TUCSON, Ariz. — Back in 1971, growing organic wasn't cool yet; it didn't have the cache that the term has gained in the 21st century and it certainly wasn't a way to sell. It was simply the way that people concerned with how their food was made and processed wanted their produce and rice.

Luckily for the residents of Tucson, not much has changed at the Food Conspiracy Co-op at 412 N. Fourth Ave.

"It stared with a few families that would chip in and take turns driving a pick-up truck to California to pick up brown rice and flour and things that grew into the hundreds and eventually thousands," said Torey Ligon, outreach coordinator of the co-op.

The Food Conspiracy Co-op has four goals it lives by in addition to the official code of all co-ops in the United States:

• Promote health in the community


• Support local agriculture


• Be an environmental steward


• Community for the community

The co-op's produce, bulk section, freezer and even pet food section is made up of entirely organic materials. The produce comes included with a tag detailing what local farm it comes from and even how far away it comes from. The local aspect of the co-op has become a development of local agriculture in the Tucson area in recent years.

When the co-op began as a small family organization in the 1970s, the owners were more concerned with avoiding processed foods from large commercial farms. But as the city of Tucson and farming in the area has grown, so has the co-op's support.

"We have farmers who go even beyond organic, people that fought and fought for the official organic label from the FDA and now don't think it's rigorous enough," Ligon said, adding that the organic label from the FDA and the standards have been great for the environment but that the local farmers they work with "trust their integrity and put more faith in them than 'Industrial Organics.'"

Kelley Kriner, a member and employee of the co-op for four years, echoed many of the same sentiments that Ligon mentioned.

"Working for a place that has ideals is always a plus," Kriner said. "They really are trying to move forward and carry out some of the more green practices, trying to figure out what we can do in our community."

Ligon estimated that 50 percent of the co-ops' customers are members, which is on the lower end of what co-operatives expect, but he said he is happy to serve this section of Tucson, which doesn't have much in terms of health-food stores.

"People like the smallness of the store, the community food," Ligon said. "They get to know the employees here. There's a real history here, especially in an age where retail is exactly the same everywhere."

One of the largest-saving and most-unique parts of the store comes in its bulk sales. In an homage to its early days, the Conspiracy Co-op still sells items like rice, all spices, flours and pastas in bulk. No packaging materials, no branding costs, no processed foods and no middlemen are involved in the process.

"That's why I come in, for the bulk," said Juliane Shay, a customer at the Co-op. "When I need to fill my spices, or get more rice or noodles, it's just great. I keep my packages and bottles and get to fill them up. It's healthy and cheaper."

The Conspiracy Co-op is a local treasure in Tucson, keeping local agriculture and growing alive and the world more sustainable with each and every member's purchase.