| SEASON’S HARVEST is going co-op - Join us at RIDGWAY COOPERATIVE | |
| MEMBER BENEFITS - HOW TO JOIN - COST - NON-MEMBER PURCHASES - FUN FACTS | |
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WHY GO CO-OP?
Co-ops provide products that nurture and support the health and sustainability of all beings and the Earth. We care about our community, local and global, and are committed to supporting, eating, and promoting quality food. The commitment to a food cooperative is to support and nurture a community environment, provide locally grown and organic products, and re-localize food production and distribution. We like knowing where our food comes from. We know we are purchasing quality products at a good value. The products are available for everyone; you don’t have to be a member to shop at a cooperative, but there are benefits to being a part-owner (as is every co-op member) of your own business, especially one that provides your food. Ultimately, we can feel good about the food we are buying.
FOOD IS A CHOICE: YOU CHOOSE
“Food is the one consumer choice we have to make every day. We can use that buying power in a transaction that…strengthens neighborhood economies, keeps green spaces alive around our towns, and compensates farmers for applying humane values. Every purchase weighs in on one side or the other. It just isn’t possible to opt out.… Amazingly, the outcome of responsible choices can be good health, money saved and a happy palate.” ........... Barbara Kingsolver
No. Anyone can shop at the co-op. You don’t have to be a member. If you do join, then you will be entitled to the discounts, special prices, and other benefits available only to the members.
WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER?
All co-op members are business-owners as well as customers of the co-op. Being a member of a cooperative is like joining a family. It is up to you as to how and how much you will participate. However much you participate, as a member you are always guaranteed an opportunity to share your voice and can use it to make a difference. And by joining you are helping to support local farmers and ranchers, and businesses.
Business ownership, discount prices, profit-sharing, special purchases, and more. (Remember, as a part-
owner with voting rights, you can make suggestions and help promote new ideas that will benefit the members.) Member benefits include, but are not limited to the following: * 20% off Special Storewide Sales |
WHAT IS A FOOD CO-OP?
Cooperatives are member-owned, member-governed businesses that operate for the benefit of their members according to common principles. In co-ops, members pool resources to bring about economic results that are unobtainable by one person alone. Most simply put, a cooperative is a business: voluntarily owned by the people who use it; and operated for the benefit of its members. Regardless of the goods and services provided, co-ops aim to meet their members’ needs.
Seven Principles of Cooperatives
Membership Structure (Buy-in) for Ridgway Cooperative
Remember, with your payments, you are “buying” into the co-op. Purchase discounts will more than cancel out the buy-in cost. * Seed Member - $200.00 (one time payment) * Root Member - $55.00 quarterly payments (four payments) * Leaf Member - $25.00 annual payments (10 payments)
* Fill out a Membership Form (at the store)
* Click on the web site “Member” Tab, then download complete the membership form. Turn in your form with your membership check.
Want to learn more about Food Cooperatives?
www.ncga.coop www.ica.coop www.smallplanet.org www.go.coop |
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• Each year, the average American consumes 260 pounds of imported food. • 98.7% of foods imported into the U.S. are NOT inspected by the FDA for safety. • Of the 1.3% of imported foods, the FDA tests, over 200 shipments of grains, fish, vegetables, nuts, spice, oils and other imported foods are detained each month for issues ranging from filth to unsafe food coloring to contamination with pesticides to salmonella. • The other 98.7% of untested food is immediately green-lighted for the American diet. • The U.S. imports almost twice as much food today as it did just ten years ago, yet the FDA”s budget for testing imports has been cut nearly in half since 2000. Source: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/ |
Quotes from the Community
“I know that I am getting wholesome, delicious food without having to read
every label.” ...... Jessica “I know I’m buying a healthy product from a local farmer and keeping the money in the area.” ...... Tom “I want the co-op to be a place where people can buy products that support their values and I want it to be a social place too, where people can come together to meet like-minded people, network on interests and issues that are important to us, and participate in community events." ..... Julie “A food coop has a full product line with good value. When I go into a coop, yeah, I’m buying produce, but also good products. I know I saved time and money not traveling and I have purchased something with good value. Heck, this may be one oil change a year.” ..... Carl |
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521 Clinton Street • Ridgway, Colorado • 970-626-9719 half block west of the Post Office and Town Park e-mail us: info@ridgwaynaturalfoods.com |
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