THE FOOD CO-OPERATIVE DIFFERENCE

membership at Fort Collins Food Co-op

Become a Member-Owner

What makes us so unique? We are …

  • Community-based and open to all

  • Member-owned

  • Dedicated to responsible recycling, composting, and food donation

  • Often the first to offer marketing opportunities to new and local vendors

In addition, we …

  • Strongly believe in the power of recirculating dollars in the local economy

  • Value farmland over building sprawl

  • Educate consumers about their food

  • Research each product that hits our shelves for product purity and production integrity

  • Choose local and organic everyday (not just when it’s convenient)

 Membership FAQs

  • For $160, you can purchase a Lifetime Equity Share of the Fort Collins Food Coop! Also, we provide many payment plan options that make co-op memberships affordable for just about anyone:

    Single investment of $160

    4 quarterly payments of $40

    8 quarterly payments of $20

    16 quarterly payments of $10

  • In addition to the Equity Share, there is a $5 Annual Renewal Fee that goes toward things like free tacos for our member-owners at our Annual Member Owner Meeting. Isn’t $5 worth tacos? All kidding aside, we are required to charge this $5 annual maintenance fee to cover administrative costs.

  • The M(ember) V(oucher) P(rogram): You get discounts at other local participating businesses when you show your co-op member-owner card.

    Quarterly Member Appreciation Weeks: Every quarter we host a member appreciation week where members get 10% off an entire shopping trip of their choice that week. Just a little way to say we love you! Member appreciation weeks for 2023 listed below.

    Special orders: 20% discount on bulk/case purchases.

    Supplement Discount: Member-owners get 10% off of supplements EVERY day!

    Member-owner involvement: Voting rights for the Board of Directors plus the ability to run for the board.

    Profit sharing/dividend: In good years we return a portion of our excess profits to our member-owners. When we succeed, you benefit as well!

    Member-owner sales: Each month we have a number of great deals and discounts available only to our member-owners.

  • You can sign up here or sign up in-store. For any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact us!

Our Board of Directors

  • As a democratically run co-operative, Mountain Avenue Market is overseen by a board of directors (BOD) who have been voted in by our member-owners. Your elected officials are member-owners themselves who have a passion for all things Co-op. If this sounds like something you would be interested in, you can get started by joining us for a Board meeting.

    In fact, we encourage all member-owners to attend the monthly BOD meetings. At the beginning of each meeting, we provide time for member-owner input. It is your store after all!

    Please contact our Board at bodfccoop@gmail.com to reserve your spot at our next monthly meeting. We will do our best to ensure that space will be available for you if you RSVP.

  • We always welcome member-owners who would like to join our board! Ideal candidates shop our store and understand the cooperative business model. Previous experience in retail and/or service on a not-for-profit board is especially needed and appreciated. Board terms run for three years, and compensation (on top of good vibes from helping our Market!) comes in the form of an unlimited 20% discount on purchases here.

    Each fall, the current Board announces how many seats are open. Interested member-owners are invited to fill out an application, telling a bit about themselves and sharing why they’d like to serve the co-op in this capacity. There is time devoted at the annual member-owner meeting in the autumn for candidates to introduce themselves to the membership prior to a vote. A mini-biography of each prospective board member is also available for shoppers to read.

    The voting window begins after the annual member-owner meeting, and member-owners can cast their ballots online.

    Occasionally, there is an unexpected vacancy on the Board. At this point, the current Board can “appoint” a member at large to fill that spot. If you are interested in serving on the Board at any time, feel free to contact our staff or Board at bodfccoop@gmail.com to express your interest.

  • We hold monthly board of directors meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month. These are generally held in the “Community Room” at Elevations Credit Union, 211 E. Mountain Avenue, Suite 230, Fort Collins, CO 80524. We'd love for you to join us at our upcoming meetings!

    • 5:30-7 p.m. September 25

    • 5:30-7 p.m. October 23

    • (No meeting in November)

    • 5:00-7 p.m. December 5 (Annual Member Meeting)

Governance

The cooperative boardroom does not share all the same purposes as other boards of investor-owned corporation or nonprofits. In short, a co-op is a business run in an entirely different fashion than your average corporation. In fact, we consider ourselves the alternative to Wall Street!

We are owned by the community in which we live. We answer to our friends and neighbors. Our member-owners are our shareholders. Learn more about our specific governance structure by reviewing our bylaws.