A local business in Harrisonburg continues to do its part to bring nearby residents locally grown and organic food. On Friday, this business, Friendly City Food Co-op, celebrated Member Appreciation Day.

Member Appreciation Day is a day when the manager gets to thank the members of the co-op for putting their hard earned money into the store.

"It's a two hundred dollar investment. It's an equity share. You actually own part of the business. We have 1,400 member owners. In exchange for the 200, you get this great store in downtown Harrisonburg," said manager Steve Cook.

Members also got to meet some of the vendors who sell locally at the co-op like one vendor who makes soap from olive oil.

"It's awesome to meet a bunch of customers. They're buying from us. We're buying from them. And I'm able to give product information to fellow members," said soap-maker Tamsen Devers.

She said that's what makes Friendly City so special. Customers that can meet the people who make their goods.

"I just went this morning to Edinburg to pick up organic beef. As I brought it inot the store, I literally ran into our pork producer in the hallway. So we had pig meeting cow right in the aisle of the store," said Cook.

After being open over half a year, the co-op is inching toward a profit, and the members will get their investments back.

Some of the members said they were happy to make the $200 investment because they get access to a farmer's market whenever they want only minutes away from their homes.

On days like Member Appreciation Day, members get 5% off, and that goes until the co-op closes.

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