Astoria Co-op General Manager Matthew Stanley has announced several improvements to the co-op, including a new dry-rack display in the produce department. Four feet of grocery shelving have been added with an end-cap shelf to the floor, improving product display and providing the ability to expand product selection.

A new register system is up and running. It allows individual items to be seen on the screen as they are rung up and makes it easier to maintain the membership database. A new bulk herb display will be provided by the Frontier Co-op.

These changes would not be possible without a cooperative business model, Stanley said. Installation of the register system was successful because the People’s Co-op of San Diego donated a week’s time from their information technology manager, Doug Zilm. Grocery shelves and produce racks were donated by Food Front Co-op in Portland, and the People’s Co-op of San Diego most recently sent their head merchandiser, Jon Gire, to offer his expertise at the Astoria Co-op.