Acknowledgments
Grocery Activism: The Radical History of Food Cooperatives in Minnesota
by Craig Upright
University of Minnesota Press
Published Spring 2020
by Craig Upright
University of Minnesota Press
Published Spring 2020
“This book began as a dissertation project at Princeton University. I had set out to provide a comprehensive history and analysis of the organic food industry. Fortunately, my advisers convinced me to consume this meal one bite at a time. Since I kept running into cooperative grocery stores as an important link between the industry’s early years and its contemporary reach, I decided to focus on how this organizational form became so strongly associated with this particular product.
“I will always owe many thanks to my advisers at Princeton—Paul DiMaggio, Robert Wuthnow, and Miguel Centeno—for their continued advice and their support of this research. Paul in particular provided invaluable comments on multiple versions of this manuscript, and all three forced me to think more precisely about the organizational realities facing cooperatives in the capitalist market. Bob’s vast knowledge of American historical and cultural trends helped me understand how concurrent movements often intersected in novel ways that became apparent only later. Miguel challenged me to tell an interesting story and gave me a great deal of encouragement to speak to a wider audience beyond the narrow subfields of our discipline. They have all been excellent role models as scholars and mentors, and they have inspired me to grow in those capacities.
“Princeton’s Sociology Department is an outstanding center for scholarship, and the administrative support staff of Blanche Anderson, Cindy Gibson, and Donna DeFrancisco dispensed invaluable help to navigate the various bureaucracies of the institution. Princeton’s Program in American Studies provided additional financial support while I researched the origins of the organic food industry in America, and I received professional improvement funds from Winona State University to complete this manuscript. The staff at three research institutions lent me assistance to explore their archives: the Center for Cooperatives University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and the Gale Family Library at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. The Kris Olsen collection of 1970s Minnesota co-ops documents, archived at the Gale Family Library, was indispensable in my research; Heidi Heller and Jenny McElroy were particularly helpful in locating photographs and providing permissions to reproduce them, while Eric Mortenson expertly turned them into high-quality digital images. The MHS is truly a treasure of our state. I am also indebted to the work of Florence Parker, a staff member at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1920 to 1952, who served as an advocate for consumer cooperation and, importantly, helped the bureau publish a wealth of statistics on these organizations for three decades. My analysis in chapters 2 and 3 relies heavily on the information found in those bulletins, and I would have a far less interesting story to tell without them. The same is true for my engaging interviewees, who generously shared their histories.
“This work centers on the cooperative spirit observed through the creation of countercultural market organizations. Throughout this process I have been blessed with examples of this ethos in many different realms. I found the support of Terry Boychuk, Michal McCall, Jack Weatherford, and Clay Steinman at Macalester College instrumental in introducing me to the field of sociology. Macalester faculty members Karin Aguilar-San Juan, Terry Boychuk, Ruthann Godollei, Joanna Inglot, Kiarina Kordela, and Peter Rachleff generously discussed aspects of this project with me. Graduate students at Princeton University who helped me include my valued friends Nina Bandelj, Wendy Cadge, Marion Carter, Eszter Hargittai, Kieran Healy, Erin Kelly, Brian Steensland, and Steven Tepper. As I completed my thesis, I joined a strong and supportive “accountability group,” and James Gibbon in particular has been receiving (if not reading) daily reports from me for many years. I am grateful for all of the encouragement and support I have received from him and the other members.
“Many fine colleagues at the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, Grinnell College, and Winona State University helped me learn pedagogical skills as well as the importance of finding the proper balance among teaching, service, research, and my personal life. In particular, I have had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Chernega, Karla Erickson, Susan Ferguson, Meg Wilkes Karraker, Peter Miene, Mark Norman, Aurea Osgood, Sharon Preves, and David Speetzen, who all provided much guidance and encouragement in their roles as department chairs, advisers, colleagues, and friends. Lenny Russo, my esteemed chef, is a tireless proponent for local, organic, and sustainable food, and I hold him in high regard.
“Several editors and writing coaches provided both support for the writing process and comments on various drafts of this manuscript, including Jessica Matteson at the University of Minnesota, Susan Callaway at the University of St. Thomas, and Judy Hunter and Mark Baechtel at Grinnell College. Letta Page and Jon Wallace reviewed entire later versions with keen eyes and answered countless questions regarding stylistic conventions; Jeri Famighetti provided the final review and corrected numerous stylistic mistakes. Any remaining errors, of course, are my responsibility. This book exists only because Jason Weidemann at the University of Minnesota Press saw its potential and provided me with his encouragement, support, and much patience to help me pursue the project to its conclusion. The Press assembled an excellent production team, including Assistant Production and Design Manager Rachel Moeller and Neil West, Brenda West, and Katie West of BNTypographics West; I appreciated the production team’s choice of Janson Text as the primary typeface. Gabriel Levin, Jason’s editorial assistant, was also instrumental in getting the final version of the manuscript to press.
“I would also like to thank my family for their support, including both of my brothers, Andy Upright and Kelly Upright, and especially my late mother, Carol Upright. Although she passed away before I completed this book, she always let me feel her pride in my past accomplishments and potential for the future. Finally, I extend my greatest thanks to Ruthann Godollei, who persevered with me throughout the writing of this manuscript and the advancement of my career. She has served as an excellent role model for including our passions for scholarship, teaching, and the pursuit of social justice in everything we do. My admiration for Ruthann knows no bounds, and I would not be where I am or who I am without her.”
“I will always owe many thanks to my advisers at Princeton—Paul DiMaggio, Robert Wuthnow, and Miguel Centeno—for their continued advice and their support of this research. Paul in particular provided invaluable comments on multiple versions of this manuscript, and all three forced me to think more precisely about the organizational realities facing cooperatives in the capitalist market. Bob’s vast knowledge of American historical and cultural trends helped me understand how concurrent movements often intersected in novel ways that became apparent only later. Miguel challenged me to tell an interesting story and gave me a great deal of encouragement to speak to a wider audience beyond the narrow subfields of our discipline. They have all been excellent role models as scholars and mentors, and they have inspired me to grow in those capacities.
“Princeton’s Sociology Department is an outstanding center for scholarship, and the administrative support staff of Blanche Anderson, Cindy Gibson, and Donna DeFrancisco dispensed invaluable help to navigate the various bureaucracies of the institution. Princeton’s Program in American Studies provided additional financial support while I researched the origins of the organic food industry in America, and I received professional improvement funds from Winona State University to complete this manuscript. The staff at three research institutions lent me assistance to explore their archives: the Center for Cooperatives University of Wisconsin—Madison, Wilson Library at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, and the Gale Family Library at the Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul. The Kris Olsen collection of 1970s Minnesota co-ops documents, archived at the Gale Family Library, was indispensable in my research; Heidi Heller and Jenny McElroy were particularly helpful in locating photographs and providing permissions to reproduce them, while Eric Mortenson expertly turned them into high-quality digital images. The MHS is truly a treasure of our state. I am also indebted to the work of Florence Parker, a staff member at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics from 1920 to 1952, who served as an advocate for consumer cooperation and, importantly, helped the bureau publish a wealth of statistics on these organizations for three decades. My analysis in chapters 2 and 3 relies heavily on the information found in those bulletins, and I would have a far less interesting story to tell without them. The same is true for my engaging interviewees, who generously shared their histories.
“This work centers on the cooperative spirit observed through the creation of countercultural market organizations. Throughout this process I have been blessed with examples of this ethos in many different realms. I found the support of Terry Boychuk, Michal McCall, Jack Weatherford, and Clay Steinman at Macalester College instrumental in introducing me to the field of sociology. Macalester faculty members Karin Aguilar-San Juan, Terry Boychuk, Ruthann Godollei, Joanna Inglot, Kiarina Kordela, and Peter Rachleff generously discussed aspects of this project with me. Graduate students at Princeton University who helped me include my valued friends Nina Bandelj, Wendy Cadge, Marion Carter, Eszter Hargittai, Kieran Healy, Erin Kelly, Brian Steensland, and Steven Tepper. As I completed my thesis, I joined a strong and supportive “accountability group,” and James Gibbon in particular has been receiving (if not reading) daily reports from me for many years. I am grateful for all of the encouragement and support I have received from him and the other members.
“Many fine colleagues at the University of St. Thomas, Hamline University, Grinnell College, and Winona State University helped me learn pedagogical skills as well as the importance of finding the proper balance among teaching, service, research, and my personal life. In particular, I have had the pleasure of working with Jennifer Chernega, Karla Erickson, Susan Ferguson, Meg Wilkes Karraker, Peter Miene, Mark Norman, Aurea Osgood, Sharon Preves, and David Speetzen, who all provided much guidance and encouragement in their roles as department chairs, advisers, colleagues, and friends. Lenny Russo, my esteemed chef, is a tireless proponent for local, organic, and sustainable food, and I hold him in high regard.
“Several editors and writing coaches provided both support for the writing process and comments on various drafts of this manuscript, including Jessica Matteson at the University of Minnesota, Susan Callaway at the University of St. Thomas, and Judy Hunter and Mark Baechtel at Grinnell College. Letta Page and Jon Wallace reviewed entire later versions with keen eyes and answered countless questions regarding stylistic conventions; Jeri Famighetti provided the final review and corrected numerous stylistic mistakes. Any remaining errors, of course, are my responsibility. This book exists only because Jason Weidemann at the University of Minnesota Press saw its potential and provided me with his encouragement, support, and much patience to help me pursue the project to its conclusion. The Press assembled an excellent production team, including Assistant Production and Design Manager Rachel Moeller and Neil West, Brenda West, and Katie West of BNTypographics West; I appreciated the production team’s choice of Janson Text as the primary typeface. Gabriel Levin, Jason’s editorial assistant, was also instrumental in getting the final version of the manuscript to press.
“I would also like to thank my family for their support, including both of my brothers, Andy Upright and Kelly Upright, and especially my late mother, Carol Upright. Although she passed away before I completed this book, she always let me feel her pride in my past accomplishments and potential for the future. Finally, I extend my greatest thanks to Ruthann Godollei, who persevered with me throughout the writing of this manuscript and the advancement of my career. She has served as an excellent role model for including our passions for scholarship, teaching, and the pursuit of social justice in everything we do. My admiration for Ruthann knows no bounds, and I would not be where I am or who I am without her.”