Report from the Board of Directors: Strategic Plan Update
By Jeff Golden, External Relations Committee Chair
Ashland Food Co-op is striding into the future with careful intention. We’re especially focused on the three top priorities of our strategic planning process, a collaboration of our board and management team. A quick update:
- Expanding physical capacity. Purchasing the vacant 1.8 acre parcel behind Ashland Lumber on Clear Creek Drive gives us a secure option for long-term expansion near the downtown area. We also continue conversations with Umpqua Bank about the prospect of acquiring their property in order to grow our existing campus. How we develop one or both of these properties will be decided carefully over time, with plenty of opportunity for input from you, our owners
- Expanding prepared food offerings. For a year now we’ve occupied the former Deux Chats Bakery at 222 A St. There we bake an expanding line of goodies for the deli and dessert case in the main store. We’re now ramping up a line of pizza, (baked or ready-to-bake) for the deli and for “grab-and-go” in the store, and have plans for a line of sushi that meet our product standards. Stay tuned; we think that “value-added” food production, which can both respond to evolving customer tastes and habits and more fully utilize locally-grown produce, could become a major segment of AFC business in years to come.
- Expanding the co-op movement. Our passion for the value of co-ops extends beyond our own co-op. Living as we do in a community that strongly reflects cooperative values of empowerment, democracy and broad economic opportunity, we strive to encourage and nurture a growing sector of cooperatively owned businesses in Southern Oregon. We regularly explore possibilities with our Rogue Co-ops colleagues—the Medford Food Coop, Grange Co-op and Rogue Credit Union. Some are described online at www.rogue.coop and we’re preparing a competition for the best business plan for launching or expanding a cooperative business. We think we’re on the brink of a breakthrough for cooperative enterprises, and we want to help make it happen.
As an AFC owner, would you like to get involved with any of these initiatives? We’d welcome your ideas and energy. Drop a note to [email protected] to let us know how you might want to participate in building the future of your co-op.
More Co-op News
Love Local with the Local Guy
Throughout September, we will be celebrating all things local. And no one loves local or is more local than our Temporary Demo Coordinator, Brighton Litjens. He was basically raised at the Co-op, has a strong passion for local farmers and producers and loves delighting shoppers with delicious samples and great deals. Who better to tell us about loving local than the "Local Guy" himself?
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Owner Benefits: Independence and Connection
By Julie O'Dwyer, Board Secretary, Chair of the Owner Engagement Committee
Meet Board of Director Trine Ostergaard
Trine Ostergaard is a newly elected Ashland Food Co-op Board of Director. She brings a world, literally, of experience to the table and has a sincere passion and love for the Co-op. We are thrilled to have her aboard and asked her to answer a few questions.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Meet Board of Director Dean Williamson
Dean Williamson is a newly elected Ashland Food Co-op Board of Director. He brings to the table a plethora of co-op experience and a love of chocolate chip cookies. We are thrilled to have him aboard and asked him to answer a few questions.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Staff Picks: Favorite Local Products
September is Love Local Month! All month long we’re celebrating our local farmers and vendors with demos, events and more. Here are some of our staff's favorite local products.
How Can I Reduce My Plastic Use at the Co-op?
By Rianna Koppel, Sustainability Coordinator
Plastic pollution today is a global dilemma. Did you know that more than 40% of plastic is used once, then tossed? In 2015, 79% of total plastic waste ended up in landfills or the environment. How can our co-op help reduce the amount of single-use plastics? Luckily, we offer a variety of options for owners.
Stainless Steel Straws
Meet Pachamama Coffee Cooperative
By Lauren Taber, Pachamama Coffee Cooperative
Pachamama Coffee Cooperative started in 2001 with a few simple questions in mind: what would it look like to take Fair Trade a step further? How can coffee farmers be in direct relationship with end consumers in the United States?
We found that the answer was even simpler: cooperative ownership. Pachamama Coffee has been 100% farmer-owned since day one, and is currently owned by 140,000 small scale family farmers across the coffee producing regions of the world.
Community Cider Backyard Fruit Drive
How often can you browse the shelf at your neighborhood grocery store, see a bottle of hand crafted, local cider and say, “Hey, I help make that!” Well, at the Co-op you can.
2018 Board Election Results
The AFC Board of Directors is pleased to announce the results of the 2018 Board Election. There were three excellent candidates running for two Board positions. In total, 905 votes were cast.
Congratulations to the following candidates who will serve three-year terms on the Ashland Food Co-op Board of Directors.
Thank you for voting!
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Meet Store Manager Barry Haynes
By Barry Haynes, Store Manager
Twenty three years ago my wife and I began our quest to relocate our family from the midwest to the west coast. We were looking for a beautiful area with an engaged community that would enable our children to thrive. Equally important, we wanted our new home to have a vibrant natural food store. When we arrived in southern Oregon, we felt as though we hit the jackpot.
Beat the Heat
When the heat of summer takes over, it can be hard on our bodies and moods. Don’t let the scorching temps get you down, cool off with one of these refreshing Staff recommendations.
Riding off into the Sunset
By Annie Hoy, Retiring Marketing Manager
Since I was born and raised in far West Texas, I cannot help but use some imagery from what is so familiar to me.
Report from the General Manager and Board of Directors
By Emile Amarotico, General Manager and Ed Claassen, Board President