Food Conspiracy Newsletter
Tucson, AZ: Food Conspiracy Cooperative, 1973-1975.
33 original issues of the Food Conspiracy Cooperative newsletter: Vol. 2 Nos. 4, 11, 12, 15; Vol. 3 Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26; and Vol. 4 Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16-21, 22-26. Each mimeographed issue approx. 10 - 15 pp. Tabloid format, 8 1/2 x 7 inches. One issue bound with single staple. Near Fine with light wear and toning, address and postmarks to rear cover of most issues. Also included are an undated copy of the bylaws and a postmarked envelope containing a March 1974 price sheet for the People's Warehouse in Tucson.
A collection of newsletters from the early days of the Food Conspiracy Cooperative, established in Tucson in 1971 and still in existence today. The food conspiracy movement originated in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1968 and soon developed into a network of autonomous collectives. Members combined their resources to buy in bulk from farmers and suppliers, allowing them to access better food at lower prices.
The Tucson co-op's commitment to affordable health foods was part of a broader anti-capitalist ethos. "The basic purpose of the Food Conspiracy is to serve the needs of the people," begins Article 7 of the bylaws. "We feel that our purpose would be to provide an economic, political and social alternative to the individualistic capitalistic society." The scrappy newsletters are filled with information about women's health, United Farm Workers strikes, the American Indian Movement, and much more, providing a window into the turbulence and optimism of 1970s radical liberation movements.
Price: $1,500