J. Bond.
Author: Jennifer Bond, Colorado State University, jennifer.bond@colostate.edu
Reviewers:
Summary:
Developing New Food Cooperatives
Case Studies
- Colorado Farm and Art Market, Jennifer Bond, Colorado State University.
Resources
Farmers' market sign. Photo courtesy of ERS, USDA.
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Because we’re all in this together, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, January/February 2012 - The goal of the Sandhills Farm to Table Cooperative in Moore County, North Carolina, is ‘Meeting local food needs with local food.’ Sandhills is providing fresh local food to more than 1,600 coop members, while donating more than $30,000 to local schools and nonprofit organizations. In addition, it has had a tremendous impact on 35 producer-members, paying them more than 70 percent of the retail food dollars their coop collects.
- Cooperative Food Hubs, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2010 - Food hubs fill the ‘missing middle,’ helping small producers tap local markets.
- Cooperative Grocer magazine - The Cooperative Grocer is a bi-monthly magazine produced for the managers and directors of all food cooperatives across the United States and Canada. It is the natural food co-ops’ only national trade magazine and is committed to addressing their needs by providing a venue through which their best “retailers and cooperators” can share ideas and practices on operations, governance and strategy.
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Co-op Grocery Stores and the Triple Bottom Line, Allison Riemer, 2010 - This report considers the solution to the problem of access to grocery stores, access to healthy food and access to local food. The author considered how cooperative grocery stores start and succeed, and whether they can increase everyone’s access to healthy and local food. The intent was to provide information and advice that supports the development of new cooperative grocery stores in the United States.
- Directory of Retail Food Co-ops in the United States, Cooperative Grocer - Search for food cooperatives by name or by state.
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Farmers, Co-ops and Local Food Marketing, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2008 - Food coops are leading the buy-local movement.
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‘Go-Local' Movement: How will your coop be affected? What is your role?, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2009.
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Grow Food, Grow Hope, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2010 - Local food and new skills sprout in Ohio community gardens.
- High Plains Food helps consumers gain access to local/regional foods, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2010.
- How to Start A Food Co-op, Cooperative Grocers' Information Network - Newly revised in 2010, this is a good overview of the entire retail co-op organizing process.
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Idaho’s Bounty, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2008 - New food coop helps meet growing demand for locally produced foods.
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Jumping on the Next Bandwagon: An Overview of the Policy and Legal Aspects of the Local Food Movement, National Ag Laws Center, 2009 - The purpose of this article is to explore what the local food movement is, why consumers are interested in basing their food purchasing choices on where their food originates, current and future regulation of local food, and where this movement may be headed in the future.
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Legal and Business Guide for Specialty Crop Producers, National Ag Laws Center and University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, 2011 - This article provides a brief overview of the development of “local,” direct food systems. Also presented are some specific strategies that should aid growers in evaluating the viability of engaging this direct marketing channel.
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The Little Co-op That Could, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2010 - Vermont food coop overcomes initial skepticism to win hearts (and wallets) of the city.
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Local-based, alternative marketing strategy could help save more small farms, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2005.
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Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues, ERS, USDA, 2010 - This comprehensive overview of local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems.
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Market Edge for the Wedge, Rural Cooperatives magazine, Rural Development, USDA, 2011 - Food coop’s warehouse/distribution division a key cog in developing regional food system.
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Planting the Seeds for New Food Co-ops, Rural Cooperatives magazine, Rural Development, USDA, 2011.
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Virtual food hub helps Virginia producers tap into local food markets, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2011.
- Wisconsin farmers find new life serving burgeoning organic markets, Rural Cooperatives, USDA Rural Development, 2000.
