Member Letter, January 2026

Katie Boyer Clark
Jan 16
2 min read

Dear Blackberry Food Cooperative Community,

We’re excited to share what’s unfolding here in Cottage Grove as Blackberry Food Cooperative moves closer to becoming a community-owned food store.

Blackberry Food Cooperative Snap Benefits

In the coming months, the Farm Stand will transition into Blackberry Food Cooperative, a member-owned cooperative grocery store. This will happen once the Co-op receives authorization to accept SNAP benefits, which is an essential step in keeping the store accessible to everyone in our community. The SNAP application has been submitted and is expected to take at least two months.

Until then, the Farm Stand remains open and welcoming to all shoppers.

Once SNAP authorization is approved, the Farm Stand will begin operating as Blackberry Food Cooperative. This will be a largely behind-the-scenes transition that allows us to move forward as a cooperative while continuing to serve shoppers who rely on SNAP, without disruption.

Your Shopping Experience

While that work is underway, we’re also paying attention to the day-to-day experience of shopping at the store. In about a month, checkout should feel a little easier and more fluid as we introduce a new way of ringing up purchases. Items will be scanned at checkout, helping lines move along and giving the Co-op better tools to care for the store we all share and to plan for future member benefits like patronage dividends.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Blackberry Food Co-op is looking for volunteers to help with carpentry projects!

Our most urgent project is building a new ADA-accessible checkout counter. We already have the materials: the Center for Rural Livelihoods donated lumber, and we’ve been gifted a beautiful pine bowling lane for the countertop. Now we just need a skilled woodworker to help build it.

As we get ready for opening the co-op, there are other projects too, including:

Building shelves

Making interior signage

Creating a new outdoor sign

Interested in helping? Contact Abel at abelkloster@gmail.com.

Become a Member-Owner!

As a member, you are a part owner of the Co-op. Your one-time membership investment gives you a voice in major decisions, the ability to vote and serve on the Board, and a shared stake in the Co-op’s long-term success. As the store becomes financially stable, members may share in that success through patronage dividends and other member benefits. Membership also supports local farms and producers and helps ensure Cottage Grove has a community-owned grocery store for the long term.

BECOME A MEMBER!