SoLA Food Co-op
A community-owned grocery initiative focused on increasing access to natural, organic, and non-GMO foods in South Los Angeles. SoLA Food Co-op is designed not only to offer affordable healthy groceries but also to foster health education, job opportunities, and shared economic benefits within the community, aiming to revitalize an area historically recognized as a food desert.
Purpose and Vision
The co-op was established by local residents in response to the closure of major grocery stores and a lack of healthy food options in South Los Angeles.
Its broader mission is to operate a full-service natural foods store that is owned and governed by the community, ensuring decisions reflect neighborhood needs rather than corporate interests.
SoLA Food Co-op envisions the store as a hub for shopping, nutrition classes, cooking demonstrations, and community events, all centered on healthy living.
Community Impact
The co-op has been actively involved in outreach, including pop-up markets and farmers market booths, to educate residents about the benefits of cooperative ownership and healthy food choices.
It is structured as a cooperative, meaning it is not driven by profit but by the needs and interests of its member-owners—currently numbering in the hundreds and growing.
In addition, the co-op founded a nonprofit arm focused on food education and economic development in South LA.
Status and Membership
As of late 2025, SoLA Food Co-op is an emerging grocery store initiative with over 700 owner-members, and it continues to recruit new members to support opening its brick-and-mortar location.
Those interested in supporting or joining the co-op can get involved through their website or social media, and participate in upcoming community and food-focused events.
SoLA Food Co-op seeks to address systemic barriers to healthy food while empowering South Los Angeles residents through collective ownership and community-driven services.