Food Cooperatives
Many independent food producers have a tough time earning enough money from direct-to-consumer sales to stay afloat. Farmers prep the soil, buy and plant seeds, work the fields, risk the impacts of climate change, harvest and clean, cool and package, manage social media accounts, transport heavy produce into town, sit in the sun for hours in a parking lot at a market (whether buyers come, or not), haul home leftovers, complete paperwork, and repeat the process weekly or daily. Because of these realities, small farms struggle to stay afloat and compete with established (inter)national supply chains and are looking for solutions. The good news? There is strength in numbers. The recently changed cooperative laws in the state now allow for more robust and varied cooperatives to form. This is good news for farms, farmers, grocers, consumers, and local food activists.
Existing Food Co-Ops in Arizona
You’ve heard the old marketing adage: be where your customers are. Food co-ops are a great starting point of entry, especially when your aim is to get into large retail outlets and supermarkets. Food co-ops help to bring your produce to your target consumers, build your brand awareness, and provide you with the experience of growing and producing for weekly inventories, packaging, and handling. The following are some food cooperatives that can help you expand your reach and get your produce out to consumers, restaurants, and retailers:
A local, family-owned, dairy cooperative committed to serve the needs of its members, community, and customers by marketing and selling high-quality milk and dairy products.
Tucson Food Conspiracy Co-Op promotes the health and well-being of its members and community through education, information, service, and outreach related to food, ecological, sustainability, and cooperative movement issues.
They support small-scale farmers in central Arizona, helping to diversify their revenue streams and make a living growing fresh produce. Sun Produce simultaneously works to increase access to fresh healthy food for Arizona’s children and families.
The Phoenix Food Co-op is gearing up to serve as a community-owned cooperative grocer that provides healthy, locally-produced, and accessible food - all while working to create a communal gathering space.
Cooperatives Begin as Businesses Where People are the Capital
Though cooperatives take different structures (employee-owned, customer-owned, etc.), every cooperative is guided by the Seven Cooperative Principles:
Voluntary, open ownership; open to all without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination
Democratic member control: 1 member, 1 vote
Member economic participation
Autonomy and Independence
Education, training, and information
Cooperation among cooperatives
Concern for the community
Thinking about starting your own cooperative? Check out Thrive Consultancy’s 10-Week Sustainable Cooperative Food Business Training Program: here.
