A strong smell of basil, the sound of a hoe digging into moist soil, the vibrant colors of bees, and a light breeze envelop the greenhouse, surrounded by modern residential buildings, where various farmers carefully harvest the vegetables and fruits they have grown. These will then be taken to the La Feve food cooperative store, whose goal is to combine sustainability with agriculture. This is located in the suburbs of Geneva, in the Les Vergers neighborhood of Meyrin, home to about 3,000 residents. Here, organic products, transparent labeling, local production, fair wages, and food democracy are promoted: a true manifesto of food justice.
In the heart of the neighborhood, plots of vegetables favor the cultivation of crops in harmony with nature, in line with the principles of small-scale farming. Other farms in the canton also supply the store, ensuring that all products come from traceable sources, with a particular focus on local producers. Breads and pastries are handcrafted in the bakery, using organic ingredients. Pierre, the baker, works with Geneva’s stone-ground flours, while the oven is heated with wood every morning. Yogurt, cheeses, and other dairy products are carefully made by Kevin, the artisan from the Fromagerie des Vergers, located just below the bakery. All products are readily available at La Feve, the vibrant heart of the neighborhood, where cooperative members can actively contribute in the warehouse or participate in general assemblies, during which important decisions are made about the future of the cooperative.
The La Feve project emerged from participatory meetings with local residents starting in 2014, where the theme of food played a central role. The idea quickly arose to create an independent supply chain, leading to the establishment of the Filière alimentaire des Vergers, which includes various food-related cooperatives, in addition to La Feve: the Coopérative des Ateliers Paysans, which encompasses the dairy and bakery; the Ferme des Vergers, dedicated to cultivation; and the Auberge des Vergers, a restaurant. This project was made possible thanks to the support of the Fondation de la Qualité de Vie de Quartier, with a direct contribution from the citizens themselves.
This supply chain represents a collective movement, not just of cooperatives, but especially of individuals. In addition to farmers and artisans, many residents of Vergers dedicate their free time to La Feve, engaging in activities ranging from sales to storage, and even cleaning. Everyone tries to carve out time to support this project of collective justice, which also seeks personal justice. For each collaborator, participation in La Feve takes on different meanings: “friendly,” “proximity,” “dream,” “interdependence,” “localism,” “solidarity,” “freedom,” and “ecology.” Coralie, for instance, feels “invigorated and more energetic than before” after spending her time at La Feve. For Simone, a painter, it is an opportunity to “harmonize the creative flow with mindful time management.” For others, it is simply about feeling part of a community that “manages its own grocery store.”
In the end, La Feve is not just a simple store; it is a small beacon in a sea of industrialized food, characterized by a supply chain with deep inequalities, an alternative that nurtures and supports a local food system and promotes healthy eating for all. But food justice only works when it spreads and is recognized. La Feve's mission is to ensure that what it represents today becomes the norm and not an exception, to the point where one day La Feve will no longer be special but simply a common neighborhood grocery store.
Organization: La Feve
Photo, VIdeo, Text: Alberto Maria Mazza
