Kalabash Food Coop

Our Mission
The Kalabash Food Cooperative is a community-based, member-run institution in Central Brooklyn that provides access to affordable and ecologically responsible organic food and produce.  We work to inspire self-empowerment, self-determination and mutual support throughout the African Diaspora.  Four areas essential to our mission are: Nutrition, Economics, Education and Cooperation. 

History of Kalabash
Kalabash meetings began Labor Day weekend of 2004 when a group of concerned community members decided to take action to tackle the staggeringly poor health conditions facing residents of central Brooklyn. Official statistics show that many residents suffer from preventable diseases such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, all stemming from poor nutrition. Kalabash was established to counteract these negative outcomes, make available nutritious and affordable food to the Central Brooklyn community and to provide education, training and other resources to create a healthier community. Kalabash Food Cooperative previously operated a community buying club wherein members supported independent farmers and brought healthy, affordable and sustainable food to the family table. Kalabash is in the process of developing a permanent storefront operation to work with residents of Bedford-Stuyvesant and the surrounding neighborhoods to provide affordable, quality foods for the community. 

Our Name
A "calabash" is a plant that has been used for thousands of years in various societies to hold food and drink, as a musical instrument, for artistry, and in numerous other ways.  We simply changed the letter 'c' to the letter 'k'.