To fully understand dinnertime in Greenbelt, it is necessary to explore
the main component of any mealtime in any town....the Food! The way that
food was obtained in Greenbelt was not the conventional way of the time.
Instead there was a food cooperative. The idea of a co-op not only saved
money for its participants, it brought the new people of Greenbelt
together. "One of the most significant community activities [was]
embodied in the Consumer Cooperative - major source of Greenbelt's
goods and services" (Fulmer, 27). This was a very well thought out,
detailed plan. People from all over the nearby areas were interested by
this project. "The cooperative planned, financed, and built one of the
finest self-service food stores in the East. This new two story building
62 by 174 feet, was erected at a cost of approximately $225,000,
exclusive of the cost of equipment" (Warner, 194). The co-op had
everything necessary
for dining in Greenbelt."The main floor house[d] the the main market, with
self-service departments for meats, produce, frosted foods, dairy and
bakery products, and groceries" (Warner, 194). It took a while for the
co-op to
be constructed, but to the residents of Greenbelt it was well worth the
wait. "This new supermarket opened on November 10, 1948, and is not only
popular in Greenbelt, but throughout Prince George's county as well"
(Warner, 194).
When
the first families moved
into Greenbelt, they received a pamphlet about the co-op. The pamphlet
explained the concept and workings of the new food cooperative. The main
service listed in the pamphlet was a promise to provide "a modern self
service food store with fully equipped meat, grocery, fruit and vegetable
departments" (Fulmer, 31). Besides the services, there
were guidelines set for the participants to agree to. The fifth principle
stated that the food would "sell for cash at market prices" (Fulmer,
31). This gave everyone in the community an equal chance to get the
food they wanted.Since housewives knew what was needed in the kitchen, the ones on the committees were able to ensure that the co-op provided for all the food demands of Greenbelt's residents. The food that was available in the co-op did meet the standards of the families for dinnertime in Greenbelt. This is why the Greenbelt food cooperative is still popular today. For more information on Greenbelt Cooperatives, please see the project by Rob Levendosky.