Please note that only the co-op’s official spokesperson, usually the general manager, CEO or marketing manager, should take political action in the co-op’s name. Anyone can contact their elected officials as an individual.

Our federal government is in a state of rapid change and disruption. As predicted, we are witnessing strong attempts to rollback progress on issues food co-ops support. Along with advocates across the country, your NCG Advocacy staff is tracking and responding to these developments. As we are a small team working on a range of issues, we’re leaning into relationships we’ve cultivated with single-issue advocacy organizations that have more capacity to interpret the administration’s actions and respond quickly.

If you would like to support our advocacy efforts or champion an issue important to your community, here are some actions you can take:

1. If your co-op or your local suppliers have been directly affected by federal funding delays or denials, please, with consent from those affected, inform Allie Mentzer. Allie is working with organizations like the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) to map how and where administrative actions are impacting people on the ground. NSAC may also be able to connect you or your suppliers with ongoing litigation. So far, we know that the funding freeze is likely to impact the following programs:
   • SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentives (GusNIP grants)
   • Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI)
   • Any funding for Low Income, Low Access (LILA) or underserved communities
   • Relief for distressed borrowers (farmers who have experienced discrimination in USDA loan programs)
   • Organic Market Development grants
   • Transition to the Organic Partnership Program (TOPP)
   • Climate Smart Agriculture Grants
   • A variety of conservation programs, such as EQUIP
   • More, TBD
2. Stay informed when you can. We recommend:
   • Politico.com: A centrist news outlet focused on federal policy
   • 5calls.org: Provides scripts and instructions for contacting key officials
   • Civil Eats Food Policy Tracker: Catalogs actions taken by the President, federal agencies or Congress that directly relate to our food system.
   • Govtrack.us: Tracks legislation and Congressional action, with instructions for contacting Congress
   • Realtime, full-text executive orders: List maintained by CNN
3. When you are feeling overwhelmed, rest. The current administration is intentionally flooding the media and the public with a flurry of activity and information. Protect your endurance. Be kind to yourself and extend that grace to others.
4. See below for a list of single-issue organizations that tend to be aligned with NCG food co-ops’ positions. Follow them on social media and share calls to action that are aligned with your co-op’s positions. Consult our call to action preferred practice for tips.

Single-issue Advocacy Organizations to Follow

To aid co-ops in effective advocacy on the issues that are most important to their co-op during this time of rapid disruption, we recommend following these organizations on social media and reposting content and calls to action that are aligned with your co-op’s official positions. Consult these preferred practices for tips on how to create effective calls to action.

If you have recommendations for additional resources that we could add, please contact us. We will update this document as we develop relationships with additional allies.

Cooperative Business

• National Cooperative Business Association

Inclusive Economies

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• National Immigration Law Center

Racial Equity

• Alianza Nacional de Campesinas
• Federation of Southern Cooperatives
• National Black Food and Justice Alliance

Food Justice

• Coalition on Human Needs
• Food Research and Action Center
• HEAL Food Alliance

Local Food and Farming

• National Farm to School Network
• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition
• Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI)

Organic Certification

• National Organic Coalition

Climate Action

• America is All In