Steve Cooke has been the General Manager of Friendly City Food Co-op since August of 2010. He came back to the Shenandoah Valley to be part of the start-up team there and apply all of the experience, skills and local food system building tools he acquired as GM of Sevananda Natural Foods Market in Atlanta, GA, where he worked for 16 years.
Passionate about co-ops and creating start-ups that last, he has served on the board of Food Co-op Initiative since 2016. Steve previously served on the Risk Management Committee and Steering Committee of the Eastern Corridor of the National Co-op Grocers. He has been part of the planning committees of the Virginia Farm to Table Conference, as well as a credit union board.
Steve has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Journalism from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. He likes to say that he “has a degree in Political Science and Communications, and that’s why he runs a food co-op,” tying the politics of food, and the building of strong community relationships.