Are member-owned co-ops like Hunger Mountain Co-op getting short shrift in the newly prominent national conversation about government-owned grocery stores? I started thinking about this after immigrant Zohran Mamdani took the New York City political establishment by surprise when, at age 33, he won the Democratic primary for mayor in June. News coverage highlighted his platform for lowering the cost of living, which included city-owned grocery stores. 

Hunger Mountain Co-op is owned by its 10,000 members, and we own our store. We’re democratically controlled through an elected council. The council hires a General Manager to implement the Co-op’s mission and policies, reflecting member input. This democratic structure ensures Hunger Mountain Co-op directly serves the needs of its members—and members have repeatedly indicated they want the Co-op to serve the broader community. 

While Mamdani’s proposal is short on details, CNN’s Nathaniel Meyersohn points out that “the US already has examples of government-owned grocery stores. They include the Defense Department’s commissaries for military personnel, public retail markets that lease space to farmers and chefs, and city-owned stores in rural areas such as St. Paul, Kansas. Atlanta is opening two municipal grocery stores later this year after struggling to draw a private grocery chain.”  

However, even publicly supported stores can face challenges, as seen with a city-subsidized grocery store in Kansas City that has struggled with keeping the shelves stocked and other issues.  

Government subsidizes businesses in many ways. In the case of Hunger Mountain Co-op and other Montpelier businesses, we’re subsidized by the taxpayer-funded streets and public transportation that customers take to our (crowded!) parking lot, and by the police department and everything else that increases public safety, so we don’t have a need to hire private security guards, as some grocery stores elsewhere do  

So, the question is not whether public money should be involved in the grocery business, but how—e.g., through direct ownership, support for co-ops, or simply creating favorable conditions for businesses. 

LaDonna Sanders Redmond of the Seward Community Co-op in Minneapolis, argues that city-owned grocery stores are about “creating a public option for food.” She asks, “What happens when we treat food access like a public good instead of a corporate profit center?” 

Mamdani’s proposal has publicized a vital conversation: How do we prioritize food access over corporate profit? 

Hunger Mountain Co-op already reflects this vision—a store serving its members, not distant corporate owners. As we renew our vision, we invite members to share their ideas on how we can address these challenges and expand our impact. Watch this space for upcoming events of the Vision Committee. Together, we can build a more resilient and equitable food system.  

Co-op Connects on Saturday, September 6, 11 am to noon with the General Manager (GM) and one or two Council Members  

Join General Manager Mary Mullally and me (and perhaps another Council member) for Co-op Connects on Saturday, September 6 from 11 am to noon! Look for signs on where to find us. 

We’d love to chat with you about the past, present, or future of the co-op—or anything else on your mind!  

The Wrap 

On Saturday, I attended an outdoor memorial service for Nathan Suter, who has done so much to strengthen our co-op and help both institutions and individuals in our region. Amongst other things, people spoke about his big smile and physical demonstrations of affection. I was inspired to go to the library and borrow the book, “How to Hug”. Turns out, though, it was volume 7 of the encyclopedia.

—Carl Etnier, Council President

Do you have any questions or comments about the council? Do you know any jokes even faintly related to food and/or co-ops? Please email them to me!