As guidance on slowing the spread of COVID-19 continues to expand and change, co-ops are quickly adapting. In a matter of days, numerous co-ops have added plexiglass shields at the register, pre-packaged bulk and prepared foods as grab and go items, instituted shopping hours exclusively for elders and vulnerable customers, and installed floor graphics and signage to encourage social distancing in their stores.

Co-ops are demonstrating resourcefulness and ingenuity to meet the needs of their customers, and are serving their communities with great care and generosity. From coast to coast, co-ops are responding to the crisis with creative solutions:

• Blue Hill Co-op is collaborating with a local farmers market that is now closed to make the partner farms’ products available through the co-op.
   
• Boise Co-op installed portable handwashing stations near the entrance of their two store locations.
   
• Breadroot Natural Foods Cooperative is matching donations to the local food bank up to $500 per day, and also encouraging customers to donate non-perishables to a women’s shelter.
   
• City Market/Onion River Co-op is using its teaching kitchen to prepare and pack meals going to those in need.
   
• Dill Pickle Food Co-op continues to offer its Wednesday $5 Dinner combinations — except now they are pre-packed in takeout containers, ready for customers to grab and go, then reheat at home.
   
• Franklin Community Co-op is coordinating a collaboration with a community group and neighborhood volunteers to get food and other essential items to people unable to leave their homes.
   
• GreenTree Cooperative Grocery is offering CSA-style produce bundles for curbside pickup, comprised of a variety of fruits and vegetables for a set price, available in three sizes.
   
• Isla Vista Food Co-op, which partners with U.C. Santa Barbara on food access programs to support low-income and food insecure students, provided kosher and halal grocery bags for students with more specific dietary requirements than the general foodbank can meet.
   
• Orcas Food Co-op launched their curbside pickup and home delivery service with a light-hearted video demonstrating the dos and don’ts of curbside shopping.
   
• Rising Tide Community Market, in collaboration with another community organization, is offering free bread and soup for curbside pickup from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.
   
• Valley Natural Foods introduced its “Basics Bag” program for seniors and immune-compromised customers. Bags include staple meal ingredients for two to three days, for one or two people, and are available for pickup at the store’s drive-thru. Featured products change every few days.

NCG continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic situation. We have consolidated information and links to important resources for co-ops on our Coronavirus COVID-19 page. Please bookmark this page and visit it often for the latest information and guidance from NCG, industry and world organizations.