Ashland Food Co-op Celebrates 20-year Partnership with ACCESS
We are proud of a partnership with ACCESS that has benefited the community immensely over the past twenty years. Read on for more about the partnership, or watch the short video below.
For 20 years, the Ashland Food Co-op has been an integral part of helping ACCESS feed people experiencing food insecurity in Jackson County. Their support has equated to providing 434,848 meals to those most in need in our community.
“We are so thankful to Ashland Food Co-operative for supporting our food share gardens for the past 20 years. With their help we have been able to incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into the diets of food pantry guests throughout Jackson County,” ACCESS Nutrition Director Rachael Ward.
Since 2000, the Ashland Food Co-op has held a year-round coupon scan program that has amounted to $70,466 in donations to support ACCESS’ Nutrition Programs.
The Ashland Food Co-op has also supported ACCESS’ Food Share Gardens through their grant program by providing close to $10,000 in grant support during the last five years. These community gardens help support the nutritional needs of local ACCESS food pantries and partner agencies. Gardens are operated by local community volunteers who plant, maintain and harvest the crops. In addition to learning valuable gardening techniques, volunteers can enjoy some of the bountiful excess harvest.
While it may seem like ACCESS is the primary beneficiary in this partnership, that is not entirely so, says Emile Amarotico, the Co-op’s General Manager. “Whenever asked what can the Co-op do to address hunger for those who cannot afford healthy food?, it is of great comfort to know that we can best serve these needs by focusing on our retail grocery service while supporting ACCESS in one of its core competencies of providing food assistance to those in need.”
More than 33,000 community members in Jackson County are unsure from where their next meal is coming. Of those, 25% are children who feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. Partnerships like the one with Ashland Food Co-op enable ACCESS to provide essential food, warmth and shelter to our most vulnerable residents throughout Jackson County.
More Co-op News
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Forty six years ago, a group of families formed a buying club to access sustainable, local organic food as an alternative to modern industrial agriculture. This humble foundation of social and environmental responsibility started the Ashland Food Co-op and has shaped every decision we’ve ever made. It’s how, over four decades later, that a small buying club became a 30 million dollar, 17,500 square foot Certified Organic Retailer diverting 82% of their discards from the landfill.
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We’ve teamed up with Rogue Valley Farm to School to offer three different camps this summer. Each week campers will dive into food production, preparation and exploration, with a mix of farm and kitchen experiences that delight the senses and inspire the soul. Join Rogue Valley Farm to School staff as they cultivate the ability to grow and cook delicious, healthy, seasonal meals. Monday - Wednesday at the Co-op Community Classroom, Thursday & Friday at the Farm at SOU.
Update on our Strategic Initiatives
By Ed Claassen, Board President
Your Board and Management Team invested a significant amount of time in 2014 developing a set of strategic initiatives that we believe are vital in shaping the future of our business and furthering our mission. We formed a Strategic Planning Steering Committee consisting of 3 Board members and 3 Management Team members to guide the implementation of these initiatives.
2018 Electronic Coupon Schedule
To further our sustainability efforts and to serve you better, we began offering Electronic Owner Coupons in January 2017 at the register.
No more forgetting to bring your owner coupons. No more waiting for your newsletter to arrive. Cashiers simply ask if you want to use your owner coupons when you check out.
As we enter our second year of Electronic Coupons we wanted to share a couple of friendly reminders and the 2018 month by month schedule.
Please note:
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Proposals Sought for the 2018 Community Grants
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Every spring, for more than 20 years, we’ve been donating to area nonprofits through our Community Grant program. We are committed to creating healthy, sustainable communities and this program helps us fulfill that commitment by supporting the amazing work of local nonprofits. The Community Grant program is also the highlight of Cooperative Principle 7, Concern for Community, and is something we take to heart.
From the General Manager’s Desk
By Emile Amarotico
As we commence our lap around the sun in 2018, I wish to recognize the longstanding contributions of an amazing group of professionals. We are blessed with the dedication of eleven department managers expertly coordinating the daily flow of people, products and services that breath life into our Co-op!
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Lynne (35+ years’ tenure) our Grocery Manager oversees keeping the aisles abundant with shelf stable products and coolers full of fresh perishables.
The Role of the Board in Co-op Governance
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After serving on the AFC Board for fourteen years my passion for the Co-op model has strengthened my commitment to the Cooperative Principles and Values. Of special importance is how we work together as a governing body with one voice. We are the ultimate decision-makers of our Co-op and hold a trusteeship for the benefit of our owners and community.