Our Co-op Celebrates Co-op Month!

October is National Co-op Month and has been since 1964, when then U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman declared it so! 
 

As our Co-op rejuvenates from a challenged 2018, it is you, the Member-Owners and Customers, who have enabled our current growth.  We all appreciate this so it is proper that we begin our new MAD program during Co-op Month!
 

MAD refers to our Member Appreciation Discount. During October, choose a day that is convenient for you and receive a 10% discount on one entire shopping trip.  And there will be more MAD days throughout 2020.

But wait! There’s more!

We will feature weekly department discounts for an additional 10% off. You may combine your one-time MAD discount with one of the department discounts for a whopping 20% off items from that department!

What a great way to celebrate Co-op Month! As a matter of fact, if you combine your MAD discount with one of the Department discounts and spend just $100, what you save reimburses you for your annual $20 equity payment!

To all who have helped our Co-op this past year, from Member-Owners and Customers, and our Board of Directors and Staff, to National Cooperative Grocers and our vendors, we give a heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you!

This monthly column will be a casual conversation with you, our Member-Owners and Customers, about how I see things. I’ve written this monthly column for years at other Co-ops.  Sometimes it’s serious and sometimes it’s whimsical.  I know no (literary) boundaries.

What’s on my mind right now is, of course, our opportunity to be a stronger, more relevant organization in our community.  I get excited thinking about that and it takes me back to the energy and enthusiasm I felt when I first became involved with Co-ops.

That was way back in ’76 and I have been associated with Co-ops since then. We were activists determined to bring healthy foods to everyone, ensure our Staffs were empowered and presented with an enabling work experience as well as becoming a strong voice and leader in our communities.

In many ways, we were very successful.  It was the Co-ops that lead the Natural/Organic Foods movement that is now growing by leaps and bounds. Here are some little known facts:
 

     * In the early 80’s it was estimated that there were over 3,000 neighborhood Food Co-ops across the country.
 

     * These Co-ops were served by over 30 Co-op warehouses.  When big businesses saw the market the Co-ops were growing, they wanted that market to themselves.
 

     * The commercial distributors started to price war with them and eventually forced the Co-op warehouses out of business or just bought them which gained them the trucks, buildings and distribution routes. All the warehouses are now gone, the last one, the Tucson Cooperative Warehouse (TCW) folding in 2008.
 

     * These now huge distributors work with the Co-ops but have no real allegiance to them. Our main distributor sells to Whole Foods too.  Our smaller co-ops suffered and could not compete with the new conventional stores opening.
 

     * Co-ops banded together and created the NCG, the National Cooperative Grocers.  This group negotiates with the big distributor allowing us pricing that keeps us competitive.  NCG is a Co-op comprised of Co-ops.

Co-ops are very different from the conventional stores who are in this business for maximum profit to the investors and/or owners.  First we all adhere to – in our own manner – the Seven Co-op Principles, the Six Co-op Values and Four Ethical Co-op Values passed down to us from the 1850s Rochdale Co-op in England.

Just even the First Principle of Open Membership was very controversial in those days. “What was the controversy,” you ask? Why, the Co-ops not only admitted women to membership and allowed them a vote equal vote to the men, they also allowed women to sit on the Board and govern equal to the men. 

The Co-ops were at the forefront of the Women’s Suffrage movements over 100 years ago and we continue to be at the forefront of human rights and the idea that every individual be treated with respect and equality.

This resonates with me very deeply.  Each person walking into our Co-op is important. It’s deep in how we think about things. We do not “sell” products to you but rather, we are your buying agent bringing you the highest quality foods at a fair price. Our Staff are our partners not our “resources.”

We are not a corporate entity whose goal is to fatten the investor’s wallets nor are we family owned as is Walmart who seek to fatten their own pockets. 

We are PEOPLE owned.  Since you are we and we are you, we are a community that puts people at the forefront. We strengthen where we live and our surrounding regions by being as local in our product selection as is possible.

Since I’m new to this Co-op, I am preparing a large, extensive survey of the Membership that I hope to get going in the few weeks.  Look for it! It will be fun and rewarding!

And please talk to me when you see me in the Co-op! I want to meet as many of you as possible and I want to hear what you think and feel about our Co-op!

‘Till next month, enjoy Co-op month, enjoy MAD, enjoy our department sales, enjoy our extraordinary produce selection featuring as much quality local produce as we can find, enjoy our Deli which continually gets accolades, enjoy shopping in a place that puts people first and enjoy our Staff who love helping you to a great experience!

DNF CO-OP IN THE COMMUNITY

Round Up for COOKING MATTERS during October
Cooking Matters is helping end childhood hunger by inspiring families to make healthy, affordable food choices. Their programs teach parents and caregivers with limited food budgets to shop for and cook healthy meals. Through Cooking Matters programming, participants learn to shop smarter, use nutrition information to make healthier choices, and cook delicious, affordable meals.

For more information about their local programs and what you can do to help, visit Cooking Matters or contact Brigid Hunt at bhunt@strength.org.

FRESH FROM THE DELI

Stay Happy during Cold & Flu Season with Fresh, Organic Juices

FROM THE BOARD

Co-op Month has been celebrated annually in October across the United States for more than half a century. It is a time for cooperative businesses to reflect on their shared principles and to educate others about the value of belonging to a cooperative. The board is grateful and enthusiastic in our role of support and guidance.

In Durango we are fortunate to have our beloved Durango Natural Foods Co-op as a cornerstone for the Seven Cooperative Principles. Every day, DNF Co-op demonstrates its “Concern for the Community,” Principle #7, through our Help Feed Those in Need program. Since beginning the initiative over two years ago, Co-op Member-Owners and shoppers have purchased and donated more than 800 cases of organic, shelf-stable food to the La Plata County Family Center, which serves low-income families. This community care is one of the benefits of the cooperative model. As we thrive again, we are more and more able to support our local and regional farmers and producers and better serve the community.

Our store has undergone many changes and our staff continues to lead the way to a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and enjoyable shopping experience.

September sales are up! Our produce department offers the best selection of high quality products in town and our wonderful deli continues to evolve and grow in popularity offering creative, delicious, cutting edge items for our healthy dining experience. The addition of more great vegan options and the new Grab n’ Go fresh juices are just two examples of how the we continue to serve up delicious, heartfelt nourishment!

DNF will continue to carry local produce throughout the fall and into the winter to keep us all happy and healthy.

Wishing you a vibrant and splendid fall!

DNF Co-op Board of Directors