John Davidowitz

<< 2021 Board of Directors Elections

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1. Why would you like to serve on the City Market Board? What excited you about becoming a Board Member?

A healthy community and healthy regional food system go hand-in-hand: Knowing the importance of this dynamic within Vermont has always drawn me to this way and was a driving factor in my decision to move here permanently in June 2020. Whether it’s the Waitsfield Farmers Market on a Saturday, or the shelves of City Market every day of the week, the ability to work closely with an organization dedicated to a healthy regional food system is an ideal way for me to leverage my extensive experiences in the Organic Food Industry, while becoming further immersed in a community that I have grown to love in a short amount of time. Not to mention, and in all seriousness, any chance I get to spend more time walking grocery store aisles and helping deliver a better experience for Team Members and shoppers alike genuinely makes my day!

2. Please describe any professional skills you have that will help you to be an effective Board Member. How would you help the Board to balance the business needs of a $50 million business with the need to meet our Global Ends as a community-owned cooperative?

I’ve worked in the Organic & Natural Food Industry for almost 20 years and have developed an extensive “toolchest” along the way, which I leverage in my day-to-day work, and would be available to the Team at City Market to leverage at their discretion. These experiences began as a Market Manager in The Union Square (NYC) Green/Farmers Market, Store Management & Purchasing at Whole Foods Market, Brand Management at Hain Celestial-Seasonings, and now Sales Leadership for several organizations, and most recently heading up the sales side of the business for an emerging plant based snacking brand: CORE Foods.

Prior to working in Organic Food, I spent 10 years in NYC developing marketing & media strategies for Fortune 1000 companies including American Express, Allstate Insurance, and AT&T. It was the desire to have a passion for my work which drove me to change careers and return to grad school in my 30’s, where I studied Applied Economics, while concentrating in Food Marketing & Distribution

3. Describe your prior involvement with community organizations and/or cooperatives. What did you learn from these experiences?

Prior to grad school, I spent 6 months as a Market Manager for Green Market in NYC, which operates 50+ farmers markets around NYC. This work allowed me to work hand-in -hand with producers from all around the Northeast and New England, gain a better understanding and appreciation for their dedication to a sustainable food system, and further drive me in a direction to make a daily impact on our food system. More recently, I was a “road warrior” who took 40+ trips each year for work, leaving me little opportunity to invest my time in a community organization. One of the (ironic) positives to come out of Covid is my weekdays are no longer spent flying around the country, which afforded me the opportunity to (hopefully) invest my free time with City Market.

4. What opportunities and challenges do you see in the future of City Market?

The importance of local, organic, and sustainable food systems is no longer unique to City Market (and similar independent/cooperative natural grocers) and has been embraced by the biggest of the big box stores. Consumers today have multiple retail outlets to purchase their favorite natural and organic food, and the space gets more cluttered every day. An organization like City Market must keep a pulse on the surrounding retail landscape, while also delivering a clearly differentiated value proposition to Members and consumers alike, which delivers on the importance of community, regional food, and environmental sustainability; all while also maintaining competitive pricing that continues to bring in a pipeline of new Members and shoppers.