Co-op Time Investment: Low to High
The time investment varies depending on the group or co-op and level of service. While some may be fairly small and informal, maybe charging a small membership fee to cover transportation and administration costs, others may require members to work -- from a couple of hours a month to weekly shifts if the food is also prepped and cooked (e.g., transportation, coordination, packing, cooking, cleaning).
How to Find Food Co-ops in Montreal
The organizations listed below are either co-ops or resources that can help locate a Montreal food co-op or "groupes d'achats" in your neighborhood.
Groupe Ressource du Plateau Mont-Royal
A community service organization operating on the Plateau with links to many groupes d'achats or food co-ops in Montreal. A member of the Collectif des Groupes d'Achats du Québec.
Neighborhood(s): Plateau Mont-Royal but can direct you to groups in other neighborhoods
Address: 4245 Laval, between Rachel and Marie-Anne East; Mont-Royal Metro
INFO: (514) 527-1616
In French.
EcollegeY Organic Food Service
Offering a wide selection of locally grown and/or produced foods, including vegetables and fruits in season, grains, fish and meat, EcollegeY doesn't require any volunteering or membership fee, just a $10 deposit for the delivery bin provided with the first order. Prices are not exactly a steal, but if budgeted well with meals planned ahead, the cost ends up comparable to buying non-organic non-local produce at supermarket chains and it's delivered to your front door.
Neighborhood(s): Most of the Greater Montreal Area
Address: 4627 Wilson, corner of Somerled; Villa-Maria Metro
INFO: (514) 486-2247
Montreal Urban Community Sustainment Dining Co-op
Offering a meal service/collective kitchen/food coop in one, members pay a sliding scale monthly fee depending on the meal plan and agree to work weekly cooking and cleaning shifts (full meal service requires four cooking and cleaning shifts a week whereas a meal a week requires only a couple of hours a month). Dishes are vegan and very affordable.
Neighborhood(s): Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (NDG)
Address: 2000 Northcliff, #218; Vendôme Metro
INFO: (514) 312-7074
Co-op La Maison Verte
One of Canada's largest cooperative ecological stores and a sure bet to find insider information on local "groupes d'achat" and grocery co-ops, La Maison Verte also sets up a mini-farmer's market in front of their store selling fresh organic produce, goat cheese and cut flowers every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and is actively involved in community-supported agriculture.
Neighborhood(s): Notre-Dame-de-Grâce but may be aware of groups outside NDG
Address: 5785 Sherbrooke, corner Melrose; Vendôme Metro
INFO: (514) 489-8000
Aliments d'Ici
A member of GRIP-UQAM, Aliments d'Ici is a research committee devoted to finding affordable locavore solutions and are well-connected with the food co-op scene in Montreal.
Neighborhood(s): Verdun but connected to groups in other neighborhoods too
Address: 3328 De Rushbrooke, between Henri-Duhamel and Lasalle; Lasalle Metro
INFO: (514) 762-0330
In French.
GRIP-UQAM
Deeply implicated in issues of food security, affordable produce and locavore lifestyles, this social and environmental research group from l'Université du Québec à Montréal is a great resource to help you locate groupe d'achats or food co-ops in your neighborhood.
Neighborhood(s): Downtown but are linked to groupes d'achat across Montreal
Address: 320 Ste. Catherine East, Pavillon J.-A. DeSève, 3ird floor, DS-3159;
Berri-UQAM Metro
INFO: (514) 987-3000 #4077
In French.
Organic Campus
Open to McGill students and the public at large, this food co-op is straightforward, affordable and convenient. Produce is limited to vegetables, fruit and some baked goods but it's almost always locally grown, organic, seasonal and you get a massive bang for your buck at only $15 a basket for two and $25 to feed an entire family's fruit and veggie needs for a week! Nearly identical to community-supported agriculture, the only difference from a consumer standpoint is instead of paying a few hundred dollars to cover the costs of two seasons worth of baskets, you only need to pay Organic Campus a week ahead and you are not obliged to commit yourself to a basket every week. And ... it's available year-round!
Neighborhood(s): Downtown, but open to all residents in the Greater Montreal Area
Address: Shatner University Center Building, 2nd floor, 3480 McTavish Street, above Sherbrooke; Peel Metro.
INFO: organiccampus@gmail.com
Le Frigo Vert
The equivalent of community-supported agriculture, Le Frigo Vert, in addition to providing vegetable and fruit baskets, also sells dried goods and other food products.
Neighborhood(s): Downtown, but open to all residents in the Greater Montreal Area
Address: 2130 Mackay, corner of de Maisonneuve; Guy Metro.
INFO: (514) 848-7586
