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In this edition:
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The Future is Co-operative!
October is National Co-op Month and your Neighboring Food Co-ops are joining other co-operatives and credit unions across the United States to celebrate!
This October, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is 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 2024, “The Future is Cooperative,” was chosen by the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA) as an opportunity to engage co-op members, customers, employees, and policy makers about what makes co-operative enterprise unique. As businesses that are owned and controlled by the people who use them to meet their shared needs, co-ops offer an alternative vision for a more inclusive economy that puts people and the future of our planet before profit.
Here in the Northeast, the NFCA has been working with our partners at New England Farmers Union and policy makers such as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH) to raise awareness about the importance of co-operatives to our regional food system. “In New Hampshire and across the country, co-ops are critical for the success of local agriculture,” said Senator Shaheen. “Fueling jobs, supporting our farmers and feeding our families, co-ops are an essential part of our local food systems. During National Co-op Month, we’re proud to celebrate them.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) is also helping spread the word NFCA has been working with policy makers such as Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) to help spread the word. “As a member of both a food co-op and an electric co-op, and as a proud member of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus, I’m thrilled to celebrate National Co-op Month and recognize the incredible impact co-ops have in Maine and across the country,” said Pingree. “Co-ops have also played a critical role in strengthening our local food systems, increasing access to fresh, locally-produced food.”
For example, a recent survey by the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) found that grocery co-ops across New England and New York State sell more than $121 million in local products annually — or more than 25% of sales on average. Taken together, the NFCA includes more than 40 food co-ops and start-ups that are locally owned by 185,000 members and provide employment for over 2,545 people, more than 60% of whom are also members, sharing in the ownership of their local grocery store. 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 members.
“Co-operatives make a big difference in our communities across our region,” said Erbin Crowell, NFCA Executive Director and a member of the Board of Directors of NCBA CLUSA. “But many people are surprised by how our movement and business model is also recognized around the world.”
The United Nations General Assembly recently declared 2025 the second International Year of Co-operatives, acknowledging the contribution of the movement to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the urgent need to build a more inclusive, resilient, and global economy. Around the world, around 1 billion people are co-op members, and 10% of the world’s population is employed by co-operatives. Because they are controlled by the people who use them to meet their needs, co-operatives are rooted in their communities.
“The decision by the General Assembly could not be timelier. The innovative contributions of co-operatives for sustainable development will be crucial for accelerating progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals as we approach 2030,” said Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. “The second International Year of Cooperatives will be an opportunity to mobilize all stakeholders to support and expand co-operatives everywhere, strengthening their contributions for a better world.”
Stop in at your local food co-op during Co-op Month 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 from Equal Exchange and Dean’s Beans, La Riojana wines, seeds and bulbs from FEDCO, naturally fermented vegetables from Real Pickles — and many others!
For more information on Co-op Month and to find a food co-op near you, visit https://nfca.coop.
Share this story on social media or your e-news and add information about what your co-op has planned for Co-op Month!
Legislative Fly-In
In September, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association joined the New England Farmers Union and nearly 300 Farmers Union members from across the country in Washington, DC, to advocate for co-operatives and a Farm Bill that works for everyone.
As part of our Policy Advocacy Initiative, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is partnering with the New England Farmers Union (NEFU) to engage our members in education and action for a better food system. For example, in September, we participated in the National Farmers Union Fall Legislative Fly-In, visiting the offices of twelve Senators and Representatives from across the Northeast over the course of a day and a half to make the case for policies supporting Fairness for Farmers, food security, and climate resilience.
We also worked to strengthen awareness among policy makers of the role of co-operative enterprise in building a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food system and economy, and advocating for co-op financing and technical assistance programs. A priority this year is recruiting strong regional participation in the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus, which helps co-ops advance advocacy work at the federal level through the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA).
“Co-ops are all about people helping people. They give communities the power to build local businesses that are fair, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of their members,” said Congressman Jim McGovern (MA). “From farms to food stores, co-ops create good jobs and strengthen our economy right here in Massachusetts. I’m proud to be part of the Congressional Cooperative Business Caucus to support these incredible organizations and the people they serve.”
We are particularly pleased to report that during our visit Congresswoman Becca Balint of Vermont announced during that she would be joining the Caucus, thanks to outreach by the NFCA and our member food co-ops, and partners including NEFU, Deep Root Organic Co-op, and the Association of Vermont Credit Unions.
“I’m proud to join the Co-op Caucus in celebration of National Co-op Month and the vibrant cooperatives across the state of Vermont,” said Representative Balint (VT-AL). “Co-ops are a backbone for so many Vermont towns, providing jobs for nearly 1,000 Vermonters, and selling tens of millions of dollars in local products. In addition to feeding our families, co-ops support our values of social responsibility, democratic governing, solidarity, and caring for others. I’m proud to play a role in supporting and strengthening co-ops in Vermont and across the country.”
Representative Balint is joining other members of the Caucus from our region including McGovern, Jamaal Bowman (NY), Ann McLane Kuster (NH), and Chellie Pingree (ME). (*Co-op Month is a great opportunity to thank these Representatives for their support of co-ops. Don’t see your Congressperson on this list? Contact us for a sample letter encouraging them to join the Caucus!*)
In addition to our legislative visits, fly-In participants engaged in hundreds of meetings with members of Congress throughout the week, met with more than a dozen federal agencies, and heard from prominent government officials, including Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division Jonathan Kanter, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan.
“The Environmental Protection Agency views the agriculture sector as a key partner in achieving our climate goals,” said Regan. “Farmers play an essential role in creating smart and sustainable climate solutions, all while delivering a resilient and abundant food supply.”
In addition to advocating for a new Farm Bill, participants promoted the Farmers Union’s Fairness for Farmers campaign, outlining how a lack of competition in the food sector harms family farmers and consumers.
“Promoting honest and competitive agriculture markets means farmers can get a fair shake and Americans can enjoy a more affordable and resilient food system,” said FTC chair Lina Khan. “I’m grateful to learn from National Farmers Union about the challenges facing family farms. From protecting farmers’ right to repair their equipment to combatting monopolistic tactics in the marketplace, FTC will keep fighting to ensure farmers can enjoy the economic liberty that fair and honest competition provides.”
Since her appointment in 2021, Khan has been a fearless defender of American anti-trust laws, working to protect consumers and producers by challenging consolidation among food processors and retailers.
“It was my privilege and pleasure to join New England Farmers Union at the National Farmers Union Fly-In,” said Rebecca White, Public & Government Affairs Associate at Hanover Co-op Food Stores. “There are challenges AND opportunities every step of the way, but as I made my way home, I felt hopeful about the food future we’re building together.”
You Can Make a Difference! Share this story in your food co-op’s social media and e-news. The NFCA also invites our member co-ops to help us grow Farmers Union membership in the Northeast. For more information, please visit www.newenglandfarmersunion.org.
Credit Union Day
With International Credit Union Day coming up on October 17, Food Co-ops have an opportunity to remind their members and communities that “Credit Unions are Co-ops, Too.” Together, we’re building a co-operative future!
International Credit Union (ICU) Day celebrates the spirit of the global credit union movement. The day is recognized to reflect upon the credit union movement’s history, promote its achievements, recognize hard work and share member experiences. International Credit Union Day takes place during Co-op Month and has been celebrated on the third Thursday of October since 1948.
In 2024, credit unions are celebrating ICU Day on Thursday, October 17, under the theme, “One World Through Cooperative Finance.” At a time in our history when we seem increasingly divided, co-ops and credit unions are encouraged to use this opportunity to show how our movement brings people closer together through democratic, member-owned institutions that put people over profit.
“Credit unions are a highly regarded co-operative alternative to traditional banking services in the Northeast and throughout the country,” said Joe Bergeron, President and CEO of the Association of Vermont Credit Unions. “Two thirds of all Vermonters choose a credit union for their financial needs, and our success wouldn’t be possible without our co-operative structure and philosophy of people helping people . . . something we’re proud to have in common with our brethren in food co-ops. We’re both working every day to improve peoples’ lives.”
Food co-ops can take advantage of the day by educating their members, shoppers, and employees about the credit unions in their community. For example, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) offers a short webinar entitled, “Credit Unions are Co-ops, Too!” as part of its efforts to provide educational resources on the wider co-operative movement. Produced in collaboration with the National Farmers Union and the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF), each video includes a few thought-provoking questions that help engage people in the co-operative difference.
For more information, please visit https://nfca.coop/education.
Voter Registration Report
Hunger Mountain Co-op, Montpelier, VT
Flatbush Food Co-op, Brooklyn, NY
NFCA Staff at McCusker’s Market/Franklin Community Co-op, MA
Last month, Food Co-ops across the Northeast helped bring attention to National Voter Registration Day and civic engagement in their communities.
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is proud to continue its Community Partnership with National Voter Registration Day, joining member co-ops and over 5,600 organizations nationwide who signed up as Community Partners to encourage civic engagement in their communities. Co-ops set up information tables, made social media and blog posts, and Franklin Community Co-op initiated a city-wide acknowledgement of the day in Greenfield, MA.
“With the help of the National Voter Registration Day organization and the Office of the Mayor, September 17 was declared National Voter Registration Day in Greenfield,” said Caitlin von Schmidt, Outreach & Communications Manager, Franklin Community Co-op (MA). “We’re proud to be a co-operative and part of a community that recognizes the importance of voter registration!”
Food Co-ops are more than just a place to find healthy, local food. They are also community hubs, bringing people together to accomplish greater things than they can alone. As enterprises that are democratically governed by their members — the people who shop and work there — co-ops are uniquely positioned to support participation in our democracy.
“The success of this year’s National Voter Registration Day is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Chyann Sapp, Campaign Director for National Voter Registration Day. “With over 800,000 Americans taking action to register or update their voter information, we’re witnessing a powerful surge in civic engagement that helps to strengthen our democracy.” When including registration verifications, that is people who use the various online tools to confirm their registration is up to date, the number grows to roughly 2 million Americans—or 1 in 120 eligible voters—who either registered, updated, or verified their registration. It is estimated that about 300,000 of these new or updated registrations came from 18-24-year-olds, many voting for the first time in 2024. This remarkable achievement underscores the growing importance of this civic holiday in strengthening our democracy.
Beyond the holiday itself, National Voter Registration Day events across the nation help to jump-start voter registration drives that will continue up to the various state registration deadlines. Visit Vote.gov to register to vote, update your registration, or just verify the information on file is correct.
For more information on Voter Registration Day, visit https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org.
Cooperative Development Foundation
Dedicated to celebrating, strengthening, and advancing our Co-operative Economy.
Created in 1944, the Cooperative Development Foundation was first known as the Freedom Fund. It focused on the reconstruction and development of European cooperatives in the post-war era, an initiative that engaged the entire U.S. cooperative community. One of the CDF’s most significant investments was a $30,000 grant to help launch Cooperatives for American Relief to Europe. Today this organization is the Cooperative for American Relief Everywhere, better known as CARE.
Based in Washington, DC, the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) promotes self-help and mutual aid in community, economic, and social development through co-operative enterprise. CDF is a thought leader in the use of co-operatives to create resilient communities, including the housing and care needs of seniors and people living with disabilities.
“This country, along with the rest of the world, faces daunting challenges – a planet at risk, disasters and conflicts across the world, growing populations of seniors, and an acute shortage of affordable housing,” said CDF in their 2023 Year in Review. “More and more problem solvers and policymakers are looking to co-operatives as an effective and efficient means to address these challenges.”
Through its funds, fiscal sponsorships, and fundraising, CDF makes grants and loans that foster co-operative development domestically and abroad. Support for co-operative research, sponsorships of education events and scholarships, and development of education materials and programs are funded through the Cooperative Education Fund.
The Cooperative Development Fund focuses on co-operative development, research, and technical assistance with particular emphasis on co-operatives serving the needs of seniors, providing affordable housing, and building resilience in the developing world. Through the Disaster Recovery Fund, CDF provides grants to co-operatives impacted by disaster. In 2023 CDF distributed $1.4 million in grants through these funds that supported education projects, event sponsorships, and scholarships.
CDF hosts annual fundraising events to engage cooperators to further strengthen and honor our co-operative ecosystem. The Cooperative Hall of Fame honors co-op heroes who have positively impacted and inspired co-operative efforts and serves as a major fundraise for the Foundation. This year co-operators will gather in D.C. on October 3rd and celebrate the inductees of the 2024 Cooperative Hall of Fame for its 50th Anniversary.
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association has been a consistent sponsor of the Cooperative Hall of Fame as well as participating in the Co-op 5K, a fun, family-friendly fundraiser to support co-op development nationwide also organized by CDF.
A longtime partner of NFCA, CDF supported the development of the NFCA’s co-operative education webinar series and provided project support for development of small, rural food co-ops in the Northeast recovering from the pandemic. CDF has also been an on-going supporter of our Annual Meeting and other educational activities.
Support the only foundation in the U.S. devoted solely to the development of co-operatives across sectors for 80 years! Plan to make a year-end donation individually or organized through your co-op. CDF is the 501 (c)(3) non-profit affiliate of the National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA CLUSA).
As we head into the 2025 International Year of Cooperatives, you and your co-op’s contribution will help CDF continue celebrating, strengthening, and advancing our co-operative economy.
For more information on the Cooperative Development Foundation, visit https://cdf.coop.
Co-ops in the News
The Sentinel to collect food donations for area pantries this weekend
Keene Sentinel
Everyone should make their voice heard’: Voter registration efforts ramping up
Greenfield Recorder
Has your co-op been in the news recently? Send your item to info@nfca.coop.
October Cave-to-Co-op Special
This month’s special cheese is Swallow Tail Tomme from Stony Pond Farm, Enosburg Falls, VT
Stony Pond Farm is a 260 acre certified organic first- generation farm owned and operated by Tyler and Melanie Webb in Enosburg Falls, Vermont, and Brand Partner of the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership (NOFFP). The NFCA was the first retail organization to join the Partnership, working with our member co-ops to build demand for our region’s organic dairy producers.
If you were to ask a cheese pro what a Tomme is, they’d likely give an answer along the lines of: it’s a relatively small format natural rind farmer’s cheese. Another answer might be: Tommes refer to small cheeses made in the summer months while the ruminants are out eating fresh grass. Both definitions would apply to Swallow Tail Tomme.
Swallow Tail Tomme is named after swallows that swoop and dive over the fields at Stony Pond, controlling pests that would bother cow and human alike. Made using raw milk from a single milking, then aging for an average of ninety days, this cheese is a time capsule of the organic fields spring through early fall.
When Tyler bought the farm in 2004 it was run down, had poor pastures, and no roads; it was exactly what he was looking for. After a stint at a large conventional farm and then for the National Resource Conservation Service of the USDA, he realized the conventional methods were not the path he wanted to take. It took sitting in at organic grazing meetings at conferences to point him towards the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont and that particular run-down farm.
By 2007 Tyler had a herd of cattle, had built miles of fences, and was bringing the land back to life. To earn money, he was selling frozen grass-fed beef alongside cheeseburgers at Burlington’s Farmers Market; one week, a photographer from Brooklyn was visiting friends and stopped to grab a burger.
Melanie is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon and brings both business acumen and creative flair to Stony Pond. Leaving the city behind, but not her cameras, she moved to the Green Mountains and hasn’t looked back. In addition to working for a non-profit that advocates for people with disabilities, Melanie also works to promote local biodynamic communities.
People looking at Stony Pond Farm’s cattle might come away scratching their heads. The mix of breeds is a little strange for most New England farms. There are Jerseys, Devons, and British Whites mixed together. The calves are even more unique. The milk comes from the pretty faced Jerseys and some of the Devons, giving plentiful and rich milk, which until summer of 2019 was sold to Organic Valley. A lifelong dream of making cheese had Melanie and Tyler converting an un-used part of their property into a cheesemaking room and another into an aging room, where cheese is made 2-3 times a week.
Cheese Stuffed Pork Katsu
- 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal Morton kosher salt
- 3⁄4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 11⁄4 cups panko
- 4 oz. Swallow Tail Tomme, sliced in match sticks
- 8 oz. boneless pork loin, cut crosswise into 8 slices, or 8 1-oz. boneless pork loin slices
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
- Tonkatsu sauce (for serving
- Prepare a dredging station: Whisk 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1⁄2 tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 3⁄4 tsp. freshly ground white pepper in a shallow bowl. Whisk 2 large eggs in another shallow bowl. Place 11⁄4 cups panko in a third shallow bowl.
- Cut 4 oz. Swallow Tail Tomme into eight 3×1⁄2″ sticks.
- Pound 8 oz. boneless pork loin, cut into 8 slices, or eight 1-oz. boneless pork loin slices between plastic wrap to 1⁄8″ thick. Pat dry with paper towels and season on both sides with salt.
- Top a slice of pork with a slice of Swallow Tail Tomme; fold pork up and over short ends of cheese, then roll up into a tight bundle, like rolling a burrito (make sure no cheese is showing). Repeat with remaining pork, Swallow Tail.
- Working one at a time, dredge katsu in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip back into bowl. Dredge in panko, gently pressing to adhere.
- Transfer to a baking sheet or platter.
- Pour vegetable oil into a large nonstick skillet to come 1⁄4″ up sides and heat over medium-high until shimmering. Working in 2 batches, fry katsu, turning often, until deep golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
- Serve katsu with tonkatsu sauce alongside for dipping or drizzling over.
Swallow Tail Tomme has been featured as a Cave to Co-op cheese in the past too. For more recipes see October 2023 and October 2022.
Look for the “Cave to Co-op” sign in the cheese section at your local food co-op. To find one near you, visit www.nfca.coop/members.
Cultivating a Collective Future
Women Farmers! Join National Farmers Union in San Antonio this fall as we bring the Women’s Conference to Texas for the first time ever under the theme “Cultivating a Collective Future.”
The National Farmers Union’s two-day Women’s Conference has something for everyone: hear from speakers on farm financing, communications, marketing, and more. We’ll recap election day and what it might mean for American agriculture in the coming years, and we’ll hear from some inspiring Farmers Union members about their individual journeys in leadership.
Registration cost is $100 for Farmers Union members and $175 for non-members. If you would like to sign up for a Farmers Union membership to take advantage of the membership pricing (and other membership perks!) please visit https://newenglandfarmersunion.org/join/.
If you have any questions about the Women’s Conference, please visit the event webpage or contact Lisa Buckner: lbuckner@nfudc.org
You can make a difference: Join the Farmers Union! Share this story in your food co-op’s social media and e-news. As an affiliate member of the New England Farmers Union, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) invites our member food co-ops and your individual members to sign up at a special discount — and to encourage your producer partners to sign up as well. For more information, please visit www.newenglandfarmersunion.org.
Credit Unions are Co-ops, Too! At a time in our history when we seem increasingly divided, Credit Unions bring people closer together through democratic, member-owned financial institutions that put people over profit. Learn more at your local Credit Union or visit https://www.woccu.org.
