Clover Mooooovers & Shakers

Meet Dennis Cooper. He’s an entrepreneur with a small store and a big idea. For years this enterprising Novato native dreamed of opening a community marketplace that would showcase locally grown and raised products. Last month that dream came true when customers flocked to the opening of Cooper’s Public Market in downtown Novato.

The modest 1550 square-foot market, located at 1425 Grant Avenue (at 5th Street), stocks the finest sustainably-raised fresh produce, meats, eggs, dairy, artisan cheeses, honey, olive oil, breads, herbs, skin care and more–all sourced from family-owned farms, ranches, dairies, and bakeries within a thirty-mile radius of its location.

Cooper hopes his market will be a community gathering place that connects patrons to producers. “The North Bay has long been an epicenter of the farm-to-table movement,” he reflects. “The increased popularity of farmers’ markets, CSA programs, and farm co-ops over the past decade is indicative of consumer’s desire to connect with the origins of their food.” To that end, Cooper’s unique grocery store is gaining a loyal audience with locavore customers seeking high quality, healthy foods to put on their family tables.

We are pleased (but not surprised) to report that Cooper’s Public Market stocks Clover Organic Milk, conventional Half & Half, Organic Yogurt, Organic Cheese, Organic Butter, Organic Sour Cream, and Cage-Free Brown Eggs in its dairy case. Our marketing directors, Joanie Benedetti-Claussen and Molly Locke, recently paid a visit to the store to meet Dennis and offer their congratulations. A long-time Clover fan, Cooper shared a story about how our founder, Gene Benedetti, had inspired him through the years with all his work benefitting local agriculture. Everyone was mooooooved by the meeting!

Cooper hopes his flagship store will not only succeed, but will lead to expanded outlets in the future. We hope so too! His idea certainly resonates with our own philosophy to support small family farms and sustainable agriculture while supplying consumers with the finest, locally produced foods available.

Cooper’s Public Market (www.cooperspublicmarket.com) is open Monday-Saturday from 9:00am to 7:00pm, with reduced hours on Sunday from 10:00am-4:00pm. For more information, call 415-895-1780.

We applaud Cooper’s Public Market and wish Dennis the best of luck in his endeavors.