McGovern to Speak at 14th Annual Meeting! // NFCA News March 2025

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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!

For resources from past NFCA Gatherings, please visit https://nfca.coop/membergatherings

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Welcome Rising Tide Co-op!

The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is proud to welcome our newest member, Rising Tide Co-op in Damariscotta, Maine!

“Rising Tide is excited to become a member of NFCA,” said Heather Burt, General Manager. “The importance of the co-operative model is becoming increasingly clear as the world changes and we are proud to support an organization that is dedicated to the ongoing development and success of co-ops in our region.”

From its humble beginnings as a food buying club hosted by a local farm in the early 1970s, Rising Tide Co-op has grown steadily over years to become a 5,000+ member strong natural foods grocery co-operative serving Midcoast Maine. Located in the historic village of Damariscotta, at the gateway to the Pemaquid peninsula and just 25 minutes away from Boothbay Harbor, the co-op supports more than 300 local farmers and producers, many of whom are featured on its walls.

In 2024, Rising Tide invested more than $5,000,000 back into the Maine economy through wages and benefits, the use of Maine service businesses, the purchase of local products, discounts to member-owners, and support for a wide range of local organizations.

“We are particularly excited to welcome Rising Tide Co-op during the International Year of Co-ops,” said Erbin Crowell, NFCA Executive Director. “There is so much that our co-ops offer at this critical moment and by working together we can increase our impact for our communities, our regional food system, and the shared success of our members.”

The NFCA is a co-operative of food co-ops from across New England and New York State that are working together toward a vision for a co-operative economy, rooted in a healthy, just, and sustainable food system and a vibrant community of co-operative enterprise. Our mission is to support growth, development, and shared success among our member co-ops through peer collaboration and innovation, education and advocacy, food system development, and organizational partnerships.

For more information on Rising Tide Co-op, please visit https://risingtide.coop.

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New GM at Rutland Area Food Co-op!

The Neighboring Food Co-op Association extends a warm welcome to Chris Ettori, the new General Manager for Rutland Area Food Co-op in Rutland, Vermont.

The Rutland Area Food Co-op’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the hiring of Chris Ettori as the co-op’s next General Manager. Chris comes to the Co-op after most recently serving as the director of Rutland’s Vermont Adult Learning. He has extensive community leadership experience as a board member for numerous organizations including the Rutland Area Food Co-op, Rutland Redevelopment Authority, Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum, Rutland Creative Economy, Downtown Rutland Partnership, and as a Rutland City Alderman. He has stated his vision for the Co-op to become the region’s thriving store of choice for local and nutritious food, which he hopes to do by building the Co-op’s base of support and increasing its visibility in our community.

The Co-op’s Board of Directors also expressed deep appreciation recognizing Jameson Johnson for his steady and exemplary leadership as the Interim General Manager during the transition.

A member of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association since its founding in 2011, Rutland Area Food Co-op today includes over 2,400 member households and is a mainstay of its community and local food system.

Please join us in welcoming Chris Ettori to the Neighboring Food Co-ops community and look forward to meeting him at our Annual Meeting in March! For more information on Rutland Area Food Co-op, visit their website.

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Your Neighboring Food Co-ops partnered with the New England Farmers Union and the Local Food Safety Collaborative to spread the word at the NOFA Winter Conferences in February.

Every winter, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) sponsors the regional conferenced of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Winter Conferences as part of our effort to support our region’s farmers and spread the word about the impact our member co-ops have on our food system.  In partnership with the New England Farmers Union (NEFU) and the Local Food Safety Collaborative, we’re also helping our local producers navigate regulations and grow their businesses.  

For example, the 2025 NOFA/Mass Winter Conference brought together over 400 farmers, gardeners, educators, and organizations on February 1st at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA.  Organized under the theme, “Rooted in Abundance,” this one-day event offered a place to learn, gather, and kindle relationships in community with farmers, local food enthusiasts, land care professionals, advocates, elders, young leaders, and everyone in between.  NFCA Associate Director and Local Food Safety Collaborative promoter Suzette Snow-Cobb was there, sharing the regional impact of our food co-ops and offering education and training resources to farmers.  

The NFCA also provided a free registration to Bryan Gillig, Produce Manager at Green Fields Market, Franklin Community Co-op (MA), who shared their reflections on the conference: 

“As the manager of a Produce Department, rather than a farmer, I wasn’t sure how much information would be directly relatable to my own job or professional interests.  I was also interested on a personal level and since I try to use my role to support local organic agriculture as much as possible, I was really happy to see that there was a workshop that seemed to speak directly to both my professional and personal interests,” said Bryan.  “It was a talk by Cathy Stanton [author and leader at Quabbin Harvest Co-op (MA)] about how small grocers can support local farmers that was most interesting.  It was really exciting to hear someone talking about something so close to my heart and my job.  I walked away with a few new things to think about, and a renewed sense that my work [at my co-op] is valid and my vision is shared by others.” 

The NFCA and NEFU’s Local Food Safety Collaborative also partnered to spread the word at the CT NOFA, NOFA NY, and NOFA VT Winter Conferences, and Suzette tabled at NOFA NH’s 23rd Annual Conference held at Southern NH University on February 8^th.  

“It was an excellent opportunity to engage attenders as they learned more about co-ops in their region,” says Suzette. “People are passionate about growing their own food, supporting farmers and fostering a regional organic food system. Helping them recognize that our co-ops are an integral part of our food system is rewarding and encouraging.” 

Joe Horn, Produce Manager at Hunger Mountain Co-op, VT attended the NOFA VT Conference on February 15^th with NFCA’s support. 

“It was great to see one of the farms we work with win the Enid Wonnacott award. Congratulations to Khelcom Farms!” commented Joe. “A much-deserved award for an amazing farm.”   

The Spirit of Enid Wonnacott Award recognizes people who have helped agriculture to flourish in Vermont, are deeply committed to building community, and live with joy, kindness, and relationships at the heart of their work.  

Find out more about Produce Safety trainings, rules and resources:   https://newenglandfarmersunion.org/fsma-resources 

At its Annual Meeting in February, the New England Farmers Union reflected on the past year, heard updates on policy advocacy, and approved a resolution on 2025: The International Year of Co-operatives.

“It’s been a big year for the New England Farmers Union, and we are thankful for your membership, participation, and support as we look back on 2024,” said President Roger Noonan. “And as we look forward to 2025, with unprecedented legislative changes already upon us, we understand that it is more important than ever that we work together to influence the policies that impact our farms, our food system, and our communities.”

Noonan welcomed special guest Aaron Shier, Government Relations Director with the National Farmers Union (NFU), inviting him to share their perspectives on how we can work together to advocate for farm families and their communities in DC in the coming year. With a rapidly evolving policy landscape in DC and around the world, a focus was on being prepared to advocate for farmers, consumers, and co-operatives in the context of potential renegotiation of the farm bill, which includes essential food security programs, billions of dollars in economic and disaster assistance for farmers and their communities, and resources for co-operative development.

Highlights from the past year included NEFU’s policy advocacy partnership with the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA), supported in part by CoBank. Activities including trainings with the NFCA, NFU , and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives / Land Assistance Fund, and participation in NFU’s Fall Legislative Fly-In visiting to the offices of 12 New England Senators and Representatives. NEFU member Zoe Fox attended an NFU advocacy training in DC, while three of our farmers participated in an H2A Fly-In. NEFU also worked with partners including the NFCA and the Association of Vermont Credit Unions to recruit Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT) to the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus, joining Jim McGovern (MA) and Chellie Pingree (ME) and strengthening our regional advocacy for co-operative enterprise in DC.

Earlier in the year, delegates participated in the National Farmers Union Convention, representing our region in national policy dialogs and advancing a Special Order of Business on “2025: The International Year of Co-operatives.” And as part of its commitment to training and education, NEFU continued its collaboration with the Local Food Safety Collaborative (LFSC) and the NFCA to spread the word at multiple state conferences of the Northeast Organic Farming Association and funded the participation by a representative from Willimantic Food Co-op (CT) in the College Conference on Co-operatives in Minneapolis, MN.

During the meeting, Roger Noonan (NH) and Mary Castonguay (ME) were reelected President and Vice President, respectively, joined on the Board of Directors by Erbin Crowell (MA), Margaret Hathaway (ME), and Beth Hodge (NH).

As the meeting came to a close, members approved a Resolution on 2025: The International Year of Co-operatives (included below), highlighting the “vital role of co-operatives and credit unions in the economic and social well-being of rural communities in the Northeast,” and advocating for co-operative legislative priorities including preserving fair tax treatment of co-ops, ensuring access to capital, leveraging the farm bill to support co-operative enterprise, and strengthening national security through locally led international co-op development.

“We are a lean organization, relying on you, our members, and partners to accomplish our work,” concluded Noonan. “And looking toward 2025, this collaboration is more important than ever. Please join us – and encourage your friends and neighbors to sign up with the Farmers Union as we fight for the interests of family farmers and producers in New England and across our country.”

NEW ENGLAND FARMERS UNION

Resolution on 2025: The International Year of Co-operatives

Whereas, On June 19, 2024, the United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/289 proclaimed 2025 as the second International Year of Co-operatives, recognizing the vital role of co-ops in advancing sustainable development, eradicating poverty, and fostering economic growth particularly for rural communities;

Whereas, The theme of the International Year, Co-operatives Build a Better World, underscores the enduring global impact of co-ops, positioning them as essential solutions to today’s global challenges and emphasizing their unique ability to foster inclusive growth and community resilience;

Whereas, At its Annual Convention in 2024, the National Farmers Union approved a Special Order of Business on Support for the Co-operative Business Model and the International Year of Co-operatives, calling on NFU to “demonstrate our leadership in 2025 by promoting the co-operative model and educating our communities and policy makers about the principles, benefits, and impact of co-operatives”;

Whereas, For more than 175 years, the co-operative business model has empowered farmers and their communities around the world to improve their lives and livelihoods through enterprises that are democratically governed by their members, the people who use them to meet their needs in their roles as producers, consumers, and workers;

Whereas, There are more than 65,000 co-operative establishments in the U.S., where more than 1 in 3 people are members of a co-op or credit union and co-operatives operate across virtually all industries, including food, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, employment, finance, housing, healthcare, and the arts; and

Whereas, Co-operatives are an essential part of the fabric of the New England food system and economy, from producer co-ops (including Agri-Mark, Cabot Creamery Co-op, Deep Root Organic Co-op, Organic Valley, Pioneer Valley Growers Association), to financial co-ops (including the Farm Credit System and Credit Unions), and retail co-ops (including members of the Neighboring Food Co-op Association).

Resolved, That the New England Farmers Union commits to:

1. Join with the National Farmers Union, the National Cooperative Business Association / CLUSA International, the International Co-operative Alliance, the United Nations, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association, and other organizations in calling on co-ops and credit unions, their members, NGOs, policy makers, and governments in celebrating the year 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives;
2. Work with partners to raise public awareness, highlighting the contributions of co-operatives to sustainable development; promote growth and development, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and establishments for co-operatives; advocate for supportive frameworks, encouraging the creation of enabling legal and policy environments for co-operatives globally; inspire leadership, fostering purposeful leadership and engage youth in the co-operative movement;
3. Advocate for co-operative legislative priorities including preserving fair tax treatment of co-ops, ensuring access to capital, leveraging the farm bill to support co-operative development, and strengthening national security through locally led international co-operative development; and
4. Encourage our members to participate in the International Year of Co-operatives, promoting the vital role of co-operatives and credit unions in the economic and social well-being of rural communities in the Northeast, across the United States, and around the world.

Adopted by the New England Farmers Union at its Annual General Meeting, 12 February 2025

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

Neighboring Food Co-op Association members and partners are looking forward to gathering for our 14th Annual Meeting & Member Gathering on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Greenfield, MA, as we celebrate the 2025 International Year of Co-operatives!

For more information on NFCA Annual Meetings, please visit https://nfca.coop/membergatherings.

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