The Co-op Q&A with Robert Eshelman-Håkansson
By Kelly Knapp
This month, get to know Robert Eshelman-Håkansson, who recently became the managing editor of content at Greene Hill Food Co-op. He’s a professional writer and editor and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Combining his past experience in cooperative organizations with seasoned writing skills, he has big plans to shape the way we share Co-op information in order to keep us all connected and engaged with the Co-op’s mission and everything it has to offer.
Q: Do you mind telling me a bit about your background? What kind of work and activity do you engage in outside of the Co-op? Where are you from originally?
A: I grew up in a working-class family in Pennsylvania, about halfway between Allentown to the north and Philadelphia to the south. I’ve been a bike messenger, a pharmaceutical guinea pig, a community organizer in low-income housing, the chief-of-staff for the president of San Francisco’s city council, and for the past 15 years, a journalist.
Q: How long have you been a member of the Co-op? What made you decide to first join?
A: I joined the Co-op in August 2018. I’ve been involved in similar efforts since the early 1990s, when I moved to Philadelphia and worked at the Wooden Shoe, an anarchist bookstore collective, and sometimes shopped at Mariposa Food Co-op. A few years later, I moved to San Francisco, where between bike messengering and political organizing, I worked as a cleaning person at Rainbow Grocery, a worker-owned cooperative. I was a member of the Park Slope Coop before joining Greene Hill. I switched because, as much as Park Slope is a fine institution, I wanted to take part in an effort where my contribution as a member might be a bit more consequential. And the store’s closer to my apartment in Crown Heights.
Q: In what ways does being part of the Co-op align with your personal ideals and goals?
A: My early interest in co-ops was definitely the membership model and the notion of building something collectively. Now I’d say being part of the Co-op aligns with my goal of spending less money, especially when I can get produce from a great farm in Pennsylvania and purchase everyday items for significantly less than I would elsewhere.
Q: What were you doing at the Co-op before becoming managing editor? What was your biggest motivation to step into this role?
A: I worked as a cashier at the Co-op. As a journalist, I’m often working at home — and almost always working in front of a computer. I’ve been practicing social distancing for quite awhile. Spending a few hours at the store and interacting with other members was a way of forcing myself to socialize, to be honest. But I recently decided to spend my time doing something that I really like doing — grappling with words and ideas. Not that I don’t love interacting with people, especially Co-op members.
Q: What do you think is the strongest feature of the Co-op?
A: A strength of the Co-op is that there are many reasons to join. There are many entry points into membership. Some people might be driven by the membership model, some by the improved transparency about where their food may come from. I happen to think price is a really strong point. A lot of people are struggling. Saving a few bucks, perhaps a lot more than a few bucks, on a grocery bill can be a compelling reason to ditch shopping at Met Foods or Whole Foods or the bodega and become a member.
Q: What do you have planned and would like to see accomplished as managing editor?
A: I’ve found the website and newsletters, especially The Monthly, to be great resources for getting acquainted with the products and the people at the Co-op. They offer ways to build connections between members and promote the ideas of the Co-op. I plan to work with the writers on content that helps new members become acquainted with the Co-op and keep seasoned members more informed about the people, products, and mission of the Co-op.
Q: Is there a product or perk at the Co-op that you love and think is a hidden gem here?
A: My head says: “Describe how much you love the fresh produce from Lancaster.” But my heart says: “I love that we carry Mrs. T’s Pierogies.”
Q: Anything else you’d like to add?
A: Check out the Co-op’s website, where you can also sign up for The Monthly. And send us an email if you’ve any feedback or ideas about what we should cover. You can also email the Content Committee with feedback or people and issues you’d like us to cover.