It’s our 5th Birthday!

Dear Member-Owners,

It’s our 5th Birthday!

The Portland Food Co-op opened the doors to its retail store on December 10, 2014. It is hard to believe that it’s already been 5 years! So many people contributed their time and talent to open our store, and so many more have helped us grow into the Co-op we are today.

We have grown from a few hundred Member-Owners to over 5000. This year, we will exceed $5 million in sales.  We have relationships with over 200 Maine producers and purchased well over $1.5 million worth of products grown or produced right here in the state of Maine. We specifically have relationships with over 80 Maine farmers and purchased over $900,000 worth of products directly from them. We are an economic engine supporting the local food economy. None of this would have been possible without your support!

So, on Tuesday, December 10, we are having a birthday party. Plan on coming into the Co-op that day. We will have live music and the store will be filled with food samples. Some of our local partners will be joining us as well. Plus, everyone who visits will have the chance to enter a free drawing for one of several gift bags as well as a $100 gift card to the Co-op—no purchase necessary. In the evening, members of our Board of Directors will be in the café and available to chat with anyone who wants to speak with them. We will also be having a Native Seed Ball Workshop that night, hosted by the Wild Seed Project. Look for more details on our website and Facebook page.

The Board of Directors has been thrilled to watch the Co-op strengthen and grow with each passing year. As a Board, every year we look at the current and future needs of the Co-op and the community it serves and strategize the best ways to support those needs. Last year, we focused on the long-term vision for the Co-op, and this year we have been focusing on how to best support our Co-op and the Member-Owners with a re-evaluation of out Patronage Dividends process. Additionally, we are actively addressing our duty to cultivate and maintain Board perpetuation and leadership.

Our Co-op does best with a thriving and engaged Board to help support the General Manager, the staff, the Member-Owners, and the community at large. We would love to chat with you more about Board service and how you can get involved! Reach out to us at board@portlandfood.coop to learn more, or come chat with us on December 10. We will be in the cafe from 4-5pm and also from 7-7:30pm.

Hope to see you on December 10! Please drop by and help us celebrate our Co-op!