While Sept. 27 was gray and rainy, that didn’t quell the spirits inside Round Top’s Darrow’s Barn as Rising Tide Community Market celebrated its 30th anniversary.
With music, dancing and great food, the membership celebrated the special place that Rising Tide holds in the community.
It was in the basement of that very barn, 30 years ago September, that a group of local folks got together to purchase food in bulk and share it among them. As the group and the community’s interest grew, Rising Tide was born.
A storefront operation followed, which moved in 1985 to what is now the Women of Substance building.
Another move came about for Rising Tide, in 1999, to its current location in the Coastal Marketplace.
As a cooperative, Rising Tide is owned by its members, and exists to meet the needs of its members and the wider community. With a focus on natural and organic food, over 30 percent of Rising Tide’s purchasing dollars are spent on local food.
This year, that will amount to approximately $480,000 that stays in the community by supporting local farmers and producers.
From a handful of people in 1978, Rising Tide’s membership has now grown to more than 1800 members of the community who own a share of the business. And Rising Tide isn’t done growing yet; in July of this year Rising Tide purchased the old Strong Chevrolet building and is planning a relocation in late spring or early summer of 2009.
