DARBOY, Wis (NBC 26) -- A group of veterans has started an online retail store where you can buy locally produced foods and hand-crafted creations from right here in northeast Wisconsin.
Every Friday, since early on in the pandemic, Jonathan Pylypiv has been stuffing bags full of northeastern Wisconsin produce for folks who are trying to avoid the grocery store or just shop local.
"We don't have a brick-and-mortar store yet. But we do offer an online marketplace and home delivery."
Jonathon and a group of fellow veterans, many of whom are farmers, created the Camo Cooperative in 2020. It's a website where folks can find locally produced items most of which are grown or raised in northeastern Wisconsin.
"We feature food and product and artisan goods that we make or grow ourselves and we also source from other military family small businesses," says Pylypiv.
The Camo Co-op currently has just eight member-owners, a group of people that wanted to find a way to continue selling their products during the pandemic.
"Farmers markets are less prominent, so this is a way to continue to support local, from local producers, and we do deliver directly to the home," adds Vice President of the co-op Justin Duell.
Duell says their website, which is updated weekly with their freshest produce, has a bit of something for everyone. He adds that the satisfying thing for many customers is they know exactly where their money is going for each and every purchase.
"We know there are a lot of places that people can buy food and provisions. We want to give people another choice. A choice to support veterans, spouses, and those with military roots and we're really proud of what we're doing, and we want to do more," adds Pylypiv.
There is no membership cost to purchase items at the Camo Cooperative. Orders do have to be made between Sunday and Wednesday of each week for them to be delivered across the fox valley on Friday afternoon. Check out this link for more information about placing an order and finding out what the co-op has to offer.
