We’ve been humming right along in the store. Our shoppers have been keeping us quite busy; many seem to be planting their gardens with seedlings from Cate Farm. I like to think we are on the cusp of summer when those seedlings arrive, however the cooler temps and cloudy days seem to hold us firmly in spring.  

You may have noticed that we have added an ATM as you are exiting the store. When our credit card system went down unexpectedly last year, we heard requests for one from our shoppers who were hoping to avoid such a challenging situation in the future. We are too, so here it is! We hope that it is helpful and convenient for you.  

Spring at the Co-op means that it is time for our Dinner and Discussion event. We are holding it this year at the Chapel on the Greenway Institute campus on June 23. Doors open at 4:30 and the event runs from 5–7 pm, with dinner from our fabulous Food Services team included. The council is embarking on a visioning process for our organization, and we hope you will join us to kick off the discussion. Do you have ideas about what our future should be? This will be your first opportunity to share your thoughts. We hope you will join us to help shape our future. Stay tuned for details.  

Spring for me also means a trip to Shelburne Falls, MA, for a bi-annual board retreat of the Neighboring Food Coop Association. If you are ever in the area, don’t miss the Bridge of Flowers, especially this time of year. I usually stop there at some point in my day, but my focus as a board member is to attend the retreat. You may know that as a member of Hunger Mountain Co-op, you are one of 10,000 members who own your local community grocery store. But do you also know that Hunger Mountain Co-op is a member of NFCA which is a federation of food co-ops across New England and New York State that are working together toward a shared vision of a thriving co-operative economy, rooted in a healthy, just, and sustainable food system, and a vibrant community of cooperative enterprise? The NFCA website explains that “food co-ops also have a bigger impact in our region than you might expect.  Across New England and New York State there are about 60 Food Co-ops, locally owned by more than 290,000 members, generating estimated annual revenue of $625 million and employing about 3,000 people (2024). And by working together, the members of the NFCA are strengthening our regional economy, building food security, supporting local producers, and providing purpose-led jobs.  When you shop at your local food co-op, you are contributing to a stronger community.  And when you join as a member, you’re helping to build a better world for everyone.” You can see how our local impact is magnified through our collective endeavors.  

Considering this led me to think about the UN designation of 2025 as the second International Year of Co-ops, with the theme “Cooperatives Build a Better World”. They know what we know: that our collective impact matters. The International Cooperative Alliance estimates that a billion people worldwide belong to co-ops. When comparing this to our regional numbers, think of the exponential growth in impact and the strength that we have together to make a positive difference in the world. It is refreshing. Thanks for your part in building a better world.

—Mary Mullally, General Manager