An Hour With: The Maryland Food Co-op

The Maryland Food Co-op sits at the basement of Stamp Student Union at the University of Maryland, a contrast to the hustle of the food court above where students wait in long lines for fast food pizza or burgers. 

The co-op serves a different kind of customer.

Here, the pillars and walls are lined with photographs and posters of musicians; the cubbies in the back room with post-its and graphite-like scribbles. The music hums from a laptop kept in the back, where staff members get an hour of their shift to choose their own music.

“All of us are empowered to make decisions in the store,” said Liz Ciavolino, 20, a senior at the University of Maryland.

At $7.50 worth of food credit per hour for volunteers, and $8.50 for super-volunteers (a volunteer with slightly more responsibility), each employee gets a say in how the co-op is run.  The co-op also has paid employees, the majority of whom began as volunteers, who are also required to volunteer five hours per week.

Even the customers have input at the the co-op. In fact, Dunn estimates that about 30 percent of the regulars provide feedback that influences the decisions of co-op staff.

John Gunn, 30, and Dolores Mutoku, 21, both paid employees now, began as volunteers, as did Ciavolino. Gunn began volunteering as a senior in the university and, despite spending time at other jobs, always kept time for a position at the co-op. 

“The co-op fits a different niche,” said Gunn, with products catered to vegetarians and vegans and purchased from local businesses rather than large companies. The co-op, unlike any other shop on campus, serves no Pepsi products in its refrigerators. 

Mutoku agrees, describing the co-op’s food selection as more appealing due to its creativity. Here students can snack on hummus or falafel, salads or sandwiches. The cheese is organic; the feta high quality. 

“Everyone has such different tastes and our customers love it, “said Mutoku.

The biggest problem: advertising, according to Mutoku and Gunn.

“I went there a few times; they had amazingly cheap vegetarian burritos that I liked, so it was a nice alternative to paying a lot at the food court for lunch on campus. I just always forgot about it!” said Megan Thorne, 22, recent UMD graduate.

Despite the myth that the co-op caters to vegetarians only, Dunn said that only about 50 percent of customers are actually vegetarian, and that there are many options hidden away in the Stamp basement. After all, the chicken salad is one of the most popular dishes, he said.