Grow Your Own Food Co-op Workshop Series

Overview:
Food co-ops have become a hot item in the Pacific Northwest. The last two years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of groups interested in starting their own cooperative. Developers are looking at a model of clustered development.

The Center is aware of more than two dozen communities in which people have sought development assistance, usually from existing cooperatives. The overwhelming interest, in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska, has inspired us to look at ways to use development resources as efficiently and creatively as possible. Our first major initiative is the “Grow Your Own Food Co-op” workshop series.

This project, modeled after our sustainable forestry co-op series, is intended to work with members of multiple co-op planning groups over a six month period. Over the course of three weekend-long gatherings, the Center will help them to launch their organizing drive and prepare them to seek funding.

Session 1:
The first session was hosted by People’s Food Co-op of Portland, Ore. During the weekend of May 12-14, we addressed processes which help a group work together. The session featured store tours and panelists from each of Portland’s three food co-ops (People's Food, Alberta Cooperative Grocery, and Food Front Cooperatve Grocery), as well as an introduction to the Food Co-op 500 grant program, the steps of developing a co-op and other topics. The schedule is now available.

Starting a food co-op is a long and involved process, and the weekend was only the beginning. During the intervals between sessions, NWCDC hosted conference calls and provide other tools to help keep the groups learning from each other’s experiences and moving forward.

Session 2:
Session two was held August 11-13 in Olympia, WA. It will address two key ingredients in creating a co-op: bringing in more people and energy, while providing leadership and structure to make the best use of people’s contributions. We dedicated time to refining Food Co-op 500 funding applications..

For more information, please consult the event schedule and logistics.

Session 3:
The final was held in October in Corvallis, OR. The weekend will focused on the finances of building a cooperative: feasibility and funding. The primary focus of the weekend will be developing a strategy for determining feasibility, refining the vision, and beginning a capital drive. Finally, we worked with groups to develop a work plan.

For further information, please contact Andrew at 360.943.4241

The Center appreciates the support of the following food co-ops:

Olympia Food Cooperative
Peoples Food Cooperative
Puget Consumer Cooperative
Ashland Food Cooperative

Additional funding was provided by:

Group Health Cooperative
USDA - Rural Development and Cooperative Programs