IOWA CITY, IA — National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), a business services cooperative for retail food co-ops nationwide, announced today the addition of two new members and three new associate co-ops, bringing affiliate totals to 125 food co-ops with combined annual sales of more than $1.4 billion.
“We are excited to welcome Amazing Grains Natural Foods Market, Just Local Food, Mariposa Food Co-op and Medford Food Co-op to NCGA. We're also happy to announce that the Boise Food Co-op has transitioned from associate co-op to member status,” said Robynn Shrader, CEO. “2012 is the International Year of Cooperatives, and we're thrilled to have more communities to join in celebrating the social and economic benefits of cooperative businesses.”
Amazing Grains – Grand Forks, N.D.
Amazing Grains has been an important part of the Grand Forks community since 1972. Located in the downtown area, the market takes pride in making high-quality natural foods available at reasonable prices to its 850 owners and the general public. Amazing Grains also organizes cooperative gardens on vacant lots in order to increase the availability of fresh vegetables and herbs, build a sense of community, and foster connections to the environment.
Boise Food Co-op – Boise, Idaho
Boise Co-op’s roots extend back to 1973, when a small group of people interested in buying healthy, great tasting food founded the co-op. With a nearly 40-year history, Boise Co-op is a trail blazing co-op and boasts a membership of over 30,000.
Just Local Food – Chippewa Valley, Wis.
Just Local Food is a community supported, worker-owned cooperative serving the Wisconsin Chippewa Valley since 2004. With 16 worker-owners, this full-service grocery store focuses on locally grown farmer-direct produce, meat, and dairy.
Mariposa Food Co-op – West Philadelphia, Pa.
Since the early 1970’s, the Mariposa Food Co-op has been providing its 1,200 owners and other residents of West Philadelphia with healthy, locally grown and sustainably produced food. This month, the co-op is relocating to a significantly larger retail space, an expansion that will allow it to serve even more shoppers.
Medford Food Co-op – Medford, Ore.
Medford Food Co-op opened its doors just six months ago. Already 800 owners strong, the co-op serves the entire Rogue Valley community with over 15,000 fresh, local and organic products.
“The food co-op sector is flourishing from coast to coast,” said Shrader. “We're proud to welcome these new affiliates and excited to include them as we celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives.”
About National Cooperative Grocers Association
National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), founded in 1999, is a business services cooperative for retail food co-ops located throughout the United States. NCGA helps unify food co-ops in order to optimize operational and marketing resources, strengthen purchasing power, and ultimately offer more value to natural food co-op owners and shoppers everywhere. Our 125 member and associate co-ops operate nearly 160 storefronts in 34 states with combined annual sales over $1.4 billion. NCGA is a winner of the dotCoop Global Awards for Cooperative Excellence in recognition of the application of cooperative values and principles to drive cooperative and business success. In the 2012, cooperatives around the world will celebrate the International Year of Cooperatives. For a map of NCGA member and associate co-ops, visit www.ncga.coop. To learn more about co-ops, visit www.strongertogether.coop or www.go.coop. To learn more about the US observance of the International Year of Cooperatives, visit www.usa2012.coop.
Source: National Cooperative Grocers Association
