Syracuse Real Food Co-Op

Love this place, every one who works there is friendly and helpful. Great selection for almost anything you need. Amazing bread. Love the coffee and the price of it even more.

This is a small but stocked co-​op in a nice neighborhood. They have a big selection of nuts and grains that’s you can buy in the bulk bins which I prefer doing. They have lots of local produce and coffee, too.

Nice friendly atmosphere. very fortunate it have this place in my neighborhood. Great assortments of organic foods and awesome coffee.
Tips: Wednesdays coffee is 15 cents if you bring your own mug. They also have lot of good free samples.

Oh Real Foods, I want to like you so badly and you keep finding ways of disappointing me.
First, let me say that the Coop is miles better than it was 7 years ago when I moved here. It used to be this scary hole-​in-​the-​wall place with a really sad selection. Since then, they’ve done a great job of cleaning the place up and installing new taller, space-​saving shelving that makes the store easy to navigate. It’s nice that you can pick up your CSA there. And the location can’t be beat if you live in the university neighborhood. But on the whole, this place is still maddening.
Problems: staff is often incompetent (ex. 3 staffers chatting in the back while customers are waiting at the counter), proper food storage is somewhat questionable (I recently bought some rotten cheese from Real Coop and after making a trip all the way back to return it they simply refunded the cash and shrugged «sorry,») they send out coupon books which include products they don’t even carry. I would never ever attempt to do my regular grocery shopping there because every time I drop in for more than 4 items, there are things on my list they simply don’t have.
I think the staff there have this image of themselves as being really local and friendly and living by their ideals. But the fact is, if your stock is sometimes lacking, you sell rotten food, and your customer service (for people who aren’t personal friends of the staff) is lax, it doesn’t matter how positive your message is or how polished your coop by-​laws are: no one will want to shop there. Again, every time I drop in I pray this place has gotten its act together. And 9 times out of 10 I leave disappointed.

I’m a sucker for food co-​ops. This one’s in an interesting location along with some cute houses. You’d never think there is a store right next to white picket fence type houses.
Even though the place is small, it’s clean, has great bulk section, fresh organic produce and some great local products. They have a soup and salad combo during lunch for $ 6.99. I love that they had local organic tofu you can buy by right out of the tub soaked in water. They have the local cheese, butter, and fresh baked goods. In the bulk section I found whole oat groats which I have hard time finding at whole foods. In the produce section kale, collard green, carrots, bananas etc. Although their store isn’t huge it’s got the good organic vegan friendly selection.
They don’t have a huge selection of prepared foods only one kind of soup, several sandwiches, and some salads and pastries.

good coffee– just get it in the morning… Now they have beer!

The prices are what is expected. It’s a co-​op, they are usually more expensive then a normal grocery store. You just gotta remember that.
This one is small and it seems like it carries all the same things that you can get at the Wegmans in Dewitt.
But it’s your neighborhood co-​op so it has that going for it.

Small but the best we got.

Food Co-​Op you are my newest favorite store. Sure you are small but you carry almost all the items I need; and the prices are basically the same at other stores (sure you can cheaper but the quality will be lower). Love your coffee selection, honey by the pound, and organic tea. Friendly staff and easy parking at night.

This place has grown on me, but coming from a town with two pretty large (About 10x the size) co-​ops, I’m still not impressed. The bulk selection is miniscule. I mean, Big Wegman’s has a larger selection of organic bulk items (including dried fruit!) and tea than the co-​op. The prices are also fairly high. I usually stop here because it’s on my way home from work and I go through a pound of rolled oats each week. But honestly, I like the taste of the organic oats from Wegmans better. I’ve pretty much resigned myself to hauling a cooler up Vermont and raiding the Onion River Co-​op when I go visit friends in Burlington.

Like other customers, I was quite stunned at the Syracuse Food Co-op’s prices! Eeep. But I do have to give them four stars for their dedication to the environment, and the amazing selection of food they provide.
Also, they usually have some good sales and good prices on non-​perishables (aka selling couscous by the pound!) or the Green & Black Organic Chocolate for $ 2.50 sometimes. Stock up! Amazing breads too (check their delivery dates, pretty sure they get stuff from Pastabilities). They’re also one of the only food co-​ops I’ve seen so dedicated to local produce (i once got this huge mushroom the size of a textbook that tasted like steak — and was local and only harvested for a week or two a yr — where else can you get that?) I also like to add seltzer or club soda to their juices in order to make them last longer. And best friggin heirloom tomatoes I’ve ever had.
They also have a system where you put down $.50 for a glass jug when you buy milk or orange juice, and when you bring it back to refill, you just leave it in the back and don’t pay the deposit.
Don’t forget your reusable grocery bag for $.05 off!

I love you food coop, but you’re bringing me down.
There is so much good stuff here, it’s absurd. But not as crazy as their prices. Good bulk selection. Lots of vegan and vegetarian crutches, great fresh local produce and dairy. And the staff is friendly. Alas, most of the time I walk in, drool all over their floor, and walk out alone and hungry :(

Living in Syracuse the choices for groceries are P&C, Price Chopper, and the dominant Wegmans. None of these stores have a great selection of foods for those seeking vegetarian, vegan, or more healthy conscious items.
Enter the Syracuse Co-​op. Now the Co-​op is genuinely trying to offer an alternative to the big chains, but growing up in California I have been all too spoiled by farmers markets and alternative chains.
The Co-​op falls short with a lack of selection and almost Bristol Farms level prices (which is significantly higher than most grocery stores).
I shop here rarely and still manage to find most of the items I need. However if you are looking for things like Tofrutti or soy substitutes this is probably the only option.