Food Co-op Initiative

Home
United States
Londonderry, VT
Food Co-op Initiative

Directions Website

Starting a food co-op? Start here. We answer questions, spread great ideas, and share success stories. Starting a new food co-op? Have a question about organizing?

We want to hear from you and find out how we can help! We have a long list of how-to's and recorded webinar training sessions on our website. We're here to help!

11/13/2026

Our Full Circle donor co-ops make what FCI does *possible*. Established, open co-ops fund just over 10% of FCI's total annual operating budget so our small-but-mighty staff of three can deliver our Peer Learning Groups serving 80+ startups across the US; our virtual FCI Live conference series with cutting edge content each March; the in-person Up & Coming Conference for startups each fall (returning fall 2027 in Detroit!); and so much more.

Menomomie Market Food Co-op is the 27th food co-op to become a Full Circle supporter of FCI for 2026, and donates to FCI year after year! Why?

"MMFC is happy to support FCI's work to bring a vibrant co-op to more and more communities. In my time in the food co-op world, I have been a founding member of a tiny food co-op, managed a small and struggling one, experienced expansions and growing pains, and navigated a merger of two small co-ops. All of these steps along the way were brand-new and difficult for us, and organizations like FCI help the magic happen." - Crystal Halvorson, GM at Menomonie MFC

We need *your* food co-op to step up and be the 28th Full Circle co-op to get on our 2026 map of supporters - we need to reach 75 supporting co-ops before the end of 2026! There are four easy ways to donate today, learn more about them HERE:

https://fci.coop/full-circle/

11/13/2026

Happy 1st Anniversary of Opening to Uproot Market & Eatery in Battle Creek, MI! 🎉

The co-op is celebrating with its community today and tomorrow with grocery games, samples, giveaways and more.

*Today only*, Thursday, Nov 12, member-owners will get 10% off non-sale items.

Uproot Market & Eatery is open to the public and you don’t need a membership to shop.

📍Address: 119 W Michigan Ave, Battle Creek, MI 49017

Congratulations, Uproot Market & Eatery!

11/12/2026

Happy 1st Anniversary of opening North Flint Food Market Cooperative in Flint, MI! 🎉

Yesterday, Board President Brigitte Jackson and General Manager Marquise Powell were featured on ABC12 News to share reflections on one year after opening, what a co-op means and the difference the co-op has made in the community.

The co-op will be celebrating this significant milestone this weekend with anniversary and pre-Thanksgiving in-store specials so come out and shop with your neighbors!

📍Address: 5402 Clio Rd, Flint, MI

Congratulations, North Flint Food Market Cooperative!

11/10/2026

NEW job alert 📢

The Purple Carrot Market is hiring a General Manager for their co-op grocery store in Little Falls, MN.

The salary range is $55,000 to $65,000.

Read the full job description: https://purplecarrotmarket.coop.

To apply, send your resume and cover letter to [email protected].

11/07/2026

Happy 14th Anniversary to Old Creamery Co-op in Cummington, MA! 🎉

Originally, Old Creamery started as a co-op for dairy farmers in 1888.

Since then, it has transformed into a restaurant, a general store, then a combo store/restaurant.

Now, Old Creamery is back to being a co-op as of November 2012, offering locally grown organic produce and locally made high quality products while continuing to serve as a community hub.

📍 Address: 445 Berkshire Trail, Cummington, MA 01026

Congratulations, Old Creamery Co-op!

11/06/2026

What happened at the U.S. Co-ops IMPACT conference?

Where can you watch Executive Director, JQ Hannah’s talk at IMPACT? 🎤

Which food co-ops successfully finished the 1st ever curriculum-based Stage 1 Peer Learning Group?

In collaboration with Start . coop, where can you learn about community feasibility and food co-op development?

Cohosted by National Black Food & Justice Alliance and Detroit People's Food Co-op, when and where was one of the most powerful gatherings of Black food cooperators?

Lots of questions and plenty of answers in the October edition of the Food Co-op Initiative newsletter 📣

If you’re on our email list, these answers (and MORE) are already in your inbox.

To read the full version, head to https://fci.coop/october-2026

To read the full version, use the link in our bio to sign up!

11/05/2026

Happy 3rd Anniversary of Opening, Lovettsville Co-op Market in Lovettsville, VA! 🎉

They are committed to values, policies & practices that support the Lovettsville/western Loudoun County/adjacent Maryland communities and a strong local economy.

Some of their co-op values include:

- Bringing high quality foods to their customer base without sacrificing a wide range of products that are accessible and affordable.
- Sourcing products from local and regional farmers and producers when possible.
- Operating under a business model that fosters economic, social, and environmental justice.

Over the weekend, the co-op and its community celebrated with cake, a special birthday hot bar, 10% off storewide for member-owners and a co-op swag bag raffle.

📍 Address: 11 Town Center Dr Ste 150, Lovettsville, VA 20180

Congratulations, Lovettsville Co-op Market!

11/04/2026

Chris Dilley, Director of Startup Support at Food Co-op Initiative, wrote an article highlighting FCI’s work with Blackberry Food Co-op, a recently opened conversion co-op located in Cottage, Grove, OR.

Also highlighted in Chris’ piece are the challenges that the co-op’s member-owners, in a rural community, had to work through in order to preserve:
- access to locally grown food & products
- as well as local jobs

Congratulations Blackberry Food Co-op and your community and thank you CooperationWorks for featuring this story.

Read the full article: https://cooperationworks.coop/success_stories/keeping-it-local-blackberry-food-co-op-buys-local-farm-stand-business

11/04/2026

Congratulations, Aliquippa Food Co-op (AFC) for partnering with POH+W Architects to bring your full-service community-owned grocery store & community hub to life!

Based in Aliquippa, PA, located north of Pittsburgh, this community has secured a site for their grocery store on Sheffield Avenue, which is the former location of A&P Supermarket.

The co-op has also partnered with Matthew Smith of Triad Engineering, on community visioning meetings where community stakeholders and residents can provide their input and help shape the store.

The next virtual information event, to learn more about AFC and how to become a member-owner, is this Thursday, Nov 5: https://www.mobilize.us/movementlabs/event/1044748

Congratulations on your progress, Aliquippa Food Co-op!

10/30/2026

Congratulations Fertile Ground Food Cooperative - FGFC on your store groundbreaking last weekend!

This Black-led food co-op in Southeast Raleigh, NC celebrated another milestone towards opening their community-owned grocery store.

Address

2801 Hennepin Avenue South PMB 208
Londonderry, VT
55408

Website

http://www.fci.coop/donate

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Food Co-op Initiative posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.