Food Co-ops Build a Better World | | |
Co-op E-News // July 2026
Read this on our website: https://nfca.coop/enewsjuly26/
Contents at a Glance
- Co-ops for a Peaceful World!
- CCMA Awards
- Voter Registration Day is Coming!
- A Visit to Mondragón
- Peer Dialogs
- Food Co-ops in the News
- July Cave-to-Co-op Special
- Act For a Better Farm Bill
- Upcoming Events
| | Co-ops for a Peaceful World! | | |
On Saturday, July 4th, food co-ops rededicate ourselves to democracy here in the U.S. and join with other co-operatives in celebrating #CoopsDay around the world.
Celebrated for more than a century and officially proclaimed by the United Nations in 1995, International Co-ops Day is commemorated worldwide on the first Saturday of July, coinciding with Independence Day weekend in the U.S. and offering an opportunity to highlight the democratic values at the heart of our nation and the co-operative business model.
| | PFC representative's (left to right): Norman Gonsalves, HR & Engagement Manager, George Giese, Board President, John Crane, General Manager, Martha Lefebvre Board Vice President, & Hether Jonna Frayer, Columinate Consultant to PFC’s Board of Directors. | | |
The Annual CCMA Food Co-op Conference is an important opportunity for our national movement to reflect, share ideas, and look forward — and to take some time to celebrate, together!
CCMA is the national annual conference for food co-op directors, management, staff, and sector partners. Organized by the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives with assistance from a planning committee comprised of co-op managers and board members, representatives from cooperative associations, development organizations, financial partners and other various allies, the gathering offers opportunities for networking as well as speakers, panels, and workshops. It is also a time for celebrating some of the individuals and co-ops that have made significant contributions to our movement.
| | Voter Registration Day is Coming! | | On September 15th, community partners across the country will participate in National Voter Registration Day, making registration more visible, accessible, and even a little bit joyful. Will your co-op be joining them? | | With midterm elections coming up this fall, the Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is proud to partner with National Voter Registration Day again this year, encouraging co-ops across the Northeast to participate in this nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating our democracy. Taking place on September 15, community events will coincide with the UN International Day of Democracy — an opportunity to consider how we can promote the ideal of democracy as a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. | | Flatbush Food Co-op, Brooklyn, NY | | |
In June, students from Saint Mary’s University and other leaders visited the Mondragón co-ops of the Basque Region of Spain to learn more about this innovative co-operative ecosystem.
For more than twenty years, the International Centre for Co-operative Management at Saint Mary’s University has offered co-op leaders the opportunity to develop the skills and experience to support business success within the context of our shared Co-operative Identity. A central aspect of its innovative Master of Management, Co-operatives & Credit Unions (MMCCU) program is the opportunity for students to learn firsthand from examples of successful co-operative complexes in other parts of the world.
| | The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) was founded by co-ops across the Northeast with the goal of providing opportunities for peer-to-peer networking, collaboration, and innovation supporting shared business success. | | In June, the NFCA hosted a special session for co-op staff to learn more about two outstanding cheese producers from our region in collaboration with the Northeast Organic Family Farm Partnership (NOFFP). This peer dialog was attended by cheese buyers, marketing, and merchandizing staff and offered an opportunity to hear updates from NOFFP and learn how co-ops can continue to help increase the demand for organic dairy and have an impact on preserving dairy farming in our region. | | May 29th, 2026 - The Times of Israel | | June 3rd, 2026 - The Co-op Spirit | | June 4th, 2026 - Penobscot Bay Press | | June 10th, 2026 - The Co-op Spirit | | June 10th, 2026 - Cooperative Maine Business Alliance | | June 11th, 2026 - Brattleboro Reporter | | June 16th, 2026 - WILI Radio | | June 23rd, 2026 - Daily Hampshire Gazette | | June 23rd, 2026 - Seven Days | | Has your co-op been in the news recently? Send your item to info@nfca.coop. | | July Cave-to-Co-op Special | | |
This month’s Cave to Co-op cheese is Willoughby, Jasper Hill Farm, Greensboro, VT
Each month, your Neighboring Food Co-ops feature our region’s artisan cheesemakers by offering a specially selected cheese at great price. 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.
July marks the pinnacle of summer in Vermont, and what better season to feature Willoughby for our Cave to Co-op selection? Washed Willoughby is a semi-soft, washed rind cow’s milk cheese with notes of sweet earth, peach, and herbs. Its thin, tender, rosy-orange rind adds texture to the pudding-like interior.
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When you work at your local food co-op, you're part of something bigger: You’re also helping to build a better world for everyone!
Food Co-ops employ more than 3,000 people across the Northeast, creating rewarding, impactful, and sustainable jobs that are rooted in our communities. More than 60% of employees are also co-op members, sharing in the ownership of their local grocery store. Learn more at https://nfca.coop/about.
The Rutland Area Food Co-op is looking for a new General Manager!
Wanna check out new co-op jobs postings or post a job at your co-op?
Visit https://nfca.coop/co-opjobs.
| | Act For a Better Farm Bill | | Photo: National Farmers Union | | In May, National Farmers Union (NFU) President Rob Larew issued the following statement reacting to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s discussion draft of the farm bill. | | “We appreciate Chairman Boozman and the committee for their commitment to a bipartisan farm bill and their openness to continued negotiations. While the bill includes meaningful improvements, it needs to go further to meet the scale of the crisis facing family farmers and ranchers across this country.” | | |
Write to your Senators today and encourage them to fight for a stronger farm bill, one that improves the safety net for family farmers, stronger support for conservation programs, and full funding food security programs such as SNAP for people on limited incomes.
Join the Farmers Union! Whether you are a farmer or consumer, urban or rural, local business or food co-op, the Farmers Union is fighting for you and you can join as a “Friend of the Farmer” for as little as $15! For more information, please visit www.newenglandfarmersunion.org
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Neighboring Food Co-ops | info@nfca.coop | www.nfca.coop
The Neighboring Food Co-op Association (NFCA) is a co-operative federation of Food Co-ops and Start-Up initiatives across New England and New York State that are working together toward a shared vision of a thriving co-operative economy, rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable regional food system and a vibrant community of co-operative enterprise.
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