When is a grocery store more than a store? When it’s a cooperative, a partnership, and a community. A cooperative, or a co-op for short, is a for-profit, member-owned, and controlled company. On the surface, a food co-op is a grocery store, but at its core, it's a manifestation of shared values, collective decision-making, and a commitment to providing high-quality, locally-sourced, and affordable food to its members.
Community Engagement and Ownership
The heart of any food co-op is its community. Members not only shop at the co-op but also have the opportunity to actively participate in its operation. This can range from volunteering in-store, serving on committees, attending member meetings, and even being part of the board of directors. This engagement not only fosters a sense of ownership but also allows members to directly influence the co-op's policies, product offerings, and sustainability initiatives. Food co-ops also tend to act as a kind of safety net when supply chains shudder. Food co-ops kept many farmers afloat during COVID keeping food stocked on their shelves when many big grocers struggled to keep the necessities.
Democracy of Food
Unlike conventional supermarkets driven by profit margins, a food co-op is driven by a mission to provide access to fresh, wholesome food while fostering a sense of community engagement and sustainable living. These cooperatives are democratically governed, with each member having an equal say in the decision-making process. This democracy has a strong focus on accessibility, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to make healthier food choices.
Join the Nashville Food Co-op
Right now, the Nashville Food Co-op (NFC) has a volunteer board and committees focused on ways to bring value to current members and engage the community at large. Until the Nashville Food Co-op has enough members or co-owners to build a brick and mortar store, we partner with Hot Poppy, a local consolidator and delivery service of local farm and maker products, to provide a $5 discount on all orders over $45 and no-commitment ordering on CSA bundles for all NFC members. We also host Pint Night at Harding House Brewing the third Wednesday of every month, with members getting $5 pints. These and other member benefits are an instant return on a one-time investment of $250 per household.
We ask that you join the Nashville Food Co-op and help build an ecosystem where your dollars circulate and stay local. NFC is currently in stage 2 of a typical food co-op growth process and with your help, we can progress to the pre-construction stage during 2024. When you join, you’re creating jobs for your neighbors while you save money on the best food produced here in Middle Tennessee.
to help build something special in Nashville.
Follow us on Instagram @nashfoodcoop to find out about more member benefits to come.
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