the park slope food coop ( psfc ) is a food cooperative located in the park slope neighborhood of brooklyn in new york city .

it is one of the oldest and largest active food co-ops in the united states .

as a food cooperative , one of its goals is to be a " buying agent to its members , not a selling agent to any industry . "

non-members are welcome to visit the store , but may not shop .

formed in 1973 , psfc has grown to include over 17,000 members .

the psfc business model requires each of its adult members to contribute 2 hours and 45 minutes of work every four weeks , and that no member share a household with a non-member .

in exchange , active members may shop at the store .

the store sells a variety of foods and household goods , mostly environmentally friendly products , at a 21 % markup over the wholesale price ( compared to 26-100 % at a supermarket ) .

the savings are possible because labor is contributed by its members .

psfc operates as a new york state cooperative corporation .

park slope food coop

thieves were arrested at the park slope food coop in november and december , police said .
the community is the park slope food coop and the form of hate is anti - semitism .
in the coop , and then the bloggers at fips , a satirical blog about park slope , ran with it . evidence of said fight : scant . evidence that park slope residents like to make fun of park slope : abundant .
fruits of conflict : a proposal to boycott israeli products at brooklyn ? s park slope food coop has outraged jewish members .
the park slope food coop is facing what may be the most troubling problem in their 39 - year history : apathy .
sarah wellington of we will not be silent makes her position clear at the park slope food coop . photo credit trey pentecost
the park slope food coop requires members to work shifts there . a blogger said she had heard that some were sending nannies .
at the park slope food coop , about 15 , 000 members enjoy savings of up to 40 percent on environmentally friendly groceries .
thousands of members of the park slope food coop gathered at brooklyn tech high school to debate the proposal to ban israeli products .
we are members of the park slope food coop who affirm , like its founders , that the coop as a community stands for human rights , food justice , and positive global interdependence .
( 1 ) see , for example , shurat hadin’s letter to the park slope food coop , june 1 , 2015 , urltoken .
tweets , pics , videos and more : explore our minute - by - minute coverage of the park slope food coop debate and vote .
more than 1 , 600 members of the park slope food co - op gathered to vote on tuesday night .
the plow to plate film series is dedicated to bringing informative , engaging films to both the park slope food coop community and the wider community .
park slope food cooperative - since 1973 . estimated 18 , 000 members . one of the us largest , oldest , active food cooperatives . it rocks !
the park slope food co - op , bastion of high ideals and low prices , conscientiously screens the food it sells to help members avoid genetically modified ingredients .
or maybe bds never left the park slope food coop , the member - run brooklyn grocery store that in 2012 debated whether or not to join the bds movement .
for nearly 40 years , brooklyn ' s park slope food coop has waged a quiet war to topple murderous dictatorships and bring cruel captains of industry weeping to their knees .
plastic bags / wrapping / packaging from most products sold at the coop – food and non - food .
i wonder what she means by hate speech . does that including speech that trashes israel ? park slope food coop members for boycott divestment and sanctions are appalled by the policy :
the park slope food coop , in brooklyn , is known for its rules : organic and nonorganic products must not touch ; long vegetables must be displayed lying parallel to the aisles .
brooklyn — two park slope food coop members were arrested after store management accused them of shoplifting approximately $ 18 , 000 worth of goods over the course of 2016 , police said .
a shopper at the park slope food co - op in brooklyn , n . y . , in 2004 . ( kathy willens / ap )
located in the heart of brooklyn , near prospect park , the park slope food coop is at the nexus of the borough’s many diverse jewish populations . from the liberal jews of park slope to the hasidic jews of crown heights , the coop is one of the few places in brooklyn where jews of all denominations converge in a shared mission : to buy natural foods at reasonable prices .
the park slope food coop ' s venture into the treacherous waters of middle east politics ended when its members voted overwhelmingly tuesday not to go forward with a referendum to boycott israeli products .
despite how heated and personal this ( and , it seems , all israel - palestine politicking ) gets , chances are the park slope food coop is still a far way from dissolution . “
1973 : the park slope food coop is born . something you won ' t find in the produce department : south african apples . coop members finally get to bite into these rare fruits when the country holds its first democratic election in 1994 .
for this list is a rumor that was disseminated in the park slopiest of ways . first amy sohn , who wrote a satirical novel about park slope , tweeted a story about
so the allegation by a park slope blog last week that some members were sending their nannies to fulfill their work shifts has raised eyebrows and debate among the granola - and - strollers set of greater park slope , and smug satisfaction among those who would rather go to key food .
joseph l . holtz , founding member and general coordinator of the park slope food co - op , said a new layer of oversight of its pension fund was unnecessary .
for over 40 years the food coop has been a brooklyn fixture . started as a buying club for conscientious residents of the park slope area , it has grown into the largest member - operated food cooperative in the world with over 16000 members working and shopping here .
“you’re suspended , ” the entrance worker at the park slope food coop announced as i swiped my membership card . some entrance workers speak softly , but not this one . worse , there were a dozen other shoppers within earshot .
members shopping at the park slope food co - op in brooklyn . unrest over the co - op’s pension fund has resulted in a vote on a reform proposal scheduled for tuesday .
the park slope food co - op has roughly 90 paid employees . its members must work at no pay in exchange for access to the co - op’s much - publicized low prices .
the coop newsletter is published biweekly and available to all at the coop . here are the most recent issues :
“it will remain an irrelevant gesture to 5 million israelis and 2 million palestinians , but it will make someone in park slope feel really good about themselves , ” he said . that’s what this is about ; it’s about the political purity , which is part of park slope’s unique self - absorption . ”
on june 1 , 2015 , a zionist journal , the algemeiner , published a letter it said was sent to the park slope food coop . the letter was from the israeli law firm shurat hadin and was addressed to the coop’s board president bill penner and senior general coordinator joe holtz . in the letter , shurat hadin threatened a lawsuit against the coop if we decide to boycott israel or israeli products . park slope food coop members for boycott , divestment and sanctions requested an analysis of this threat from the center for constitutional rights ( ccr ) and palestine legal . below is their response which can be downloaded here as a pdf document .
park slope , brooklyn , is one of the most liberal and highly - educated communities in the western hemisphere , indeed any hemisphere . every other week , the park slope food coop publishes a newsletter called the linewaiters’ gazette . in august the publication said that the issue of possibly boycotting israeli goods– chiefly the seltzer - maker sodastream– was so divisive that it was not publishing letters on the subject of boycott , divestment and sanctions ( bds ) :
“i’m disgraced , ” ms . colic confided as she sipped blueberry tea one day this summer at the tea lounge in park slope . “look , you can see the sign from here , ” she said , despondent , pointing to the neon green “food coop” shining across union street .
if this were true , that park slope is one of the most liberal and highly - educated communities in the western hemisphere , indeed any hemisphere , then it would seem there’s a real business opportunity waiting in the wings . a health food coop that is not run by zionists .
members at the meeting did not seem to know whom to believe , mr . hessney or mr . holtz , who is widely revered at park slope for devising its free - work - for - cheap - food business model .
while similar food co - ops across the nation often hire nonmembers for checkout positions or other tasks , in park slope , members carry 75 percent to 80 percent of the workload , according to joe holtz , the general manager .
in park slope , however , gentrification turns out to have brought not only craft beers , man buns and deluxe baby buggies , but also a cohort of sophisticated finance professionals who still join the co - op for its cheap food .
maybe organizations like the park slope food coop , which sells maybe five products from israel , are tired of nasty , obsessive , sometimes antisemitic , bds supporters ripping their communities apart to pursue their pet cause . they’re not the only ones . bds is starting to play itself out in the united states .
village partenaire bees coop is a joint project of sustainable food , managed by its members and integrating the core values of sustainable development .
the cooperative model of bees coop seems particularly adequate to invite local people into a sustainable food project . this project may well be a excellent gateway to food habits generally reserved to higher social strata . aware that food is a potent intercultural connector , bouillon de culture has been organizing workshops about sustainable food for a number of years .
i thought the woman in the photo with the black palestinian t - shirt had a joint in her mouth . not that that wouldn’t be okay . lots of park slope coöp shoppers just like to get stoned and buy healthy food to munch on conflict free
founder of la louve cooperative in paris we believe in this model because we have seen it at work , live , during our numerous visits to the park slope food coop in new york . in this large cosmopolitan city , the park slope coop is the most effective supermarket ( in terms of turnover by square metre per year ) . and it is for that very reason that we find it interesting : it works . the model significantly improves access to healthy and quality food , it creates a dynamic and democratic atmosphere , without sentimentality nor dumbing down ; it is profitable . so , for us , it is a perfect combination of idealism and pragmatism .
of all the shops in this retail - packed city , the one that produces the craziest rumors isn ' t a high - end boutique on madison avenue or a celebrity vanity project in soho but a humble , member - managed grocery store in brooklyn . why is the park slope food coop the target of so much gossip ?
please be prepared to show your coop membership card . cash donations in any amount are welcomed to help offset the cost of collections to the coop .
the membership office , staffed by a combination of paid coop staff coordinators and member workers , can answer your coop and membership related questions , take photos for coop membership cards , and assist prospective members with the joining process .
she said the park slope food co - op members that support the b . d . s . group had received endorsements from a range of activists and social justice organizations , including the writer alice walker , the antiwar group code pink and mustafa barghouti , a palestinian politician .
last may , the brooklyn paper reported that a “wildly controversial ban” on israeli products was going to hit the park slope food coop . but the boycott had actually been first proposed in 2009 , by a member named only as “hima , ” who suggested there should be a ban on israeli products at the store , the market’s newsletter the linewaiter’s gazette reported .
members of the park slope food co - op voted overwhelmingly on tuesday night against a motion that would have moved the organization closer to joining an international boycott against products made in israel . the vote settled a debate that had embroiled the venerable neighborhood institution for many months and divided its membership .
if you are not currently a member , we welcome you to join the coop .
“let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food” – hippocrates . that is the message from the founding father of modern medicine echoed in the controversial new documentary film food matters from producer - directors james colquhoun and laurentine ten bosch .
the year isn’t off to a good start for the park slope food coop . in january , two members of the venerable brooklyn institution were accused of stealing more than $ 18 , 000 worth of goods . each had been caught shoplifting once , and when police consulted surveillance tapes , it turned out that the two men ( one of whom was 79 years old ! ) had some seriously sticky fingers .
more than 1 , 600 members of the organic - food outpost packed the brooklyn technical high school auditorum for the most debated issue since the coop outlawed plastic grocery bags .
in just a few days , hordes of ecominded and highly political food shoppers will bear down on brooklyn tech’s 3 , 000 - seat auditorium for the latest installment of a three - year - long israeli boycott campaign that has engulfed the park slope food coop . the meeting was moved from the 400 - seat synagogue where it is normally held for obvious topical reasons , but also because the issue is likely to drive out thousands for tuesday’s main attraction : a vote on whether to hold a
thank you for radhika sainath’s important article about the widespread assault on campaigners for palestinian rights . while the piece addresses academic settings , similar targeting in community venues like brooklyn’s park slope food coop shouldn’t be overlooked . at this historic institution , founded in the 1970’s and now with a membership of over 16 , 000 , members advocating that the coop join the movement for boycott , divestment , and sanctions have been met with a barrage of condemnation and censorship reflective of the patterns outlined in sainath’s article .
i ' ve been shopping at the food coop for about 5 years now and it ' s absolutely amazing . the produce is always fresh and organic for a reasonable price . the only thing that is troublesome is the shift that you have to work once a month in order to be a member at the food coop , but it is all worth it . i ' m always pleased and enjoy my experience at the coop .
as of april 24 , 2018 we no longer accept baby food pouches and caps .
the future of food distills the complex technology and consumer issues surrounding major changes in the food system today — genetically engineered foods , patenting , and the corporatization of food — into terms the average person can understand . it empowers consumers to realize the consequences of their food choices on our future . see more information at the films website : urltoken
join bakers , chefs , food scientists , farmers and foodies for some truth about food . these discussions explore and celebrate all things food , covering flavor , sustainability , obesity , famine and more . featured talks are “my subversive ( garden ) plot” – roger doiron shows how gardens can re - localize our food and feed our growing population ; “the global food waste scandal” – tristram stuart delves into the shocking data of wasted food , “why bees are disappearing” – marla spivak reveals four reasons which are interacting with tragic consequences , and robyn o’brien talks movingly about her child’s food allergies at tedxaustin 2011 .
ingredients is a seasonal exploration of the local food movement . learn more at : urltoken
one longtime member said the boycott would have gone against the communal principles of the coop .
omar barghouti , a palestinian human rights advocate and co - founder of the b . d . s . movement , said that regardless of the outcome , the fact that the debate had reached park slope reflected the momentum the cause had gained .
accusations fly that celebrities are sending
minions
to cover their shifts at the park slope co - op , the vogue editor had a brief run - in with a revolving door over the weekend , and the senate barbershop gets a bailout .
here comes a project that intends to take part in a new food system , more equitable and sustainable . it’s very good news for all those who , like us , fight daily for the respect for the right to food and food sovereignty in the north as well as in the south . the bees coop is an example to be followed . and to be supported !
food design takes a look at the secret chambers of a major manufacturer of food , where designers and scientists are defining your favorite mouthful of tomorrow . it shows how form , color , smell , consistency , the sounds made during eating , manufacturing technique , history and stories are all aspects of food and eating that both influence food design , and are created by it .
if you took the zionists ( be they liberal or other ) out of park slope pw would no longer be able to make the educationally ‘hemispheric’ claims onto this brooklyn enclave that he made at the onset of this article . sort of like the pm of france saying france would no longer be france w / o its jews - so goes park slope w / o its ‘liberal’ zionists . its safe to say - other then for parks property values - i’d take manhattan . brooklyn is far too ‘hip’ anymore for old center zionists .
amazing food options ! yes , the coop can get too crowded . yes , there may be people who have very interesting viewpoints from yours . however , the options for food are limitless . i joined because i was on the whole 30 and wanted to make sure that i had access to whole foods at reasonable prices . the coop delivers on this account . i enjoy working my shifts and sharing the responsibility with my household partner . i have also made a lot of new friends through the coop .
in city hall park wednesday , mayor michael r . bloomberg presented some plastic objects that can now be recycled under the newly expanded program .
upon learning of the injustice done to these coop members and their families , the zionist organization of america ( zoa ) sent a strongly worded letter , reminding the coop that boycotts against israel are illegal in new york state and urged that the four members be reinstated . the coop failed to respond . undeterred , the zoa initiated a petition that garnered hundreds of signatures , asking the coop to stop its anti - semitic obsession with israel and reinstate the four members who spoke out against hate . again , no response from the coop .
with the headline : at a food co - op , a discordant thought : nannies covering shifts .
the coop’s mission is worthwhile : to make healthy and affordable food available to everyone who wants it . yet , over the last several years , the coop has seemingly become obsessed with bashing israel – and only israel – tolerating repeated efforts to have israeli products removed from coop shelves . it is difficult to understand what the jewish state has to do with offering healthy and affordable food in brooklyn , but then anti - semitism has always been beyond reason . the coop regularly features anti - israel articles and letters in its bi - weekly newsletter , provides a platform to anti - israel speakers at general membership meetings , and repeatedly raises boycotting israeli products .
naomi , given that it’s park slope , i would imagine a decent percentage of those 16 , 000 are jewish . is that correct ? i’m just wondering how much this represents the split in the jewish community . or are the leaders on both sides of the debate jewish . ( just curious )
real food films is the first - ever international competition to celebrate short films on sustainable food and farming . we screened the top 10 submissions from this year , along with an additional short called green bronx machine .
the coop in park slope is one of the largest of its kind in the u . s . this reporter is one of 16 , 500 - plus members who work for about three hours every 28 days , stocking shelves or answering phones or taking inventory , for the right to buy its groceries , often organic and heavily discounted . the coop’s policies and practices are influential ; its liberal excesses sometimes laughable . the 2012 bds brouhaha was so acrimonious and self - serious that it merited a satirical pseudo - news story on “the daily show . ”
the coop carries over 15 , 000 products ! many are fresh , local and organic . all are carefully chosen .
votes , which are conducted by paper ballot , happen at monthly general meetings . “the wheels of social justice turn very slowly at the coop , where proposals don’t become coop law until exhaustive debate , ” brooklyn paper wrote in may .
had it passed , the measure would have been largely symbolic because the coop carries only a handful of israeli products .
the park slope food coop ( psfc ) , the largest consumer - owned single - store coop by sales in the u . s . , had $ 39 . 4 million in sales during its last fiscal year , raking in more than $ 6 , 500 per square foot annually .
anyone would salivate at that ,
says ann herpel , a general coordinator at psfc . in our recent story on trader joe ' s we noted that the successful monrovia , calif . - based chain outdoes it competition with an average of $ 1 , 750 in sales per square foot , more than double those of whole foods ( wfmi , fortune 500 ) .
with the headline : with lopsided vote , food co - op rejects effort to boycott israeli - made products .
our new limited - run newsletter will spotlight new york city’s coolest summer activities each week . food and drink included .
the park slope food coop , always good for a laugh about yuppie - hippie culture and over - the - top political correctness , is facing what may be the most troubling problem in their 39 - year history . we ' re actually not talking about the much - chronicled vote that ' s scheduled to take place tuesday - - the vote on whether or not coop members want to take a vote on whether foods from israel should be boycotted . because although reuters ' chadwick matlin attended a recent members meeting and tweeted an array of the sentiments we ' ve come to expect and love from the coop ( mentions of
fascist food
and all ) , the new york times ' kirk semple points out friday that those types of feelings may actually be confined to the minority of the 16 , 000 coop members . the rest of them , it appears , don ' t really care , and just want to get their groceries and get out of there . they are those most un - coop of words : apathetic . self - interested . also , tired and maybe hungry , though only in the most well - fed on whole grains and fresh veggies sort of way .
food chains reveals the human cost in our food supply and the complicity of large buyers of produce like fast food and supermarkets . fast food is big , but supermarkets are bigger – earning $ 4 trillion globally . they have tremendous power over the agricultural system . over the past 3 decades they have drained revenue from their supply chain leaving farmworkers in poverty and forced to work under subhuman conditions . yet many take no responsibility for this . more information on the film’s website .
established in 1973 , the co - op , with about 15 , 000 members who enjoy savings of up to 40 percent on environmentally friendly groceries , is one of the oldest , largest and most successful institutions of its kind in the country . unlike many co - ops — including the flatbush food coop in brooklyn , where guests are allowed to shop without joining and members who don’t want to serve work hours can pay a slight markup for items — park slope has one of the stiffest work requirements : 2 . 75 hours every four weeks for each adult member of a household .
as a response to the situation in gaza . 156 commenters respond . two years later , the coop announces that it ' s
this just reeks of divisiveness , ” agreed one of the coop’s founders . in fact things have even gotten physical , as the
by april of 2015 , many of the coop’s members had rightfully had it . at yet another general membership meeting featuring an israel - hating speaker , dozens of coop members spoke out and demanded that the speaker stop his assault on israel . four members were singled out among the many who objected to the viciously biased presentation , and were suspended from the coop for disrupting the meeting .
as a cooperative corporation , all of our members are owners of the coop . unlike most cooperatives in the united states , the park slope food coop requires members to work . psfc has more than 16 , 000 members who work once every four weeks in exchange for a 20 - 40 % savings on groceries . only members may shop at the psfc , but membership is open to all . our members rely on one another to share the work of running our coop and of contributing to its success . the benefit of this shared responsibility is two - fold , the most obvious being that with scheduled , reliable member labor we are able to keep our payroll costs down , which translates to low prices . but another equally important reward comes from the satisfaction we receive from working together as a community to build something upon which we can all rely .
welcome to the smart set . every morning , we bring you the gossip coverage filtered . today : accusations fly that celebrities are sending
minions
to cover their shifts at the park slope co - op , the vogue editor had a brief run - in with a revolving door over the weekend , and the senate barbershop gets a bailout .
the co - op has 17 , 100 members . its food prices are 20 to 40 percent below those in supermarkets .
the coop opposition to bds against israeli products is led by a vociferous zionist group , including people , i suspect , who are funded by zionist donors . the local jewish community relations council publicly boasted about the work of its staff people in defeating the coop proposal
i visited the store a couple times as the guest of a member of the co - op . it is rare for a co - op to print a newsletter and because of the heat produced by the bds issue i can see that this is a thorny issue for those who wish to keep the issues of food and politics separate . park slope is centrally located and not far from predominantly orthodox brooklyn neighborhoods . ( it’s not in seattle , it’s in brooklyn ! )
designers create clothes , furniture , cars and all kinds of useful items . so why not food ? food designers work on things to eat , giving them a certain style and function . they not only make sure that food and drink fill our stomachs , but also that the eating process is practical and appeals to all the senses – so that we’re hungry for more .
in keeping with these values , we believe that the coop should join the international boycott , divestment and sanctions movement ( bds ) .
this future cooperative supermarket means more links and conviviality within neighbourhoods , a support to the local economy and a promising model of entrepreneurship . i hope that the bees coop will manage to provide a maximum of brusselers with healthy and fair food , and will inspire others .
located in the park slope neighborhood of brooklyn , the politically active food cooperative is one of the oldest and largest co - ops in the united states . founded in 1973 , the market has more than 15 , 000 members , who are asked to contribute labor to keep store prices low . according to its mission statement , the co - op is “a buying agent for our members and not a selling agent for any industry . ” non - members can visit the store but cannot buy anything .
at the focal point of this movement , and of this film , are the farmers and chefs who are creating a truly sustainable food system . their collaborative work has resulted in great tasting food and an explosion of consumer awareness about the benefits of eating local .
that event was so tense the coop was criticized for not having adequate security on hand ; it also drew a lot of media attention .
peoples ? obvious winner in a debate of human lives vs . injured pride . imports to the coop are injurious enough to the world w
“starting today , ” mayor michael r . bloomberg said at a news conference in city hall park , “if it’s a rigid plastic - – any rigid plastic - – recycle it . ”
fresh celebrates the farmers , thinkers and business people across america who are re - inventing our food system . each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model , and confronted the consequences : food contamination , environmental pollution , depletion of natural resources , and morbid obesity . forging healthier , sustainable alternatives , they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet .
they also spoke with farmers who are practicing more sustainable methods of producing food , and learned of the many alternatives to conventional agriculture .
” i can see that this is a thorny issue for those who wish to keep the issues of food and politics separate . ”
the coop sign committee is responsible for designing and producing permanent signage throughout the coop . in addition to a member with sign production experience , we seek general graphic design knowledge for signage work using indesign , illustrator , and photoshop . candidates must have access to these tools at home .
special un rapporteur on the right to food ( 2008 - 2014 ) and co - president of the international panel of experts on sustainable food systems ( ipes - food ) . the participative and cooperative supermarket that the bees coop project seeks to launch is a response to three needs : first , the need to contribute to making sustainable food consumption affordable to all by encouraging the diffusion of sustainable food consumption principles to populations from humble background who often feel excluded from it ; the need to allow the co - operator to take part in the life of the supermarket , favouring the ( re - ) creation of social links while ensuring the economic viability of the supermarket ; and finally , the need to allow brussels to catch up with brooklyn and paris where similar projects have been launched or are being launched today , at the cutting edge of social innovation . i’m delighted to support the bees coop project , which , i’m convinced , opens up avenues for the future .
bouillon de cultures , a community centre situated in the coteaux - josaphat neighbourhood in schaerbeek , gladly supports the bees coop project . we have been commited to sustainable food dynamics for several years and are very happy to see this sort of project take place in an underprivileged neighbourhood of brussels .
attention being paid to the local food movement comes at a time when the failings of our current industrialized food system are becoming all too clear . for the first time in history , our children’s generation is expected to have a shorter lifespan than our own . the quality , taste and nutritional value of the food we eat has dropped sharply over the last fifty years . shipped from ever - greater distances , we have literally lost sight of where our food comes from and in the process we’ve lost a vital connection to our local community and to our health .
maybe it ' s insecurity : coop members volunteer for two hours and 25 45 minutes a month in exchange for healthy , ethically - produced food , making the rest of us feel like overworked sloths subsisting on hot pockets . maybe it ' s because people just love tearing down an endeavor that ' s so painfully earnest . or maybe that coop really does attract more than its fair share of kale - addled lunatics . we ' re not going to pretend we have the answer—but we are going to take you through a tour of the best coop rumors and controversy in recent years .
”for folks who are saying this debate is bringing negativity into the coop . negativity is already there . it’s there in every olive . . . ”
food beware begins with a visit to a small village in france , where the town’s mayor has decided to make the school lunch menu organic and locally grown . it then talks to a wide variety of people with differing perspectives to find common ground – children , parents , teachers , health care workers , farmers , elected officials , scientists , researchers and the victims of illnesses themselves . revealed in these moving and often surprising conversations are the abuses of the food industry , the competing interests of agrobusiness and public health , the challenges and rewards of safe food production , and the practical solutions that we can all take part in . food beware is food for thought – and a blueprint for a growing revolution .
what’s especially bizarre about all this is that the fight isn’t really about the coop selling israeli products — it barely carries any , apart from some bath salts , peppers , lychees , and those sodastream seltzer machines . it’s fundamentally about distant politics and the coop’s evolving self - image , increasingly yuppy parents as opposed to the militantly rule - following matron with “long , straight silver hair wrapped with a dangling scarf , wearing diaphanous layers , abundant turquoise jewelry and redolent of a low - grade patchouli oil which didn’t quite mask a faint yet distinct undertone of un - neutered cat” that confronted one local resident looking to join ( and who later described the ordeal on our favorite inappropriately named park slope blog ) .
thin plastic film wrap – from notecards , tea boxes , pre - packaged cheese , household items , pets food , juice packs , etc .
psfc covers most food categories even though it sells only several thousand items , which sets it apart from a specialty food store . much like a trader joe ' s , which also doesn ' t use slotting fees , goods are on the shelves because members want them , not because manufacturers essentially rent shelf space through extra charges . the store can therefore capture most of the money its customers spend on food in any given week .
in soul food junkies , hurt sets out on a culinary journey to learn more about soul food tradition and its relevance to black cultural identity . through candid interviews with cooks , historians , scholars , doctors , family , and everyday people , the film puts this tradition under the microscope .
some former members of the sanders campaign have already joined forces with democracy at work , an organization which seeks to promote cooperatives throughout the area . at the local brooklyn commons , new school university economics professor richard wolff has spearheaded the new group . meanwhile , just up the road from brooklyn commons lies the park slope food coop , the largest food cooperative in the country with 17 , 000 members . if carried out correctly , bernie folk could help to foster a network of cooperatives designed to assist immigrants along the lines of exarcheia in greece ( see below ) . the question really boils down to political will and finding an appropriate space , be it the brooklyn commons or some other venue . former bernie volunteers should make use of their data base of contacts to identify a suitable space , rather than guardedly hold on to information . the activist gold standard
can it really even be a coop , then ? maybe we should just start calling it a whole foods . or worse . . . a starbucks .
the volume makes it work ,
says herpel . the coop handles so much money that it deposits its cash in the bank every two hours for security reasons . similar to trader joe ' s or grocer stew leonard ' s , the food coop has a limited selection of items ( 9 , 500 , vs . about 50 , 000 in a typical supermarket ) in a relatively small store footprint ( 6 , 000 square feet ) , which allows it to buy in bulk and produces a high turnover on goods . herpel says that the coop turns over its inventory 60 or 70 times a year .
, the largest member - owned and - operated co - op in the country . something between an earthy - crunchy health food haven and a soviet - style reeducation camp , the coop offered great groceries at low prices but required its members to work in the store for the privilege of shopping there .
over nine months , director mischa hedges and his crew traveled the west coast to learn more about our food system . while interviewing farmers , agricultural experts , nutritionists and activists , mischa and his team learned that the standard methods of producing food do not take environmental or human health costs into consideration .
all of us should be deeply concerned about the failure of state and local representatives to stand up to the coop’s tolerance for unremitting anti - semitic attacks on israel . while we commend those representatives who supported legislation against anti - israel boycotts , we – and all of you – expect more from our elected officials . recent violence , vandalism and threats against jewish institutions are getting heightened public attention . but the truth is that anti - semitism has long been a serious problem in the u . s . the fbi’s hate crime statistics bear this out : jews have always been the biggest target of religious hate crimes . we need to know that when the anti - semitism is expressed as anti - israelism , community institutions like the park slope food coop – and our elected representatives – will not tolerate it . otherwise , jew - hatred , however it is expressed , will continue to grow .
that coca - cola boycott , re - affirmed unanimously , protests union - crushing practices and the company’s role in the obesity epidemic . the coop boycotted south african products in its early years , said joe holtz , a founding member of the coop who today works on the committee of paid staff that directs its operations .
two angry moms shows not only on what is wrong with school food ; it offers strategies for overcoming roadblocks and getting healthy , good tasting , real food into school cafeterias . the movie explores the roles the federal government , corporate interests , school administration and parents play in feeding our country’s school kids .
given new york state’s prohibition against anti - israel boycotts and a new york city council resolution condemning the anti - israel boycott movement , we reasonably believed that state and local officials would be deeply troubled to learn that the coop was punishing members who strongly objected to coop activities that could be illegal and violated public policy . we were wrong . we contacted new york state senators jesse hamilton , kevin parker and diane savino , new york assembly members jo anne simon and pamela harris , and new york city council members brad lander and chaim deutsch . each represented either the coop or one or more of the suspended coop members . not a single elected representative intervened , even to express concern about the injustice of the coop’s harsh punishment and the unfair burden it was placing on the suspended members and their families .
one : i included eden foods in my presentation because an eden foods boycott would afflict a cancer survivor among our membership with higher food bills . i said that even if only one coop member suffers an injustice then the whole coop suffers an injustice . i said if we are to go down that road , then we need a supermajority to address such an imbalance and show the greatest possible solidarity . no protest was made from the audience , silence being interpreted as agreement .
rather than bombard viewers with impersonal facts or apocalyptic policy analysis , ana sofia joanes’ fresh ( spring 2009 ) is born from a place of hope . ana is a powerful public speaker on the social and political issues linked with the connective power of local food systems . she motivates action in viewers , encouraging them to become involved in the transformation of their own food system . by celebrating the real people who are taking sustainable steps toward reinventing the american food system , joanes aims to motivate viewers to engage in what is happening around them and support the world’s food innovators , activists and lovers in their own communities .
filmmaker kristin canty’s quest to find healthy food for her four children turned into an educational journey to discover why access to these foods was being threatened . what she found were policies that favor agribusiness and factory farms over small family - operated farms selling fresh foods to their communities . instead of focusing on the source of food safety problems — most often the industrial food chain — policymakers and regulators implement and enforce solutions that target and often drive out of business small farms that have proven themselves more than capable of producing safe , healthy food , but buckle under the crushing weight of government regulations and excessive enforcement actions .
we are an example on how to shop for food in peace ,
the member said .
why would we want to ruin that ?
the membership office is located on the second floor of the coop . reach us in person or by phone at 718 - 622 - 0560 during hours listed below .
at the coop , though , trust is on back order . in 2013 , the new york times reported the shop lost $ 438 , 000 in stolen items .
there is fear , i think , among coop administrators , that the present debate about boycotting sodastream might create unresolvable bitterness among the members , undermining our “cooperative” cohesion .
the post had the deliciousness of a candace bushnell novel , or maybe , for connoisseurs of locavore fiction , an amy sohn novel . a character in ms . sohn’s “prospect park west” describes the “painfully long two - and - a - half - hour orientation” before signing up for a food co - op work team , and briefly considers sending her nanny to work for her .
like any place that wears its ideals on its sleeve , the co - op evokes rage , adoration and all the emotions in between . in 2006 , the food web site urltoken published “won’t work for food , ” an essay by a onetime co - op member who described the place as “something between an earthy - crunchy health food haven and a soviet - style re - education camp . ” three years later , passionate comments about the piece are still being posted .
the food co - op is easy to lampoon , as one new york times writer did recently , as
the land of soya milk and honey
. for a start , it is located in park slope , brooklyn ' s equivalent of london ' s islington . then there is the air of ordered disorganic chaos that fills the store . ask someone stacking shelves where to find something and , unless it is something they buy themselves , they will have no idea . despite longstanding promises , you can only pay with cash , cheque ( by special arrangement ) or food stamps - no debit cards . you queue once to get rung up and then once again to pay . the narrow aisles are often clogged with trolleys full of goods waiting to be unpacked .
metered and non - metered car parking is available on the street throughout the neighborhood , though space can be tight . the coop offers a “cart return” service : members will walk you and your cart of groceries to your parked car—so long as it is parked within the cart return service area —and return the cart to the coop for you .
“all of us should be deeply concerned about the failure of state and local representatives to stand up to the coop’s tolerance for unremitting anti - semitic attacks on israel . ”
their suspensions will end next month , but the ordeal they endured , and the failure of our elected representatives to step up to the plate to help them , is an important lesson not only for coop members , but also for the rest of us . coop members who simply want to buy healthy and affordable food are still being forced to tolerate fanatical , hateful attacks on the one jewish state . the coop’s newsletter is still rife with anti - israel and anti - semitic articles . one recent article called for the boycott of sabra hummus , because it is “half owned by an israeli company . ” sabra hummus , however , isn’t produced in israel , but in the united states .
filmmaker byron hurt grew up eating lots of soul food : grits and scrambled eggs covered with cheese , buttered biscuits with gravy , bacon , and other fatty foods .
been a member since 1978 . lot of knuckleheads on yelp crying about the coop population , comments others made to them while shopping , and other nonsensical complaints . because the coop has great products and low prices , its membership has increased tenfold over the years . i go to the coop to shop not make friends . to the meatballs on yelp , the crybabies , don ' t put the place down . you don ' t like the crowds ? leave . someone says something you don ' t like ? ignore the person . you ' re there to shop . don ' t like it that much ? leave . don ' t complain here and prevent others from joining . have a valid complaint ? take it to the general meeting or bring it to the attention of someone in the membership office . think i ' m trolling ? you ' re too thin skinned to be a real new yorker . the prices are low because we work . why ? the coop doesn ' t have to hire workers to stock shelves . the coop has a construction section . no need to hire contractors . the coop saves money and the general membership saves money . dali l . give 5 stars , if you love it - otherwise take your review and leave . on second thought forget dali l , she ' s childish and an asinine buffoon . the place was a lot smaller in 1978 . the coop purchased the rug cleaner next door and expanded . you want the current building to increase in size ? don ' t complain . dig into your pocket and donate a million dollars . those days we didn ' t have shopping carts . we all deposited our groceries in boxes and pushed them along the floor or carried them . we had a lot of bulk items . not much in refrigerated items . no meat , poultry , or fish . today , the park slope food coop sells wild fish , albeit frozen , poultry , beef , pork , and lamb . all meats and poultry are prepackaged . they ' re all free range , steroid and antibiotic free , and many products are fed organic feed , such as d ' artagnan chicken . yes , the coop sells ice cream and frozen foods .


moment factory is a multimedia entertainment studio specializing in the conception and production of immersive environments combining video , lighting , architecture , animation , sound and special effects to create remarkable visitor experiences .

with its headquarters in montreal , the studio also has offices in los angeles , tokyo , london and paris .

since its inception in 2001 , moment factory has created more than 400 shows and destinations across the world for big-name clients such as the los angeles international airport ( lax ) . , the walt disney company , microsoft , nfl , sony , toyota , universal studios , the city of barcelona ' , madonna , and royal caribbean international .

moment factory

another montreal company , moment factory , will also be working on the madonna - does - super - bowl moment .
and the partner and executive producer of montreal’s moment factory is showing the usual premiere jitters .
, partner and executive producer of moment factory .
as demonstrated by our work at the
rolling transitions merge footage of oakley’s performance athletes with a visual language developed entirely by moment factory . ”
moment factory ' s creative director uses original technology and multimedia installations to create attention - grabbing spectacles .
moment factory has worked on experiential campaigns with brands including oakley , jean - paul gaultier and the nba .
moment factory , the multimedia team behind arcade fire’s recent coachella performance , unveil a permanent light show on the city’s storied boardwalk .
supebe visite de moment factory dans le cadre des journées de la culture de montréal . merci à alexandre dumoulin qui a été notre guide .
moment factory paid tribute by inviting half a dozen talented local design studios to create an extraordinary light installation on one of québec’s most iconic bridges .
the moment factory team was immediately struck by parc de la gorge’s natural beauty and decided more could be done to properly illuminate the park’s magic .
montreal ' s moment factory will use its signature cascading sound and light show to dress up the landmark new york city hall for the rapping mogul .
moment factory has produced giant visual universes for the cirque du soleil , arcade fire , celine dion ’s las vegas show and madonna’ s super bowl gig .
a new permanent multimedia installation created by moment factory and set in the heart of espace air transat at the montréal–trudeau airport . ( cnw group / air transat )
working with several different spaces in studio red in los angeles , moment factory delivered an immersive interactive experience touching on the brand’s history , values , design and innovations .
this is the type of work that moment factory specializes in – art that includes everybody from native canadians , to tourists , to essentially anyone wanting an unforgettable experience .
duality is the work of montreal - based new media studio moment factory , who have designed shows for jay - z and madonna , among dozens of other big names .
produced in collaboration with montréal - based moment factory , the show is presented on a 270 - degree screen , where breathtaking and evocative images provide a spectacular immersive experience .
this expansive structure shows moment factory’s commitment to creating immersive environments and digital platforms that engage customers . with an international team of 16 people , in collaboration with respected brooklyn - based digital fabrication studio situ fabrication , and fulkra – technology integrators from los angeles , moment factory once again demonstrates its creative leadership and expertise in creating leading edge multimedia installations .
moment factory has expanded its reach with the opening of its first european office in london , a move that will enable the company to better collaborate with clients in the region .
as part of the event , moment factory created a room featuring 270 - degree projection screens to highlight oakley ceo colin baden ’s speech and create an immersive environment for the cocktail reception .
since 2014 , moment factory’s multimedia entertainment has been entertaining audiences on royal caribbean international ( rci ) ’s technology driven ship quantum of the seas . following the success of t . . .
today oshmiani cheese factory is one of the most modern and highly productive enterprises of the country .
montreal , qc , usa — moment factory has created a centerpiece multimedia installation for oakley’s new flagship store on 5th avenue in manhattan , which opened officially on may 1 , 2014 . the project follows moment factory’s successful participation in the launch of oakley’s “disruptive by design” campaign in los angeles in february 2014 . through this new global marketing initiative , oakley aims to celebrate its legacy and culture of disruption , and set out their blueprint for future innovation . in response to this new brand direction , moment factory created a living , breathing installation that embodies the renegade spirit of oakley’s design ethos .
oakley , manufacturers of eyewear , ski goggles and outdoor accessories , recently commissioned montreal - based moment factory to design and produce a multimedia environment for the launch of its new disruptive by design campaign .
“québec has evolved in a very different way than the rest of north america , ” says amahl hazelton , moment factory’s manager of communications for destinations . “it’s a unique confluence of different influences . ”
just like on the previous tours , moment factory are using technology to help create a riveting and innovative stage performance—on nin ' s lights in the sky tour reznor put his trust in moment factory to “make the stage an instrument . ” the result was an interactive light show where the band’s movements controlled the visuals using specially designed programs . this current collaboration will continue to push these programs even further .
following a well - received collaboration on the super bowl xlvi halftime show , madonna invited montreal’s moment factory to create the multimedia content for her 2012 world tour . four months later , it was showtime .
co - presented by massivart and the phi centre , chromatic pro gathers different protagonists of the hyper creativity about the link between art and business , featuring names such as tetro , moment factory and vallée duhamel .
a project directed by jacques cartier and champlain bridges incorporated . a concept by moment factory . in collaboration with : ambiances design productions , atomic3 , éclairage public / ombrages , lucion média , réalisations and udo design .
airports , moment factory is sought out for its creative expertise by international clients looking to make the visitor experience memorable and inspiring . our installations capture the attention of a new generation of tech - savvy visitors .
at the beginning and end of each phase , moment factory brings all three disciplines together to ensure a cohesive design solution that not only meets , but consistently exceeds client expectations in terms of quality , schedule and value .
as of may 17 , the jacques - cartier bridge will be lit up every night for the next ten years . this stunning visual project was developed by moment factory in collaboration with six montreal multimedia and lighting studios .
image with caption :
a new permanent multimedia installation created by moment factory and set in the heart of espace air transat at the montréal–trudeau airport . ( cnw group / air transat )
. image available at : urltoken
image with caption :
a new permanent multimedia installation created by moment factory and set in the heart of espace air transat at the montréal–trudeau airport . ( cnw group / air transat )
. image available at : urltoken
so there’s little time for the moment factory team to get into the music hall , set up visual imagery with synchronized light and sound on led panels and carnegie hall surfaces , and work out all the kinks before show time .
a storyteller , a multimedia architect and a creative strategist . discover our three partners and the story behind the factory .
about moment factory moment factory is a multimedia entertainment studio specializing in the conception and production of immersive environments that combine video , lighting , architecture , animation , sound and special effects . since 2001 , they have earned a reputation for crafting innovative and memorable experiences in public spaces . from spellbinding shows to permanent multimedia installations that establish must - see destinations , they pioneer new forms of entertainment that enhance the reach , visitorship and fan loyalty for artists , brands and destinations .
the multimedia content — which blends cinematic elements , computer animation and cutting - edge interactivity — was executive produced by montreal - based moment factory , in collaboration with marcela sardi of sardi design , mike rubin of mra international and systems designer smart monkeys . moment factory ’s past projects range from rock concerts to brand experiences , including the background imagery for madonna’s 2012 super bowl halftime show and architectural installations in atlantic city , baton rouge and barcelona — but never something of this scale .
“we had a great relationship , and madonna was extremely satisfied , ” says johanna marsal , a producer at moment factory . “she chose us to continue in the journey of her new tour , so we accompanied her through the whole process . ”
the vinyl factory limited 16 - 18 marshall street london w1f 7be registered in england and wales under no . 04184222 . contact
for further information : air transat , caroline gagnon , public relations and marketing advisor , 514 - 987 - 1616 , ext . 4662 ; moment factory , amahl hazelton , head of communications , destinations , 514 - 843 - 8433 , ext . 127
for the largest kinetic installation produced for a tour , moment factory’s contribution included the design and creation of the content displayed in the kinetic installation as well as the led screen behind the musicians . in collaboration with scott holthaus and leif dixon , moment factory designed a multimedia toolbox that crafts a dialogue between the playback and tait’s navigator automation platform in order to create shapes on the kinetic installation . this ‘dialogue’ extends the band’s live presence and energy from the stage out over the crowd with an ever - evolving set of surprises .
' ' reaching the pavilion will be an experience in itself . from pointe - à - callière , visitors will walk through a refurbished stone sewer that itself will feature a light and sound show by moment factory [ … ] ' ' andy riga , the gazette
some of our products now have multiple plan a attributes . for example , our pure cotton pure cotton active waist checked shorts with stormwear™ , support bci cotton and are made in factories that meet our eco and ethical factory requirements . our tuna and sweetcorn sandwiches have eat well , no net tuna and food waste reduction attributes – and are made in a factory that meets our gold factory requirements .
at moment factory , we bring people together . our shows and destinations pioneer forms of entertainment that offer the world new experiences . whether at a concert , a flagship store or across an urban square , we aim to inspire a sense of collective wonder and connection .
from ideation to execution , our departments specialized in content , environment , and systems design are led by a powerhouse team of project managers and producers who guide the process . moment factory is the one - stop shop for experiences that thrill , surprise , and amaze audiences .
indeed , as much as moment factory loves to manufacture spectacular one - off events , it ' s also keen to do more permanent installations . which is why it recently signed a contract to provide all the indoor multimedia elements for the euronews building currently under construction in lyons , france .
we are no strangers to moment factory here at the creators project and neither is nine inch nails . the two creative forces started working together in 2008 on the nin’s lights in the sky tour and again on trent reznor and wife mariqueen maandig’s how to destroy angel’s tour earlier this year .
heilongjiang first factory of biologics which belongs to hpgc co - established a research center in the factory with heilongjiang veterinary research institute . also , hpgc collaborated with harbin medical university ( heilongjiang key laboratory of biomedical engineering ) and have set up the hmu - hpgc biomedical engineering r & d center .
on fait ça en public chez moment factory , nous rassemblons les gens . nos spectacles et nos destinations sont pionniers du divertissement en offrant à la planète toute entière de nouvelles expériences . qu’il s’agisse d’un concert , d’un magasin phare ou d’un espace urbain , notre objectif est d’insuffler un sentiment d’émerveillement collectif et de connexion . de l’idée à l’opération , nos départements spécialisés en contenu , scénographie et design de systèmes sont dirigés par une équipe centrale de chargés de projets et de producteurs . moment factory est le «one - stop shop» où trouver des expériences qui donnent des sensations fortes , surprennent et émerveillent les publics . / / we do it in public at moment factory , we bring people together . our shows and destinations pioneer forms of entertainment that offer the world new experiences . whether at a concert , a flagship store or across an urban square , we aim to inspire a sense of collective wonder and connection . from ideation to execution , our departments specialized in content , environment , and systems design are led by a powerhouse team of project managers and producers who guide the process . moment factory is the one - stop shop for experiences that thrill , surprise , and amaze audiences .
on fait ça en public chez moment factory , nous rassemblons les gens . nos spectacles et nos destinations sont pionniers du divertissement en offrant à la planète toute entière de nouvelles expériences . qu’il s’agisse d’un concert , d’un magasin phare ou d’un espace urbain , notre objectif est d’insuffler un sentiment d’émerveillement collectif et de connexion . de l’idée à l’opération , nos départements spécialisés en contenu , scénographie et design de systèmes sont dirigés par une équipe centrale de chargés de projets et de producteurs . moment factory est le «one - stop shop» où trouver des expériences qui donnent des sensations fortes , surprennent et émerveillent les publics . / / we do it in public at moment factory , we bring people together . our shows and destinations pioneer forms of entertainment that offer the world new experiences . whether at a concert , a flagship store or across an urban square , we aim to inspire a sense of collective wonder and connection . from ideation to execution , our departments specialized in content , environment , and systems design are led by a powerhouse team of project managers and producers who guide the process . moment factory is the one - stop shop for experiences that thrill , surprise , and amaze audiences . show less
so what is it about québec that makes it such a particularly fitting landscape for the type of art moment factory creates across the world ? we spoke with the experimental digital art group to get their side of the story and show others what they see in québec that translates so easily to magic .
this year , moment factory is back in the nfl fray as part of super bowl boulevard , a 10 - block entertainment spectacle that ' s been carved down one of new york ' s busiest thoroughfares . their contribution is the super bowl virtual theater , a 3 , 390 square foot projection - mapped wonder .
moment factory’s multi - disciplinary team consists of graphic and motion designers , multimedia directors , illustrators , architects , lighting designers , musicians , environment designers , producers , programmers , engineers , technicians and developers . principal people are dominic audet , chief of innovation , sakchin bessette , creative director and éric fournier , executive producer .
saturday , september 21 , the musée d’art contemporain de montréal ( mac ) held its annual ball , which saw more than 650 guests gathered together for an electrifying , surprise - filled evening . the event , centered on the theme lost paradise , was graciously organized by sid lee , with the generous involvement of moment factory .
“traveling these days is a very logistical experience , ” said moment factory creative director sakchin bessette . “the only magical part about it is looking through the porthole of the plane , where you’re over the clouds and the sun is setting , so that’s what we wanted to create with all of the media content in the airport . ”
moment factory fc joined the coed division 1 in 2014 and was able to win the championship right of the bat . after two seasons without titles , the team around captain marc - andré paquet is now ready to lighten up the league again . the excellent chemistry between the players could be the key factor for a successful summer .
beating the light pollution was more complicated . since you can ' t tell the big city to dim it down a little , the moment factory had to outgun the limelight with the most powerful hardware it could find . the images are blasted over herald square from 12 2k40 barco projectors from the courtyard marriott on sixth avenue , where the nfl rented out two floors of the building just for the production company . the projectors have 2k resolution with lamps rated at 40 , 000 lumens . originally , moment factory had hoped to use the same 20 , 000 lumen barco projectors that it used for la sagrada familia in barcelona , but they proved too dinky for the task .
considering madonna’s famous attention to production detail and the kind of dynamic multimedia environment moment factory has become known for , the tour seems set to make good on the promise of this past february’s lauded performance . have a look at a behind - the - scenes video below , and look through images of the sets in the slideshow above .
for this newest project , moment factory are utilizing 3d - camera technology to produce an interactive light show to “allow trent and his band to appear and disappear as silhouettes hidden in a field of pixels . ” the pre - made and instantaneous visuals will dance across the moving screens as the band plays , creating a sea of pixels .
there are four lumina events in québec : anima lumina , nova lumina , foresta lumina , and tonga lumina . the team at moment factory planned the first lumina experience by pure happenstance when foresta lumina was born in 2014 . what began as a request from park officials to light up the park’s iconic pedestrian suspension bridge became foresta lumina .
the interactive experience tabegami sama debuted today in an abandoned building in tokyo . we are thrilled sony japan trusted moment factory to create our first project in japan . together with sony , kirinzi and prism , we collaborated on the storytelling , the visitor experience , the content , the scenography as well as the interactive elements of the exhibit .
after her 2012 super bowl halftime show wowed audiences with its choreography and jaw - dropping projection mapping , madonna was set to begin masterminding the tour for her new album , mdna . she decided to bring along the team that made the super bowl show possible : the lights - and - magic wizards at multimedia production studio , moment factory .
nine inch nails ' trent reznor wanted just that when he hired moment in 2009 for his lights in the sky live tour . it was moment that dropped close to 2 , 000 led - lit beach balls last spring on the crowd at california ' s coachella festival during a performance by arcade fire . it was moment that got the call from ottawa ' s national capital commission almost three years ago to turn the façade of the parliament buildings into a screen for a spectacular light - and - sound show .
moment factory is the next step in that innovation , particularly in art . co - founded by two artists in 2001 , this immersive multimedia entertainment studio is comprised of more than 250 visual artists , 3d designers , storytellers , graphic designers , animators , and confetti canon operators ( yes , really ) who take the live experience to the next level .
year : 2014 category : offline digital title : lax - data cloud the destination board is the next - generation flight information board in the new tom bradley international terminal at the los angeles international airport . for this giant led display , moment factory created the data cloud . this permanent , real - time , generative artwork uses rss feeds to harvest wind , temperature and precipitation data from los angeles and lax destination cities , and transforms this information into flowing organic forms that evoke waves , clouds and topographies . website : urltoken company : moment factory client : los angeles world airports ( lawa ) project direction : mra international executive creative direction : sardi design winning website : laxcasestudy . urltoken datacloud / back to list
in fact , such is the precision of digital technology and 3 - d mapping today that fournier thinks moment factory never even physically had to visit lucas stadium in advance .
in many instances , we work just from plans and when we finally arrive on - site , everything ' s prepared in advance . what matters is the quality of the information .
each walk has six to ten different “scenes” that visitors can observe — anything from miraculously lit - up trees to glowing ponds housing scores of white orbs . moment factory makes québec ( and all that lives within the province ) pure magic . the only way you can get the full experience is by making the trip and going on one of the walks yourself .
they work with trees , mountains , bridges , and those who tend to them to turn this province into a mystical dreamland with endless possibilities . by putting the interests of the people on the front lines of the exhibition , moment factory has given everyone a new perspective on québec that is helping to reinforce the idea that this the most beautiful place on earth .
according to moment factory ' s multimedia director , nelson de robles , the idea was to show the fusion of the two host states—new york and new jersey—as well as to illustrate the contrast
between the heat of the game and the cold outside .
indeed , when i was standing in herald square watching the projection , the temperature was hovering in the low twenties .
fournier , 48 , was in indiana in his capacity as a partner and executive producer for moment factory , the montreal - based multimedia / new - media company that , since its creation in the fall of 2001 , has become the go - to collective if you ' re keen to combine sound , light , video , architecture and performance into one extravagant sensory overload .
the super bowl gig was done in association with another montreal creative powerhouse , cirque du soleil , with whom moment factory has teamed on various projects since 2004 , including the reconstituted celine dion show at caesar ' s palace in las vegas . madonna ' s veteran choreographer and creative director jamie king had worked with cirque on its michael jackson : the immortal world tour show .
/ cnw / - transat is proud to unveil a new , permanent multimedia installation , created by moment factory and set in the heart of espace air transat , at the montréal–trudeau airport . this immersive experience celebrates the anticipation and joy of vacations , allowing travellers to explore the world of transat via interactive , playful and inspiring content that highlights its many sun and european destinations .
the vinyl factory is the world’s foremost vinyl enterprise . it encompasses a record label , pressing plant and online magazine , and collaborates with artists and musicians to create stunning audio - visual shows .
moment factory’s expertise in pacing permanent installations was key in terms of developing an evolving visual landscape . content is divided into four capsules , running in alternating patterns and rhythms according to store hours and activity on 5th avenue . within the media - saturated context of manhattan , the capsules are designed to draw in customers from the street , revealing complex layers as they experience the installation from a closer perspective .
when you’re a traveler in a foreign land , you have a few different routes to ensure you get the full experience : either you see the main attractions or wander so far off the beaten path that you have to forge your own way . moment factory’s lumina series is an interactive experience set within the backdrop of some of québec’s most beautiful natural amenities : the parks , forests , and waterfronts .
there ' s endless super bowl hoopla happening in new york right now , what with the big game just days away . but you might miss one of the coolest if you don ' t look up : the projection - mapping specialists moment factory have turned the grand herald square facade of macy ' s into an orgy of light . it ' s incredible . here ' s how they did it .
fournier is clear about the fact that moment factory ' s rise has paralleled the decline in sales of recorded music , particularly in north america . in 1999 , music sales and licensing on the continent totalled more than $ 15 - billion ( u . s . ) ; 10 years later , that total was about $ 7 - billion , with cd sales dropping 6 to 8 per cent every year .
but no matter how much power was thrown at the project , moment factory had to work within some unavoidable constraints , and in the end , the visual content had to be tailored for the site . for example , the video contains very little negative space—everything had to be filled with a color , because you ' re never going to get a deep , cold black in the middle of new york city .
the atmosphere among the players of moment factory fc remains also positive , after the final whistle of the referee ends the game . fighting for a common goal in the coed division 1 has a huge impact on the team spirit within the multimedia entertainment company , which was responsible for the illumination of the jacques cartier bridge on montreal’s 375th anniversary . “playing soccer with each other is definitely the reason why the hierarchy in our office loosens up a bit . when we come back to work after a match , we can put the conversations about our current projects aside for a moment and discuss some other subjects first” , said mr . paquet .
the sheer concentration of talent in the league let the coed division 1 teams no other choice but to be well prepared for every match - up . choosing the right strategy can make the difference during the last moments of a close game . moment factory fc is mainly trying to keep being in possession of the ball as often as possible , in order to dictate the rhythm on the pitch . “a good coordination between defense and midfield is pivotal for our game . if we are able to stick together as a group , it is hard to score against us” , clarified mr . paquet . on the offensive end , the captain of moment factory fc puts his faith primarily in the hands of marouane sahbi . “he is an extraordinary dribbler and responsible for the magical stuff in our team” , said mr . paquet with a smile on his face .
moment factory was commissioned as executive content producer for the largest multimedia installation at any airport in the americas . we developed a digital storytelling strategy and produced original multimedia content , interactive installations and real - time data visualizations to support remarkable passenger experiences . seven huge media features are carefully orchestrated to bring the architecture to life . the result is a carefully curated , breathtakingly beautiful environment that lets passengers fly before they ever leave the ground .
they’re known for bringing unique , larger - than - life installations to parks , entertainment venues , and retail destinations all over the world . thrust into the spotlight by madonna’s 2012 super bowl halftime show , moment factory introduced the world to a side of live art that uses the environment as the easel . however , it is what they’ve done with québec’s landmarks ( natural and man - made alike ) that have drawn the most acclaim .
at founders factory we strive to build a team of people that could be founders in their own right . from the brightest minds in business , engineering and design we believe great people build the greatest products and businesses .
is one of the oldest industrial enterprises of the city . the activity of the factory began in 1947 . in 2006 , implemented the first stage of the investment project
modernization of the plant for making hard cheeses .
m & s is one of the uk ' s leading retailers . we are committed to making every moment special through the high quality , own brand food , clothing and home products we offer in our stores and internationally .
fournier is currently in new york because moment factory has been tapped to provide the lights and interactive elements at two consecutive concerts featuring the world ' s biggest rapper , jay - z , in fabled carnegie hall . it ' s a charity show in part to support the united way of new york and tickets have been priced at $ 500 to more than $ 2 , 000 ( u . s . ) . the first performance was monday evening .
our attributes include : fairtrade ; organic ; recycled content ; free range ; cruelty free ; low alcohol and healthy food . we also define factory manufacturing that meets social or environmental best practice standards as a plan a product attribute .
on saturday though , thanks to some projection - mapped magic , gaudí’s masterpiece was briefly complete–and then some . moment factory , the montreal - based new media studio responsible for madonna’s stage show , premiered a 15 - minute light show that turned the sagrada’s lush , intricate nativity facade into a moving spectacle . “our inspiration was to realize antonio gaudí’s dream , ” write the crew on their blog . “the architect wished for the façade to be full of colors . ”
the exhibition focuses on japanese food culture in an artistic , playful , educative and entertaining way . “the mysterious restaurant of the food god” features 4 digital installations created and produced by moment factory and adapted to the given environment . the interactive experience takes visitors on a journey across three main sections , leading the audience to their final culinary destination – the ephemeral restaurant . the result is a poetic interpretation of japanese legends that have a strong relationship to the japanese food culture .
to uphold the illusion that guests have stepped off this planet and onto another , the crew at moment factory goes to great lengths to create the environment and have it seamlessly integrate in the woods . they hide speakers in trees , use color - changing led bulbs that float and bob like magic , and use original music to set the scene . along with the technical aspects of the series , original storylines are constructed for each walk , making each experience different from the last .
moment factory is a montreal - based collective of video , design , and technology nerds . they ' re experts at turning buildings into animations , and they use their own propriety software to do it . in one recent recent show , they projected glorious imagery onto la sagrada familia , antoni gaudí ' s masterpiece cathedral in barcelona . the canadian company is no stranger to american football , either ; they helped design madonna ' s half - time show at the super bowl in 2012 .
in 2017 , moment factory and six local partners fulfilled a long - held dream of lighting up the jacques cartier bridge–an architectural jewel and iconic montreal landmark . directed by jacques cartier and champlain bridges incorporated , collaborators shared one common goal : to give montreal a new visual postcard and a showcase for the city’s creative and technological vanguard . the collaboration would result in the world’s most - connected bridge , a smart city illumination activated by real - time social media activity and big urban data .
doing large events ,
often stressful ones ,
is
in the dna of moment factory ,
fournier says .
so i think we ' ve got a pretty sharp team when it comes to addressing those tight challenges .
but
yesterday , entering [ lucas ] stadium , looking at the crowd . . . seeing nbc broadcasting live and all the anxiety surrounding the game itself , i couldn ' t help myself being as nervous as everybody else ,
he laughed .
the whole thing seems fantastically gaudy ( as it should be ! ) . spiritually , gaudí was fervently catholic . architecturally , he was fantastically radical . his buildings reflect that duality–they’re full of technical brilliance as well as religious symbolism ( the spires on the nativity facade , for example , support massive stone “baskets” of colorful fruits ) . it’s easy to imagine gaudí , had he lived today , working for moment factory–their brand of technical know - how and fantastical excess is actually very similar to his own .
moment factory , with 120 employees , produces content for digital signage as well as projection , working with both permanent installations as well as temporary ones for large events and shows . last fall , the company was commissioned by los angeles world airports at act as executive multimedia content producer for seven installations in the new tom bradley international international terminal . it included hours of original video content and several interactive sequences created with high defintion imaging , 3d and technology that responds in real time to the movement of people and airport information .
with so much to see and explore , it’s almost as if there are two sides to québec : the first could be mistaken for 19th century france . the second ? well , that one makes you feel like you’re living in the not - too - distant future . and it’s the latter — that second personality — that’s being transformed by the creative minds at moment factory , an art collective that’s turning some of the province’s most beautiful parks and mountains into an electric wonderland straight out of a sci - fi movie .
when madonna got the nod to anchor the super bowl halftime show , king turned to cirque to help with its preparation and presentation . cirque , in turn , contacted moment in late october last year and
by late november we had the go ,
fournier says .
marsal and the other artists at moment factory taxed the full resources of the company’s unique video configurations on the mdna set , making each song a self - contained unit complementing the choreography and amping up the theatricality of madonna’s performance . the main stage surface contains 36 motorized led cubes , which constantly move during the performance , keeping the audience guessing . “girl gone wild” is set inside an ornate 3 - d cathedral , “i’m a sinner” offers a psychedelic train ride through india , while grand finale “celebration” is a full - blown spectacle of color and movement .
at the moment , the company completed the second stage of technical re - equipment , which increased the capacity of the company for the production of cheese and 15 tons per day . a new modern salting department has been put into operation ( such as
river
) .
moment has a total staff of more than 60 ; for the super bowl , fournier and his partners sakchin bessette and dominic audet assembled a team of 12
artist technologists
who got involved
very early in the process and drove it all the way to the finish line .
for some , a super bowl berth would rank as a career high . not moment factory .
the whole world of multimedia environments and working with new technologies is just at its beginning ,
fournier says .
we ' ve seen the technologies evolve so fast in the last 10 years that the possibilities are endless . . . . it ' s about pushing boundaries , using all the new tools , the technologies people are used to , like video games and the internet , and trying , in a certain sense , to transform the public environment into a more beautiful world .
but the project was a terrible challenge for another very simple reason : the macy ' s building on 34th street is just blocks from the seizure - inducing light pollution emanating from times square , not to mention the empire state building and loads of skyscrapers that are all exploding with light . and then there ' s the latent sound of manhattan ' s crushing gridlock . the latter problem was solved by convincing the city to let moment factory crank up the volume to 100 decibels rather than the normal 85 decibel limit .
85 decibels is basically the sound of the traffic ,
says de robles .
moment factory had the opportunity to work with tait’s kinetic light installation comprised of over 1000 nano winches and connected led fixtures which hang above the band and the audience in sweeping waves of colour . it moves 60 feet vertically and as quickly as 10 feet per second creating 3d shapes , textures and movement . the installation was conceived with the band , tait and scott holthaus , as a way to bring fans even deeper into the music . so as the audience is surrounded by live sound , they also are immersed in colours and shapes inspired by each song on a new set list drafted each night .
even if regaining the title is one of the priorities of the former champion , having fun together stands out above everything else . since moment factory employs more than 260 people with all kinds of different backgrounds in montreal , the players consider match days also as occasions to get to know each other better and catch up with colleagues . “of course , we would like to win the vast majority of our games , but it doesn’t matter if we don’t . the important thing is that we enjoy our time together and help each other out , when it gets crucial on the pitch” , said mr . paquet , who is called “mappy” by his teammates .
the macy ' s building ' s design posed another problem—because it doesn ' t have a totally flat facade , and the nfl wanted to project actual football footage onto the building . usually , projection maps don ' t shy away from the intricacies of a building ' s architecture . as de robles points out , la sagrada familia is one of the most complicated buildings in the world , and moment factory took advantage of all that weirdness to make a more interesting presentation . but if you want to use real footage of real human beings doing things , you need a flat surface—which gets screwed up by the macy ' s building ' s huge recessed windows .
salvador dalí famously called gaudí’s style “superbly creative bad taste , ” a description moment factory’s designers obviously took to heart . ode à la vie is a blindingly surreal retelling of “the birth of the universe , ” projection mapped onto the sagrada’s towering spires using 16 high - powered projectors . the show features waterfalls cascading down the facade , candy - colored fog , and a crescendo that highlights the facade’s central figure–the baby jesus–emerging from billowing chartreuse clouds . a bombastic soundtrack by anthony rozankovic and misteur valaire accompanies , and at the climax , thousands of glittering led butterflies cascaded onto the 32 , 000 people gathered in the plaza below . basically , gaudi would have loved it .
in the show opener , celine stands in a shimmering gold and ivory armani gown at center stage with the world’s largest pure white billowing curtain . it flies away instantly in a split second as if criss angel pulled the ultimate mindfreak vanish . the stage is filled wall to wall with the orchestra , band and three backup singers . it’s the first wow moment of the night .
moment factory’s concept had to successfully fit within the existing architectural design , while also expressing the brand’s strong connection to technological innovation . the installation’s physical design took inspiration from the exterior storefront architecture – featuring large pleated metal components . the store’s long and narrow footprint also created opportunities to explore movement and create a coherent visual impact over a long distance . 27 lcd screens arranged in rows of 3 are incorporated in fragmented forms suspended across the length of the ceiling . the shifting angles and surfaces result in anamorphic tricks – playing with perception of the installation in space and the decomposition of the video surface . retail operations were also a key consideration in the design process : with a ceiling mounted installation , all valuable wall and floor space is available for sales and merchandising .
the road to the finals in the canadian corporate soccer league ( ccsl ) is long and full of difficulties . every team has to overcome a bunch of unexpected challenges somewhere down the line before getting the chance to lift up the highly coveted trophy at the end of the playoffs . one of the players , who know what it takes to win a championship in his division , is marc - andré paquet . the 46 - year old computer scientist at moment factory led his teammates to the top of the coed division 1 almost three years ago . “the competition in our league is extremely tough , but that’s the fun part of it . we are constantly forced to surpass our own limits” , said mr . paquet in an exclusive phone interview with the ccsl after the 1 - 0 loss against manulife fc .
her “you are the reason” is sung against one of the most dramatic wall drops of blossoming giant flowers and a staggering chandelier , a genius artistic approach to set decoration . you can’t help be wowed by that , but then celine does her music tribute to my hero , mi5 super agent james bond . now she’s in a black sequined gown for “goldfinger , ” and the mammoth video wall is alive with what must be 200 feet of shattering colorful animation that should start the next 007 movie . look closely and you’ll spot rene - charles as the young secret agent . it’s cutting - edge technology for a total multimedia environment created by moment factory of montreal , who also dealt another winning card with the water screen . every image , filmed with special cameras or created electronically , seen in the colosseum was created specifically for the new show .
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in another brief video clip to cover a gown change later in the show , there’s incredibly personal , never - before - seen video portraits at home soon after the successful hospital delivery of twin boys eddy and nelson conceived after five failed in - vitro attempts . there’s another precious moment captured with celine wide awake on their private jet nursing one of the newborn twins and rene fast asleep with the other twin in the same position .
for montréal’s 375th and canada’s 150th , our three major montréal orchestras—the osm , the orchestre métropolitain as well as the mcgill symphony orchestra—will be coming together to celebrate this historic moment at the foot of our iconic mount royal . this concept show , created and produced by gsi musique and directed by simon leclerc , will feature more than 300 musicians , pop artists and choral singers who promise to dazzle our eyes and ears and make our spirits soar .
it’s the duet you never ever dreamed could happen . the audience goes into a mesmerized “is it live or recorded” trance . celine glows with radiance as the new queen of the strip and nobly glides slowly down the aisle . nobody would dare reach out to touch her or interrupt the beauty of her strong , powerful voice . it’s such a reverential and awesome moment that it’s certain to cause spine - tingling and hair - raising experiences for every colosseum spectator .
we’ll produce our products with integrity , ensuring that by 2020 , every m & s product we sell has a plan a best practice social or environmental attribute . in 2017 , we extended this commitment so that by 2025 every one of our products will have plan a attribute that address every single one of its material social and environmental impacts . for example , covering the key raw materials , factory , use and disposal stages in a product ' s lifecycle .
heilongjiang first factory of biologics of hpgc built a strategic alliance with harbin veterinary research institute of caas , and imported the internationally pioneered production technology of avian influenza vaccine . the pharmaceutical preparation r & d center and returned scholars from us co - established the solid and liquid preparation technology platform of sustained release , controlled release and drug targeting . we also brought in post - docs who specialized in fat emulsion in 2006 , and the studies of venous emulsion preparations are on - going .
a magnificent masterpiece ! those are the only words to describe the magical and memorable moment when celine dion drops pop princess status and takes on a monarch’s mantle as legendary icon in her new spectacular at the colosseum at caesars palace . the curtains part at the halfway mark of the show to reveal celine singing at rear center stage after one more of the fantastic music interludes to permit her the seven fabulous designer gown changes . almost simultaneously , a second celine appears right in the center of the theater singing , too .
celine , who also wears stunning outfits from versace , givenchy , balmain and elie saab , is refreshingly candid talking with the audience at the show’s first possible moment : “this is a dream come true . we are overjoyed at what has happened and that we are back at caesars . but i am still nervous about it . ” and in a reference to rene’s poker - playing skills at the tables : “it’s an even bigger dream come true for rene ! ” celine admits to gaining 60 pounds while pregnant , but the hard work of the show and the parenting had her back in fine form in no time .
frédéric matterne , head of sales development international europe and xavier turquin , project manager at bnp paribas wealth management , decided to co - create such an authentication service with a group of clients using daon ’s identityx ® platform for mobile biometric authentication . daon is an innovator in developing and deploying biometric authentication and identity assurance solutions worldwide . their idea was to work in an agile mode , comparable to that commonly used in startup structures . the big factory ( breakthrough innovation group ) , bnp paribas wealth management’s dedicated structure created to deliver innovative clients ' solutions in the minimum amount of time seemed ideal to launch this new service !
the cooperation between bnp paribas wealth management and daon within the big factory resulted in the launch of mybiopass in just nine months . mybiopass proposes clients to use a unique key to log on to their private space and validate their transactions online . this authentication method collects their fingerprint , their face ( image capture ) and voice biometrics ( audio recording ) and uses them in conjunction with their smartphone to give them access to their bank account and authorize any of their operations . the combination of a minimum of two authentication methods guarantees them a high level of security whilst providing them with a memorable and easy way to identify themselves .
as is often the way in the musical world ( s ) laswell and his collaborators inhabit , the golden palominos are a shape shifting concern that have at times featured such leftfield luminaries as arto lindsay , john zorn and , er , michael stipe . as such it’s hard to compare the various albums of the golden palominos ( although laswell contributed to their recordings well into the ’90s ) , but this debut released in 1983 captures a wonderful moment in time . drummer anton fier remains the only constant member of the palominos up to this day , but the madcap recordings on the golden palominos are a product of the same scene that material et al were born out of .
hpgc r & d center was certified as a state - level enterprise r & d center in 2005 . the five r & d centers of antibiotics , modern chinese medicines , new preparations , otc and healthcare products and veterinary vaccines were validated as province - level engineering technology research center . we also have two province - level key laboratories and a postdoctoral station . hpgc was listed as the pilot unit of national innovative enterprises . harbin antibiotic production base that is led by hpgc general factory was listed as harbin antibiotic production base of the national torch plan . national high - tech base of harbin biological industry , with hpgc being its main body , was officially authorized by national development and reform commission in february 2008 . hpgc was the first set of high - tech companies identified according to the national management of high - tech company identification by the end of 2008 .