Welcome to the Board!

We are happy to welcome two new Directors, Evan Archerd and Elizabeth Walsh, to the Board! And we're thrilled to have Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro continuing to serve!

Evan Archerd has been a local business owner and builder in Ashland and Talent for nearly forty years. He has always believed that “Building Responsibly Creates Great Communities.” The first step in all of his building projects has been to consider the unique physical and environmental features of the site before any planning or construction could begin. In addition, his company built one of the first affordable housing projects in the City of Ashland and he remains committed to creating affordable housing in the Rogue Valley.

Elizabeth Walsh brings two decades of experience in the natural foods industry, with a background spanning executive management, consumer research, data science, and strategic planning. She’s passionate about building resilient food systems and supporting the long-term success of community-owned businesses. As a parent and long-time co-op shopper, Elizabeth is committed to ensuring the Co-op continues to thrive as a place of nourishment, connection, and shared values.

Joanna Wnorowski Pecoraro began shopping at the Ashland Food Co-op in 1980 when there was a wood stove to hang out around. Prior to that she was instrumental in forming a food buying club in Silverton, Oregon in 1977. The value of having organic food available for the community is a priority for her and she has five decades history of the study of nutrition, food preservation, gardening and a family connection to organic farmers. Joanna loves sharing with others about these topics. Her strengths are in communication and education abd she has been on nonprofit boards, involved with grassroots groups, the creation of our skate park and as multiple officers including president of the Ashland Bellview Grange. 

 

 

 

More Co-op News

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.

Staff Picks: Summer Hikes and Trail Snacks

Our staff loves to head outside and enjoy the gorgeous Oregon outdoors. Here's a few of their favorite trails and the Co-op snacks they like to take with them.

 

LauraPfister_Marketing%20EDIT.jpg

Be a Zero Waste Hero in Four Easy Steps

By Stephanie Koerella, Education Coordinator

Reducing our waste has continued to be of greater concern for Rogue Valley residents, especially since January, when options for recycling became even more limited. While the Ashland Food Co-op is ramping up our efforts to reduce waste as a business, there is a lot that our community can do at home to help the cause.

On the Road to Sustainability

By Laura Pfister, Media Coordinator

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.

Staff Picks: Earth Friendly Products

In celebration of Sustainability Month in April, we asked our Sustainability Committee to share their favorite eco-friendly product.

2018 Kids Summer Camps

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:

What Does Democracy Have to Do with Cooperatives?

By Annie Hoy, Marketing Manager

We often refer to cooperatives as “democratic enterprises.” But what does that really mean? The Ashland Food Co-op, like all other co-ops in most economic sectors, is owned and controlled by the people who use its services.

Co+op Basics: High Integrity, Low Price

Looking to stretch your grocery budget? So are we! We've lowered the price on over three hundred items to create a set of high integrity staples for every shopper. Welcome to Co+op Basics.

Co+op Basics includes over 300 pantry and household staples. From beef to milk to cereal, we’ve lowered the margin and price on all those items to make organic, healthy food accessible to every shopper.

Co+op Basics Staff Favorites

After the holidays, we usually find our pocket books a little lighter. Here are a few favorite Co+op Basics items our staff turn to when the money is a little tighter.  

StephanieKoerella%20CROP%20EDIT.jpg