This past year, co-ops across the country made headlines and earned recognition for their efforts in community outreach and around diversity, equity and inclusion. Here’s a recap of several of the inspiring co-op stories that took place in 2023.
Community Giving and Outreach
To celebrate its 50th anniversary and its continued support of local, organic agriculture, Skagit Valley Food Co-op in Mt. Vernon, Wash., donated $100,000 to Viva Farms, a farm business incubator and training program. Read more.
La Montañita Co-op’s outlet store in Gallup, N.M., focuses on offering local, organic food to an underserved, rural community. NCG Western Corridor Specialists Daniel Milliman and Jeffrey Owens had the privilege of spending some time onsite at the Gallup store. Read more.
Erie Food Co-op in Erie, Pa., hosted a local education and preparation for inclusivity event with self-development program OpenedEyes and NCG Racial Equity and Food Justice Manager Gabby Davis. The conversation was focused on biases around food. Read more.
The owners of Willy Street Co-op, in Madison, Wis., helped raise more than $13,000 for the co-op’s nutrition incentive program, Double Dollars. The co-op pledged to match up to $15,000 of owner contributions to the Double Dollars Fund. Read more.
When the emergency pandemic allotments to SNAP from the federal government ended in March 2023, many co-ops were concerned about how shoppers who have relied on the benefit would be affected. Chico Natural Foods Co-op took action to make sure shoppers continued to have access to fresh produce. Read more.
Weavers Way Co-op’s Vendor Diversity Project appeared in a New Hope Network article, which featured the Philadelphia co-op’s focus on local foods and the work they are doing to improve diversity among vendors and products. Read more.
Awards and Recognition
Gem City Market in Dayton, Ohio, was the recipient of the Startup of the Year award, given by the Food Co-op Initiative. The award recognizes Gem City’s innovation in fundraising and building deep connections in the community. Read more.
BriarPatch Food Co-op in Grass Valley, Calif., was named a winner in the National Grocery Association’s Creative Choice Awards for Community Engagement for its PatchWorks Community Volunteer Program. The awards recognize excellence in grocers’ marketing and merchandising programs. Read more.
Littleton Food Co-op in Littleton, N.H., was honored with the 2023 Cooperative Excellence Award by the Consumer Cooperative Management Association. Each year, awards are given to co-ops for achievements in service, innovation, board service and overall cooperative excellence. Read more.
People’s Food Co-op Natural Grocery & Deli in Kalamazoo, Mich., was honored as the 2022 Kalamazoo Humanitarian Business of the Year, chosen unanimously by Humans of Kalamazoo. Read more.
Expansions and Growth
Keweenaw Co-op Market & Deli in Hancock, Mich., was awarded a $1.4 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The grant will help fund the co-op’s relocation to a building in downtown Hancock. The funds will allow the co-op to expand the building by 50% as part of an estimated $7.6 million project. Read more.
