BOARD MESSAGE

DEAR VALUED MEMBER-OWNERS AND CUSTOMERS

 

We regret to inform you that DNF is dangerously close to closing its doors. After almost 45 years of serving this community, our sales are too low to pay what we owe to local small farmers and vendors. We are in debt to the very community members we exist to support. Many of them are friends and neighbors of yours: Twin Buttes Farms, Desert Sun Coffee, All Seasons Farm, Turtle Lake Refuge, and many others.


A dramatic dip in sales began in June 2018, when the 416 Fire decreased tourism and caused many locals to leave town. Just when we expected sales to return to normal, construction at the intersection of College and 8th began disrupting traffic patterns.

 

When we turned to our long-time bank for assistance, the bank changed ownership and denied us a loan. This triple-threat to DNF’s success came on top of 10 years of relatively flat sales. The natural and organic food industry has changed dramatically over that time. Local, responsibly produced grocery products that were once only found at DNF and Nature’s Oasis can now be purchased at five other local markets, as well as online.

 

 

Now we must ask ourselves: does this community value a

co-op? A co-op is more than a place to find healthy food.

When DNF is at our best, we provide local farmers and producers with a
reliable market for their goods, pay a living wage to our employees, feed underserved people through programs like “Help Feed Those in Need,” support local non-profits with “Round-Up at the Register,” and spend over 60% of our dollars locally. Spending your dollar at the co-op as
opposed to somewhere else is a vote for the health of this community.

Now is your chance to tell us if you want us to exist.

 

Ways you can help:
• What percentage of your budget can you pledge to spend at the co-op     this holiday season?
•  Add one extra item to your cart each time you shop.
•  Forego your weekly member-owner discount at the register.
•  Contribute to our “Vendor Relief Fund”

 

DNF Vendor Relief Fund is a GoFundMe campaign and a RoundUp at the register.  Money donated goes into a special fund earmarked for the sole purpose of paying outstanding local vendor invoices.  You may contribute to the general fund or name a specific vendor that you'd like your contributed dollars to pay.

 

Round up at the register to contribute or click the link below.

VENDOR RELIEF FUND

Moving forward, we realize that we can’t keep operating under the same business model we have been using in the past. DNF’s Board is brainstorming exciting, creative ideas about how we can stay relevant in 2019 and beyond. Keep your eyes and ears open for a community meeting to be scheduled in January. We will need your input, because our Member-Owners and shoppers are the reason that we exist.

 

With love and gratitude,

 

DNF Board of Directors

Kate Husted, Jules Masterjohn, Jamie Matthews, Dan Randolph
Cathy Cowles, Kelly Rogers, Tom Riesing

575 East 8th Ave, Durango, CO
970.247.8129

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