A Party for YOU
Each year we hold an Annual Meeting and Owner Picnic. This is our chance to catch up over a delightful picnic and most importantly update you on the recent year’s events and financials.
This year, we are changing things up a bit. The Annual Meeting and Owner Picnic will be more family friendly than ever before. We have a new menu designed to appeal to busy little (and big!) hands so you and your kiddos have time to enjoy one of our many family friendly activities.
With all the new changes, we developed this step by step guide to attending the event.
6 Things to Know Before You Go
1. Friendly Food
Enjoy light picnic fare in a beautiful setting, Lithia Park. The tapas style meal will have you satiated and give you the freedom to mingle with other Co-op owners, play games, and/or explore the park. On the menu we have: fruit salad, cheese, crackers, hummus, salami, corn chips, artichoke spinach dip, black olives, lemonade, and fruit popsicles. Food service starts at 11am and closes at 12pm sharp. *If you have dietary restrictions, please bring your own picnic.*
2. Bring Your Own
At the Co-op, sustainability is a key pillar of our day to day business operations and this event is no exception. As we strive for a zero waste event, please remember to bring your own durable plates, eating utensils, cups and reusable napkins.
3. Get Your Game On
Is your bean bag toss game top notch? Do you have mad hula hoop skills? If so, you are in luck. This year, we planned a variety of activities and games that are fun for the whole family. On the game agenda we have face painting, an egg race, hula hooping, a bean bag toss, 3-legged race, bubbles and more.
4. Play and Win
Participate in activities and games and earn tickets for the raffle. We have prizes for adults and kids, including a Magic Bullet, $100 Co-op gift card, s’mores essentials package, and much more. Rumor has it that talking to people wearing purple feather boas will also earn you raffle tickets. So many ways to win big!
5. Lunch and Learn
After food service ends, stay for the Annual Meeting portion of the picnic. Meet newly elected Board Members, hear an update on the Strategic Planning initiatives, learn about the financial health of the Co-op, and hear the key findings from our recent Owner Forums.
6. Stay and Explore
Lithia Park is probably the most beautiful place in the world for a picnic, at least we think so. We’ll picnic under towering trees and listen to the sounds of Ashland Creek flowing by. Stroll around the park’s lovely trails or enjoy the awesome playground area before or after the event.
Reserve your meal tickets ($5 Adults, $1 Children 10 and under) at the Info Desk today. We hope you can join us for this family friendly party on June 25th, 11am to 1pm, at Cotton Memorial Picnic Area in Lithia Park. See you there!
More Co-op News
Ashland Food Co-op's December Change for Good Partner: Rogue Action Center
This December, Ashland Food Co-op is proud to partner with Rogue Action Center (RAC) as part of their Change for Good initiative. RAC is dedicated to cultivating organizing power and leadership to create a more just and thriving Southern Oregon. Their mission focuses on building community power for Housing Justice, Racial Justice, and Queer & Trans Liberation. They achieve this through a combination of base building, youth-centered leadership development, coalition building, and advocacy campaigns aimed at transforming societal rules.
Our November Change for Good Partner: SOESD Indian Education Fund
Each month, the Ashland Food Co-op partners with a local nonprofit through our Change for Good program. This November, we are proud to feature the important work of the Southern Oregon Indian Education Department (SOESD) Indian Education Fund.
The Change for Good program allows our shoppers to round up their total at the register, with the extra change going to support a different local nonprofit each month. The funds collected make a meaningful difference for these organizations and the communities they serve.
Save on Field Day Items and Support Native Foodways
This November, get ready for gatherings with friends and family with big savings on all Field Day products at your co-op. Save on more than 270 Field Day items — from maple syrup to wild-caught tuna to paper towels — from Oct. 30 through Dec. 3. Field Day is our value brand that offers high-quality, delicious food and household products at more affordable prices every day through Co+op Basics, making this savings event even more spectacular. Our lowest prices will be even lower!
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Honoring Native Heritage
Indigenous Peoples' Day is a holiday that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. It's observed on the second Monday in October, coinciding with the federal holiday of Columbus Day in the United States.
Celebrating Hispanic and Latinx Heritage
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions, diverse cultures, and rich histories of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.
September Change for Good Partner: Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
At Ashland Food Co-op, our commitment to community and sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. This September, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on our Change for Good partner, Friends of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (Friends of CSNM). This dedicated organization works tirelessly to protect, restore, and conserve the natural beauty of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument through service, advocacy, and education.
Stewardship in Action: Restoring Riparian Areas
August Change for Good Partner: Rogue River Watershed Council
At Ashland Food Co-op, we are dedicated to fostering a vibrant and sustainable community. Each month, our Change for Good program partners with a local organization to support their mission and amplify their impact. For August, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with the Rogue River Watershed Council (RRWC).
Who is the Rogue River Watershed Council?
Disability Pride Month
Disability Pride Month, first celebrated in 1990, commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This landmark legislation prohibits discrimination based on disability and ensures equal opportunities in all areas of public life. Disability Pride Month promotes visibility and mainstream awareness of the positive pride felt by people with disabilities.
July Change for Good Partner: Peace House
Meet our July Change for Good partner - Peace House! This incredible organization has been a cornerstone of our community, dedicated to building a culture of peace through compassionate actions that support human rights and justice for all.
About Peace House
Peace House has a broad and impactful mission. Their work spans several critical areas, including:
Supporting Stream Smart: Our June Change for Good Partner
We are delighted to announce our June Change for Good partner, Stream Smart, a remarkable local organization dedicated to improving the health of our streams and rivers.
What is Stream Smart?
2024 Owner Coupon Schedule
Here's the schedule for the 2024 Owner Coupons. Not an Owner? Find out all about the benefits of Ownership!
Co-op, Community and Coffee
We are thrilled to announce that the Ashland Food Co-op has purchased the Rogue Valley Roasting Company (RoCo) from longtime owner, Dustin Way.
May Change for Good: Our Family Farms
This month, the Ashland Food Co-op is proud to annouce our Change for Good partner, Our Family Farms, an organization dedicated to safeguarding our agricultural heritage and promoting regenerative organic practices.
A Closer Look at Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo has become synonymous with festivities and delicious Mexican cuisine (and who doesn’t love both of those things?). At the Ashland Food Co-op, it's important for us to approach this celebration mindfully and with a cultural understanding.