October is Co-op Month!
Governor Phil Scott proclaimed October as Co-op Month, noting that “co-operatives and credit unions are businesses that are locally owned by everyday people who join together to achieve shared goals, solve a challenge, or meet a community need, together.”
Since 1964, co-ops across the country have been celebrating Co-op Month, highlighting the benefits of locally owned and controlled businesses created to meet community needs. This year, Hunger Mountain Co-op joins over 65,000 co-ops nationally in exploring the theme “The Future is Cooperative.”
A recent survey by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association found that grocery co-ops across New England and New York State play a key role in supporting our regional economy, selling more than $121 million in local products annually—or more than 25% of sales on average. Hunger Mountain Co-op alone generates almost $11.4 million a year in local sales. From farmer co-ops to worker co-ops, credit unions to mutual insurance, and housing co-ops to energy co-ops, co-operative businesses thrive across the U.S. economy, where one in three people are co-op members.
To help celebrate here in Vermont, Governor Phil Scott proclaimed October as Co-op Month, noting that “co-operatives and credit unions are businesses that are locally owned by everyday people who join together to achieve shared goals, solve a challenge, or meet a community need, together.” The document goes on to note the “co-operative philosophy of working together for the common good has promoted community well-being and improved the quality of life for the citizens of the State of Vermont.”
For the month of October, Hunger Mountain Co-op’s Give Change recipient is our Healthy Access Fund. This fund is available to current and joining members to help with their equity payments. Whether you are a longtime member who is dealing with a financial hardship, or Co-op membership just feels out of reach, we want the Co-op to be accessible to you. Reach out to Member Services to find out more and apply.
At a time when many are concerned about corporate consolidation and price gouging at mainstream grocery stores, shopping at Hunger Mountain Co-op offers a refreshing alternative. Hunger Mountain Co-op:
- Is community owned by over 9,000 members
- Is democratically governed by elected members
- Returns profits to members, not distant shareholders
- Supports over 360 local farmers and producers with $11.4 million in local sales annually
- Is part of creating a vibrant and resilient local economy and food system
- Invests in our community with over $90,000 in donations and sponsorships given in fiscal year 2023
There are seven cooperative principles:
- Voluntary and open membership
- Democratic member control
- Member economic participation
- Autonomy and independence
- Education, information and training
- Cooperation among cooperatives
- Concern for community
Cooperation among cooperatives is an important one for allowing us to focus on affordability. National Co-op Grocers (or NCG) is a cooperative of cooperatives from across the country. Together, and with their advocacy, we gain the purchasing power needed to offer our shoppers the lowest prices possible while providing excellent benefits to our employees and remaining fiscally sound. NCG also offers operational and marketing support, giving us access to resources it would be hard to attain on our own.
There are all kinds of co-ops in central Vermont, including Artisan’s Hand (artists co-op), Woodbelly Pizza (worker-owned co-op), Washington Electric Co-op (a utility co-op), and East Rise (banking) among others. Go co-ops!