On Thursday, Jan. 13, in celebration of our 50th anniversary, Seward Co-op hosted a virtual panel discussion about the original documentary film “The Co-op Wars.” “The Co-op Wars” tells the story of the idealistic youth who tried to build an alternative to corporate capitalism, the violent struggle that almost tore them apart, and their eventual success in ways they never foresaw. Watch “The Co-op Wars” here. 

We were joined by Erik Esse and Deacon Warner, producer and director of “The Co-op Wars.” We also welcomed early co-op movement leaders Lori Zuidema, Gary Cunningham, and Leo Cashman. Read more about each of them here.

The discussion served as an unofficial reunion for both the subjects of the film and many long-time Seward Co-op owners who participated via Zoom. It was a fantastic opportunity to get an in-depth behind-the-scenes look at motivations behind the founding of numerous Twin Cities co-ops, as well as the philosophical turmoil that incited the Co-op Wars. The discussion also touched on some of the issues of inequity that are still relevant today in cooperatives.

Watch the recording of the Jan. 13 “The Co-op Wars” discussion here.

Participants excitedly shared their reflections and memories in the Zoom chat as the panelists spoke, excerpts below:

“North Country, Whole Foods (the Co-Op), Seward and Selby Co-Ops all started in 1972! Maybe Mill City as well! I worked at the Whole Foods Co-Op! $35 a week and all the brown rice you could eat!” Dave Logsdon (he/him)

“There was a coop store in the location of Hampden Park Coop. It was called Green Grass Grocery.” Roberta Malles (she/her)

“The co-ops are still governed by a board elected by the membership and still are very open to input- there are just so many more members!” Erik Esse

“What lots of super in-the-know folks don’t realize right now is that cheap conventional agriculture food is subsidized and organic reflects the real price of food. [I]f we support this we don’t have to see ourselves as uppity people buying high priced food. what if we want to support those agricultural practices and values.” Anne Geske

About the Panelists

Deacon Warner (Director) has produced over twenty short documentaries including the award-winning 56 and Peaceful Warriors: on the road with Vets for Peace. His most recent film, Bee-Sharp Honeybee, premiered at the 2018 Minneapolis St Paul International Film Festival and played at numerous other festivals internationally.  He has been the Youth Program Director at FilmNorth since 2008 and produces films for non-profits and artists.

Erik Esse (Producer) has worked in film and television marketing and distribution at FilmNorth and the Independent Television Service (ITVS). His work in the food and co-op movements includes serving as director of the Local Fair Trade Network, as a staff member of Central Co-op in Seattle and North Country Co-op in Minneapolis, and as an organizer of the US Conference of Workplace Democracies, the Midwest Worker Cooperative Conference and the Farmworker Conference for Fair Trade.

Lori Zuidema began her career in co-ops as a volunteer cheese cutter at the newly-formed Seward Co-op in 1972. She was one of the original collective members of the Seward Café and worked at cooperative distributors Cheese Rustlers, and Roots and Fruits Produce. She is currently Director of Purchasing at Co-op Partners Warehouse.

Gary Cunningham is President and CEO at Prosperity Now in Washington D.C. and was the First Spouse of Minneapolis during the mayoral term of his wife, Betsy Hodges. Back in the ‘70s, he lived with his uncle Moe Burton, who started the first Black Panther chapter in Minneapolis and founded the Bryant Central Co-op.

Leo Cashman worked at Seward Co-op for four years during the mid-1970s when the co-op was at 2201 E. Franklin Ave., its first location. Leo was one of two co-op coordinators (managers) who was assaulted and beaten, then dragged out of the store the morning of Jan. 9, 1976.