I love reading the previous reviews. As a nearly nine-month resident of "the neighborhood," I have felt both disgust and deep love for the Co-op. On move-in day 2009 I was nine months pregnant, sweaty and needed some ready-to-eat food for myself, my husband and our moving-in-helpers. I did not have a canvas bag on me and I was not a member. I got a very strange look from the cashier and felt, overall, substantially unwelcome. Then, we got home and ate some very unsatisfactory prepared salads with half-raw rice in them. Huh.
HOWEVER, I've since changed my tune about the co-op. No, I don't buy their expensive toilet paper or their prepared salads, or all of my groceries there. However, their organic produce section is really great. They always have sale items and to me it *is* worth it to spend a little more to eat organic, and, at times, locally, especially in the winter when there is no farmer's market. Also it is convenient. I like the excuse to take my baby for a short walk to pick up a few items a couple times a week. They also have a very good bulk dry goods and bulk tea section. Also, while one of their cashiers is a true douche-bag, the rest are really nice, regardless of whether or not you have your own bags.
And about those bags, although it may seem obnoxious, the fear, or just discomfort of getting one of those looks motivates me to almost never forget my canvas bags anymore. And that's good for the environment, right?