Cheers to 50 Years: Ypsi Food Co-op's Community Harvest Podcast
Cheers to 50 Years: Ypsi Food Co-op's Community Harvest Podcast
Podcast Description
Celebrate 50 years of the Ypsilanti Food Co-op with stories from the people who built, shaped, and grew alongside it. From its grassroots beginnings to its role as a local food hub, this podcast explores the co-op’s rich history and impact through candid interviews with longtime members, volunteers, current and former employees, and community voices. Hosted by 50th Anniversary committee chair, Rodolfo Alvarado. 
Listen in and be part of the story!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes of community, cooperation, and local food systems, with episodes showcasing personal stories such as Lisa Bashert's journey, her roles in various co-op projects, and the co-op's evolution from grassroots beginnings to its current status as a food hub.
Celebrate 50 years of the Ypsilanti Food Co-op with stories from the people who built, shaped, and grew alongside it. From its grassroots beginnings to its role as a local food hub, this podcast explores the co-op’s rich history and impact through candid interviews with longtime members, volunteers, current and former employees, and community voices. Hosted by 50th Anniversary committee chair, Rodolfo Alvarado. Listen in and be part of the story!
In this episode, host Rodolfo Alvarado reflects with Connor Harlow, the Bakery Manager at the Ypsi Food Co-op, whose story is as warm and fulfilling as the sourdough he bakes.
Connor first discovered the co-op back in 2013 while studying environmental science at EMU. What began as a simple search for local food quickly turned into a life-changing connection. From his first steps through the co-op’s front door to becoming the heart behind its brick oven, Connor shares how curiosity, community, and a passion for baking led him from customer to co-op cornerstone.
Connor reflects on his early days of baking pies for Thanksgiving, his self-taught mastery of sourdough, and how a once-quiet oven became a symbol of his dedication and creativity. Now, nearly a decade later, Connor reflects on what it means to grow with a place and help shape its future—loaf by loaf.
A story of purpose, passion, and the power of good food. Tune in now to hear Connor’s journey in his own words.
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