Last we checked in with the folks at Home Grown Food Co-op, the organization had just received a $25,000 matching grant from the Florida Hospital Foundation to help the little co-op move into a new space that it could eventually develop into a storefront. Today the organization sent out a press release announcing that it’s working to raise the last $9,000 it needs in matching money toward that grant; Homegrown is making a push to raise that money by the end of the year.

According to market director Michael Tiner, the co-op moved into a new space on Orange Avenue in May, and it’s been working on cleaning and renovating ever since. Eventually, that space will be developed into a walk-in store, open seven days a week, where the co-op will sell locally sourced foods, bulk food items and a juice bar.

“There’s no solid deadline, but we need to wrap this up and bring it to a close,” Tiner says. “We’re pushing to do that as the year comes to an end, so next year we can start fresh. New Year, new energy.”

Currently the co-op orders directly from farmers, and members pick up their orders once a month. The new store, Tiner says, would bring “a level of convenience” to members interested in eating healthy, local food.

http://blogs.orlandoweekly.com/index.php/2010/12/homegrown-food-co-op-trying-to-raise-9000-by-years-end/