Co-op News Round Up 1/8
The calendar has somehow flipped to 2026 and we've got a boatload of co-op news for the new year.
🌹The 2026 Consumer Cooperative Management Association (CCMA) conference in Tacoma, WA has put out a call for proposals for breakout sessions. The conference will be held May 28-30 and registration opens on Feb 4th.
🌹The Cooperative Leaders and Scholars (CLS) program is seeking applicants for their next cohort. The 8-month fellowship introduces participants to the wider world of cooperatives. An information session is being held on Jan 14th.
🌹Food Co-op Initiative launched their Because We Exist campaign that celebrates the stories of food co-ops making a difference in their communities.
🌹The Washington Post profiled the Maryland community of Greenbelt where the New Deal co-op spirit lives on through a variety of cooperative enterprises including the Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket and Pharmacy.
🌹GreenTree Co-op is among the stores asking their shoppers to help with the penny shortage caused by the abrupt end of penny minting in the U.S. in November. No formal guidance has come from the Federal Government how retailers are expected to handle cash transactions as pennies disappear from circulation.
🌹The Everything Co-op radio show hosted by co-op hall of famer Vernon Oakes released their 2025 Holiday List. Garlic and Roses was honored to be included among this year's selections under Community.
🌹The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives released their 2024 Cooperative Governance research initiative. The results of input from a survey of 436 co-ops about governance structures and practices provides helpful information for food co-ops around the country.
🌹From NYC a pair of articles look at the potential for cooperative grocers in the new Mayor's priority list. In Forbes, Errol Schweizer argues that spending public money supporting cooperative expansion could actually lead to less subsidies long-term. In Jacobin, authors Tej Gonza and Kosta Juri also explain the benefits of cooperative ownership models.
🌹Amherst Indy published a powerful piece about the failure to launch a food co-op in Amhert, MA written by former board member Alex Kent. The piece highlights the difficulties of opening a new enterprise, even in the most supportive of communities.
🌹New Hope Network's Douglas Brown looks at local purchasing practices, highlighting buying practices at NCG co-ops as a positive example.
🌹Charlottesville Tomorrow profiles the startup co-op effort in Charlottesville, VA.
🌹Finally, as usual, we commend an article from the Cooperative Grocer archives. This article from Dave Gutknecht in early 2017 describes stories of Co-ops continuing their good work through turbulent changes at the federal level.
