So I've had the luxury of some down time in the past week in the Schenectady / Albany area of New York, where I've never been to before and if you're me, you're going to look for vegan restaurants and co-op markets to hang out and make friends with all the vegetables in the produce section. So I roll up into Honest Weight co-op, thinking "I hope this is almost as good as the Wedge in Minneapolis," because to be honest, I've never seen anything close to that anywhere I've traveled to. Well I spent THREE and a HALF hours there. That's just yesterday. Because today, I went back for another hour and a half. Mind = blown. This place has everything and I mean EVERYTHING. Certainly everything I could imagine that was on my wishlist. Fresh, cultivated oyster, maitake & shitake mushrooms; wild harvested chaga chunks and reishi & cordyceps mushroom powder. Everything I've been learning about and becoming interested in the last several years. I also rounded out and tightened up my spice collection, especially the Indian spices that can sometimes be so hard to find, especially in a bulk section. Amazing, beautiful produce, a lot of it locally sourced, combined with friendly staff - and enough staff both to serve the customer load and keep it a tight, smoothly run ship. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. Did I mention the fresh made nut butter section with everything you could imagine and then some? Or the oil & vinegar section? Same thing. Want almond or spelt flour or dead sea salt about 50 different varieties of flours, salts, powders and so on? Just go to such and such aisle and you will find all things baking that will blow your mind. Nut section? Same thing. Tea section? Same. Coffee, sea vegetable section, grain section, bean section, vegan section, gluten free section, deli, fresh baked breads? Kombucha section? Plant milk section? Health and beauty section? Same. All of 'em, same thing. And more. My mind still hasn't fully grasped how they've managed to squeeze all these amazing products and all their awesome, super freindly staff and just.. all this awesomeness into a footprint that would probably be similiar to what some of the largest, corporate, name brand grocery stores in the midwest are, yet still feel like there's no rush, plenty of room in the aisles and lots of friendly, knowledgeable staff nearby who are happy, and have the time and patience to, actually answer all of your questions and trade a friendly conversation with. Discovering this place has adjusted my estimation of what a food co-op can be. I still love my Wedge co-op in Minneapolis, and they are really great, but Whole Weight is a whole other level. And I have to assume that the proximity to the major ports on the Atlantic surely must be a major advantage in comparison to the midwest. Still, I'm humbled and super psyched to see and learn and grow more and that there is still a lot to see in this world that will make you smile. If you're in the area, check it out!