Amid the Battle of the Pantry, in which Big Box stores vie with national retailers to control our shopping habits while local farms and organic growers retain the interests of the health-conscious, one group in Bethlehem has been working diligently to plan its own future.

The Bethlehem Food Co-Op, organizing quietly for the last four years, held its first public meeting of the year Jan. 5 at the Charles Brown Ice House. Members shared business updates while explaining their goals and answering newcomers' questions regarding the benefits of membership.

The co-op is an incorporated business owned by community members invested in opening a grocery store in Bethlehem's downtown. As of January there were more than 160 member-owners whose ultimate goal is to offer healthy, affordable, locally-focused food and informational workshops at a convenient neighborhood location.

Audience members asked about the inclusion of certain kinds of cookies or GMO-free foods. Genetically Modified Organism foods are those that were designed or manipulated by scientists. Board member Gary Warren said it's early to answer such questions as they are nowhere near stocking shelves. However, he said stocking local, organic or whatever other sort of foods in the future store would be exactly what becoming a member and having a voice in the co-op is all about: Being a partner in the process.

The co-op needs 300 members before it is stable enough to begin searching for a property.

More information can be found at http://www.bethlehemfood.coop/