How to join a food co-op in Philly

What we eat and where it comes from says a lot about what we value Various people may prioritize speed or convenience while others may focus on flavor or the freshness of the ingredients Plenty of for sure prioritize price even more so after what s become known as eggflation and appreciate a good sale And several others including more than million members of food co-ops across the country prioritize values such as locality self-sufficiency and equity when they choose where to shop for produce If you share their mindset and are curious about your local food co-op Billy Penn has a guide for you Philly food co-ops accept SNAP and WIC as payment options Each co-op provides more information about additional accepted payment methods on their websites Natalia Sanchez Loayza Billy Penn What exactly is a food co-op At its core a food co-op is a grocery store formed by member-owners who are mostly and sometimes exclusively neighbors in the district where the co-op is located A few operate as nonprofit organizations while others function as cooperative businesses Particular allow non-members to shop whereas others are sole to members Certain food co-ops are entirely run by the member-owners meaning they handle everything from governance to cashier duties while others employ external staff Food co-ops are part of a larger ecosystem of cooperatives with a long history worldwide Philly food co-ops belong to their own framework the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance and follow the International Co-op Principles Voluntary and open membership Democratic member control Member economic participation Autonomy and independence Development training and information Cooperation among cooperatives Concern for neighborhood Now that we know what they are here s how to join one To sign up for the co-op you can either go in person or complete an online application If you need special assistance or want to apply for any of the subsidies it s best to go in person Natalia Sanchez Loayza Billy Penn Find and pick a co-op Check if you have a local co-op or can easily commute to one There are three food co-ops in Philly and all of them allow anyone to join and become a member-owner You don t have to live in their neighborhoods South Philly Food Co-op Hours every day from a m to p m Location S Juniper Street South Philly Mariposa Food Co-op Hours every day from a m to p m Location Baltimore Avenue West Philly Weavers Way Co-op has different locations in Mt Airy Chestnut Hill and Germantown and different business hours Learn more about them here Once you ve located one near you go to the store walk the corridors check out the produce Co-op member-owners have access to special pricing on various products in the store Natalia Sanchez Loayza Billy Penn Check costs Once you settle on a nearby co-op you ll want to learn its membership costs This is called an equity financing and if you later choose to leave the co-op it allows you to get back what you have invested However the co-ops retain the right to withhold refunds to protect their financial viability Weavers Way Co-op is an exception Each co-op offers payment options and all three in Philly offer alternatives if you cannot afford this cost South Philly Food Co-op One-time equity commitment This can be paid in full or in monthly installments ranging from to months If you can t afford this you can visit the store and apply to the co-op s Population Equity Fund which allows you to join with just at registration and to choose a payment plan The co-op subsidizes up to of the total expenditure No income or employment documents are required for eligibility Mariposa Food Co-op One-time equity venture You can pay this in full or choose one of the following payment plans until you reach the full amount every three months or more to start and or more every three months If you can t afford this you can apply for the Food For All FFA activity which covers of the equity capital After their first year recipients contribute every three months until they reach of personal equity FFA applicants must receive at least one of the following forms of assistance SNAP EBT card WIC card SSI SSDI TANF Cash Assistance or Medicaid If you don t have these forms of eligibility but cannot afford a standard membership you can email ownership mariposa coop Weavers Way Co-op Lifetime equity expenditure A minimum annual equity resources of is required but you can contribute more at any time until you reach the full amount If you or a household member receive SNAP TANF WIC Medicaid SSI SSDI Military Disability or General Assistance you can join the co-op through the Food For All operation This reduces your equity commitment to a year and provides a discount on the majority purchases If you don t qualify for any of these programs but are facing financial hardship you can contact the Membership Department at - ext Co-ops place an emphasis on the quality of the produce they sell as well as its origin They not only offer fair contract products but also provide more information about this topic Natalia Sanchez Loayza Billy Penn Understand your benefits Beyond being part of a population and supporting the co-op s mission joining comes with additional benefits that can make the equity capital worthwhile These are chosen examples commonly unveiled in Philly food co-ops Ownership and governance As a member you become a co-owner of the store giving you voting rights on key decisions eligibility to run for governance positions and the prospective to receive patronage dividends based on how much you spent at the store if the co-op turns a profit over the lesson of the year Discounts and sale Take advantage of savings on select products special discount days and bulk purchasing discounts Working member benefits While working hours are not required members who contribute time can receive additional discounts This opportunity allows members to save more while actively engaging with the co-op Mariposa Food Co-op has been in West-Philly since and provides the society with access to natural wholesome foods Natalia Sanchez Loayza Billy Penn Apply in person or online You are now ready to apply Visit your co-op and register in person or use any of the following links to register online and make your first equity payment Join South Philly Food Co-op Join Mariposa Food Co-op Join Weavers Way Co-op And that s it Once you re part of a co-op you can shop regularly consider staffing opportunities pay your equity capital over time vote for your representatives run for a position and enjoy being part of a values-driven public The post How to join a food co-op in Philly appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY