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Membership Goal
Current Members: 1,303
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Thank You!
Since the co-op is a community initiative, we want to take the time to thank community members for contributing their time, skills and passions to the Monadnock Food Co-op.
Thank you to the volunteer incredible crew who helped staff prepare the store a week before opening and greet all of our first-time shoppers during opening week! We also want to thank the food co-ops and Mayfair Farm for providing lunches to our pre-opening volunteers and lending their staff to help. View our Pre-Opening & Opening Week Thank Yous. |
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We Did It!
Thanks to you (and you, and you, and...), our opening week was a huge success! Co-op Staff and the Board of Directors held a simple ribbon cutting ceremony just a few minutes before opening our doors for the very first time on Wednesday, April 3rd at 11 a.m. -- acknowledging all the hours and resources needed to make the Monadnock Food Co-op a reality. WE DID IT! And now.... the work continues! As a start up business, there are many new things for us to learn and work through. We are busy developing these new systems and continue to hire and train new staff. Also, we are finishing up some areas of the store and setting up our back office break room and meeting room. We hope to get our hot sandwich bar and espresso machine operating by our Grand Opening.
Stay tuned for details about our week-long Grand Opening Celebration in June.
Building Update
Exterior work on the co-op building continues. Good weather prevailed and we are excited to announce that the construction crew paves our parking lot next week, Monday, April 15 - Wednesday, April 17. To make your shopping experience smooth, volunteers will direct you to adjacent parking lots. However, if you have the option to bike or walk to the co-op early next week, please do -- it will help us greatly. Thank you for your continued cooperation and patience. Yours Cooperatively,
Michael Faber
Monadnock Food Co-op General Manager
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From the Board of Directors
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With the food co-op open, the board of directors of Monadnock Food Co-op wants to 1) invite you all to come and see Keene's newest food store, and 2) thank our founding member-owners for making this possible.
I'm sure you realize that a cooperative is owned by its members, but have you stopped to think about how this worked in our case? Over 1,300 members made an equity investment of $200 in the co-op, thus becoming owners, and supplying the funds needed for a down payment on a building. Then, 134 of those member-owners made small ($2,000 - -$35,000) loans to the cooperative, supplying an additional $800,000, which made it possible for us to obtain the additional funds necessary to build and equip the store.
In other words, over 1,300 residents agreed to start a business together! They became owners for an investment of only $200, and many of them decided to make small loans to their new business and receive a reasonable return (up to 4% per year) on their money. Although the investment was relatively small, it still took courage and foresight to become part of a start up enterprise and the community will benefit from that courage and foresight for many years.
Thank you, founding member-owners! We think you will be pleased with the results of your investment, and we can't wait to hear whatever feedback you (and the rest of the community) have to share. You don't have to be a member to shop (or comment), so stop by and check us out.
Joe Marks
Board President
Monadnock Food Co-op
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Monadnock Earth Festival
Antioch University
New England
Saturday, April 20, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
AUNE, Keene
Please stop by the Monadnock Food Co-op table at this year's Monadnock Earth Festival. The theme of this year's event is "Back to Our Roots," and events will focus on how sustainable agriculture and transportation initiatives can further the sustainability goals of the Monadnock region. All events are free and open to the public.
Events include the Monadnock Green Business of the Year Award Ceremony, an Earth Day Expo and more.
View the full schedule.
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Shopper Suggestions & Feedback
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You're steak cuts are fantastic. They're still juicy right off the grill and your marinated chicken cooked just as well and didn't dry out. Amazing. I will be back to try out the local drafts and other selections of meat. This will be my summer grilling go-to spot." - Richard R.
"Please label 'Basics' - inexpensive nutritious food for budget friendly co-op items (see Green Star Co-op in Ithaca, NY for inspiration)." - Heidi
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Go Co-op:
Support Co-ops While You Shop
Originally Posted at Neighboring Food Co-op Association  We invite you to look for co-op products when you shop at your local food co-op. "GO CO-OP" signs on shelves identify items that have been supplied by co-ops. You may be surprised by some of the examples that you might find from our region, including:
- Organic Valley is owned by its more than 1,600 farmer members. Look for their organic dairy products including milk - sourced from their 175 New England members - cheese, and butter, as well as soy milk and orange juice.
- Cabot Creamery is owned by a co-operative of 1,200 family farmers in New England and New York. Look for their award-winning cheese, butter and other dairy products.
- Deep Root Organic Co-op includes 14 family farm members in Vermont and nearby Québec offering fresh organic produce and fermented vegetables.
- Equal Exchange, a worker co-op and pioneer in Fair Trade, offers fairly traded coffee, tea, chocolate, snacks, olive oil and bananas, sourced from small farmer co-ops.
For a larger list of co-op products and services, visit www.nfca.coop/co-opproducts.
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Regional CSA Open House
Stonewall Farm
Saturday, April 20, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Stonewall Farm, Keene
Come talk with CSA farmers in the region about what they have to offer. A complete list of participating farms will be added soon. Stonewall Farm's own farmer, Austin, will also be available to answer any questions about our summer CSA. Sign up is now open! Email Austin at amandryk@stonewallfarm.org to find out how you can eat fresh vegetables all summer long: www.stonewallfarm.org.
Establishing a Home Orchard Badger Ecology Center
Sunday, April 21, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
W.S. Badger, Gilsum
Learn how to create a functional home orchard: from planning and planting to establishing plant and soil relationships that build fertility with local resources. Led by Ian Tucker Peach, Hand Drawn Farm CSA, Hancock: www.badgerbalm.com.
Spring Family Farm Day
Inn at East Hill Farm
Monday, April 22, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
East Hill Farm, Troy
Enjoy a full day at the farm. Fee: $25/adult; $15/child; prices include the day of activities, meal, tax & tip. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Reservations required: 603-242-6495. See the full day's schedule at www.east-hill-farm.com. Annual May Day/Spring Celebration:
Celebrate 15th Year Farming
Tracie's Community Farm
Saturday, May 4, 6:00 p.m.Tracie's Community Farm, FitzwilliamThe celebration starts with a potluck, a bonfire and May Pole Dance. The Van Burens will be playing in the barn. You are invited -- and your family and friends are welcome too: http://traciesfarm.com. Mother's Day Brunch
Orchard Hill Breadworks Sunday, May 12
3 Seatings: 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.Orchard Hill Farmhouse, Alstead For a third year we celebrate the beginning of the growing season with a tribute to our farming friends and neighbors. We will source every ingredient we possibly can from local farms and producers, featuring fresh spring vegetables, eggs, dairy, meat and preserved fruit. All profits from this event will go to 5 area farmers' markets: Alstead, Bellows Falls, Walpole, Keene and the Brattleboro winter farmers' market. Tickets on a sliding scale, according to what you can afford, $18- $35 per person. If you purchase your ticket for $25 or more, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a $120 Inn At Weathersfield gift certificate and other prizes donated by participating farms. Also, available on-site childcare up to age 10 for $8/child (with yummy french toast and fruit!) at the Orchard School. To reserve your seats contact Lynne: lynne@kroka.org or 603-835-6227.
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