Celebrate Co-op Month: Go Co-op!
October is Co-op Month, and this year’s theme — “Local. Trusted. Serving You.” — could not be more appropriate. As a member of your local food co-op, you know the benefits of co-operation.
At a time when people are searching for economic alternatives, our stores are inspiring and successful examples of community ownership and a business model that puts service before profits. Reflecting our values, food co-ops have been pioneers in natural, organic and fairly traded products, and are leaders in the movement to support local producers. And by working with other members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), our own food co-op is helping to build a thriving regional economy.
But we are not alone. Across the country, 130 million people are co-op members. From food co-ops to farmer co-ops, worker co-ops to credit unions, housing co-ops to healthcare, and insurance to energy and utilities, our businesses share basic values, including democracy, solidarity and social responsibility. And through the principle of co-operation among co-ops, we can create a viable alternative to business as usual; one that truly puts people and community before profit.
As an association of twenty food co-ops with a combined membership of more than 80,000 people, the NFCA can be a powerful voice for change in our communities. And together with other co-ops, we can contribute to a vision for a more just, sustainable and co-operative economy in our region and beyond.
By Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association
Erbin Crowell serves as executive director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, a network of 20 food co-ops — including yours! — in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut that share a common vision for a thriving regional economy. For more information and a map of member food co-ops, please visit www.nfca.coop.
At a time when people are searching for economic alternatives, our stores are inspiring and successful examples of community ownership and a business model that puts service before profits. Reflecting our values, food co-ops have been pioneers in natural, organic and fairly traded products, and are leaders in the movement to support local producers. And by working with other members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), our own food co-op is helping to build a thriving regional economy.
But we are not alone. Across the country, 130 million people are co-op members. From food co-ops to farmer co-ops, worker co-ops to credit unions, housing co-ops to healthcare, and insurance to energy and utilities, our businesses share basic values, including democracy, solidarity and social responsibility. And through the principle of co-operation among co-ops, we can create a viable alternative to business as usual; one that truly puts people and community before profit.
As an association of twenty food co-ops with a combined membership of more than 80,000 people, the NFCA can be a powerful voice for change in our communities. And together with other co-ops, we can contribute to a vision for a more just, sustainable and co-operative economy in our region and beyond.
By Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association
Erbin Crowell serves as executive director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, a network of 20 food co-ops — including yours! — in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut that share a common vision for a thriving regional economy. For more information and a map of member food co-ops, please visit www.nfca.coop.