Fantastic selection of produce, cheese, meat and groceries. The staff is friendly, the variety is phenomenal. Prepared foods are very good. Prices are high, here. This is no place to find discounts. But the quality of the food is great. Think of it as a Whole Foods alternative. read more

I'm surprised at the negative reviews based on the price point. Yes, this is a specialty, local- and health-oriented coop, and like every other place of this type, they always charge an arm and a leg (because they care about things like living wages for their workers, etc., which I don't necessary care about, but at least it goes to that and not shareholder profits). You can't compare a place like this to Stop & Shop. Anyways, they have an excellent selection of local produce, bulk items (grains, snacks, kombucha, package your own peanut butter and honey machines, bulk olive oil, etc.) and regular packaged items. They have a good selection of local products, from honey and peanut butter to packaged frozen cookies in addition to big-box fan favorites. I don't buy meat, so I can't comment on that section. I have bought some fish and I wasn't wowed, but I wasn't horribly disappointed either. One of the big reasons I shop there as much as I do is the food deli; ironically, River Valley has the best vegetable sandwich and tacos in the Northampton/Amherst/Florence area. They generally have a friendly staff, although I do find that the poor deli workers are usually under-manned given the lines. This is also the kind of place that fosters community and makes you feel a little bit less alone in the world. Recommended. read more

This is a fun place to shop if you really know your food to begin with and don't have to watch your budget. But if you either 1) don't entirely understand which products are important to buy organic or local, which may have GMOs, etc., or 2) can't easily drop a couple of hundred dollars on groceries, it's not the ideal market. I've found it's worth the extra drive to Green Fields Market, both because they charge lower prices for the same products--and have a lot more sales--and because you can trust that everything there is "prescreened" for health. I'm not sure how decisions are made here as to what to stock, but I was surprised to see cereals like Cheerios alongside the healthier options. And honestly, I haven't been that impressed by a lot of the produce here. With all this said, River Valley is a great place to shop for specialty items, such as local meats, & certain bulk items, if you know exactly what you're coming for. read more

We've been waiting for River Valley for years. Literally. I have personally been waiting for this cooperative market for more than a decade! And it finally arrived! Woo-hoo! I cannot believe my good fortune in life. River Valley is a cooperatively-owned store in Northampton, Massachusetts, on Route 5, close to the Hatfield line and the I-91 on/off-ramps. It was built on an old quarry, but I don't remember what kind of rock used to be mined there. I love our co-op market. Outside, there's a large corkboard for community members to post fliers, business cards, and event advertisements (you have to get your item stamped inside, though, at the desk). Lots of seasonal plants and other offerings (compost, et cetera) are displayed under the front awning. When you enter the front door, the fan-shaped vista before you includes, left-to-right, potted plants, fresh produce, bulk items, store aisles, supplements, personal care, and the Quarry Café. There's a full meat counter, a cheese counter, a wine and beer section, a salad/food bar, and a place to sit down and eat. They make a ton of food on the premises, including sushi, cake, sandwiches, soups, and a lot of their food is vegan. There's a gift section, a pet section, a home-care aisle, and a full complement of natural, local, and organic foods, both fresh and pre-packaged. There are other items there, too, like a particular toilet paper or soap that is mainstream, because customers have requested it. Speaking of customer requests, I make special orders there all the time, and they come out just fine. I order foods that they either used to carry but don't typically carry any more, in addition to a few items that they never carry. There's a 10% case discount on special orders, or at least there was the last time I made a special order (and I think you can only special-order stuff by the case, but don't quote me on that). It's always been clean, insect-free, and inviting whenever I've gone. The staff and workers and volunteers are all so nice. The bathrooms are gender-free and accessible, though less accessible when the dining area is full. There is a gallery of local art that rotates monthly, and they have live music and special events regularly. For major holidays, the seasonal offerings are very good, in terms of food-related gifts (chocolates, candy) and other kinds of gifts (greeting cards, candles, jewelry). You can pre-order a local (from Misty Knoll Farm, in Vermont) or organic (from California) turkey for Thanksgiving, and we did this several years in a row, to much fanfare on turkey day from our family. If you bring your own bags, they stamp your Go-Op Green Scout card, and when you fill your card, they either give you a dollar off of your order as a coupon, or they donate that dollar to the charity of the month, which is voted on by co-op members (right now, it's the Dakin Animal Shelter). There's a newsletter, in print and via email, that comes out every week or two, and it has news (obviously) and recipes and alerts from all over that are related to the food we eat and the farms that provide it. This week's big news was that the FDA is considering full deregulation on genetically-modified alfalfa, and this is honestly a big deal because other crops would be sure to follow. It's not easy to keep up with this kind of news, because it's not always covered in newsy media sources, so this is a really helpful email that I actually look forward to reading. The thing I love most about the co-op, besides owning a piece of the community resource that I use the most (besides rent, where does most of my money go?), is their heirloom produce offerings! I especially appreciate their apples. Oh, their apples! At any one time, you can eat fifteen to forty different varieties of apples from farms close by (New Hampshire, I think, and definitely Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut are also represented). It's because of the co-op that I was able to experience the difference between a Blue Pearmain and a Black Oxford, and if you've never had apple pie made of blushing, lumpy Blanc d'Hivers, then you've never really eaten an apple pie. There have been so few minuses to my experience as a co-op member-owner. One time, I fell down in the parking lot on a particularly icy day. And sometimes, their Olivia's Organics lettuces are a little past their prime. I wish they would update their suggestion board a little more often, and I'd like to see some extended sizes on the clothing they offer. River Valley is one of the best things about living in the Valley. It's certainly one of the backbones of my life, and my family's lives. I love knowing where my food comes from, where my money goes to, and that my values are shared by all parts of the food chain. read more

River Valley is a gorgeous, well-stocked, and fairly bougie co-op in Northampton. It's pretty pricy, but if you like to shop on a budget like I do, there are a few tips and tricks to benefit from their selection without breaking the bank: - Hit up their bulk items. They have a really nice selection of spices and dry goods that they sell by weight. They even sell olive oils this way too. - Check out their sold-by-weight veggies. They sell salad greens and even some veggies (like carrots, chopped peppers, etc.) by weight, so you can buy only what you need. - They offer discounts if you bring your own bags or ride your bike there - You can get discounts if you become a member of the co-op (I've never done this because I don't live here year-round, but it's an option!) - Shop for packaged goods at Big Y or Trader Joes to cut down on cost read more

We all get sick to death of Whole Foods sometimes, right people? This is a nice alternative that is not as big but much more charming. If you eat organic, gluten free, veg*n, local or raw, River Valley Market is a great place to pick up some specialty items as well as your every day staples. It's on the pricey side. Surprise, surprise. Like Whole Foods, River Valley Market has some nice prepared foods, but the nice thing is that they seem to be really different than what they sell at that other place. Yay options! They also have some unusual bulk bin items, like kombucha and Yerba mate. I recently picked up some lunch at RVM- I had the Daily Greens Wrap, which consisted of spinach, tomato, sundried tomato hummus, avocado, balsamic vinegar, and would normally contain sprouts but I'm not a fan. My dude went the "build your own sandwich" route, opting for tempeh on a ciabatta roll with his choice of veggies, cheese and dressing. Two kickass sandwiches made to order for roughly $10? A+!!! Definitely a welcome addition to the grocery circuit in the area. read more

Adorably pretentious and an exceptionally good place for people-watching. Northampton's finest flock to this grocery store as though it's a sacred mecca. It is admittedly freaking awesome- delightful produce (be prepared to fork over some serious cash for the freshest, most organic stuff) and one of the best selections of prepared food around, especially the fresh sushi and hot chicken and meat pie dishes. Also the best (although not the most varied) meat and deli selection- their sausages are freshly made. My one complaint is that the bread is appalling. Most of it is crammed with spelt or has a flimsy, organic sponginess (we've tried all the brands) and it's impossible to find a good burger bun unless you settle for the cottony Kaiser rolls and coarse ciabatta. Somehow, everything I've purchased there in the way of bread is either oversized or undersized. read more

Ok the prices are not cheap but they have such good and organic items. The meat and fish were super fresh and delicious; I would definitely return. Wish we had something like this back in my area of CT but we don't. My daughter belongs and it was a really nice shopping trip with so many choices in a small store. I was impressed. read more

Great place to shop for fresh local ingredients and food. Staff are friendly. So happy they are in Easthampton.

Makes other grocery stores seem. "Plastic". We are so lucky to have a place of this caliber. read more

Really cool place to check out if you've never been. It's set inside a mountain of rock that was blasted away. Everything in the store looks amazing and fresh. Tons of organic produce choices that are hard to find. Nice craft brew and wine selection. It's similar to a Whole Foods, but much smaller. I loved that they have Kombucha on tap, and carry Kombucha beer. Prices are insane, just like Whole Foods, but they seem to carry more local items. I'll be sure to go back. read more

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So glad to have the co-op near my house. The prepared food section has gotten much better over the last few years and they have a good variety for such a small space. read more

I was in the mood for some fresh organic vegetables and gave this place a try. I purchased greens, cukes mushrooms, carrots, cherry tomatoes that came in a variety pack of different colors. All were very good and fresh but a little pricey. They also have all vegetables and fruit that are not organic which are not that pricey. Also got some salmon that was stuffed with spinach and cheese. "Very good". I will return again if in area but will probably not make special trip there. read more

A review for raw foodists. Decent selection of raw food items, like Artisana nut butters, raw kale chips, and energy bars. Also carry young coconuts (a staple in some raw food diets) and cut-up fruit for those on the go. No raw food in the deli the day we were there, but there were several vegan selections. Pretty large produce section with local emphasis and helpful staff. Would just like to have found raw chocolate... ;-) read more

A very cool place to browse... Prices should be cheaper, I think, considering I can take a 10 minute drive up River Road and find ten farmstands that sell MUCH cheaper. Like all stores, you gotta pick and choose...I found a dozen free range eggs on sale for 99 cents...but that's all I bought. read more

I love the natural products. I get steaks, chicken, sausage, and veggies. Everything it amazingly priced. Don't miss out on the cheese area. I get black truffle cheese and they will help you pair it with wine. They, also, have prepared food. All of it is yummy and there are so many options that make me and my partner happy. She is a vegetarian and I have sensitivities to a bunch of thing, so it is amazing that I can ask questions and be positive that I will be safe. read more

Fresh & delish food bar is our busy-night go-to. We also like the bulk section, clean & cost-effective. Happy to have vegan offerings in dessert area. Decent prices & true commitment to sustaining local economy & farmers. read more

Not perfect, but way above average for a co-op and a far better choice politcally, than Whathe Fuck. And a more pleasant place to shop, too. My favorite stuff includes: Sidehill yogurt, the fish selection, the VT chicken breasts, the local ground beef. I also liked experimenting with local parm substitutes and local "feta," so to speak. Not impressed with the produce. Pantry and canned items are organic but not enough local items. Salad bar is handy, if you want to curb your appetite before shopping. Wine selection is slim. Beer selection is vast. read more

This is great place for bulk buying and they have great sales on staple food items (eggs, oats, nuts etc.) I like their honest beer prices and the friendly quarry cafe staff who make great sandwiches.. The Gluten Free offerings (CAKE!) are what keep me coming back. read more

To answer Joe C.'s complaint about construction practices: yes, someone did blast a hole in a hillside, but it wasn't the co-op's builders. River Valley was built on the site of *drumroll*... an old quarry. (The "Quarry Cafe" was a hint.) read more

We are loving the Co-op. Their curbside service is a life saver (literally). Their produce is excellent as is their deli, etc. great selection of organic food. read more

Great market, even if a little pricey. The counter made sandwiches are absolutely amazing, and the employees are always very friendly. Plus, it's the only place you can get Brazilian cheese balls in the area! read more

Nice co-op in town, with a very nice selection of local product. Although very new, it seems that the team at River Valley is committed to keeping it clean and approachable. There seems to be allot of co-ops that get dirty and unorganized after a few months of being in business...... Staff/members seem to like their work, and are extremely helpful whenever approached. The local coffee selections are topnotch, bulk spices, teas, herbs are also very nice. Meats and freshly made deli take homes are attractive. We are going to become members soon, and looking forward to shopping there in the future. read more

My husband and I are ride or die for this place for consistently fresh and high quality organic and local produce, their extensive bulk section and high quality deli. Their wine and cheese selections always hold us down, and we do well in their meat/seafood department. I've scored some really good wellness and beauty purchases here. The employees are always polite, helpful and knowledgable. As co-op owners, it means a lot to us to contribute to the community and to local agriculture. read more

I adore this place which is saying a lot since normally I loathe co-op style health food grocery stores on principle alone. They tend to be pricey and elitist. River Valley is neither of these. The staff is smart and helpful. The variety is great. My kids and I always stop here for lunch on our way home from swim meets. read more

Why pay less? There seems to be an overweening attitude among some employees that since this is a coop and not a private enterprise, customers should pay more than competitive pricing for their products. I see it everywhere..from tea to (previously frozen?!) salmon and swordfish, from fresh produce to (and especially) wine. I don't particularly enjoy having to gulp down a dose of preachiness when I ask nicely why the same bottle of wine available at a locally owned business for $11 is priced at $14 at River Valley and am told "we pay our people more than THEY do." That may or may not be, but I'm really not inclined to pay substantially more for an item just because you think your business model entitles you to. That being said, I do visit to buy items in bulk, some fresh produce difficult to find elsewhere, and their delicious homemade sausage. But, as much as I'd like to be, I can't justify being a regular customer. read more

My wife purchases what the fishmonger claimed was fresh swordfish. Thus was clearly several days and clearly had been frozen at one point. Be wary of buying fish here. They often do not have nearly as fresh fish as does north shore seafood. That is not to say that at times the fish is just fine, but it is outrageous that they charged $16.99 a pound for fish that was clearly not fresh and in my view had certainly been frozen, perhaps because they gave their cooler too cold. read more

Great selection, better prices than whole foods. Only had one problem here in years, their cooler went down. We bought two steaks for 31.00, we both got sick. The next day my husband called, they did refund the money and apologized saying they thought the meat was cool enough still and could be sold. Will continue to go here though. read more

River Valley Market, is a wonderful place to shop. It's a food Coop, that specializes in carrying natural, organic foods. You can join as a member, and pay a yearly fee. If you do, you're entitled to member discounts on your purchases. Or, you can shop there without being a member, if you choose to. They sell a wide assortment of food and beverages; everything from soup to nuts. They even sell organic wines. They also carry a huge variety of vitamins, herbs, homeopathic health and beauty products, environmental-friendly cleaning products, and other household goods. I regularly enjoy nutritious, tasty meals, from their hot food/salad bar. You can eat your meals purchased from their food bar, on-site at their Quarry Cafe. The Quarry Cafe is a room with tables and chairs, where you can have a pleasant meal. Once a month, they hold a reception in the Quarry Cafe, displaying the works of local artists. During these receptions, they serve free refreshments, and the receptions are open to the general public. Another nice thing about the River Valley Market, is their events. At various times throughout the year, they have BBQs, pancake breakfasts, and many other fun events. All of their events are family-friendly too. Their staff are very helpful, and bend over backwards to assist shoppers. They also have a Suggestion box, so that their shoppers can feel free to offer their input, and ideas about various concerns. I highly recommend the River Valley Market, as the best place in the Valley to buy healthy foods, supplements, etc. As for me, I won't shop for my groceries any place else. read more

UPDATE: Given that I just once again found a piece of unidentifiable animal flesh in my bean burrito I will not be ordering food from this deli again. Nothing like eating half a burrito only to see some kind of shredded pork or chicken (?????? Should I not be able to actually tell what kind of meat this is?) peeking up at you like "GOTCHA!!" I'll stick to the factory-packaged stuff that is guaranteed not to have some stoned teenager's cloud of half paying attention casting a shadow over it. Sloppy workers are a liability and there is no point in complaining to management at this establishment. --------------- You can get almost anything you want in terms of food and beverage and if they don't carry it, they'll order it for you. Having said that ... the safety standards really are not up to where they should be. I saw an employee in produce slip down to his knees on a large wet spot as large as the bananas display case. He said this out loud: "Oh wow, I just slipped on that." then went about his business. I was absolutely horrified. I went to a different employee and said that I myself had slipped, could they perhaps mop up the water? I mean what the hell, people. Someone could fracture their skull or break a hip and you'd be sued outt of business. Get your head in the game. Secondly, the deli workers do not have food service training. If you were to order two burritos, for instance, and ask for sour cream on one, you would get two burritos in one box, unwrapped (not in deli wrapping paper) and a note on the lid of the box that says "This one has sour cream" with an arrow. The individual food items should always be wrapped in paper and labeled accordingly with a marker on the paper which item is which. The items, unwrapped and stuck together in a paper deli box is unsafe for people with food allergies and by the time you get home the food is cold. This happens EVERY TIME I ORDER FROM THE DELI!! In short, as a co-owner of this business i suggest that employees be given proper training. I think that given some of the cheeses are $30 apiece, the co-op can afford to properly train their food service workers. read more

Not bad. Their price is better than whole foods and they carry more local stuff. I don't shop everything here but I'm satisfied so far.

I am a member and a fan of the co-op. Yes, the prices are high, but so is the quality of the food, the standards and the ethics. Also you get to buy fresh, food produced locally. I would rather pay for that than for inferior food at a lower price. You also get to support a great idea... the idea of cooperative. Profits go to quality, paying well to good staff who care, helping admirable local projects... i.e. helping the poor to eat well and more. Profits do not go to make anyone rich, but to benefit as many as possible. I'll pay for that. Batya Bauman, Amherst read more

I ADORE this place. The selection of organic produce is wonderful, especially in the winter when local farm selections are slim. I really appreciate their bulk selection...but its become painful to use it. The first time I attempted to buy in bulk w my own containers, I asked a girl working nearby how to get tare weights-bring it somewhere or do it myself. She said I could do it myself. They have a manual hanging scale that only gives weights to the eighth of a pound. Not a huge deal to me. BUT one cashier in particular has no grasp on fractions to decimals and ounces to pounds. This shouldn't be a big deal because it should be automated right? No. My weights were recorded in fractions and the cashier had to convert to a decimal. Mine just skipped that part. For every item I bought (5) she entered a tare of, for example, 11oz as 0.11 pounds. I went back and got it adjusted. Customer service told me they'd talk to the woman to make sure she knew how to do it. I went back to shop and another cashier seemed to know the weights of my containers even though id weighed them already. She claimed some were lighter and some were heavier. I ddint argue because I felt she was implying I was attempting to steal or something. Another woman FINALLY told me I should just go to customer service and get them tared on an electronic scale to the decimal. I had told her I was confused--was I missing something? This shouldn't be this difficult especially with a bulk section so large. Back to the woman who rang in my ounces as fractions, who had allegedly been instructed: I went back with my boyfriend and he went through her line. He caught her first mistake with a bulk item and her bagger helped her figure the rest out. She asked him a question about something to which his answer was "1." she responded "are you sure its not 1.25?" Not sure if this was snark but dear god. Getting charged accurately is important? It matters???? I don't think not wanting to be overcharged because of someone else's literal disregard is worth an attitude. Tldr: if you ever buy any bulk, check your receipt. And river valley please PLEASE at least put a sign in your bulk section, or at least upgrade your bulk scales to digital. read more

Nice place and offers a wide variety of goods, nice staff, but the sales floor needs to be better planned out and organized. The aisles and product placement make shopping very frustrating and confusing. And for regular shelf items, they are very expensive (in many instances, WAY more than Big Y and Whole Foods for the same brands!!) read more

My favorite grocery store in W. Mass. We are members and go there when we can. It's not the only grocery store we go to because we don't live in Northampton, but I try to whenever I'm nearby, even if it's just a kumbucha on tap! read more

The general atmosphere, as well as the selection and quality of products, is amazing -- local, organic, high-quality goods aplenty. But the customer service is awful. With a couple of exceptions, cashiers (and employees generally) are snobby, unhelpful, and always leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not demanding -- say hello, run my card and bag my groceries and I'll be delighted. Unfortunately, the RV cashiers generally only perform one of the above three tasks (guess which). The funny thing is that nearly everyone I've spoken to on the matter has the same opinion: we love the store, can't stand the employees; why there are so many shining reviews of the "employee vibe" on Yelp I can't imagine. Though considerably less convenient, my girlfriend and I have decided to steer clear of River Valley, opting instead to buy our groceries at Whole Foods and the organic sections of local supermarkets. I'm hoping River Valley gets the message and changes its ways, but until then, we're taking our money elsewhere. read more

Almost add good as the Brattleboro Co-op for bulk, Bette than Greenfield for some things, not as great as others. Sedately a great addition to valley shopping. Very low stress employee vibe, which is a nice change from the usual rather neurotic Co-op folk I seem to run into... read more

better than your average grocery - similar to wholefoods but a much more local feel to it, not a big chain. pretty easy to get to off the highway. someone told me they had an amazing beer selection and it was ok. lots of bulk foods. read more

River Valley Co-op - Grocery Near Me - Northampton, Massachusetts

Best place to come and get organic stuff done !! Love the food and drinks they have. They even have a to go section to grab a quick lunch and very healthy read more

I do enjoy the offerings from local produce and meats, which are so much better than what I normally would get at Whole Foods. The only thing that doesn't bode well at the River Valley Coop is the attitude that comes from some of the customer service/staff. I have had mostly good interactions with their staff, but there have been a few instances of strange employee behavior (rolling eyes towards customers isn't a good sign, either). My family went to stop in early this week and I really wanted a fresh juice from the prepared foods bar, since my wife brought home an awesome juice last week and I was craving another. For $7, it was worth it. I patiently waited behind another customer who was being helped and when I asked the staff person for a specific juice, her reply was "No." I couldn't tell if she was joking or not, so I asked again and she said the same thing, "No", then decided to add that their juicing machine was out of order. Well, that whole uncomfortable exchange could have been avoided with a sign stating that the juicer was not working or they could have removed the juice bar sign until it is functional again. Just a simple trait of customer service in any store: train your employees not to be sarcastic or weird to customers, especially when they are asked a simple question. It's not my fault that the juicer isn't working. I get that this is Northampton and you get what you pay for, but any working adult in a customer service setting should be able to function without being weird. read more