Food Co-op Initiative

05/29/2026

We’re at CCMA for Consumer Co-ops!

Stop by our table and get FREE notebooks and pens as well as a copy of the Food Co-op Development Framework Action Guide & Checklist.

The Action Guide and Checklist are for new co-ops AND expansion projects for established co-ops!

Can't wait to see you in Tacoma.

05/26/2026

Catch the Food Co-op Initiative team at CCMA this week!

CCMA is a national conference for cooperative leaders and staff from established co-ops.

FCI attends every year to amplify the role of startups in the food co-op movement and to celebrate their achievements from this national stage.

Connect with us by:

-Stopping at our table for free resources like the Food Co-op Development Framework Action Guide & Checklist

-Celebrating award-winning startup co-ops from the main stage on Saturday

-Attending the 'Product Mix' breakout session to learn tips on creating, converting, and managing hybrid stores

Hope to see you in Tacoma

05/23/2026

A growing trend in startup food co-op organizing in historically redlined, predominantly Black communities is the startup effort being initiated/seeded by locally trusted nonprofit organizations that invest significant capacity to help the community grow the co-op.

This model has been used at startup food co-ops like as well as others, and is now being utilized by Three Sisters Market, a startup food co-op effort in Charlotte, NC.

West Blvd Neighborhood Coaltion , the Three Sisters Market board, and their development support team at .roots put together an *incredible* session about the unique challenges and benefits of a nonprofit and a newly organized food co-op working together to grow the co-op and open a store - it's a *must watch* for any community considering such a parthership!

You can find the *free* video on Food Co-op Initiative's YouTube page in our "FCI Live 2026" playlist, or directly at this link:

https://youtu.be/sbh5mExkuI4?si=e5mif-PvYCGsIn6R

05/22/2026

Congratulations to Wasatch Food Co-op in Salt Lake City, UT on opening their store for business for the *1st time ever* this week on May 20th! If you're on our email list, look for an email from FCI next week with more photos and details about this startup food co-op's opening!

https://ksltv.com/local-news/wasatch-food-co-op-opens-in-salt-lake-city/910705/

05/21/2026

Thank you to Garlic and Roses News Media - "news for food co-ops by food co-ops" for featuring the recordings from our 2026 FCI Live virtual conference series in their weekly food co-op news round up!

You can find the entire 24-video series for *free* HERE:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZi0T19YiBFKUxdzKiBLM55H3EBrJjxjF&si=lPxzMxEuca0f7_EQ

You can find Garlic and Roses' Co-op News Round-Up for this week here:

https://garlicandroses.coop/co-op-news-round-up-5-18/?ref=garlic-and-roses-newsletter

Food Co-op Initiative's virtual conference series of expert presentations, case studies, and panel discussions focused on the needs of startup food co-ops.

05/19/2026

Happy 5th cooperversary, Gem City Market !

This startup food co-op in Dayton, OH opened its doors this week in 2021 after five years of organizing and was seeded and supported by Co-op Dayton through its early organizing as one of the first Black-led startup food co-ops to get their retail grocery store open in the 2000!.

It has been a powerful 4th year for Gem City - from winning a Juneteenth award for community building and economic impact, to their huge food drive to serve their neighbors last fall, to the everyday joys of selling more groceries to more of their community!

Gem City continues to serve as a mentor to startup food co-ops across the US with a deeply cooperative generosity - we can't wait to see what you accomplish in your 5th year of store operations!

05/15/2026

Happy 2nd Anniversary of Opening to Food Shed Co-op in Woodstock, IL 🎉🎉

More than a grocery store, Food Shed Co-op is a movement strengthening their local economy, supporting clean and fair food, and nourishing their community for future generations.

TODAY, Food Shed is celebrating their 2nd Birthday with 15% off your basket for member-owners (and 10% off for other shoppers), sampling from local vendors and more!

Don’t forget to come back for tomorrow’s Plant Sale 🌿

Happy 2nd Anniversary of Opening, Food Shed Co-op!

05/14/2026

Happy 9th Anniversary of Opening to Green Top Grocery in Bloomington, IL 🎉🎉

Last week, the co-op celebrated its 9th Birthday with vendors & samples, live music, cake and more! 🎂🎈

Since 2017, this co-op has provided healthy and local food and products to its 2,500+ member-owners.

AND Owner Appreciation Days start today. Head over to their page to learn about the exclusive discounts and deals happening all weekend long.

Happy 9th Anniversary of Opening, Green Top Grocery!

05/07/2026

Happy 2nd Anniversary of Opening to Detroit People's Food Co-op in Detroit, MI 🎉🎉

Located just 10 minutes from downtown Detroit, DPFC is a Black-led award-winning co-op that opened May 2024 in the historic North End neighborhood. The co-op was spearheaded by the Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network and Develop Detroit LLC.

DPFC cooperators are leaders in their community as well as in the greater national food co-op space, having won numerous awards, including FCI’s Startup of the Year Award last year.

This Saturday, May 9th, join the Detroit community at the 2nd Anniversary Detroit Food Commons starting at 11 am.

There will be vendors, food and activities to celebrate this milestone.

Happy 2nd Anniversary of Opening, Detroit People's Food Co-op!

04/29/2026

Tomorrow is the 18th Anniversary of opening of River Valley Co-op's first location in Northampton, MA 🎉

Since 2008, River Valley Co-op has provided fresh produce, meat, seafood, bulk foods, wellness products and more, with a focus on local and organic.

Shoppers can get $18 off a purchase of $100 or more at checkout and free birthday cake tomorrow, Thursday, 4/30 🎂

Happy 18th Anniversary of opening, River Valley Co-op !