This presentation explores the impact and potential of co-operative enterprise in our regional food system, from the producer to the consumer. The presentation reviews various co-op structures, including producer, consumer, worker, and multistakeholder models and provides guidance for people exploring a co-operative business start-up or conversion in their community.
-
Co-ops and Their Role in the Collaborative Economy and Growing a Conscious Business, Slow Living Summit 2017
-
Farmer Co-ops For Efficient Production & Marketing, NOFA Summer Conference, August 2015
-
Selling to Your Local Food Co-op, NOFA Summer Conference, August 2014.
-
Co-ops in the Food System: Conversions, Start-ups & Supply Chains, NOFA Summer Conference, August 2014.
-
How Co-ops Spur Organic Farming in the Global South, NOFA Summer Conference, August 2014.
-
Good Food & Good Jobs in the Pioneer Valley, NFCA Keynote, PVGrows Spring Forum, April 2014.
-
Exploring the Potential of Regional Sourcing, NCGA’s Eastern Corridor Steering Committee, January 2014.
-
Growing the Co-operative Food System, NOFA Winter Conference, Worcester, MA, January 2013.
Co-operative businesses offer unique models for collaborative entrepreneurship—an effective tool for economic development that roots infrastructure in the community through member ownership and democratic governance. Whether you are interested in starting a new business, considering converting an existing business to co-op ownership, or want to learn about alternative models for food system development, this presentation from the 2017 Slow Living Summit is for you. This presentation includes perspectives from worker, farmer, and retail food co-ops on how co-operative business provides a vehicle for collaborative entrepreneurship and the role that co-ops play in building more sustainable, resilient and participatory food systems and economies.
Featuring: Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association; Sabine Rhyne, Brattleboro Food Co-op; Kristin Howard, Real Pickles Co-op & Tony Risitano, Deep Root Organic Co-op
Featuring: Erbin Crowell, Neighboring Food Co-op Association; Sabine Rhyne, Brattleboro Food Co-op; Kristin Howard, Real Pickles Co-op & Tony Risitano, Deep Root Organic Co-op
This presentation by Erbin Crowell, Executive Director, Neighboring Food Co-op Association and Roger Noonan, President, New England Farmers Union, covers how co-operatives benefit their member-owners, farmers, consumers, and the food system. Learn how your operation could benefit by being part of a producer/marketing co-operative, and discover the steps involved in setting one up.
Food co-ops in our region make a priority of supporting local farmers, producers and co-ops. This presentation explores the regional impact of your Neighboring Food Co-ops, what you need to know to offer your products to local food co-ops, as well as how to best report local economic impact. With Tony White, Director of Operations at the Co-op Food Stores of NH & VT, and NFCA Executive Director Erbin Crowell.
This presentation covers worker and food co-ops in the Northeast and internationally that foster economically and environmentally sustainable food systems. The presentation covers the process for cooperative business development, the advantages of the co-operative model, and steps for launching a new co-op or converting an existing business. With Adam Trott, Staff Developer for the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops, and NFCA Executive Director Erbin Crowell.
Rodney North, Equal Exchange spokesperson for 15 years and former Board Director presents on how co-ops spur organic farming in the global south. In many places around the world, farming organically requires a collective effort. Equal Exchange (a worker co-op) works directly with 55 co-ops of organic farmers in 23 countries. This covers how the co-operative business model, both in the US and abroad, makes organic farming both feasible and attractive.
PVGrows Spring Forum: “Good Food and Good Jobs in the Pioneer Valley,” NFCA Keynote, 2014
NFCA Executive Director Erbin Crowell was keynote presenter at the PVGrows Spring Forum on “Good Food and Good Jobs in the Pioneer Valley” in Holyoke, MA, in April 2014. What are “good food jobs” and what can we do to support their creation? What role can co-operative enterprise play in building more resilient local economies that can sustain good jobs over time?
Exploring the Potential of Regional Sourcing from NFCACoops
This 2014 presentation to the Eastern Corridor Steering Committee of the National Co-operative Grocers Association (NCGA) outlines some of the NFCA’s projects in regional sourcing and next steps in building a thriving regional economy.