How To Start A Food Coop

[webglider]

Anart wrote this:

I don't think there is any reason to resort to using PMs - just post the information you have in a 'how to start a food coop' thread

After I wrote this on the Session 24 October 2009 Thread:

I wonder if people in your area would be interested in starting a food coop. I belong to one, and I've seen it grow from just a few members to well over 10,000 active members - and that's not counting all the people who were members and dropped out.

If everyone comes together and buys in bulk, the prices go down. That's how our coop started - very small. Everyone put in an order, and then came in at a designated time to pick it up. Now, no one pre-orders, and people shop whenever they want as they would in a regular supermarket. Work shifts are required and only members can shop. In the beginning, it was very primitive and small, now, in addition to a place to buy food, it has also become a community center that offers childcare when members shop, workshops, cooking classes, lectures, movies, clothing swaps, classes in nutrition and health, dances etc. There is a shift that works in a community garden, and another that works in a soup kitchen. Every month there is a General Meeting, there are elections for certain positions, and there is a paid staff which receives a decent salary, health care, and pensions.

It's a good way to build community, keep prices down, and share information and skills. If you, or anyone else is interested I can follow up. Our coop has a mentoring program for communities that want to start their own Food Coops. If you or anyone else is interested, I can speak to the coordinators and PM the information to you if that's okay with the Moderators.

Here is the information for the coop I belong to. Although it doesn't specifically address the issue of starting a coop, there is a lot of information about sustaining one once it's set up. Go to the member section, and you'll see the structure that has been set up which you may or may not wish to follow for yours. For example, one requirement for membership is that each person over 18 in the householdmust work a 2 hour and 45 minute shift once a month. Not all coops are set up that way.

http://foodcoop.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Slope_Food_Coop

Here is a national coop organization.
http://ncga.coop/taxonomy/term/24/0
http://www.ncga.coop/about

You can contact either organization to ask questions, or you could post questions on this thread.

In the beginning, you need a space, some people willing to be members, and suppliers. It evolves from there.

 

[LQB]

Here is the information for the coop I belong to. Although it doesn't specifically address the issue of starting a coop, there is a lot of information about sustaining one once it's set up. Go to the member section, and you'll see the structure that has been set up which you may or may not wish to follow for yours. For example, one requirement for membership is that each person over 18 in the householdmust work a 2 hour and 45 minute shift once a month. Not all coops are set up that way.

http://foodcoop.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Slope_Food_Coop

Here is a national coop organization.
http://ncga.coop/taxonomy/term/24/0
http://www.ncga.coop/about

You can contact either organization to ask questions, or you could post questions on this thread.

In the beginning, you need a space, some people willing to be members, and suppliers. It evolves from there.

Thanks Webglider,
There are some good example Ops pdfs here (in case others are looking at this as well):

http://foodcoop.com/go.php?id=86

The NCGA looks good (membership benefits) but they require at least 6 months of solvent Coop operation.
[quote author=webglider]
In the beginning, you may be able to sell most things at cost or near cost unless you decide to have paid staff. That may not be necessary in the beginning, but later as the coop evolves and membership increases, you might need full-time staff.[/quote]

We would be starting off very small and would have to rely on donated time from ourselves and at least a few others. The first step I have thought of is to take out a good-sized, well-constructed ad in the local paper to solicit feedback and interest. We can also put out feelers with numerous contacts. We have been told that there are quite a few of the local community that are interested/watching what we are doing on the farm.

Edit: Added some sites supporting Coop startup:
http://www.cgin.coop/how_to_start
http://www.foodcoop500.coop/
http://www.cgin.coop/system/files/manual.pdf