Cultivating Community From the Ground Up
From our humble beginnings in 1971 as a small food-buying club to our status today as Southern Oregon’s first and only Certified Organic Retailer, the Ashland Food Co-op has been connecting our community to healthy, local food for over fifty years. What started as a passion project among neighbors is now a vibrant cooperative over 13,000 members strong. With deep roots, shared purpose, and a whole lot of love, we have always been more than just a grocery store - we are a community-owned gathering place at the center of a local food movement.
Our cooperative business model is at the core of all we do. Quite simply, we place people, principles, and the planet before profit - always. Our exceptionally high standards give you total confidence in your shopping cart because we prioritize direct relationships with local farmers and food producers first, filling our shelves with sustainable products you can genuinely trust.
The Co-op belongs to all of us. It’s a place to park your pooch, catch up with an old friend, grab a healthy house-made snack from our Kitchen & Bakery, or simply sit out front and watch the world go by.
Our Mission
The Ashland Food Co-op exists to serve our owners and our community by:
- operating a socially responsible business that provides a full selection of natural foods and quality products
- emphasizing locally produced, organically grown and ecologically sound products
- offering a variety of necessities at basic prices
- providing friendly, knowledgeable customer service
- promoting awareness about food, nutrition, and health
- providing a workplace that fosters opportunities for participation, empowerment and growth in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation
We didn’t become Southern Oregon’s first and only Certified Organic Retailer overnight. It took decades of shared passion, community resilience, and a steadfast commitment to putting people and the planet before profit. Trace our roots from a small 1971 buying club organized by neighbors to the vibrant, 13,000-member-strong cooperative we are today.
How It All Began
1971 - A small group of Ashland families join together to form a food buying club.
1972 - Membership grows rapidly and within a year's time the first storefront opens on North Main.
1970's - Growth continues and operations moved to a larger location on 3rd and Lithia Way.
1980's - Volunteer labor was phased out. Hired paid staff and first GM to meet the growing needs of the store.
1988 - Store remodeled adding more retail, office and warehouse space.
1993 - Grand opening of a new store at our current location at 237 N. First Street!
2002 - Expansion of facility to include 4,500 additional sq. ft. with expanded deli, juice and java bar, larger produce dept. and added a meat & seafood dept.
2003 - Re-incorporated as cooperative enterprise and begin taking memberships in our newly formed co-op.
Today - Over 13,000 owners. Strong and growing!
More than a grocery store.
At the Ashland Food Co-op, we're more than just a grocery store — we're a community-owned, democratically operated business where every owner has a voice and a stake in how the store grows and serves.
When you shop here, you're supporting local farmers, independent producers, and sustainable practices.
When you become an owner, you join a network of neighbors who believe in food justice, environmental stewardship, and keeping our local economy vital and vibrant. By investing in the co-op, you're making a choice: your dollars will help build something that's anchored in Ashland - not just a transaction in a big chain.
How a Co-op Works
Co-ops operate according to internationally recognized cooperative principles:
- Voluntary and open membership - anyone can join
- Democratic governance - one owner, one vote
- Economic participation - owners share in the profits through patronage dividends
- Autonomy and independence - co-ops are self-governing
- Education and training - we invest in our community's knowledge
- Cooperation among co-ops - we work with other cooperatives
- Community commitment - we work for sustainable development
- Belonging - at Ashland Food Co-op we accept all identities and cultivate a culture of belonging
Ready to become an owner?
For just $100 - or as little as $10 to start - you become a full owner of Ashland Food Co-op. Your investment is refundable, and you get all owner benefits from day one.