefoods so that members may have some control over the sources of their food supply
• provide information on and promote the use of: low-cost, ethically-produced and packaged wholefoods; cruelty-free foods; vegetarian foods; vegan foods; organic foods; and genetically modified-free foods
• run an ethical, not-for-profit business
• minimise resource wastage and, hence, encourage reuse and recycling
• support other cooperatives whose objectives are similar or related to the objectives of the cooperative
• stimulate community development, foster community spirit and promote sustainable living

References

Coordinates: 33°53′54.82″S 151°10′26.52″E / 33.8985611°S 151.1740333°E / -33.8985611; 151.1740333