Job: Wellness buyer, Weavers Way Next Door

Since when: Last fall; he came over from Weavers Way Across the Way to get a change of scene after being in Mt. Airy since 2014.

Age: 33

Where he’s from/where he lives now: New Paltz, NY/Germantown

How he got to the Co-op: He graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s in classical music performance (clarinet and saxophone) from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, but couldn’t find a full-time job in music. In 2012, he started working at North Country Food Co-op in Plattsburgh, doing “everything,” including buying for their bulk department. In 2014, he had the opportunity to relocate to Philly because some friends were living in the area.

How he got into Wellness: “I was always interested in that sort of thing…had been self-educating myself on that for awhile. A job opened up there, so I applied for it.”

Working in Wellness during COVID: “People always want information about stuff, but now it’s more so….we’ve really been talking about boosting the immune system and how important that is throughout all of this, because that information isn’t out there.”

Outside pursuits: He reduced his hours recently because he enrolled in the surgical technologist program at Delaware County Community College. He’ll graduate from the program next summer.

Favorite Co-op products: Special editions of GT’s Kombucha; Prep Foods selections, including their jalapeño lime hummus.

Thoughts on the Co-op: “ I think they do a good job with community support. They actually walk the walk…do a lot of stuff to help the local community. It’s important, especially in this time.”

— Karen Plourde