Now in its fifth year, the Hamilton Heights Food Co-op is still going strong.
Founded by caterer Lauren McGrath during the early days of the pandemic to help her favorite food purveyors, the Harlem-based co-op currently features seven wholesale vendors.
The list includes Seatide Fish, Lani's Farm, Saxelby Cheese, Amy's Bread, Acme Smoked Fish, D'Artagnan—plus in the run-up to Thanksgiving, Snowdance Farm (their veg-fed turkeys, raised outdoors in Sullivan County, are $6.99/lb).
"The quality is sky-high," says the self-described "local food maven," who adds that the vendors she works with "normally supply fab restaurants."
Here's how it works: Every Saturday McGrath sends everyone who's signed up food and price lists from each supplier. Orders are placed the following Monday.
The food is picked up/delivered every Wednesday afternoon from McGrath's home on W 142nd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue.
The orders can also be delivered via Uber.
To cover her time—she works about two days on the project and considers herself a local business—McGrath adds a slight markup (20%). Even so, the prices remain extremely low. Payment is via Venmo or similar.
To get on the co-op's email list, contact her at localfoodmaven@gmail.com.
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