While dealing with the constantly changing retail environment caused by the pandemic and the economic pressures that accompany it, co-ops continue to be recognized for their innovation and commitment to their communities.
: Co-ops across the country are adding their voices to the call for justice for George Floyd and other victims of police brutality, as well as an end to systemic racism. See how co-ops are responding with words and action.
Co-ops are adapting quickly to COVID-19, demonstrating ingenuity to meet their customers’ needs and serving their communities with generosity. Here are more examples of co-ops responding to the crisis with creative solutions.
Co-ops can make healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables more accessible to all members of their community with the help of SNAP incentive programs.
Whether it’s collecting donations for the local food shelf or handing out bananas at a 5K run for charity, it’s important to budget both time and money for different forms of community giving.
For food co-ops, working with local farmers is baked into what we do—it’s a key part of the special recipe that makes co-ops such awesome places to work and shop. As your national co-op, NCG leverages the long history of partnership between food co-ops and organic farmers to advocate for strong national organic standards. We also periodically fund organic research and educational resources for farmers that document organic farming knowledge, demonstrate the benefits of organic agriculture, share best practices and grow the domestic organic food supply.
This new policy places the responsibility on NCG leadership to ensure co-op success, as well as define it. As a result, NCG’s success is measured by member success. While we will interpret and define success and growth separately, the policy requires both — we cannot achieve one at the expense of the other. This policy places accountability for member success on NCG, but greater mutual accountability between NCG and its members will support greater success for both.
Have you seen one yet? Though at times GMO labeling has seemed a distant prospect, new mandatory labels are finally here and will be visible soon on a product near you.
Your co-op is a tremendous resource for people in your community who are interested in building a more sustainable food system, and the time to tell that story is now!
What does putting customers first look like at co-ops? NCG’s preferred practices contain lots of food for thought when it comes to customer-driven solutions that have been tested and successful at food co-ops.
