With Access for All: Reducing Co-op Barriers Betsy Black & Bonnie Hudspeth CCMA Conference // June 16, 2012 1
Overview Introductions: CFNE & NFCA Context Process & Outcomes Framework: 5 Barriers to Access Case Studies: 4 NE Food Co-ops What s Next? Co-operation among Co-ops Questions? 2
Mission: Advance co-ops & democratically managed enterprises, w/ preference to those serving low income communities lending, taking investments, regional pool of resources. Started by food co-ops mid-80s Non-profit CDFI US Dep t Treasury designation mission based lending institution 3
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Vision Thriving Regional Economy Focus Areas Collaboration among Co-ops Healthy, Just & Sustainable Food System Strategy Network Partnerships 5
VERMONT Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro Buffalo Mountain Food Co-op, Hardwick City Market / Onion River Co-op, Burlington Co-op Food Store, White River Junction Hunger Mountain Food Co-op, Montpelier Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, Middlebury Plainfield Food Co-op, Plainfield Putney Food Co-op, Putney Rutland Area Food Co-op, Rutland South Royalton Food Co-op, South Royalton Springfield Food Co-op, Springfield Stone Valley Community Market, Poultney Upper Valley Food Co-op, White River Jct. CONNECTICUT Elm City Co-op Market, New Haven Fiddleheads Food Co-op, New London Willimantic Food Co-op, Willimantic NEW HAMPSHIRE Co-op Food Store, Hanover Co-op Food Store, Lebanon Great River Co-op, Walpole Littleton Food Co-op, Littleton Manchester Food Co-op, Manchester Monadnock Community Market, Keene MASSACHUSETTS Berkshire Co-op Market, Great Barrington Dorchester Community Co-op, Dorchester Green Fields Co-op Market, Greenfield Leverett Village Co-op, Leverett McCusker's Co-op Market, Shelburne Falls Merrimack Valley Food Co-op, Lawrence Old Creamery Co-op, Cummington River Valley Co-op Market, Northampton Wild Oats Co-op Market, Williamstown RHODE ISLAND Urban Greens Food Co-op, Providence 6
Our Shared Impact A Co-op of 20 food co-ops and 10 start-up projects 90,000 individual members 1,400 employees (2010) 1,200 in 2007 VT members among top 25 employers in the state Paid $28.6 million in wages Average wage was 18% higher than the average for food and beverage industry in same states. $200 million revenue (2010) $161 million in 2007 $33 million in local purchases (2007) 7
CFNE Impact Lend to co-ops, non-profits and other democratically owned enterprises Loaned $26 million 99.2% repayment rate 100% repayment rate to investors Created/saved 7,600 jobs and 4,300 housing units 8
Our Context: NE Demographics In the US, 23.5 million Americans (including 6.5 million children) live in areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food NE is doing pretty well around healthy food access, but there is still a big need Poverty in NE: It s a Suburban Thing A majority of our members food co-ops are not in densely-populated cities 9
The Birth & Growth of the Co-op Movement Rochdale Pioneers All about healthy food access New wave of co-ops opening: What can they learn re: access? 10
Co-ops & Resilience Democratic ownership & control Focus on meeting needs before profit Develop local skills & assets Ability to assemble limited resources Difficult to move or buy-out Separate community wealth from markets Mobilize stakeholder loyalty ------------------------------------------------------------------ = Leaders in HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS 11
Co-ops in New England 1,400 co-ops across industries (Food Co-ops, Farmer Co-ops, Credit Unions, Worker Co-ops, Energy Co-ops, Artisan Co-ops, etc.) 5 million memberships Employ 22,000 people 12
Food Co-ops & Healthy Food Access Process: Surveys Interviews Outcomes: Framework Case Studies 13
Framework: Removing 5 Barriers to Access 1. Collaboration with partner/community organizations 2. Education of individuals 3. Product Affordability 4. Accessible Ownership 5. Infrastructure 14
1. Collaboration: Partner & Community Organizations Co-op reaches out to marginalized individuals and communities through community organizations Co-op offers concrete information & incentives for partner organizations to promote the co-op to their members/clients a) Vouchers distributed through partner agencies: Berkshire Co-op b) Promote healthy eating with health care providers: Littleton Co-op 15
2. Education of Individuals Co-op Tour: Berkshire Co-op Partner agency promotes tours and helps identify client/members who would most likely be interested Courses: Shopping in the co-op on a budget and in-store cooking classes: Littleton Food Co-op Afterschool classes for children: Putney Food Co-op 16
3. Product Affordability Food For All Program City Market/Onion River Co-op 10% discount for shoppers using WIC/SNAP Co-op Basics Program Franklin Community Co-op Lower margins on basic foods; signage 17
4. Accessible Ownership Affordable path to buying a member share 18
5. Infrastructure Dedicated staff time for access programs POS systems capable of tracking data Service for non-english speakers Transportation to and from the co-op Mobile Markets: Workshop @ 3:45pm 19
Case Studies: 4 NE Food Co-ops 1. City Market --Food for All 2. Franklin Community Co-op --Co-op Basics 3. Berkshire Co-op: --Community Card Program 4. Putney Co-op: --Marketing, Education & Outreach 20
What s Next? 1. Toolbox 2. Technical Assistance 3. Partnering for success 21
Co-operation among Co-ops Has your co-op developed any healthy food access programs you want to share? What are the challenges and successes your co-op has had around healthy food access? How can co-ops collaborate with each other to make this work more successful? 22
Questions? 23
Contact Us Betsy Black, Loan and Outreach Officer Cooperative Fund of New England betsy@coopfund.coop // www.coopfund.coop Bonnie Hudspeth, Outreach Coordinator Neighboring Food Co-op Association bonnie@nfca.coop // www.nfca.coop www.facebook.com/neighboring 24