Our communities are facing crises on several fronts: Family farmers are dealing with severe economic and financial pain, health care costs are skyrocketing, and funding for our country’s largest anti-hunger program has lapsed. Tell Congress to take action today!
Nutrition Assistance: On November 1, funding lapsed for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s largest anti-hunger program.
The lapse in SNAP is harming hungry people in our communities and making it harder for us to fight poverty, while also negatively impacting food co-ops, community grocery stores, small businesses, and local farmers. USDA has access to a contingency fund for SNAP to at least partially pay November benefits, but it failed to tap this resource in October when it needed to.
Farm Economic Crisis: Recently enacted trade policies, and the retaliatory reactions by other countries, are wreaking havoc on our markets.
Crop prices are plummeting, input costs are soaring, and farm bankruptcies are rising. This is a perfect storm of chaos and uncertainty, and it is jeopardizing every family farm operation in the United States. Without swift intervention, many family farm operations in the U.S. are at risk.
Health Care: Health care costs are set to skyrocket in 2026, as funding for the enhanced premium tax credits – or subsidies – under the Affordable Care Act is set to expire at the end of the year.
These enhanced subsidies have helped lower health care costs for those seeking to purchase affordable health insurance, including more than ¼ of farmers and ranchers. If Congress fails to extend these enhanced subsidies, millions of Americans could see their monthly premiums more than double.
A court ordered USDA to use the contingency fund, and USDA initially said it would use those funds, but President Trump issued a statement casting doubt on USDA’s ability to move forward. Even if USDA moves forward to use the contingency fund to pay partial November benefits, many of these benefits will come late because of USDA’s inaction and failure to tap additional resources to ensure streamlined distribution of benefits.
What You Can Do:Consumers and producers are more likely to be heard in Washington, DC, when we raise our voices together.
SNAP must be fully funded. USDA should immediately restore full funding for SNAP by releasing SNAP contingency funding and tapping other resources to ensure we do not fall into a hunger emergency across the country.
Family farmers need immediate economic assistance and long-term reforms that restore fairness, competition, and opportunity in agriculture. While immediate economic assistance is needed, that aid should be directed to family farmers – NOT to corporate monopolies.
Temporarily or permanently extend the enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, to prevent steep hikes in health care costs from taking effect.
Join the New England Farmers Union! The New England Farmers Union envisions a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice. Neighboring Food Co-op Association members can join and support our advocacy at a special discount! For more information, please visit www.newenglandfarmersunion.org.
October is National Co-op Month, and your Neighboring Food Co-ops are joining other co-operatives and credit unions across the United States — and around the world — to celebrate!
This October, your Neighboring Food Co-ops are joining over 65,000 co-operatives and credit unions across the United States in celebrating Co-op Month, observed nationally since 1964. The theme for this year, “Co-operatives Build a Better World,” was chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA) to echo the United Nations declaration of 2025 as the second International Year of Co-operatives and raise awareness of co-ops as a trusted, proven way to do business and build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive communities.
For example, a recent survey by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) found that there are 60 food co-ops in New England and New York State, locally owned by about 290,000 members, generating estimated annual revenue of $625 million, and employing more than 3,300 people. These co-ops are engines of our regional economy, reporting an average of 30% of sales being local products. And food co-ops are not alone: from farmer co-ops to worker co-ops, credit unions to mutual insurance, and housing co-ops to energy co-ops, co-operative businesses thrive across the U.S. economy, where one in three people are co-op members.
“Co-operatives make a big difference in our local communities,” said Erbin Crowell, Executive Director of the NFCA and a member of the Board of Directors of NCBA. “But many people are surprised by how business model is recognized around the world.”
Around the world, 1 billion people are co-op members and 10% of the world’s population is employed by co-operatives. The United Nations’ declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives acknowledges their contributions to the Sustainable Development Agenda and the urgent need to build a more inclusive, resilient, and global economy. Because they are governed by the people who use them to meet their needs, co-operatives are rooted in their communities, empowering them to create positive change.
“The International Year of Co-operatives 2025 is a time for both celebration and action,” said Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations (UN-DESA). “Co-operatives embody a model of enterprise and community where inclusion, empowerment, and societal resilience are just as valued as revenue and gain. Cooperatives have and will continue to be drivers of poverty eradication, women’s empowerment and social inclusion, while supporting full and productive employment and generating sustainable economic growth.”
Stop in at your local food co-op this October to learn more about what makes co-operatives different. And while you’re there, look for the “Go Co-op” signs on the shelves that identify co-op made products. You may be surprised by what you can find, including dairy products from Cabot Creamery Co-op and Organic Valley, fresh produce from Deep Root Organic Co-op, fairly traded coffee, tea, and chocolate from Equal Exchange, coffee from Dean’s Beans and Pachamama, wine and olive oil from La Riojana, seeds and bulbs from FEDCO, naturally fermented vegetables from Real Pickles Co-op — and many others! (For a list of additional co-op made products, visit our website.)
When you shop at your food co-op, you are working together with your neighbors to build a stronger local community and a better world for everyone. Of course, any time is a great time to stop in at your local food co-op and learn more about the difference that people are making in their communities through co-operation!
For more information on Co-op Month and to find a food co-op near you, visithttps://nfca.coop.
On June 19, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the contribution of co-ops, credit unions, and mutuals to a more fair, inclusive, and sustainable future.
Perhaps more interesting to many readers is that this was the second time the UN had made such a declaration. In fact, the co-operative movement has a long history of partnership with the UN, which was founded in 1945 in the wake of the devastation of two world wars with the core purpose of preventing future conflicts by facilitating collaboration among member states, strengthening human rights, and promoting economic development. The next year, the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) was one of the first organizations granted consultative status with the UN, making the movement a key partner in these efforts.
Since then, the relationship between these organizations has continued to grow, including the establishment of the Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives (COPAC) in 1971; the adoption of International Co-ops Day (annually on the first Saturday in July) in 1995; and the International Labor Organization’s Recommendation 193 that formally inscribed co-operatives into international law in 2002.
However, the first International Year of Cooperatives in 2012 was a watershed moment for the partnership. A decade earlier in 2000, the UN had approved the Millennium Declaration, committing world leaders to “spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty.” The campaign included eight Millenium Development Goals focused on combatting hunger, inequality, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. With the target date of 2015 fast approaching, the Year was a call to action to increase public awareness about co-operatives and their contributions to this ambitious effort and to promote the model as a tool for enabling people to address common needs.
In its final report on the Millenium Declaration, then UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon wrote that “the global mobilization behind the Goals has produced the most successful anti-poverty movement in history,” and “helped to lift more than one billion people out of extreme poverty, to make inroads against hunger, to enable more girls to attend school than ever before and to protect our planet.” Still, it was recognized that there was progress to be made, particularly in the areas of inequality and environmental sustainability, and the UN was determined to keep up the momentum.
The result was the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for “people, planet and prosperity” that builds on the success of the Millenium Goals to include 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), tackling everything from hunger and poverty to gender equality, responsible production and consumption to climate action, and decent work to democratic institutions.
Again, co-ops are seen as central to the success of this ambitious effort, and with five years left to make progress, the UN declared 2025 the second International Year of Co-operatives. Under the simple theme, “Co-operatives Build a Better World,” the celebration highlights the resilience and enduring impact of co-ops and credit unions, identifying them as key solutions to our challenges and drivers of sustainable, inclusive economic growth. The campaign also calls on legislators and governments to create policies that support the growth of co-operatives and recognize their unique nature as democratic enterprises that are controlled by the people who use them to the meet their shared needs and aspirations, rather than capital investors.
Littleton Food Co-op, Littleton, New Hampshire. (Courtesy photo)
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), a federation of food co-ops across New England and New York State, was a leader in celebrating the first International Year in 2012, and our core vision is as relevant as ever as we work to build a thriving co-operative economy, rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable regional food system, and a vibrant community of co-operative enterprise. Together, we are supporting the growth and shared success of food co-ops in the Northeast, increasing our impact on food security and sustainability, and engaging in policy advocacy to build a better future for everyone.
We also know that by working with other co-ops and credit unions, we can increase our impact. From farmer co-ops to food co-ops, worker co-ops to credit unions, housing co-ops to energy co-ops, co-operative enterprise is an integral part of our communities here in the Northeast and around the world. An estimated 1 in 4 Americans are members of a co-operative, and the International Co-operative Alliance estimates that a billion people worldwide belong to co-ops.
With so many urgent challenges before us, the United Nations continues to be one of our best hopes for a peaceful, fair, and sustainable future. And as we work to find solutions to critical issues of our time, co-operatives remain among the most time-tested tools that everyday people have to create change, to meet their own needs and aspirations, and build more inclusive and resilient communities. This second International Year of Cooperatives offers a renewed opportunity to share this history and present a vision for the future that offers hope and inspiration — and then build a better world, together.
Erbin Crowell serves as Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association. For more information on the International Year of Cooperatives, visit https://nfca.coop/IYC.
NFCA Executive Director, Erbin Crowell, at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum
In July, your Neighboring Food Co-ops joined Co-operators from around the world for the ICA General Assembly in Manchester, UK, and celebrated International Co-ops Day in Rochdale, home of the Rochdale Pioneers Museum.
“It was an honor to represent our co-ops at this global gathering at an important time for our movement,” said Erbin Crowell, Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, who represented the National Cooperative Business Association at the General Assembly of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA). “If our history has shown us anything, it is that when our communities face extreme inequality, division, and uncertainty, the co-operative movement has offered an alternative that empowers people meet their shared needs and aspirations through our shared Values and Principles. But we also know that making a difference locally means working together internationally.”
More than 400 delegates attended the Assembly, where representatives approved a strategic plan presented by Jeroen Douglas, Director General of the ICA. “Everything we do starts with our Statement on the Co-operative Identity,” said Douglas. “It’s a bold strategy but we’re one billion members so we need to be bold and self-confident.”
Key initiatives within the plan include championing the co-op advantage, prioritizing women and youth in leadership, enabling training and education, increasing co-operative advocacy, driving sustainability, and funding co-operative development.
Many side events during the week focused on raising public awareness, supporting business success, and influencing policy, including a symposium on co-operative law. In his role as chair of the Board of Directors of DotCooperation participated in several important dialogs such as the International Cooperative Entrepreneurship Think Tank (ICETT), which was created in 2018 to foster collaboration and peer-to-peer learning among large co-ops and co-operative groups in leveraging the Co-operative Identity. He also contributed to a presentation by the Cooperative Identity Advisory Group, which has been leading a global dialog on the relevance of the Values and Principles of our movement to contemporary challenges and opportunities. And at the Rochdale Pioneers Museum, he participated in a meeting of the ICA Cooperative Cultural Heritage Working Group, which seeks to identify, protect, and promote historic and educational sites related to the global co-operative movement.
A highlight of the trip was celebrating International Co-ops Day on July 5 with co-operators from around the world at the Co-operatives UK Congress in Rochdale, where ICA President Ariel Guarco addressed the gathering.
“We are not simple enterprises, we are communities of people, millions of us, working collectively for mutual benefit, for meaningful impact at the local level, and for lasting transformation on a global scale,” said Guarco. “Dear friends, in a world that is turning inward, let us look outward. In a world that is growing more cynical, let us remain hopeful. And in a world where democracy is in retreat, let us be its most steadfast champions. Let us move forward with clarity, with conviction, and with courage.”
Guarco’s comments echoed the theme for International Co-ops Day, “Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World,” which builds on the priorities of the International Year of Co-operatives in 2025. Focused on the contribution of co-ops to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year of Co-operatives is both an invitation to shine a light on the contributions of co-ops to a more democratic, inclusive, and sustainable future, and a challenge to do more to contribute to efforts to build a better world for everyone.
For more information on the International Year of Cooperatives, visit https://nfca.coop/IYC
On Saturday, July 5, Food Co-ops across the Northeast are joining other co-operatives and credit unions around the world in celebrating International Co-ops Day. This year’s theme highlights the role of co-ops in building a more inclusive and sustainable future for everyone.
Celebrated by the global co-operative movement for over a century and first proclaimed by the United Nations in 1995, International Co-ops Day is commemorated worldwide on the first Saturday of July, coinciding with Independence Day weekend in the U.S. and offering an opportunity to highlight the democratic values at the heart of the co-operative business model.
“Co-ops and credit unions are an integral part of American history, reflecting ideals of democracy, self-help, and self-responsibility,” said Erbin Crowell, Executive Director of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Cooperative Business Association. “And around the world, co-ops enable people to work together to meet their needs and build stronger, more resilient communities.”
The theme for this year’s celebration, Cooperatives: Driving Inclusive and Sustainable Solutions for a Better World, is also a reminder that 2025 is the UN International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the role of co-ops and credit unions in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. A “blueprint for people and planet,” the Agenda includes 17 goals aimed at building a more prosperous, resilient, and equitable future for everyone.
Your local food co-op is an integral part of this effort, enabling people in your community to work together to ensure access to healthy, affordable food, support local producers, and provide good jobs. A recent impact survey by the NFCA estimates that there are about 60 food co-ops in New England and New York State, locally owned by more than 290,000 members, and employing over 3,000 people.
Together, these businesses have an outsized impact on the regional economy, contributing to…
A More Inclusive Economy. Food co-ops are jointly owned and democratically governed by their members, people like you who shop and work there, rather than investors or corporations.
Local Food Systems. The NFCA’s impact survey found that on average more than 30% of sales at member food co-ops were local products, contributing to more resilient communities.
Sustainability. Co-op shoppers support family farming, organic agriculture, reduced packaging, and a more sustainable business model based on meeting people’s needs rather than maximizing profits.
Food Security. When you choose your co-op, you’re making healthy, affordable food more accessible to everyone in your community, and ensuring reliable markets for local farmers and producers.
Good Jobs. Food co-ops support good local jobs and purpose-led careers. More than 60% of food co-op staff are also members, sharing in the ownership of their grocery store.
As part of its effort to help spread the word about Co-ops Day and the International Year of Cooperatives, the NFCA worked with our partners at Cabot Creamery Co-op and Organic Valley to distribute materials to all of the food co-ops in the Northeast, including a poster celebrating how “Farmer Co-ops and Food Co-ops Build a Better World, Together,” printed by the co-op printshop Collective Copies. More than 20 marketing and outreach staff also signed up for a peer dialog in June to prepare for the celebration and share ideas, including reaching out to local press, inviting other co-ops and credit unions to have an information table, and conducting membership drives.
“I just want to say thank you for the call,” said Jennifer Wahlquist Coolidge, Ownership & Outreach Coordinator at Blue Hill Co-op in Maine. “I think it really speaks volumes as to why anyone would be a part of this organization because of the support you’re giving us. It’s huge, thank you!”
From farmer co-ops to food co-ops, worker co-ops to credit unions, housing co-ops to mutual insurance, co-operative enterprises strengthen communities, enhance local economies, support social responsibility, and promote sustainable business practices. Co-ops Day is an annual opportunity to celebrate the difference that co-ops and their members make every day.
With shrinking federal support for farmers and food security, volatile markets and mounting trade tensions, it’s more important than ever for producers and consumers to work together.
In May, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) joined our partners at the New England Farmers Union to participate in the National Farmers Union Week of Action in Washington, DC, bringing together more than 100 farmers and advocates from across the country to walk the halls of Congress with an urgent message: We need a strong, comprehensive five-year farm bill that:
Strengthens the farm safety net,
Builds upon voluntary conservation programs,
Restores balance and opportunity in the marketplace,
Delivers fast and reliable risk management programs, and
Garners broad support from both farmers and consumers.
Central to an effective farm bill is that it continues to provide effective support for family farmers through programs such as crop insurance, conservation initiatives, and anti-monopoly enforcement, while also ensuring adequate funding nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
“Key to our partnership with the Farmers Union is our shared commitment to the co-operative movement and to building stronger relationships between farmers and consumers,” said NFCA Executive Director Erbin Crowell. “As we face drastic cuts to USDA services, resources for co-operative development, and food security programs such as SNAP, we know that legislators are more likely to hear us when we raise our voices together.”
Also participating in the delegation were Roger Noonan of Middle Branch Farm in New Hampshire and President of the New England Farmers Union, Robert Change of Echo Farm in Connecticut, and David Marchant of River Berry Farm in Vermont and member of Deep Root Organic Co-op.
During the Week of Action, the group conducted whirlwind visits to the offices of 10 legislators from states across the Northeast. In addition to advocating for the farm bill, they reminded policy makers of the critical role of co-ops in our communities, advocating for funding for co-operative development and policies supporting farmer co-ops and credit unions. They also encouraged Representatives to join the bipartisan Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus, which provides greater visibility of co-op economic impact before Congress and the Administration and supports a co-op-friendly legislative agenda. While in DC, Crowell also participated in a visit to USDA offices to advocate for funding for co-operative development.
You can make a difference:Thanks to our advocacy, the Northeast is well-represented on the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus, including Representatives Becca Balint (VT), Jim McGovern (MA), and Chellie Pingree (ME). Don’t see your Congressperson on this list? Send them an e-mail to encourage them to join by visiting this link.
Join the Farmers Union! The National Farmers Union envisions a world in which farm families and their communities are respected, valued, and enjoy economic prosperity and social justice. The Neighboring Food Co-op Association is an affiliate member of the New England Farmers Union chapter – and invites farmers, food co-ops, and consumers to join us! For more information, please visit www.newenglandfarmersunion.org
For this International Year of Co-operatives, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association worked with interns from the Department of Economics at UMass Amherst to take a look at the wider impact of food co-ops across the Northeast.
The United Nations declaration of 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives recognizes the contribution of co-ops to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as “Responsible Production and Consumption.” By mapping their impact across the Northeast, we can also communicate the wider impact of food co-ops and their role in strengthening food security, addressing climate change, building a more inclusive economy and society.
As part of the Certificate in Applied Economic Research on Cooperative Enterprises with the Department of Economics at UMass Amherst, Gabi Urbanowicz and Nuo Chen helped collect basic data from NFCA members and food co-ops across the Northeast. In addition to administering a survey, they reached out directly to food co-op leaders and conducted online research to fill in gaps in information.
Finding all the food co-ops in the region was not an easy task, much less compiling basic economic data, but the results were very exciting. Our research found that there are about 60 Food Co-ops across New England and New York State, locally owned by more than 290,000 members. Further, these community-based businesses generated estimated revenue of $628 million last year and employed about 3,000 people.
Because they are owned by people like you who shop and work there, food co-ops are rooted in their communities, and by working together, the NFCA is increasing food security, providing purpose-led jobs, and strengthening the local economy. In addition to focusing healthy food, sustainable agriculture, and fair trade, our member co-ops reported that on average 30% of their sales were from local suppliers.
“This data helps improve the visibility of NFCA members, communicating not only the scale of food co-op impact, but also highlighting the quantifiable aspects of co-ops’ dedication to the community,” said Gabi, who is studying economics and business. “Throughout my internship experience, I was able to see firsthand the major impacts NFCA member co-ops have on our local community.”
To learn more about the collective impact of food co-ops across the Northeast, including state by state statistics, please visit https://nfca.coop/members.
“The reason I love co-ops so much is I believe in them,” said Congressman Jim McGovern in an address to the members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association.
McGovern was the keynote speaker for the 14th Annual Meeting of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) at Greenfield Community College on March 15, 2025, where he thanked co-operatives for the contributions they make for their communities every day. “You are strengthening local food systems, strengthening rural economies, fighting climate change, and fighting hunger,” he said. “And you are doing it in a way that makes those choices accessible to everybody.”
A longtime advocate for justice, food security, and an economy that works for everyone, Representative McGovern is also a member of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus. In his remarks [LINK TO VIDEO], he also shared his concerns about proposed cuts to food assistance and recent actions by the federal government impacting family farmers in our region and across the country, as well as his appreciation for the contributions that co-ops make to their communities. “This is a moment for solidarity,” he said.
“As co-operators, we commit ourselves to our shared values and principles, and to working together to build a healthy, just, and sustainable food system and a more inclusive economy that works for everyone,” said NFCA Associate Director Suzette Snow-Cobb in her welcome. “As we carry our work forward, we are excited to welcome representatives from so many food co-ops and partners from across the region this morning.”
“We are so happy to have you all here, especially this year which is the second International Year of Co-operatives,” agreed John Crane, NFCA President and General Manager of Portland Food Co-op (ME). “It’s easy to get a little siloed into thinking ‘we’re just here selling food in our little corner of the world’ — but we’re really part of something much larger than that. We are part of a movement [and] the United Nations recognizes that the world needs more of us.”
The UN declaration of 2025 as a Year of Co-operatives offers an opportunity for co-ops, credit unions, and mutuals to communicate their difference at a critical time. “At this challenging and disorienting time, our co-ops offer a time-tested alternative that empowers people to meet their own needs and strengthen their communities through mutual self-help,” said Executive Director Erbin Crowell. “And through our shared values and principles, we have the opportunity to work together for the betterment of all.”
In his report to the gathering, Crowell shared some of the ways that the NFCA has been focusing on the UN’s goals of the Year, including raising public awareness of the impact of co-ops, promoting growth and development, advocating for policies that protect and promote co-ops, and inspiring leadership, particularly by engaging young people in the movement. As an example, he introduced the NFCA’s interns from UMass Amherst Department of Economics, Nuo Chen and Gabi Urbanowicz, who are pursuing a Certificate in Applied Economic Research on Co-operative Enterprises.
“Co-ops have a unique ability to engage young audiences, offering a space to learn, grow, and collaborate,” said Gabi. “Attending the NFCA’s Annual Meeting reinforced how valuable these connections with co-op leaders are — whether through shared values or new perspectives, they make co-ops so powerful. Every conversation deepened my understanding of co-operative enterprise and the role young people can play in its future.”
The day included a series of peer dialogs providing an opportunity for attendees to participate in exchanges on issues ranging from food security to climate action, supporting small food co-ops to building community among board members, and the important role of associations to co-operative education and training opportunities.
“I appreciate all the discussion about advocating for co-ops, low-income members, local farmers, etc.,” said Carl Etnier, Board President at Hunger Mountain Co-op (VT). “These are crucial times for everyone to be standing up to hold onto what we have as a country.”
Building on the theme for the day, afternoon panels focused on policy advocacy, experiences from international movements, and partnering for impact with food co-op financial partners, including Cooperative Fund of the Northeast, LEAF, National Cooperative Bank, and Shared Capital Co-op.
“The workshop on co-op financing exceeded my expectations and was incredibly helpful to us,” said Emily Hershberger, General Manager at Buffalo Mountain Co-op Market (VT). “I went out of curiosity and thought I knew a lot about the topic already. It was more helpful and relevant than I anticipated.”
A panel of food co-op leaders including Rochelle Prunty (General Manager at River Valley Co-op, MA), Patti Smith (General Manager at Willimantic Food Co-op, CT), and Joanne Todd (Board Member at Willimantic Food Co-op and CEO of Northeast Family Credit Union) shared their experiences engaging with co-operative movements in Colombia, the Basque Region of Spain, and across Africa and the Caribbean.
With unprecedented changes to the legislative environment in DC, a cross-sector panel on “Partnering for Impact: Policy Advocacy in a New Environment” explored how co-ops and credit unions can work together. “This year, more than any, advocacy is a priority and more relevant than at any time in my professional life,” said Doug O’Brien, President & CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association. “We’ve got to lean into the Sixth Principle [of Cooperation among Co-ops], we’ve got to figure out how to work together, and we have to make sure we can advance or protect the priorities that we have.” Panelists including Joe Bergeron, Executive Director of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions, Cornelius Blanding, Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, and the NFCA’s Erbin Crowell shared perspectives on how associations can advocate for their members, protect our business model, and advocate for resources for development.
Election results for the NFCA Board were announced, with Cassandra Carmichael (Vice President, Fiddleheads Food Co-op, CT) joining reelected directors Mary Mullally (General Manager, Hunger Mountain Co-op, VT), and Michael Wells (Board of Directors, Putney Food Co-op, VT). Continuing on the Board are Katharine Arnold (Buffalo Mountain Co-op, VT), John Crane (Portland Food Co-op, ME), Lucy Georgeff (High Falls Food Co-op, NY), George Touloumtzis (Franklin Community Co-op, MA), Philip Trevvett (Urban Greens Co-op Market, RI), and Chris Whiton (Littleton Food Co-op, NH). Outgoing Director Brenda De Los Santos (Fiddleheads Food Co-op, CT) was thanked for her service on the NFCA Board.
The gathering also offered an opportunity for community celebration, with the annual Neighboring Co-operator Award going to Kari Bradley, former General Manager at Hunger Mountain Co-op and NFCA Board Member, who continues to be involved in the work of the NFCA, supporting a peer group and online dialogs for general managers.
“Now that I’m not involved in the day to day of running a co-op, I can see even more clearly that what you offer is a special thing and is going to be a critical part of the solution that will see us through these times and future crisis and actually improve things for people,” said Bradley. “I encourage you to recognize our superpower and make the most of it by articulating [our] values.”
“This meeting was awesome,” said Lisa Boragine, Board President of TipTop Co-op (MA), reflecting on the gathering. “How can we continue the momentum throughout the year?”
“I came away renewed and energized to do the best I can for my co-op,” agreed Theresa Haywood, Board Member for Rutland Area Food Co-op (VT). “NFCA helps us direct our focus, particularly in advocacy, with a message to share.”
A longtime advocate for justice, food security, and an economy that works for everyone, Representative McGovern is also a member of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus.
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is honored to welcome Congressman Jim McGovern, U.S. Representative for the 2nd District of Massachusetts, as the keynote speaker for our 14th Annual Meeting, coming up on March 15. Organized under the theme, “Build a Better World, Together,” the gathering will be both an opportunity to celebrate the 2025 International Year of Co-operatives and to work together to confront the challenges of our day as we support the shared success of our co-ops, increase of impact for our communities, and amplify our voices before policy-makers.
In the context major changes taking place in DC, our communities, and around the world, Mr. McGovern continues to be a champion for the people of our region, and a global leader working to end hunger, protect human rights, and promote peace. First elected to Congress in 1996, Jim currently serves as a senior member of the Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Nutrition and Oversight, is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Rules and is a member of the bipartisan Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus. On the House Agriculture Committee, he has been a global leader in the fight to end hunger, fighting for and successfully securing a White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to make ending hunger a national priority. We’re looking forward to Congressman McGovern’s comments on the role and potential of our food co-ops and our members in helping to build a more just, sustainable, and inclusive food system and economy at this critical time.
Building on our dialog with Congressman McGovern, our Annual Meeting will include peer dialogs designed for networking and collaboration, a celebration of our Neighboring Co-operator, and board elections. Afternoon workshops will focus on several relevant topics including policy advocacy in our new environment, stories from the international co-operative movement, and partnering with financial service providers.
Registration information has be sent directly to our Member Co-ops. We look forward to seeing our members and partners there!
Providing a space for collaboration, innovation, and mutual support for Food Co-op leaders is central to the work of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), a co-operative of retail grocery co-ops across the Northeast.
024, at Greenfield Community College in Greenfield, MA, bringing together representatives from Member Co-ops, partners, and guests under the theme, “Build a Better World, Together.”
With the launch of the second International Year of Co-operatives in 2025, the meeting will include opportunities for networking, presentations, and workshops as we consider the unique role of co-ops in advancing the UN’s “Agenda for Sustainable Development,” which concludes in 2030. A plan of action for “people, planet and prosperity,” the agenda includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), many of which are directly relevant to our co-ops, including economic inclusion, addressing climate change, and contributing to food security.
Member co-ops are invited to send 3-4 representatives from among their management and board of directors for a day celebration, peer dialogs, and workshops. In addition to an exploration of the next International Year of Co-ops, we will engage in a range of peer dialogs, celebrate our Neighboring Co-operator, and announce the results of board election. Workshops will focus on several relevant topics including policy advocacy in a new environment, learning from international movements, and collaboration with funders supporting the growth of our co-ops. Registration information will be sent directly to our Member Co-ops. We’re looking forward to celebrating together as we work to build a better world!
